• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1065-1076
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary mulberry leaves on the growth, production performance, gut microbiota, and immunological parameters of poultry and livestock. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were systematically analyzed to identify pertinent studies up to December 2022. The effects of mulberry leaf diet was assessed using the weighted mean difference, and the 95% confidence interval was calculated using a random-effects model. Results: In total, 18 studies that sampled 2,335 poultry and livestock were selected for analysis. Mulberry leaves improved the average daily gain and reduced the feed/meat ratio in finishing pigs, and the average daily gain and average daily feed intake in chicken. In production performance, mulberry leaves lowered the half carcass weight, slaughter rate, and loin eye area in pigs, and the slaughter rate in chickens. Regarding meat quality in pigs, mulberry leaves reduced the cooked meat percentage, shear force, crude protein, and crude ash, and increased the 24 h pH and water content. In chickens, it increased the drip loss, shear force, 45 min and 24 h pH, crude protein, and crude ash. Mulberry leaves also affect the abundances of gut microbiota, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Megamonas, Escherichia-Shigella, Butyricicoccus, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Escherichia coli in poultry and livestock. Mulberry leaves at different doses were associated with changes in antioxidant capacity in chickens, and immune organ indexes in pigs. With respect to egg quality, mulberry leaves at different doses improved the shell strength, yolk color, eggshell thickness, and eggshell weight. However, moderate doses diminished the egg yolk ratio and the egg yolk moisture content. Conclusion: In general, dietary mulberry leaves improved the growth, production performance, and immunological parameters in poultry and livestock, although the effects varied at different doses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1742-1750
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• 2015

As a novel approach for disease control and prevention, nutritional modulation of the intestinal health has been proved. However, It is still unknown whether branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) is needed to maintain intestinal immune-related function. The objective of this study was to determine whether BCAA supplementation in protein restricted diet affects growth performance, intestinal barrier function and modulates post-weaning gut disorders. One hundred and eight weaned piglets ($7.96{\pm}0.26kg$) were randomly fed one of the three diets including a control diet (21% crude protein [CP], CON), a protein restricted diet (17% CP, PR) and a BCAA diet (BCAA supplementation in the PR diet) for 14 d. The growth performance, plasma amino acid concentrations, small intestinal morphology and intestinal immunoglobulins were tested. First, average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p<0.05) of weaned pigs in PR group were lower, while gain:feed ratio was lower than the CON group (p<0.05). Compared with PR group, BCAA group improved ADG (p<0.05), ADFI (p<0.05) and feed:gain ratio (p<0.05) of piglets. The growth performance data between CON and BCAA groups was not different (p>0.05). The PR and BCAA treatments had a higher (p<0.05) plasma concentration of methionine and threonine than the CON treatment. The level of some essential and functional amino acids (such as arginine, phenylalanine, histidine, glutamine etc.) in plasma of the PR group was lower (p<0.05) than that of the CON group. Compared with CON group, BCAA supplementation significantly increased BCAA concentrations (p<0.01) and decreased urea concentration (p<0.01) in pig plasma indicating that the efficiency of dietary nitrogen utilization was increased. Compared with CON group, the small intestine of piglets fed PR diet showed villous atrophy, increasing of intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs) number (p<0.05) and declining of the immunoglobulin concentration, including jejunal immunoglobulin A (IgA) (p = 0.04), secreted IgA (sIgA) (p = 0.03) and immunoglobulin M (p = 0.08), and ileal IgA (p = 0.01) and immunoglobulin G (p = 0.08). The BCAA supplementation increased villous height in the duodenum (p<0.01), reversed the trend of an increasing IELs number. Notably, BCAA supplementation increased levels of jejunal and ileal immunoglobulin mentioned above. In conclusion, BCAA supplementation to protein restricted diet improved intestinal immune defense function by protecting villous morphology and by increasing levels of intestinal immunoglobulins in weaned piglets. Our finding has the important implication that BCAA may be used to reduce the negative effects of a protein restricted diet on growth performance and intestinal immunity in weaned piglets.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2009

