• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1015-1019
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• 2003

A 50 day feeding trial was conducted with White Leghorn (WL) laying hens, 42 weeks old, to determine if feeding of varying levels of aflatoxin (AF), ochratoxin A (OA) or their combinations has any effect on their performance and egg quality parameters. Feeding of $T_4$, $T_7$, $T_8$, $T_9$ and $T_10$ caused significant reduction in feed intake of hens. Hen day egg productions were significantly reduced at all the levels of toxins except 0.5 ppm of AF. Maximum reduction in egg production was noticed at 2 and 4 ppm of AF and OA, respectively. Average body weight and egg weight were not affected by toxin feeding. The feed efficiency in terms of net feed efficiency and feed consumed per dozen egg produced was significantly reduced at higher levels of both the toxins and their combinations. Feed consumption for production of 1 kg egg mass remained uninfluenced due to aflatoxin feeding whereas significant increase in the value of the same was noticed at 4 ppm level of OA and combination of 1 and 2 ppm of AF and 2 and 4 ppm of OA ($T_9$ and $T_10$), respectively. Various levels of OA (1-4 ppm) and all the combination of two toxins ($T_8$, $T_9$ and $T_10$) significantly altered the shape index of eggs in laying hens. The shell thickness was significantly reduced by higher level of AF (2 ppm), OA (2 and 4 ppm) and their combination. Albumen index, Haugh Unit and yolk index remained unchanged due to incorporation of toxins in the diet. It is concluded that AF, OA either singly or in combination at higher levels could depress the performance in terms of egg production and feed efficiency significantly. The egg quality parameters i.e. shape index and shell thickness were also significantly affected.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1684-1688
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• 2007

This study examined the caponization effects on the muscle characteristics (quality and quantity) of caponized male chickens fed before or after sexual maturity. Healthy and uniform Single Comb White Leghorn chickens were caponized at 3-week-old. Feeding was conducted until 16-week-old in trial 1 or from 12-week-old to 26-week-old in trial 2. Ten sham operated male chickens (Sham) were also assigned to each trial as the control group. Chickens used in both trials were housed in individual cages with each chicken representing one replicate. The results showed that early caponization (3-week-old) significantly increased (p<0.05) body weight and pectoral major muscle weight and percentage at 16-week-old compared to the Sham in trial 1. Caponization significantly increased (p<0.05) the protein content of the pectoral major muscle, but decreased (p<0.05) the ash content. Late caponization (12-week-old) significantly decreased (p<0.05) the ash content, myofibrillar ATPase activity and emulsification capacity of the pectoral major muscle in mature capons (26-week-old) compared to the Sham in trial 2. Early caponization (3-week-old) only increased the weight and protein content of the pectoral major muscle with decreased ash content in 16-week-old capons. Late caponization (12-week-old) showed no affects on pectoral major muscle quantity, while it decreased the ATPase activity and enhanced the emulsification capacity in mature (26-week-old) capons. Hence, the muscle quality improvement was shown as capons were fed to sexual maturity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1164-1170
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• 2008

In this study, the effects of propolis and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) supplementation in diets were investigated on feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion rate (FCR) and digestibility and on egg production and qualities (weight, mortality, shell thickness) in laying hens exposed to heat stress. A total of 150 Hyline White Leghorn, aged 42 weeks, hens was divided into five groups of 30 hens. Chicks were randomly divided into 1 positive control, 1 control and 3 treatment groups. The chicks were kept in cages in temperature-controlled rooms at $22^{\circ}C$ for 24 h/d (positive control, Thermoneutral, TN group) or $34^{\circ}C$ for 9 h/d from 08.00-17.00 h followed by $22^{\circ}C$ for 15 h (control, heat stress, HS group) and fed a basal diet or basal diet supplemented with vitamin C (250 mg/kg of L- ascorbic acid/kg of diet) or two levels of propolis (2 and 5 g of ethanol extracted propolis/kg of diet). Increased FI (p<0.05) and improvement in FCR (p<0.05), hen day egg (p<0.05) and egg weight (p<0.05) were found in Vitamin C and propolis-supplemented laying hens reared under heat stress conditions. Mortality rate was higher in the control group than TN, vitamin C and propolis groups (p<0.05). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and ether extract improved with increasing of both dietary vitamin C and propolis (p<0.05). Vitamin C or propolis supplementation did not affect either the percentage shape index, yolk index or haugh unit and albumen index (p>0.05). However, the egg shell thickness and egg shell weight appeared to be increased in Vitamin C and propolis groups in comparison to HS group birds (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of laying hens with anti-oxidants (vitamin C and propolis) can attenuate heat stress-induced oxidative damage. These positive effects were evidenced by increased growth performance and digestibility, improvement of egg shell thickness and egg weight in comparison to non-supplemented birds. Moreover, supplementation with propolis (5 g/kg diet) was the most efficient treatment.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.13-15
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• 2004

