• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.149-152
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• 1988

Postweaning performances of steer from 11 to 18 months of age under intensive feedlot condition were examined in Brahman and Santa Gertudis cattle breeds which have been established in Paraguay. Fitting of growth data in each breed to an empirical growth model with non-linear least square analysis resulted in the following age(t; months) - weight(w; kg) function made out each breed: w=638.26($1-2.341e^{-0.010965t}$) for Brahman and w=716.38($1-2.365e^{-0.10741t}$) for Santa Gertrudis. The estimated mature size of Brahman steers(638 kg) was 11% lower than that of Santa Gertrudis steers(716 kg). However, slightly larger k value (rate of maturing) of Brahman steer in the mechanistic model suggested relatively earlier maturing tendency in the breed. No significant differences in dressing percentage (Brahman, 59.3%; Santa Gertrudis, 58.8%) of chilled carcass weight to live-weight were observed between breed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.113-125
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• 1969

These experiments were designed to study the influence of early protein undernutrition on growth, behaviors toward food, general attitude toward a new environment, brain size and body composition of the experimental rats. The following experimental groups were studied. Lactation period (3 weeks) (Diets of mother rats) 25% Casein diet 12% Casein diet 25% Casein diet 25% Casein diet 12% Casein diet 12% Casein diet After-weaning protein deprivation period None deprivation (25% Casein diet) None deprivation (25% Casein diet) 5% Casein diet (4 weeks) 5% Casein diet (8 weeks) 5% Casein diet (4 weeks) 5% Casein diet (8 weeks) After a long period of rehabilitation with 25% casein diet the following results were obtained. 1. Growth rate during lactation period is closely related with the protein levels of the diet for mother rats. The average body weight of offsprings of the mother rat fed 25% casein diet is 46.0 grams at 21 days old. However, that of the mother rat fed 12% casein diet is only 25.0 grams. 2. The group of protein undernutrition during lactation (S weeks) (offsprings of mother rat fed low protein diet, 12% casein diet) could never catch up with the normal group in its growth even after twenty-four (24) weeks of rehabilitation. 3. However, the groups of protein undernutrition during either four (4) or even eight (8) weeks after weaning could catch up with the normal group in their growth after long period of rehabilitation. 4. The absolute amounts of carcass protein and fat of the normal group are larger than those of the protein deficient groups. In terms of percent carcass, however, the normal group showed higher body fat and lower body protein than the early deficient groups. However, there is no difference between preweaning (3 weeks) and postweaning (8 weeks) deficient groups. It is assumed, from these differences in body composition, that there might be any differences in physiological and metabolic functions among these various groups, and also that the basic formation of various metabolic regulators (protein-nature) might be fixed mostly during lactation and postweaning period. 5. The groups of protein undernutrition during either three (3) weeks lactation or four (4) weeks after weaning are not so remarkably different from the normal group in their amounts of food intake and spillage. However, the groups of undernutrition during either eight (8) weeks postweaning or eleven (11) weeks (3 weeks lactation period plus 8 weeks postweaning period) showed higher amounts of food intake and spillage. In these respects, it seems that desire for food is closely related with the degree of early hunger in protein and also seems that the longer be deficient in early life the more food spillage is found. 6. Both preweaning and postweaning deficient groups showed generally nervous and restless. The normal group is staid and showed less mobilities. 7. The average size of the brains of the group subjected to protein deficiency during three (3) weeks lactation period is smaller than that of the group of the eight (8) weeks postweaning deficiency. This means that the development of the brain is made mostly during lactation period. The group of the eleven (11) weeks postnatal deficiency is significantly different from the normal group in its brain development. It is assumed, in connection with the results of various maze tests reported, that the brain size is closely related with the intellectual ability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2002

Seventy-four piglets were used to investigate the effects of dietary glutamine (Gln) and glutamate (Glu) on the mucosal structure and active absorption of small intestinal, DNA and RNA concentrations of skeletal muscle tissue in piglets during d 28 to 42 of age. Postweaning piglets were fed for 14 d corn- and soybean meal-based diets supplemented with 0.0 or 1.0% L-Gln or L-Glu. On d 7 and 14 postweaning, pigs' small intestinal sections and longissimus dorsi were collected, at the same time, the D-xylose absorption test was conducted. The results suggested that in comparison to control piglets, jejunal atrophy during the first week postweaning was prevented by the glutamine and glutamate supplementation (1%) and the capability of small intestine to absorb Dxylose was improved. Furthermore the RNA concentration in skeletal muscle tissue was increased. These results provide an experimental basis for use of glutamine and glutamate on alleviating the weaning stresses and improving piglets' growth performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.846-849
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• 1999

