• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1749-1754
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• 2006

Two slaughter experiments were conducted to determine the effects of rumen escape starch, by altering dietary starch concentration and corn particle size, on ${\alpha}$-amylase activity in the pancreas and the small intestinal digesta of lambs. In experiment 1, 18 wether lambs (28.5${\pm}$1.6 kg) were fed low, medium or high starch diets for 35 d and slaughtered. Dietary starch concentrations linearly increased rumen escape starch (p<0.05). Pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase activity was lower (p<0.05) in lambs fed the low starch diet. When expressed per gram of digesta, ${\alpha}$-amylase activity was lower in lambs fed the low starch diet. However, expressed as total activity, ${\alpha}$-amylase in the digesta was greater in lambs fed the medium starch diet. In experiment 2, 12 wether lambs (23.5${\pm}$0.3 kg) were fed diets with finely cracked corn, coarsely cracked corn and whole corn. These dietary treatments continued for 35 d before tissue collection. Rumen escape starch increased with increasing corn particle size (p<0.05). ${\alpha}$-amylase activity in the pancreas and the small intestinal digesta was significantly greater (p<0.05) in lambs fed the coarsely cracked corn. These data suggest that increasing rumen escape starch results in a quadratic increase in total ${\alpha}$-amylase activity in the pancreas and the small intestinal digesta. Maximum ${\alpha}$-amylase activity is reached when rumen escape starch is about 100-120 g/d in 25-30 kg lambs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.443-454
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary full-fat soybeans and linseed as fat sources on in vitro ruminal disappearances of dry matter and unsaturated fatty acids and fatty acids profile. The full-fat soybeans and linseed were high in linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) and $\alpha$-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), respectively. The incubation times were 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. After each time of incubation, medium digesta was lyophilized for analyzing its DM and fatty acids contents. DM disappearance was significantly higher in linseed treatment compared to full-fat soybeans treatment on 6 h (p<0.01), 12 h (p<0.05) and 24 h (p<0.01), but cumulative gas production was not significantly different between both treatments. Stearic acid (C18:0) content in medium digesta was increased in both soybeans and linseed as a result of complete biohydrogenation with increased incubation time and C18:0 and C18:1 contents of full-fat soybeans were significantly higher than those of linseed (p<0.05). The content of C18:2 and C18:3 in digesta of each treatment were decreased by biohydrogenation as incubation time was increased. The content of C18:2 in full-fat soybeans was significantly higher than that of linseed (p<0.05) while the content of C18:3 in linseed was significantly higher than that of full-fat soybeans (p<0.001). Net C18:0 production was significantly higher in full-fat soybeans (332.24%) than linseed (133.16%) on 72 h. Disappearance of C18:1 was significantly lower in full-fat soybeans than linseed (p<0.05), especially full-fat soybeans showed negative (-) values on 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. The disappearance of C18:3 was significantly higher in linseed than full-fat soybeans (p<0.05). The disappearance of C18-unsaturated fatty acid was significantly higher in linseed than full-fat soybeans. In conclusion, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in both full-fat soybeans and linseed were extensively biohydrogenated. In addition, biohydrogenation of PUFA was more completed to C18:0 in full-fat soybeans than linseed, reflecting dietary PUFA composition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.671-678
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• 1997

The objective was to evaluate method of feeding (free access or intubation), method of slaughter (carbon dioxide gas or barbiturate) and digesta flushing medium (distilled water or physiological saline), in the development of an ileal amino acid digestibility assay for 4 week-old broiler chickens. Three diets were used (commercial (C), semi-synthetic meat-and bone meal (MBM) or wheat (W)). For the coarser C and W diets but not for the MBM diet, feeding method had a significant effect on concentrations of chromium (Cr), nitrogen (N), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in the crop contents at a set time after a meal. There appeared to be a selection of food particles under free-access feeding. For birds receiving the wheat diet there was an effect (p < 0.05) of sampling time after feeding on the concentrations of Cr, N, ADF and NDF/Cr in the crop contents. Flushing ileal digesta with distilled water or saline led to similar apparent ileal N digestibility coefficients. Birds given the MBM diet, and killed by inhalation of $CO_2$, had significantly (p < 0.05) lower apparent ileal N digestibility coefficients (73 versus 80%) than those killed by barbiturate overdose.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.659-665
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• 2016

The effects of three different feeding systems on beef cattle production performance, rumen fermentation, and rumen digesta particle structure were investigated by using 18 Limousin (steers) with a similar body weight ($575{\pm}10kg$) in a 80-d experiment. The animals were equally and randomly divided into three treatment groups, namely, total mixed ration group (cattle fed TMR), SI1 group (cattle fed concentrate firstly then roughage), and SI2 group (cattle fed roughage firstly then concentrate). The results showed that the average daily gain was significantly higher in cattle receiving TMR than in those receiving SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05). Consumption per kg weight gain of concentrate, silage, and combined net energy (NEmf) were significantly decreased when cattle received TMR, unlike when they received SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05), indicating that the feed efficiency of TMR was the highest. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was significantly decreased when cattle received TMR compared with that in cattle receiving SI1 (p<0.05), whereas there was no difference compared with that in cattle receiving SI2. Ammonia nitrogen concentration was significantly lower in cattle receiving TMR than in those receiving SI1 and SI2 (p<0.05). The rumen area of cattle that received TMR was significantly larger than that of cattle receiving SI1 (p<0.05), but there was no difference compared with that of cattle receiving SI2. Although there was no significant difference among the three feeding systems in rumen digesta particle distribution, the TMR group trended to have fewer large- and medium-sized particles and more small-sized particles than those in the SI1 and SI2 groups. In conclusion, cattle with dietary TMR showed increased weight gain and ruminal development and decreased BUN. This indicated that TMR feeding was more conducive toward improving the production performance and rumen fermentation of beef cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.401-409
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• 2004

