• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 1993

This experiment was carried out to examine the effects of urea-treated rice straw feeding on the growth performance of crossbred Holstein heifers under different feeding conditions. In the first experiment, the animals were given diets having 2 levels of TDN and CP and 3 levels of crude fiber (22, 30 and 36%) which were formulated with urea-treated rice straw and concentrates. Daily weight gain of heifers was not different between 22% and 30% CF diets, but the reduction of TDN or CP level to 90% of the requirements decreased the weight gain. Fiber content of 36% also reduced the body weight gain. The reduction of TDN significantly reduced DM intake and increased feed conversion ratio. Feed cost per kg weight gain was significantly increased by an increase in CF to 36%. In the second experiment, separate feeding and total mixing feeding were compared. There were no significant differences between the two feeding systems in body weight gain although the possibility of superiority in SF to TMF remained. DM intake was not affected by the feeding system, but 30% CF diet gave higher DM intake. Feed cost per kg weight gain was lower in the 30% CF diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 1992

Feeding of bypass protein to lactating animals have been suggested by many research scientists as a way to increase the nutrient supply at the intestinal level thereby enhance animal production in ruminant animals. A feeding trial with a formulated bypass protein feed on straw based ration was carried out by using lactating cross bred cows at the stage of 4th month of their lactation. Bypass protein feed was fed at 5 different levels. Urea Molasses Block was used as a nitrogen source to the rumen microflora. In order to reduce the heat increment straw intake was restricted to all the animals. Urea Molasses Block intake was noticed varying in proportion with the bypass protein feed intake. Milk production was observed increasing in accordance with the level of bypass protein feed intake. However, the maximum response was noticed in cows that were fed 3 kg bypass protein feed. The nutrient availability at this stage was below the NRC (1988) requirements. Other remarkable finding was that the cows maintained the persistency of milk production even after 3rd month of lactation when the ambient temperature was $40^{\circ}C$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1182-1189
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• 2007

An intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of somatostatin 1-28 (SRIF) was used as a thirst-controlling peptide antagonist to investigate whether or not thirst-controlling peptides are involved in the significant decrease in feed intake during the initial stages of feeding large-type goats on dry forage. A continuous ICV infusion of SRIF was conducted at a small dose of $4{\mu}g$ ml/h for 27 h from day 1 to day 2. Goats (n = 5) were fed roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes for 2 h twice daily and water was given ad libitum. Feed intake was measured during ICV infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) and SRIF. The feed intake during SRIF infusion increased significantly compared to that during ACSF infusion. In comparison to the ACSF treatment, plasma osmolality during the SRIF treatment significantly decreased during the first half of the 2 h feeding period. The factor causing the decrease in plasma osmolality during the ICV infusion of SRIF was a decrease in plasma Na, K, Cl, and Mg concentrations. In comparison to the ACSF infusion treatment, parotid saliva secretion volumes during the 2 h feeding period in the SRIF infusion treatment were significantly larger. While there was no significant difference in cumulative water intake (thirst levels) between the SRIF and the ACSF treatments upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period, based on the plasma osmolality results it is thought that thirst level increases brought about by alfalfa hay cube feeding in the first half of the feeding period were reduced. It is thought that the somatostatin-induced increases in feed intake during the 2 h feeding period in the present experiment were caused by decreases in plasma osmolality brought about by the somatostatin infusion. As a result, it is suggested that the significant decrease in feed intake during the initial stages of feeding in large-type goats given roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes, was due to the actions of thirst-controlling peptides.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1263-1272
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• 1999