Feeding trials were performed at two different water temperatures (summer and winter seasons) to identify suitable protein and lipid (energy) levels to be used in formulating extruded pellets for olive flounder. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of protein and lipid levels in extruded pellets on the growth and body composition of the flounder in both feeding trials. Six experimental diets were prepared containing three protein levels (46%, 51%, and 56%) and two lipid levels (10% and 17%). In the first experiment, during the summer season ($22{\pm}2.2^{\circ}C$), a triplicate group of fish (initial weight, 114 g) were fed to satiation one of the six diets for 11 weeks. The highest weight gain was observed in fish fed the 56/17 (% protein/% lipid) diet, but this weight gain was not significantly different from that of fish fed the other diets, except for those fed the 46/10 diet. The feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the 17% lipid diets were higher than those of fish fed the 10% lipid diets at each protein level. In the second experiment, during the winter season ($13{\pm}1.5^{\circ}C$), a triplicate group of fish (initial weight, 107 g) were fed to satiation one of the six diets for 9 weeks. Weight gain was not significantly different among all groups. The feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio tended to increase with increasing dietary lipid level at each protein level. The whole-body crude lipid content of the of fish fed the 17% lipid diets was significantly higher than that of fish fed the 10% lipid diets at each protein level in both feeding trials. Based on the data obtained in this study, the inclusion of dietary protein at a level of 46% appears to be sufficient to support optimal growth, and increasing the dietary lipid level from 10% to 17% had no beneficial effects on the growth and feed utilization of olive flounder (110-300 g), except for fish fed a 56% protein diet in the summer season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.523-530
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• 2017

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects on growth performance, digestibility, and blood metabolites of lambs during pre- and post-weaning period of inclusion of a commercial probiotic (PRO) containing a mixture of two strains of Pediococcus, Pediococcus acidilactici ($1{\times}10^6$ colony-forming unit [cfu]/g) and Pediococcus pentosaceus ($1.3{\times}10^6cfu/g$), with dextrose as the carrier compound compared to a diet based on concentrate mixture and wheat straw. Methods: In exp. 1, 24 male lambs of about $15{\pm}2.6$ d age and initial body weight (BW) of $5.52{\pm}0.6kg$ were randomly allocated into three groups. One group received control diet without additives, and remainders received control diet supplemented with 0.5 or 1 g PRO/lamb/d. Daily feed intake and biweekly BW were recorded. In exp. 2, five lambs, (initial $BW=29.72{\pm}1.15kg$, $age=6.54{\pm}0.32mo$) were used as experimental animals in a digestion trial. They were fed the same diets as in Exp. 1. Results: The supplementation of PRO did not result in any significant differences in milk intake, average daily gain (ADG), or total gain between treatments during the pre-weaning period. Total dry matter intake tended to be greater (p = 0.07) with addition of PRO in the post-weaning diets. During post-weaning phase, the final BW, ADG, total gain, and feed conversion ratio of the lambs receiving PRO treatments tended to be greater ($p{\leq}0.10$) than the control group. Addition of PRO in post-weaning diet decreased ($p{\leq}0.01$) blood urea and cholesterol concentrations. With the exception of ether extract digestibility, all nutrients digestibility were improved with inclusion PRO in the post-weaning diets. Conclusion: Lambs that received PRO in post-weaning diet appeared to show a better performance than lambs in pre-weaning period. Addition of the probiotic in the post-weaning diet trended towards improved dry matter intake, growth performance, feed conversion ratio, and nutrients digestibility.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2004

