• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.1011-1018
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• 2011

Aflatoxin-contaminated feed cause mortality, suppression of the immune system, reduced growth rates and losses in feed efficiency. This research study was planned to investigate the immunomodulatory and growth promoting effect of milk thistle as feed additive against aflatoxin $B_1$ in broiler chicks at NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan. Two hundred and forty (240) day old broilers chicks were randomly assigned into four major groups AfF, aflatoxin free feed; Aflatoxin $B_1$ was present in the feed at the levels of 80-520 ${\mu}g/kg$ of the feed in the remaining three groups. Aflatoxin contaminated feed was provided for 5 weeks. Group AfB was supplemented with toxin binder "Mycoad" at 3 g/kg of feed and group AfT was supplemented with milk thistle at10 g/kg of feed. Each group was further sub divided into two sub-groups, vaccinated against ND (Newcastle disease), IB (Infectious bronchitis) and IBD (Infectious bursal diseases) according to recommended schedule of vaccination or non vaccinated. Each sub group carried three replicates with 10 chicks per replicate. Chicks were reared in pens in an open sided house. Supplementary heat was provided to all the chicks during brooding period. Mean body weight gain and dressing percentage were significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, followed by AfT, AfB and Af. Weight gain and dressing percentage was the same in group AfB and AfT, while it was significantly lower in group Af. Feed intake, breast, thigh and leg weight were found significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, followed by AfB, AfT and Af. Significantly lower (better) FCR value was recorded in group AfT. Water intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfT and AfF as compared to other groups. Mortality was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group Af. Mean bursa and thymus weights were found significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, AfB and AfT followed by Af, while higher spleen weight was recorded in group AfT. Mean antibody titer against ND, IB and IBD was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfT, as compared to other groups. It is concluded that milk thistle at 10 g/kg of feed could effectively be utilized as immunostimulant and growth promotant in the presence of immunosuppressant aflatoxin $B_1$ in the feed.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2007

Sixty-seven Hanwoo calves were allocated into two groups, 27 spring calves (SC) and 40 fall calves (FC) to investigate the effects of calving season on water and nutrient intakes, growth performance and disease occurrence for the nursing and the post-weaning period. Mean DMI of 3 to 4 mo old FC was lower than that of SC due to low temperature in winter for FC. Water intake was higher for FC (birth to 1 mo old) but lower for SC (2 to 4 mo old) than the others. Mean BW did not differ between SC and FC, but average daily gain for over 2 mo old SC were significantly higher than FC. Diarrhea was mainly observed when the calves were before 60 d old; in particular, it occurred more frequently for less than 30 d old FC compared with SC. The present results indicate that calving season may affect water intake, feed intake and growth performance of Hanwoo calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.401-409
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• 2012

The study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition of distillery yeast sludge and its inclusion in broiler diets to replace canola meal. Raw distillery yeast sludge was washed with water using water and sludge in the ratio 6:1, respectively. Proximate analysis of raw distillery yeast sludge and washed distillery sludge was carried out for crude protein (CP), true protein (TP), ether extract (EE), ash, acid insoluble ash and nitrogen free extract (NFE) determination. Mineral contents and amino acid profile of raw distillery yeast sludge and washed distillery sludge were also determined. After chemical evaluation, four iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous broiler starter and finisher diets were prepared in mash form using 0 (control), 4, 8 and 12% levels of washed distillery sludge replacing canola meal. One hundred and twenty day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 12 experimental units in such a way that each diet was offered to three experimental units, each comprising of 10 chicks. It was observed that washing affected the nutrients either by decreasing or increasing their concentration. It decreased the total mineral contents whereas CP, TP, EE and NFE contents increased. Washing also increased amino acid profile. Average feed intake and weight gain were higher in birds fed diet containing 8% washed distillery sludge and lower in birds fed diet containing 0% washed distillery sludge. Feed cost per kg live weight gain decreased significantly as the level of washed distillery sludge was increased in the diet. Average heart, liver and pancreas weights decreased with increased level of washed distillery sludge in the diet. The study revealed that after washing, distillery yeast sludge can be used successfully in broiler diets up to the level of 8% without any adverse effect on broiler's performance.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2009