The effects of carnitine in diets with or without added fat (5% lard or soybean oil) were evaluated in 72 Large White ${\times}$ Landrace ${\times}$ Duroc pigs weaned at 35 days of age. Pigs were fed a 1.30% lysine corn-soybean basal diet+15% dried whey+4% fish meal with carnitine at 0 or 50 mg/kg and either 0% added fat, 5% soybean oil or 5% lard for 6 weeks in a $2{\times}3$ factorial trial (6 treatments, 3 pens per treatment, 4 pigs per pen). Addition of carnitine increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the second two weeks of the six-week trial and overall, but had no significant effect on feed per gain (F/G). Lard alone depressed ADG (p<0.05) in the last two weeks of the trial and overall, but the ADG for pigs fed lard+carnitine was similar to the control. Lard reduced feed intake in the first two weeks of the trial (p<0.05). Carnitine reduced the percentage of pigs with poor (ADG<375 g/d) growth (15 vs 40%; p<0.05). The greater uniformity of growth was most evident in low-weaning-weight pigs in the second period (16 vs 62%, p<0.005). Addition of fat did not produce any positive effect on uniformity and had no interaction with carnitine on uniformity. Carnitine addition increased serum total carnitione and short-chain acyl-carnitine levels (p<0.05), but did not modify free carnitine levels. Serum carnitine levels were lower at weaning than at 14, 28, or 39 days after weaning (p<0.05). Carnitine increased serum protein levels on day 14 (p<0.05). Addition of fat in the form of soybean oil or lard did not improve piglet growth performance. Addition of 50 mg/kg of carnitine to the diet of weanling pigs enhanced postweaning performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.791-799
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• 2011

This study examined the effect of restricting feed intake and the subsequent compensatory growth in Guzera females. Eighteen animals with an initial age of 21 months and a mean weight of 268.17 kg were placed in three groups according to the alimentary regime: feed ad libitum; feed restricted to 20% dry matter; and feed restricted to 40% dry matter. In the restricted feed phase, the dry mater intake decreased as the restriction levels increased, influencing the reduction in intake of other nutrients. In the realimentation phase, the 40% restricted feed group ingested more dry matter (% BW) and crude protein ($weight^{0.75}$) than the group fed ad libitum (p<0.001). The serum nutrient concentrations were inversely proportional (p<0.001) to the restriction level, and there was no difference (p>0.001) in the realimentation phase. In the restricted feed phase, the final live weight decreased (p<0.05) as the restriction level increased. For the daily mean weight gain in the control group, there was no difference (p>0.05) compared to the animals with 20% feed restriction, but this was higher than in the group with 40% feed restriction. In the re-alimentation phase, the group with 40% feed restriction achieved higher weight gain rates, which was different from the control and 20% restriction groups. In both phases, the animals in the group with 40% feed restriction presented better feed conversion which was different (p<0.05) from the control group. In the feed restriction phase, it was observed that the intake of N, nitrogen excreted in feces and urine, nitrogen balance and nitrogen retention decreased (p<0.05) with the restriction level. None of the variables were influenced in the re-alimentation phase. These results show that feed restriction by 40% can be adopted as a nutritional management practice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 1994

Forty cross bred ($168\;{\pm}\;28\;kg$) bull calves were offered either untreated (US) or urea ammonia treated (TS) rice straw at five levels of feeding, namely; 60, 80, 100, 120 140% of ad libitum. Ad libitum level for each animal was estimated over a period of one month, which was followed by a preliminary period of 21 days and a collection period of 15 days. The maximum organic matter intake (OMI-kg/100 kg BW) were 2.08 and 3.35 for US and TS, respectively and urea treatment increased the maximum OMI by 61% than for US. In order to reach maximum intake the amount feed refusal should be 25% for US, but with TS maximum intake was not reached even when the amount of feed refused was 39% of that consumed. The OMD of US significantly decreased with increase in OMI, whereas with TS the decrease was not significant. The inability of animals to select between stems and leaves particularly in TS might be one of the reasons for its constant digestibility. Considering the substantial increases in intake and the negative effect on digestibility of US, further trials are warranted, as well as studies to determine the practical implications.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.483-486
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• 2000