Telomeres are the end of chromosomes and consist of a tandem repeat sequence of (TTAGGG)n and associated proteins. Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability and are related with cell senescence and apoptosis. This study was carried out to analyze the amount of telomeric DNA of chicken lymphocytes, which is to considered as bio-marker. The amount of telomeric DNA of lymphocytes in Korean Native Chicken and White Leghorn was analyzed by quantitative-fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) technique using the chicken telomeric DNA probe. Telomere quantifies were compared among breeds, ages and sex, and the relationship between the amount of telomeres and their productive trait was also analyzed. Comparing the amount of telomeric DNA on lymphocytes during growing period, the amount of telomeres was gradually decreased as growing older. The telomere quantity was also significantly different in breeds and sex. Estimating correlation coefficient, the amount of telomeres was positively correlated to sexual maturity and body weight but negatively correlated to hen day egg production and egg weight. These results implicate the telomere quantity is considered as an individual bio-marker.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 1969

This experiment was conducted for 4 weeks to compare the feeding values of dried meal of Russian Comfrey and Kale as green feeds with Acacia leaf meal and Ladino clover meal, and to investigate the effects of feeding these on the total cholesterol in blood serum and liver fat content. Seventy-five male chicks of Single Comb White Leghorn were allotted into 5 treatments. Fifteen birds in each treatment were received Russian Comfrey meal, Kale meal, Acasia leaf meal, Ladino clover meal or no dried meal, respectively. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. No significant differences were recognized between the treatments and control in the growth rate, feed consumption, feed efficiency, utilization of nutrients, nitrogen retention and metabolizable energy value. 2. Carotene content in Russian Comfrey and Kale has been decreased as the growing stage advanced, and the leaves of both vegetable contained significantly (p<0.01) more carotene than that in stems. Vitamin C content of leaves was also signifcantly (p<0.01) higher than that in stems, however, vitamin C content has been increased as the growing stage advanced. 3. Toltal cholesterol content in blood serum of the chickens fed the Acacia leaf meal or Russian Comfrey meal was significantly (p<0.05) lower than Ladino clover meal fed group or those received no green feeds. Kale seems to decrease cholesterol content a little. Above results indicated that Acacia leaf and Russian Comfrey might contain certain substances that would depressing the cholesterol content. 4. No significant differences in the liver fat were discovered among the treatment but it was observed that liver fat was decreased as the cholesterol content increased.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.209-217
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• 1989

This study was carried out to obtain the information on the genetic characters of Korean native fowls. The data for this study was collected from fowls located at the Gyunggi, Chunscheong, Yeongnam and Jeju area from March, 1989 to November, 1989. The morphology, genetic characters and economic traits of fowls were investigated. Followings are the major results obtained from this study. 1. The morphology and genetic characters of Korean native fowls are similar to those of brown Leghorn, 2. Colored fowls outnumbered white fowls by 402 to 38 in feather color, and wild type fowls outnumbered black fowls by 317 to 38 in feather pattern. 3. For morphology of chromosomes, chromosome size and shape of Korean native fowls were similar to those of other breeds. 4. Body weights of male was 1.2-1.6kg, and of female 1.5-1.9 kg. Hen-housed egg production was 80-120 eggs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.217-224
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• 2014

Chicken are considered as the most important source of human infection by Campylobacter jejuni, which primarily arises from contaminated poultry meats. However, the genes expressed in vivo of the interaction between chicken and C. jejuni have not been screened. In this regard, in vivo-induced antigen technology (IVIAT) was applied to identify expressed genes in vivo during interaction between chicken and C. jejuni, a prevalent foodborne pathogen worldwide. Chicken sera were obtained by inoculating C. jejuni NCTC 11168 into Leghorn chickens through oral and intramuscular administration. Pooled chicken sera, adsorbed against in vitro-grown cultures of C. jejuni, were used to screen the inducible expression library of genomic proteins from sequenced C. jejuni NCTC 11168. Finally, 28 unique genes expressed in vivo were successfully identified after secondary and tertiary screenings with IVIAT. The genes were implicated in metabolism, molecular biosynthesis, genetic information processing, transport, regulation and other processes, in addition to Cj0092, with unknown function. Several potential virulence-associated genes were found to be expressed in vivo, including chuA, flgS, cheA, rplA, and Cj0190c. We selected four genes with different functions to compare their expression levels in vivo and in vitro using real-time RT-PCR. The results indicated that these selected genes were significantly upregulated in vivo but not in vitro. In short, the expressed genes in vivo may act as potential virulence-associated genes, the protein encoded by which may be meaningful vaccine candidate antigens for campylobacteriosis. IVIAT provides an important and efficient strategy for understanding the interaction mechanisms between Campylobacter and hosts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1089-1095
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• 2010

