• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 1990

Thirty-six yearling (18 bulls, 18 heifers) swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with average liveweight $177{\pm}26kg$, were randomly allotted to receive 6 dietary treatments according to a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD). Factor A assigned for two types of straw; untreated rice straw (RS) and urea-treated (5%, w/w) rice straw (UTS). Factor B assigned for three ratio of roughage to concentrate (R:C) at 80:20, 50:50 and 20:80. Feeding trial lasted for 9 months during which respective feeds were offered at 3% body weight and adjusted at bi-weekly intervals using corresponding liveweights. Parameters measured under this experiment were feed intake, ruminal fluid for pH, $NH_3-N$, volatile fatty acids (VFA), liveweight change at bi-weekly intervals, carcass characteristics and cost-net profit analysis. It was found that intakes and digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CP except NDF and ADF were improved appreciably when ratio of concentrate increased. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were highest in group fed urea-treated rice straw at R:C levels of 20:80 (551.2 g/d, 10.7 kg/kg) and 50:50 (542.3 g/d, 10.6 kg/kg). It was obvious that FCR was best in the group fed on urea-treated rice straw (13.8 kg/kg) as compared to untreated rice straw fed-group (24 kg/kg). Carcass compositions of buffaloes measured resulted in 48.2 dressing percentage in all treatments offered at R:C levels of 50:50 and 20:80, however, loin eye area were 46.0, 53.6, 50.0 and $54.0cm^2$ for RS and UTS at respective levels of R:C. It was notable that carcass fat content was low which resulted in higher content of lean meat particularly in group fed UTS at 50:50 ratio R:C. Simple cost-net profit analysis was performed, it was found that net profits were obtained as follows 27, 30, -47, 44, 58, 22 $US/hd for respective treatment groups of RS and UTS at respective R:C levels. As shown, the best net profit resulted in group fed UTS at 50:50 R:C level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.410-420
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• 2012

A trial was conducted to: i) evaluate the BW growth, energy intakes and energetic efficiency of pigs fed high and low density diets from 27 to 141 kg BW, ii) evaluate sire line and sex differences when fed both diets, and iii) to compare ME to NE as predictor of pig performance. The experiment had a replicated factorial arrangement of treatments including four sire lines, two sexes (2,192 barrows and 2,280 gilts), two dietary energy densities and a light or heavy target BW, 118 and 131.5 kg in replicates 1 to 6 and 127 and 140.6 kg in replicates 7 to 10. Pigs were allocated to a series of low energy (LE, 3.27 Mcal ME/kg) corn-soybean meal based diets with 16% wheat midds or high energy diets (HE, 3.53 to 3.55 Mcal ME/kg) with 4.5 to 4.95% choice white grease. All diets contained 6% DDGS. The HE and LE diets of each of the four phases were formulated to have equal lysine:Mcal ME ratios. Pigs were weighed and pen feed intake (11 or 12 pigs/pen) recorded at 28-d intervals. The barrow and gilt daily feed (DFI), ME (MEI) and NE (NEI) intake data were fitted to a Bridges function of BW. The BW data of each sex were fitted to a generalized Michaelis-Menten function of days of age. ME and NE required for maintenance (Mcal/d) were predicted using functions of BW (0.255 and 0.179 BW^0.60 respectively). Pigs fed LE diets had decreased ADG (915 vs. 945 g/d, p<0.001) than pigs fed HE diets. Overall, DFI was greater (p<0.001) for pigs fed the LE diets (2.62 vs. 2.45 kg/d). However, no diet differences were observed for MEI (8.76 vs. 8.78 Mcal/d, p = 0.49) or NEI (6.39 vs. 6.44 Mcal/d, p = 0.13), thereby indicating that the pigs compensated for the decreased energy content of the diet. Overall ADG:DFI (0.362 vs. 0.377) and ADG:Mcal MEI (0.109 vs. 0.113) was less (p<0.001) for pigs fed LE compared to HE diets. Pigs fed HE diets had 3.6% greater ADG:Mcal MEI above maintenance and only 1.3% greater ADG:Mcal NEI (0.152 versus 0.150), therefore NEI is a more accurate predictor of growth and G:F than MEI.Pigs fed HE diets had 3.4% greater ADG:Mcal MEI and 0.11% greater ADG:NEI above maintenance than pigs fed LE diets, again demonstrating that NEI is a better predictor of pig performance than MEI. Pigs fed LE diets had similar daily NEI and MEI but grew slower and less efficiently on both ME and NE basis than pigs fed HE diets. The data suggest that the midds NE value (2.132 Mcal/kg) was too high for this source or that maintenance was increased for pigs fed LE diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.369-374
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• 2012