Angus postweaning daily gain (PWDG) were analyzed to investigate heterogeneous variance by sex. A set of data (16,239 records) was divided into six sub-data sets according to level of environment. REML estimation was conducted by a multitrait model, where PWDG in each sex was treated as a separate trait. Estimates showed diversity among environmental levels, where the heritability for heifers was high in good environment but low in poor environment. The bull's estimates varied among environmental levels. The largest heterogeneity of phenotypic variance between sexes was estimated in a data set of the poor environment level. The genetic correlations between the heifer's PWDG and the bull's PWDG were high in the good environment and low in the poor environment (-0.17). The results suggest existence of genotype by sex interaction in the poor environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.176-184
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• 1998

A total of 125 pigs (5.8 kg of BW) were allotted in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were coconut oil, corn oil, soybean oil, tallow and tallow+lecithin. Each treatment had 5 replicates with 5 pigs per replicate. From d 0 to 7, pigs fed vegetable oil supported greater average daily gain (ADG) and improved feed/gain (F/G) compared to pigs fed the animal fat. Addition of lecithin to tallow increased ADG by 7.2%. Feed intake were similar for all treatment groups. From d 8 to 14, pigs fed coconut oil and soy oil showed better ADG and average daily feed intake (ADFI) than any of the others. From d 15 to 21, pigs fed the tallow diets had lower gains (p < 0.05) than those fed diets that contained vegetable oil and tallow with added lecithin. The effect of different fat sources on gain became smaller with age. Feed intakes were similar between the vegetable oil and lecithin supplemented diets each week postweaning except for pigs fed tallow (p < 0.05). Feed : gain ratios were superior during the initial 2 weeks postweaning period when pigs were provided vegetable oil diet compared with pigs fed tallow. All pig groups had similar feed : gain ratios during 3 weeks. Combinations of tallow with lecithin tended to have intermediate feed/gain ratio. It was found that vegetable oils were much better in improving growth rate of the piglets. Lecithin significantly improved growth rate and feed efficiency of the pigs through the whole experimental period compared to tallow. Coconut oil was the most effective in improving growth of pigs during the first two weeks postweaning. Corn oil had equal value with soy oil in improving growth performance of weaned pigs. When vegetable oil was added, the digestibilities of nutrients except for minerals were higher than when the tallow was fed. Nutrients digestibility was similar among vegetable oils. The addition of lecithin to tallow increased digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, ether extract and crude protein. Crude ash and phosphorus digestibility were not affected by the treatments. Dry matter excretion was not different among treatments except for tallow which showed significantly higher dry matter excretion (p < 0.05), while nitrogen excretion was significantly decreased in pigs fed vegetable oil sources. However, Phosphorus excretion was not affected by the different fat sources.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 1998

A total of 125 pigs (5.8 kg BW, 21 d of age) were allotted in a completely randomized block design experiment. Dietary treatment added carbohydrate sources : corn starch, lactose, glucose, sucrose or dried whey in corn-soybean meal based diet. Each treatment has 5 replicates with 5 pigs per replicate. Lactose, sucrose and dried whey supported a better growth performance than starch and glucose (p < 0.05) during the first and second week postweaning. However, in the third week postweaning no difference was found in ADG and ADFI among treatment. For overall period, pigs fed lactose, sucrose and dried whey diets showed similar growth performance and were superior to starch and glucose. The gross energy digestibility in pigs fed lactose, sucrose and dried whey diets were similar and significantly higher than those fed glucose and starch diets (p < 0.05). DM digestibility was not significantly affected by other carbohydrate sources except starch. Pigs fed lactose, sucrose and dried whey showed the best nitrogen digestibility. In all nutrients digestibility, there was no significant difference among treatment except starch and glucose diet. DM excretion was lower in pigs fed lactose, sucrose and dried whey than pigs fed starch and glucose. In conclusion, it appeared that sucrose could be effectively incorporated in baby pig diet without sacrificing growth performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.1178-1181
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• 2002