This study was conducted for a period for 5 weeks in order to evaluate effects of brewer's yeast slurry(BYS) on the growth performance, organ development and blood composition of broiler chicks. A total number of 84 one day old broiler chicks were allocated to one of three supplemented diets: 0%(control), 2% and 4% BYS. Body weight gain and feed efficiency of chicks fed the diet supplemented with 4% BYS significantly was increased by 9% and 8%, respectively, compared to the control diet(P<0.05). The BYS supplements did not affect weights of liver, heart and abdominal fat, and their ratios per body weight. However, in 4% BYS supplement group, ratio of liver to body weight significantly decreased(P<0.05) by 12%, compared to the control. The supplement of 4% BYS decreased the concentration of triglyceride by 31%, and increased the concentration of high density lipoprotein(HDL) by 26%, compared to the control(P<0.05). These results indicated that the supplementation of 4% BYS in diet can improve body weight gain as well as feed efficiency, and increased the concentration of blood HDL, and ratio of HDL to total-cholesterol of broiler chicks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.556-562
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• 2007

A total of 126 crossbred weanling pigs (average body weight of $6.3{\pm}0.3$ kg) were used to investigate the effect of chito-oligosaccharide (COS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, pH of gastro-intestinal tract (GI), intestinal and fecal microflora of young piglets. Pigs were allocated to three dietary treatments based on body weight and gender in a single factorial arrangement. Treatments were control (No COS), T1 (0.2% COS during starter (6-13 kg) and 0.1% COS during grower (13-30 kg) phases, and T2 (0.4% COS during starter (6-13 kg) and 0.3% COS during grower (13-30 kg) phases, respectively. Each treatment had 3 replicates and 14 pigs were raised in each pen. COS is a low molecular weight water-soluble chitosan that can be obtained from chitin of the crab shell after deacetylation with concentrated sodium hydroxide at high temperature and then further decomposition by chitosanase enzyme in the presence of ascorbic acid. For the starter and grower periods, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) and feed to gain ratio among treatments. However, during the overall period (6-30 kg), T2 showed better (p<0.05) feed to gain ratio than other treatments. A digestibility study was conducted at the end of grower phase which showed improvement (p<0.05) in DM and crude fat digestibility in T2 over the control. At 25 kg body weight, 6 pigs per treatment (2 per replicate) were sacrificed to determine the effect of diets on pH and microbial count at different sections of the GI tract. The pH of the cecal contents in pigs fed 0.1% COS was higher (p<0.05) than in the other treatments. Total anaerobic bacterial number increased from cecum to rectum in all treatments. The weekly total bacterial counts showed higher (p<0.05) in feces of pigs fed COS than that of untreated pigs at the $8^{th}$ week. The number of fecal E. coli in untreated pigs at $4^{th}$ wk was 7.35 log CFU/g compared to 6.71 and 6.54 log CFU/g in 0.1 and 0.3% COS-treated pigs, respectively. Similarly, at $8^{th}$ wk, fecal clostridium spp. were lower in pigs fed 0.3% COS (5.43 log CFU/g) than in untreated pigs (6.26 log CFU/g). In conclusion, these results indicated that chito-oligosaccharide could improve feed efficiency in young pigs and inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2023

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Allium hookeri (AH) root on growth performance, serum antioxidant enzyme activity, cecal short-chain fatty acid profiles, and tight junction-related gene expression of broiler chickens. On day 10, 96 birds were allocated to one of two dietary treatments with 6 replicate cages, and 8 birds per cage in a randomized complete block design. The experimental diets consisted of a corn-soybean meal-based control diet and a diet supplemented with 0.3% AH root powder at the expense of the corn in the control diet. The experimental diets were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrients requirements of broilers recommended by Aviagen for each phase (from day 10 to 21 and from day 21 to 28). On day 28, a bird representing the median body weight in each cage was selected, and then blood, cecal digesta, and jejunum tissue samples were collected. No significant differences were observed in body weight gain and feed intake among dietary treatments. However, birds fed the diet containing AH showed a greater gain-to-feed ratio compared to the control group at 21 days of age and throughout the entire experimental period (P<0.05). Serum antioxidant enzyme activity, cecal short-chain fatty acid profiles, and tight junction-related gene expression were not affected by the dietary AH supplementation. Based on the results of the present study, dietary AH supplementation may improve the gain-to-feed ratio, but not gut health markers in broiler chickens from day 10 to 28.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2004