A $3{\times}2$ factorial experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth and body composition of juvenile far eastern catfish. Six diets were formulated to contain three levels of protein (20%, 30% and 40%) and two levels of lipid (9% and 17%). Triplicate groups of fish (initial body weight of 7.6 g) were hand-fed to apparent satiation for 66 days. Final mean weight was improved with increasing dietary protein and lipid levels, and the highest final mean weight was observed in fish fed the 40/17 (% protein/% lipid) diet. No significant difference was observed in final mean weight for fish fed between 30/17 diet and 40/9 diet. Feed efficiency of fish fed the diets containing over 30% protein levels with 9% and 17% lipid levels were significantly higher than those of fish fed the 20% protein levels. Feed efficiency of fish fed the 30/17 diet was not significantly different from that of fish fed the 40/9 diet or 40/17 diet. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the 20% protein diets with 17% lipid level were significantly higher than those of fish fed 9% lipid diet. Daily feed intake of fish tended to decrease with increasing dietary protein and lipid levels. Moisture content of whole body in fish fed the 9% lipid diets was significantly higher than that of fish fed the 17% lipid diets at the same protein level, but the opposite trends were found for crude lipid content. Significant effects of dietary lipid were observed for most fatty acids, according to their relative values in the diets. The results of this study suggest that the protein requirement for maximum growth of juvenile far eastern catfish may be higher than 40%, and an increase of dietary lipid level from 9% to 17% can improve growth and feed utilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1742-1752
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• 2013

A basal diet (0.8 g/kg dNa) was formulated in which each of the two sources ($NaHCO_3$ and $Na_2SO_4$) were supplemented in such a way to attain four levels (1.7, 2.6, 3.5, and 4.4 g/kg) of total dNa, respectively, under $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement. Eight dietary treatments were replicated four times, with 40 birds in each replicate (n = 1,280). The diets supplemented with $Na_2SO_4$ to attain higher levels of dNa showed highest BW gain and feed intake (FI) during d 1 to 10 (interaction effects) while 2.6 g/kg dNa exhibited improved BW gain and gain:feed (FG) during d 11 to 20. Linear rise in daily water intake (DWI) was associated with diets containing increasing dNa during d 1 to 42 ($p{\leq}0.036$). During the first 10 d, DWI:FI was found highest in $NaHCO_3$ diets while $Na_2SO_4$ diets showed highest DWI:FI during last 10 d of the experiment ($p{\leq}0.036$). Increasing dNa and changing $Na_2SO_4$ with $NaHCO_3$ salt increased pH and resulted in poor growth performance. Dressing weight ($p{\leq}0.001$) and abdominal fat ($p{\leq}0.001$; quadratic effect) were reduced, whereas breast ($p{\leq}0.001$) and thigh (p<0.001) weights were aggravated with increasing dNa (linear effects). Present findings suggested higher levels of dNa from $Na_2SO_4$ as the supplemental salt in broiler diets would produce better growth performance, especially in first ten days of life, and improve carcass and body organ characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1625-1631
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• 2016

Forty-eight barrows with an average initial body weight of $25.5{\pm}0.3kg$ were assigned to 6 dietary treatments arranged in a $3{\times}2$ factorial of 3 graded levels of P at 1.42, 2.07, or 2.72 g/kg, and 2 levels of casein at 0 or 50 g/kg to compare the estimates of true total tract digestibility (TTTD) of P in soybean meal (SBM) for pigs fed diets with or without casein supplementation. The SBM is the only source of P in diets without casein, and in the diet with added casein, 1.0 to 2.4 g/kg of total dietary P was supplied by SBM as dietary level of SBM increased. The experiment consisted of a 5-d adjustment period and a 5-d total collection period with ferric oxide as a maker to indicate the initiation and termination of fecal collection. There were interactive effects of casein supplementation and total dietary P level on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and retention of P (p<0.05). Dietary P intake, fecal P output, digested P and retained P were increased linearly with graded increasing levels of SBM in diets regardless of casein addition (p<0.01). Compared with diets without casein, there was a reduction in fecal P in the casein-supplemented diets, which led to increases in digested P, retained P, ATTD, and retention of P (p<0.01). Digested N, ATTD of N, retained N, and N retention were affected by the interaction of casein supplementation and dietary P level (p<0.05). Fecal N output, urinary N output, digested N, and retained N increased linearly with graded increasing levels of SBM for each type of diet (p<0.01). The estimates of TTTD of P in SBM, derived from the regression of daily digested P against daily P intake, for pigs fed diets without casein and with casein were calculated to be 37.3% and 38.6%, respectively. Regressing daily digested N against daily N intake, the TTTD of N in SBM were determined at 94.3% and 94.4% for diets without casein and with added casein, respectively. There was no difference in determined values of TTTD of P or N in SBM for pigs fed diets with or without casein (p>0.05). In summary, our results demonstrate that the estimates of TTTD of P in SBM for pigs were not affected by constant casein inclusion in the basal diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1444-1454
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• 2020