We conducted two studies to determine the effect of gender, gonadectomy (GDX) on growth and plasma cholesterol levels in pigs. In experiment 1, five sham-operated and five GDX female Landrace pigs (26kg) were allowed to have free access to water and feed up to market weight (approximately 100kg). Body weight and feed consumption were recorded biweekly, and daily body weight gain, daily feed intake and feed efficiency (gain/feed) were calculated during the feeding period. In experiment 2, 10 male (26kg) and 10 female (26kg) Landrace pigs were used; five male and five female pigs were assigned to sham-operated or GDX. Pigs were allowed to have free access to water and a diet without added cholesterol (Table 1) until they were 6 months old (male 104 and female 98kg) and thereafter they were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (Table 1) containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.1% cholate for 10 days. GDX of female pigs increased average daily gain (P<0.05), compared with their sham-operated counterparts during the growing-finishing period, but had no effect (P>0.05) on feed efficiency. Plasma cholesterol levels in pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet for 10 days were much higher (P<0.05) in females than in males (161 vs 104mg/100mL plasma), and were increased by GDX only in male pigs. HDL-cholesterol/LDL+VLDL-cholesterol ratio appeared to be higher in males than in females, and was not influenced by GDX in either sex. Results suggested that the lower growth rate of female pigs than their male counterparts is attributable to the ovarian activity, and the lower plasma cholesterol level in male than in female pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet is due to the testicular activity.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.855-866
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• 2021

Objective: Performance and physiological responses of dairy calves may change by using extruded soybean meal (ESBM) instead of common soybean meal (SBM) in starter feed. The aims of the current study were i) to determine the effect of extrusion processing of SBM on protein electrophoretic size, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) structures and Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) protein subfractions and ii) to determine the effect of substitution of SBM with ESBM in starter feed of Holstein heifer calves during pre and post-weaning on performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood metabolites. Methods: The SBM was substituted with ESBM at the level of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (dry matter [DM] basis). Fifty heifer calves (initial body weight 40.3±0.63 kg) were used for the study. After birth, animals were fed colostrum for 3 days and then they were fed whole milk until weaning. Animals had free access to starter feed and water during the study. Results: Extrusion of SBM decreased electrophoretic protein size and increased rapidly degradable true protein fraction, changed FTIR protein and amide II region. With increasing level of ESBM in the diet, starter intake increased quadratically during the pre-weaning period (p<0.05) and body weight, DM intake and average daily gain increased linearly during the post-weaning and the whole study period (p<0.05). Tbe DM and crude protein digestibilities at week 14 and blood glucose and beta hydroxybutyric acid increased linearly in calves as the level of ESBM increased in the diet (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dairy calves performance and physiological responses were sensitive to SBM protein characteristics including electrophoretic size, FTIR structures and CNCPS protein fractions.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.441-446
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• 2008

This study was conducted to determine the effect of heat stress on laying hen performance during summer. A total of 180 Hyline-brown layers, 98 days of age, were housed in a enclosed house. The daily maximum temperature in the house was ranged $26{\sim}36^{\circ}C$. The egg production was markedly fallen than other days when daily maximum temperature in the layer house became more than $33^{\circ}C$. As water intake and feed intake increased to $490\;mL\;bird^{-1}\;day^{-1}$ and $240\;g\;bird^{-1}\;day^{-1}$, the egg production soared. But it was hardly increased more than them. Based on these results, layer house roof should be amply insulated to improve the egg production of layers. If not insulated, the shade curtain should be installed above roof and cool water sprayed before and after 2 p.m. And layers should be provided cool drinking water of about $15^{\circ}C$ in the day time.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1187-1195
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• 2006