Objectives : This research was performed to investigate the effect of herbal acupuncture(Ephedra sinica and Green tea) at Umnungchon(SP9) and Pungnyung(ST40) on weight gain, food intakes, food efficiency ratios, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid on rats fed high fat diet for 5weeks. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into normal group(Sham), high fat diet group(Con), high fat diet and Ephedra sinica-herbal acupuncture in SP9 ST40 treated group(ES), high fat diet and Green tea-herbal acupuncture in SP9 ST40 treated group (GT), high fat diet and Ephedra sinica+Green tea-herbal acupuncture in SP9 ST40 treated group(ES+GT). Herbal acupuncture was bilaterally treated at the level of 19.125mg/ml per 2 days during 5 weeks. Results : Body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency ratio were decreased in Sham, ES, ES+GT, compared with control group. The level of serum HDL-cholesterol was increased in sham, tender to increase in ES, ES+GT. The change on that of serum triglyceride was decreased in sham, ES, ES+GT and free fatty acid was decrease in sham, ES+GT. Conclusions : Ephedra sinica with Green tea-herbal acupuncture in SP9 ST40 can control the Body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency ratio, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary thyroid hormone (T$_3$and T$_4$) on growth, feed conversion ratio and serum T$_3$or T$_4$concentration of broiler chicks. Zero to six week-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated into seven treatment groups for feeding trials with three replication : control, T$_3$(0.1), T$_3$(1.0), T$_3$(5.0), T$_4$(0.1), T$_4$(1.0), T$_4$(5.0) ppm group. Concentrations of T$_3$and T$_4$in serum were analyzed. The weight gain of T$_3$(1.0), T$_3$(5.0) and T$_4$(5.0) groups were significantly lower than that of control. No statistically significant adverse effect was observed in other groups (p〉0.05). Feed intake was significantly lower in T$_3$(0.1, 1.0 and 5.0) and T$_4$(5.0) than in control group (p〈0.05), and the feed conversion ratio had a similar trend to the feed intake change. The contents of liquid and abdominal fat pad in carcass were significantly decreased in all T$_3$and T$_4$groups (p〈0.05). T$_3$and T$_4$concentration in serum was significantly increased at over 1.0ppm of the hormone supplementation level. As T$_3$addition level increased, T$_4$concentration in serum reduced ; however, T$_3$in serum was directly proportional during fasted were slightly increased when T$_3$or T$_4$was added to broiler diets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.633-641
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• 2021

Objective: The effects of adding fermented feed to a pelleted total mixed ration (PTMR) on the growth performance of lambs remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the feed efficiency and productivity of lambs that were fed PTMR containing fermented soybean meal (FSM) or wheat bran (FWB). Methods: Sixty 90-d-old hybrid lambs were randomly allocated into 12 pens (5 lambs/pen) that were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments (3 pens/treatment) with PTMR (basal diet), 2% FSM, or Lactobacillus- or yeast-FWB (L-FWB or Y-FWB) addition in the basal diet. Results: The findings showed that lambs fed 2% FSM supplemented diet had enhanced (p<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and carcass yield (p = 0.015), while they had a decreased (p = 0.006) feed conversion ratio compared to that of other three groups. Inclusion of FSM or FWB in PTMR improved (p<0.05) the nutrient digestibility, while it reduced the urea nitrogen content in serum compared to the PTMR group. Additionally, the decreased ratio of N excretion to ADG (p<0.01) was observed with FSM and L-FWB supplementation compared with the PTMR and Y-FWB groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, feeding the fermented feed-supplemented diet improved nutrient digestibility and growth performance, and 2% FSM-supplemented diet exhibited superior production-promoting efficiency to lambs.