Four biological candidate genes, natural resistance associated macrophage protein 1 (SLC11A1 or NRAMP), prosaposin (PSAP), interferon Gamma (IFNG), and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), were examined to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and associations of the SNP with antibody response kinetics in hens. An $F_2$ population was produced by mating $G_0$ highly inbred (<99%) males of two MHC-congenic Fayoumi lines with highly inbred Leghorn hens. The $F_2$ hens (n = 158) were injected twice with SRBC and whole, fixed Brucella abortus (BA). Blood samples were obtained before each immunization, at 7 d after primary immunization, and at several time points after secondary immunization. Minimum titers (Ymin) and the time needed to reach them (Tmin), and maximum (Ymax) titers and the time needed to reach them (Tmax), were estimated from the seven post-secondary immunization titers using a nonlinear regression model. The $F_2$ hens were genotyped for the four candidate genes by using PCR-RFLP for one SNP per gene, which identified the parental allele. General linear models were used to test associations of SNP genotypes with antibody response parameters and BW measured at 4 ages. The IFNG SNP was highly significantly (p<0.0125) associated with primary response to SRBC, Tmin to BA, Ymin to BA, and 12-week BW. The current study demonstrated that the novel IFNG promoter SNP was associated with antibody kinetics for BA and SRBC in laying hens, and also with BW, suggesting that this cytokine may play a pivotal role in the relationship between immune function and growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1188-1191
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• 1999

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) of White Leghorn chicken embryos as a donor were transferred to Rhode Island Red chicken embryos as a recipient. At 48-50 h (stage 13-15) of incubation of fertilized eggs, donor PGCs, which were taken out from blood vessels of donor embryos, were injected into blood vessels of recipient embryos. Sex of the treated embryos was determined after the transfer of PGCs using remaining blood samples. In the present experiments, survival rate of the treated embryos was 33.3% for homo-sexual and 35.4% for hetero-sexual transfers of PGCs, respectively, when determined at 17 days of incubation. In this study, most of the treated embryos could not survive more than 18 days of incubation, though the reason for that was not clarified in the present work. The gonalds removed from embryos that died after 18 days of incubation and the organs from newly hatched chicks were examined for morphological and histological features. The gonads removed from the embryos with homo-sexual transfer of PGCs showed normal development in appearance. On the contrary, some (35.3%) of the embryos with hetero-sexual transfer of PGCs possessed abnormal gonads similar to ovotestis by histological observation. In cases where the gonads developed to be normal organs (64.7%) the sex of embryos was the same as recipient ones. The present results suggest that hetero-sexual transfer of the PGCs may bring about the possibility of development of the embryos bearing sexually different gametes, spermatogonia or oogonia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.863-866
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• 2003

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary cellulose levels on growth, nitrogen utilization, the retention time of diets in the digestive tract, and caecal microflora of 2-month-old Single Comb White Leghorn male chickens fed 3 purified diets that contained 0, 3.5% and 10% cellulose in equal amount of nutrients for 7 days. Body weight gain and nitrogen utilization were significantly higher (p<0.05), while total microflora counts in the caecal contents and retention time of the diet in the digestive tract were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the group fed 3.5% dietary cellulose compared with the group fed 10% dietary cellulose. Body weight gain, nitrogen utilization and retention time of the diet in the digestive tract decreased significantly while the total microflora count in the caecal contents increased significantly in the group fed 10% dietary cellulose compared to the group fed 0% dietary cellulose (p<0.05). Chickens fed 10% dietary cellulose had significantly increased counts of uric acid-degradative bacteria such as Peptococcaceae and Eubacterium, including Peptostreptococcus (p<0.05). The results suggest that cellulose in purified diets is an effective ingredient and the effects on growth, nitrogen utilization, caecal microflora counts and diet retention time in the digestive tract are dependent on the inclusion rate. Positive or negative effects of dietary cellulose are displayed by growth, nitrogen utilization, caecal microflora counts and retention time of the diet in the digestive tract. Positive effects were displayed when the inclusion rate is 3.5% and negative effects were displayed when that is greater than 3.5% of the diet, and the phenomenon is without reference to the age of the chickens.