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of a complex Lactobacilli preparation on performance, resistance to E. coli infection and gut microbial flora of weaning pigs. In exp. 1, twelve pigs (7.65$\pm$1.10 kg BW), weaned at 28 d, were randomly allotted into 2 groups and placed in individual metabolic cages. During the first 7 d, one group of pigs was provided ad libitum access to water containing $10^5$ colony forming units (CFU) Lactobacilli per ml and the control group was provided tap water. The Lactobacilli preparation included Lactobacillus gasseri, L. reuteri, L. acidophilus and L. fermentum, which were isolated from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract mucosa of weaning pigs. On d 8, 20 ml of $10^8$ CFU/ml E. coli solution (serovars K99, K88 and 987P at the ratio of 1:1:1) was orally administered to each pig. Diarrhea scores and diarrhea incidence were recorded from d 7 to 14. On d 14, pigs were euthanized and digesta and mucosa from the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum and colon were sampled using aseptic technique to determine microflora by culturing bacteria in selective medium. The results showed that Lactobacilli treatment significantly decreased E. coli and aerobe counts (p<0.01) but increased Lactobacilli and anaerobe counts (p<0.01) in digesta and mucosa of most sections of the GI tract. A 66 and 69.1% decrease in diarrhea index and diarrhea incidence, respectively, was observed in the Lactobacilli treated group. In exp. 2, Thirty-six crossbred Duroc$\times$Landrace$\times$Yorkshire piglets, weaned at 28$\pm$2 days, were selected and randomly allocated into 2 groups. There were 18 piglets in each group, 3 piglets in one pen and 6 replicates in each treatment with 3 pens of barrow and 3 pens of female piglet in each treatment. Piglets had ad libitum access to feed and water. The initial body weight of piglet was 7.65$\pm$1.09 kg. Dietary treatments included a non-medicated basal diet with Lactobacilli ($10^5$ CFU/g diet) or carbadox (60 mg/kg) as control. On d 21, six pigs per group (one pig per pen) were euthanized. Ileal digesta was collected to determine apparent amino acid digestibility. Microflora content was determined similarly to exp.1. The results showed that Lactobacilli treatment significantly improved average daily feed intake (ADFI) of pigs compared to carbadox (p<0.05) during the first 2 wks after weaning and average daily gain (ADG) and ADFI increased significantly (p<0.05) from d 8 to 14. Nitrogen and total phosphorus digestibility also increased (p<0.05). Bacterial counts were similar to exp. 1. The results indicate that the complex Lactobacilli preparation improved performance for 2 wks after weaning, enhanced resistance to E. coli infection, and improved microbial balance in the GI tract.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.113-128
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• 1999

Protozoa can represent as half of the total rumen microbial biomass. Around 10 genera are generally present on the same time in the rumen. Based on nutritional aspects they can be divided in large entodiniomorphs, small entodiniomorphs and isotrichs. Their feeding behaviour and their enzymatic activities differ considerably. Many comparisons between defaunated and refaunated animals were carried out during the last two decades to explain the global role of protozoa at the ruminal or animal levels. It is now generally considered that a presence of an abundant protozoal population in the rumen has a negative effect on the amino acid (AA) supply to ruminants and contribute to generate more methane but, nevertheless, protozoa must not be considered as parasites. They are useful for numerous reasons. They stabilise rumen pH when animal are fed diets rich in available starch and decrease the redox potential of rumen digesta. Because cellulolytic bacteria are very sensitive to these two parameters, protozoa indirectly stimulate the bacterial cellulolytic activity and supply their own activity to the rumen microbial ecosystem. They could also supply some peptides in the rumen medium which can stimulate the growth of the rumen microbiota, but this aspect has never been considered in the past. Their high contribution to ammonia production has bad consequences on the urinary nitrogen excretion but means also that less dietary soluble nitrogen is necessary when protozoa are present. Changes in the molar percentages of VFA and gases from rumen fermentations are not so large that they could alter significantly the use of energy by animals. The answer of animals to elimination of protozoa (defaunation) depends on the balance between energy and protein needs of animals and the supply of nutrients supplied through the diet. Defaunation is useful in case of diets short in protein nitrogen but not limited in energy supply for animals having high needs of proteins.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.273-277
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• 1994

A $3{\times}3$ latin square design experiment was conducted to study eating and rumination behavior in sheep fed rice straw (RS) supplemented with soybean meal (SBM) and barley at three different levels of crude protein: low (40 g CP/d, LCP), medium (67 g/d, MCP) and high (94 g/d, HCP). In addition, all the supplements were formulated to contain the same amount of total digestible nutrients (TDN; 275 g). Daily time spent eating and eating rate of RS were not affected by any supplementation. However, time spent ruminating in sheep fed HCP diet was markedly shorter (p<0.05) than in those fed LCP and MCP diets. Rumination index (ruminating time/100 g DM intake) was also significantly reduced (p<0.05) by increasing level of protein supplementation. Although no significant differences were observed, the daily number of rumination periods tended to be lower, while daily number of boli regurgitated was considerably higher in sheep fed HCP diet than in those fed LCP and MCP diets. Increasing level of protein supplementation did not affect the number of chews per bolus, bolus time and rate of chewing during rumination. It is suggested that increasing level of protein supplementation was associated with more effective microbial reduction of rumen digesta particle size and consequently reduced the time spent ruminating.