The influence of feed allowance on intake and nutrient utilization by Barbari goats given green maize (Zea mays) and potential feeding value of left-overs were studied. The goats were offered food at 3 levels to give left-overs of about 20% (T-1), 35% (T-2) and 50% (T-3) DM of offered amount. A marked effect of refusal rate on intake and digestibility of nutrients was found. The DMI, g/kg $W^{0.75}$ increased from 39.86 in T-1 to 50.91 and 66.55 g in groups T-2 and T-3, respectively. Allowing selective consumption at higher levels (T-2 and T-3), the intake of TDN and DCP from green maize was found not only to meet the maintenance requirement but provided surplus energy and protein for substantial production. The variability in diet selectivity between goats under different treatments was pronounced. As the level of food excess increased to T-3, the left overs had a higher IVDMD and crude protein and decreased cell wall constituents (p<0.05). Considering the substantial increase in intake and digestibility from feeding green maize at high allowances to goats, further studies are needed to develop practical feeding strategies.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1419-1426
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the ratio of non-fibrous carbohydrates to neutral detergent fibre (NFC/NDF) and undegraded dietary protein (UDP) on rumen fermentation and nitrogen metabolism in lambs. Four $Dorper{\times}thin-tailed$ Han crossbred lambs, averaging $62.3{\pm}1.9kg$ of body weight and 10 mo of age, were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments of combinations of two levels of NFC/NDF (1.0 and 1.7) and two levels of UDP (35% and 50% of crude protein [CP]). Duodenal nutrient flows were measured with dual markers of Yb and Co, and microbial N (MN) synthesis was estimated using $^{15}N$. High UDP decreased organic matter (OM) intake (p = 0.002) and CP intake (p = 0.005). Ruminal pH (p<0.001), ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3-N$; p = 0.008), and total volatile fatty acids (p<0.001) were affected by dietary NFC/NDF. The ruminal concentration of $NH_3-N$ was also affected by UDP (p<0.001). The duodenal flow of total MN (p = 0.007) was greater for lambs fed the high NFC/NDF diet. The amount of metabolisable N increased with increasing dietary NFC:NDF (p = 0.02) or UDP (p = 0.04). In conclusion, the diets with high NFC/NDF (1.7) and UDP (50% of CP) improved metabolisable N supply to lambs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.361-368
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• 1991

In two experiments 640 starcross replacement pullets between 25 and 154 days of age were fed ad libitum on either of 16 diets formed by the combination of $4CP{\times}4ME$ levels to study the interaction of CP and ME on growth performances. In both experiments, feed intake decreased, but protein intake, energy intake, live weight gain and feed conversion efficiency increased and sexual maturity hastened with the increase of dietary protein and/or energy level. The protein conversion efficiency decreased with the increase of dietary protein level. The energy conversion efficiency, however, did not show any relationship with dietary energy level. There was a greater improvement of growth performance due to simultaneous increase of dietary protein and energy level than that of increasing protein or energy alone.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1348-1354
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• 2008

Two inorganic (zinc sulfate and zinc oxide) and three organic (zinc acetate, zinc-methionine, and zinc-lysine) zinc sources were evaluated for their effects on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. The birds were randomly assigned to one control (non-supplemented) and 15 treatment (supplemented) groups consisting of four replicates of 10 chicks each in a $5{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of treatments (five zinc sources and three supplemental zinc levels). Birds were kept in floor pens in a temperature-controlled room from 1 to 42 d of age and fed a non-supplemented basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with 40, 80 or 120 mg/kg of Zn as mentioned sources. Dietary zinc source had considerable effect on feed intake in all experimental periods. Increasing Zn level from 80 to 120 mg/kg decreased the average feed intake in the growth stage (p<0.01) and also in the entire experimental period (p<0.001). Similarly, the average daily gain during the entire trial period was affected by the type of Zn source (p<0.001) and supplemental level (p<0.01). One degree of freedom contrast comparisons showed that the inclusion of organic zinc sources into the diets caused significant increases in feed intake and body gain when compared with inorganic counterparts. Except in wk 1, dietary supplementation with organic sources improved (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio; FCR values were not affected by dietary Zn source or supplementation level. Breast meat yield increased with supplemental levels of organic Zn sources; however, other carcass parameters were not affected by dietary Zn source. On the other hand, organic versus inorganic zinc supplementation caused a significant increase in liver, breast and carcass weight percentages. The present findings suggest that supplemental levels of organic Zn compounds had beneficial effects on broiler performance, and Zn requirements can be reduced using these feed supplements in poultry rations.