Objective: Cold stress induces oxidative damage and impairs energy status of broilers. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) exhibits antioxidant properties and modulates energy metabolism of animals. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of NAC on energy status and antioxidant capacity of heart and liver in the cold-stressed broilers. Methods: The experiment consisted of 4 treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement with two diets (basal diet or plus 0.1% NAC) and two ambient temperatures (thermoneutral [conventional ambient temperature] or cold stress [10℃±1℃ during days 15 to 42]). Results: No ascites were seen in cold-stressed broilers. NAC did not attenuate the impaired growth performance of stressed birds. However, NAC decreased plasma asparagine but increased aspartate levels in cold-stressed birds (p<0.05). NAC reduced hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) but elevated adenosine diphosphate contents in unstressed birds (p<0.05). The hepatic ratio of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to ATP was increased in birds fed NAC (p<0.05). NAC decreased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level and cardiac total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in unstressed birds, but increased hepatic activities of T-SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in stressed birds (p<0.05). NAC down-regulated hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase but up-regulated cardiac heme-oxigenase mRNA expression in stressed birds, and decreased expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1α as well as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in liver and heart of birds. Conclusion: Dietary NAC did not affect energy status but enhanced the hepatic antioxidant capacity by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in cold-stressed broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1308-1315
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• 2001

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different methods of feeding and processing of diets on performance, morphological changes in the small intestine and nutrient digestibility of young pigs. A total of 120 pigs (Youkshire${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Duroc; initial body weight of $5.83{\pm}0.67kg$) were randomly allotted into six treatments in a $2{\times}3$ factorial design. Treatments were 1) dry feeding with a mash diet (DM), 2) dry feeding with a pelleted diet (DP), 3) dry feeding with an expanded crumble diet (DEC), 4) wet feeding with a mash diet (WM), 5) wet feeding with a pelleted diet (WP), 6) wet feeding with an expanded crumble diet (WEC). Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were not significantly (p>0.05) different among treatments. However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved when pigs fed a pelleted diet or an expanded crumble diet. Pigs fed an expanded crumble diet showed 9.2% and 17.3% improvement in ADG and FCR compared with those fed a mash diet. The morphological changes in the small intestine were examined at the termination (4 weeks after weaning) of the experiment. Differences in morphological changes of gastrointestinal tract were not significant among treatments. Though villus height was not significantly affected by feeding method or feed processing, the villus height of weaned pigs tended to be preserved by wet feeding. The use of a pelleted diet also helped to prevent the shortening of villus height. Pigs fed a WP diet maintained the highest villus height at all parts of the small intestine. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in nutrient digestibility among treatments. However, nutrient digestibility for pigs fed a pelleted diet had a higher than that of pigs fed mash diets. Especially, pigs fed a WP diet digested 5.3% more P each day than those fed a DM diet. Compared with the mash diet, the expanded crumble diet decreased feed cost per kg weight gain by 15%. The net profit per pig was 79% higher in the expanded crumble diet pigs than in mash diet pigs. In conclusion, this study suggests that feeding processed diets to piglets can be more beneficial in terms of FCR and production cost.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.853-860
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• 2008