Panax notoginseng exhibit several beneficial effects including anti-oxidant effects. P. notoginseng is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promoted health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the main P. notoginseng are still not accurately investigated. The exact mechanism of the anti-oxidant activitys of water extracts of P. notoginseng, however, has not been determined. in present study, I examined the effects of water extracts of P. notoginseng on high cholesterol diet atherosclerosis-induced rats in serum and abdominal aorta. A total of 3-week old 9 male rats of Sprague-Dawley were divided into 3 groups and fed with the basal diet (normal group), high cholesterol diet (atherosclerosis induced group) for 8 weeks, high cholesterol diet supplemented with water extracts of P. notoginseng (P. notoginseng group) for 4 weeks. And rats were sacrificed, serum lipid level, abodominal aortic anti-oxidant activities and lipid peroxide were measured. These results indicated that serum total cholesterl, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides concentration significently lowered in P. notoginseng group than high cholesterol diet group. But HDL-cholesterol concentraion significently higher in P. notoginseng group than high cholesterol feed group. And abdominal aortic xanthine oxidase activity was significantly reduced by dietary water extracts of P. notoginseng supplementation (p<0.05) Also abdominal aortic superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased by dietary water extracts of P. notoginseng supplementation (p<0.05) Especially, abdominal aortic level of lipid peroxide tended to increase in high cholesterol feed group, but water extract of P. notoginseng intake reduced the value (p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2018

A total of 90 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments, each consisting of six replicates (5 broilers/cage). The dietary treatments were 1) control (CON: fresh clean water with no supplement); 2) low dose [LD: CON + 1.56% extractions from the wooden chips (EWC)] and 3) high dose (HD: CON + 12.5% EWC). Drinking water supplemented with EWC was provided using specifically designed individual nipple drinker units. Average daily water intake (ADWI), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly for 21 days. One broiler from each cage was euthanized for measuring the visceral organ weights and collecting ileal tissue samples for ileal architecture analysis on day 21. Broilers assigned to the LD and HD watery groups showed higher ADWI than that in broilers consumed CON on day 7 (P<0.05). The broilers subjected to HD treatment showed a deeper crypt depth (P<0.05) than that in broilers subjected to LD and CON on day 21. Therefore, broilers consumed HD showed a lower (P<0.05) villus height:crypt depth ratio than that broilers consumed CON on day 21. Broilers provided drinking water containing any of the tested concentrations of EWC showed no effect (P > 0.05) on growth performance, ileal villus height, and visceral organ weights as compared with those in the CON from hatch to 21 days. In conclusion, broilers fed HD showed reduction in villus height:crypt depth ratio without impairing growth performance and visceral organ weights for the experimental period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.296-300
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• 2005

Human-induced soil salinity is becoming a major threat to agriculture across the world. This salinisation occurs in both irrigated and rain-fed agricultural zones with the highest proportions in the arid and semi-arid environments. Livestock can play an important role in the management and rehabilitation of this land. There are a range of plants that grow in saline soils and these have been used as animal feed. In many situations, animal production has been poor as a result of low edible biomass production, low nutritive value, depressed appetite, or a reduction in efficiency of energy use. Feeding systems are proposed that maximise the feeding value of plants growing on saline land and integrate their use with other feed resources available within mixed livestock and crop farming systems. Salt-tolerant pastures, particularly the chenopod shrubs, have moderate digestible energy and high crude protein. For this reason they represent a good supplement for poor quality pastures and crop residues. The use of salt-tolerant pasture systems not only provides feed for livestock but also may act as a bio-drain to lower saline water tables and improve the soil for growth of alternative less salt tolerant plants. In the longer term there are opportunities to identify and select more appropriate plants and animals for saline agriculture.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

Climate change has directly impacted environmentally dependent first industry. The changes of amount and frequency of precipitation have caused unstable drinking water supply for grassland and feed crop, and have changed the variety of grassland and feed crop. Rising temperature has caused heat stress on livestock, which has impacted feed intake and livestock products, and also has threatened to the health of livestock by widening the range of sources of diseases. In order for livestock industry to confront climate change, new technology development for climate change adaptation and measures of greenhouse gas mitigation are essential. Agroforestry is the one of alternative measures to mitigate greenhouse gases and to adapt to climate change. Agroforestry is the way rearing livestock and cultivating plants in forest, which is suitable to Korea where mountain area is over 68%. Feedstock such as maize, soybean, rice, and grass grown by agroforestry would decrease feed cost. Agroforestry will decrease heat stress of livestock during hot weather and will be possible to pasture, which increases livestock welfare.