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of chromium (Cr), dietary crude protein (CP) level and potential interactions between these two factors on growth rate and carcass response, insulin activity and lipid metabolism in lambs. Forty-eight, 9-week-old weaned lambs (Dorper$\times$Small-tail Han sheep, mean initial body weight = $22.96kg{\pm}2.60kg$) were used in a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of supplemental Cr (0 ppb, Cr0; 400 ppb, Cr1; or 800 ppb, Cr2 from chromium yeast) and CP levels (157 g/d to 171 g/d for each animal, LP; or 189 g/d to 209 g/d for each animal, HP). Growth data and blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the feed trial, after which the lambs were killed. Both Cr additive groups and the HP group increased final weight and average daily gain, especially the Cr1 and HP group (p<0.01). HP increased pelvic fat weight (p<0.05), fat thickness of the 10th rib (p<0.05), longissimus muscle area (p<0.01) and rate of deposition of intramuscular fat (p<0.01). Supplemental Cr decreased the rate of deposition of intramuscular fat (p<0.05). Fasting insulin level and the ratio of insulin to glucose were lower with Cr1 than other groups, but with no significant difference. Glucose concentration was not affected by any treatment. Nonesterified fatty acids increased in the Cr1 (p<0.05) and HP (p<0.05) conditions and there was a significant $Cr{\times}CP$ interaction (p<0.05). Cr1 decreased triglycerides (p<0.05) and total cholesterol (p = 0.151) and HP increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05). Cr1 decreased lipoprotein lipase activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue (aLPL, p<0.05) and the ratio of aLPL to lipoprotein lipase activity in skeletal muscle (mLPL, p = 0.079). mLPL and hepatic lipase (hHL) were not affected by any treatment. In the present study, Cr had limited effects on growth rate and carcass response, whereas Cr and CP had some notable effects on plasma metabolites and enzyme activities. Cr has a potential effect on energy modulation between lipid and muscle tissue. In addition, few $Cr{\times}CP$ interactions were observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1660-1669
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium) and xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum profiles, intestinal health, fecal microbiota and noxious gas emission in weanling pigs. Methods: A total of 240 weanling pigs ([Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace]${\times}$Duroc) with an average body weight (BW) of $6.3{\pm}0.15kg$ were used in this 28-day trial. Pigs were randomly allocated in 1 of the following 4 dietary treatments in a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement with 2 levels of probiotics (0 and 500 mg/kg probiotics) and XOS (0 and 200 mg/kg XOS) based on the BW and sex. Results: Administration of probiotics or XOS improved average daily gain (p<0.05) during 0 to 14 d and the overall period, while pigs that were treated with XOS had a greater average daily gain and feed efficiency (p<0.05) compared with unsupplemented treatments throughout 15 to 28 d and the whole experiment. Either probiotics or XOS treatments increased the apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients (p<0.05) during 0 to 14 d. No effects on serum profiles were observed among treatments. The XOS increased villus height: crypt depth ratio in jejunum (p<0.05). The supplementation of probiotics (500 mg/kg) or XOS (200 mg/kg) alone improved the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy on d 14, the activity of trypsin and decreased fecal NH3 concentration (p<0.05). Administration of XOS decreased fecal Escherichia coli counts (p<0.05), while increased lactobacilli (p<0.05) on d 14. There was no interaction between dietary supplementation of probiotics and XOS. Conclusion: Inclusion of XOS at 200 mg/kg or probiotics (Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium) at 500 mg/kg in diets containing no antibiotics significantly improved the growth performance of weanling pigs. Once XOS is supplemented, further providing of probiotics is not needed since it exerts little additional effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.838-843
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were to examine growth performance and meat quality by three different feeding patterns in Korean native cattle (KNC). In each of 3 years, fifteen KNC were randomly assigned in a (3 feeding management)${\times}$(3 sex) factorial design experiment; thus, in total, there were 5 animals in each of the 9 treatments. The three feeding management treatments were longterm (24 month) restriction feeding (LTFR), long-term restriction feeding-hormone implant (LTFR-tH), and short-term (18 month) nonrestriction feeding (STFNR). Three sexes were bull, steer, and heifer. Concentrate diet was fed restriction-feeding method based on body weight in LTFR and LTFR-tH. However, the diet was fed ad libitum in STFNR. Hormonal implantation was made three times with M-$PO^{TM}$ for bulls and with F-$TO^{TM}$ for heifers at 18, 20, 22 month of age in LTFR-tH. Animal were purchased from the local cattle market and managed in two local farms and at the university research unit. Animals were slaughtered at 24 months for long-term trial and at 18 month for short-term trial. The growth rate was the highest in bulls and the lowest in heifers. However, the differences were diminished in F-$TO^{TM}$ implanted heifers. The average daily gain was high in STFNR due to ad libitum feeding. The carcass grade was similar among the treatments on percentage bases. Hormonal implants improved significantly the meat quality grade in all sexes. Castration increased body fat content and improved meat quality grade by intramuscular fat deposition. In conclusion, long-term feeding and hormone treatment increased meat quality grade more than short-term feeding. However, ADG was higher in the short-term trial although feedefficiency was lower.