Records from a total of 202 crossbred pigs were classified by their ear type and coat color to examine the presence of interrelationships with growth performances. Crossbred pigs were F2 generations of full sib family out of ten Landrace sows bred by 5 Korean domestic boars. Heavily drooped ear type was predominant, 195 out of 202 pigs over the other two types (1 straight and 6 slightly drooped). Coat colors were classified as four categories, all white, all black, dominant white or dominant black. Ratio among coat color categories did not fall within Mendelian principle of independence regarding two loci involved. There was dependency between ear type and coat color. However, due to rarity of ear types other than heavy drooped, dependency comes from distribution of those rare ear types. Three least squares models to test the effect of ear type and coat colors on growth performances were analyzed. First model analyzed effects on birth weight, body weight at 3 and 6 weeks and ADG' before weaning and between 3 and 5 weeks of age. This model included sex in addition to ear type and coat color. Second model analyzed postweaning growth traits (initial weight, final weight and ADG between these periods) upon initiation of performance testing. This model included effects of sex, test group and start age (as a covariate) in addition. Third model was fit for fasted weight before slaughter and included the effects of sex, test group and age at slaughter (as a covariate). The effects of sex and ear type were not significant source of variation for all traits. Test group was a significant source of variation for all the postweaning traits. Effect of coat color was not significant until the initiation of performance testing and became significant then after. Least squares means of dominantly black pigs were significantly lower than the other three coat colored pigs in final weight around 195 days of age and in ADG from the start of performance test and final weight measure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.574-581
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• 2008

Two experiments, involving a total of 100 crossbred pigs (Hampshire$\times$Landrace$\times$Duroc) aged 5 weeks, were used to evaluate the effect of Roselle (Hibicus sabdariffa Linn.) calyx as an antioxidant and acidifier on growth performance. Experiment 1: growth performance response of pigs fed basal corn-soy diet was compared with that of pigs consuming diets that contained 4, 8 and 12% Roselle in powder form, 4 g/kg acidifier (Fra$^{(R)}$Acid Dry) or 100 mg/kg antibiotic (Aurofac$^{(R)}$). All diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Twenty-four castrated male and twelve female pigs were randomly allocated into 6 treatments which comprised 3 replicates (2 male and 1 female) of 2 pigs each. The results demonstrated no beneficial weight gain and feed intake response among treatments at 7, 9 and 11 weeks of age (p>0.05). However, feed-to-gain ratios (FCR) of Roselle-fed groups were significantly different from the basal-diet group at 7 weeks of age (p<0.05). Pigs fed with 8% Roselle had the lowest FCR. Therefore, 8% was set as an appropriate level of Roselle in feed. Experiment 2 was conducted to determine antioxidant and acidifier properties. Pigs were fed similar diets to Experiment 1 except that Roselle was fed to only one treatment at the level of 8%. Sixty-four piglets, 32 castrated male and female each were randomly allocated into 4 treatments which comprised 4 replicates (2 male and 2 female) of 4 pigs each. Body weight was measured. At 7 and 9 weeks of age, four pigs from each treatment were randomly selected. The pH in their gastrointestinal tract, pepsin activity in stomach mucosa, trypsin activity in the pancreas and protein and fat digestibility in the ileum were measured to investigate acidifier properties. For antioxidant properties, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione concentration in plasma and liver were used as parameters. The results showed no significant difference in weight gain, pH or pepsin activity among all treatments at both ages (p>0.05). Nevertheless, trypsin activity and fat digestibility of the Roselle-fed group were higher than the basal-diet group at 7 weeks of age (p<0.05). Glutathione in plasma was significantly different between antibiotic-fed and basal-diet groups (p<0.05). Significant differences were found only in some parameters and between the basal-diet group and the other groups. Therefore, it cannot be precisely concluded that Roselle in powder form has clear acidifier and antioxidant properties in postweaning pigs. Further studies should be undertaken to clearly confirm both properties.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.645-652
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• 2000

A total of 80 piglets ($5.18{\pm}0.61kg$ of BW; 16 d of age) were fed experimental diets to evaluate the effect of extruded full-fat soybean (EFS) on the growth of eatly weaned pigs. Pigs were allotted into five treatments based on body weight, in a completely randomized block design. Each treatment has 4 replicates of 4 animals each. Treatments consisted of diets representing substitutional ratios of EFS for soybean meal. 1) 100:0 (SBM), 2) 75:25 (EFS 25), 3) 50:50 (EFS 50), 4) 25:75 (EFS 75) and 5) 0:100 (EFS 100). During phase I (d 0 to 7), piglets were fed diets containing 3,340 kcal ME, 26% crude protein, 1.85% lysine, 1.0% Ca and 0.9% P. For phase II (d 8 to 21), piglets were fed diets supplying 3,340 kcal ME, 23% crude protein, 1.65% lysine, 0.9% Ca and 0.8% P. Urease activity (pH rise) of EFS (0.18) was three times higher than that of SBM (0.06) indicating that processing conditions were not efficient enough to inactivate urease activity. During the first week postweaning, pigs fed SBM had significantly greater average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and better feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to pigs fed FFS diets. Linear negative effect on growth rate was found as the inclusion rate of FFS increased. During d 8 - 21 postweaning, piglets fed EFS 50 diet showed the best ADG and FCR despite no significant difference between treatment SBM and EFS 25 have been observed. Overall, piglets fed diets up to 50% FFS inclusion rate exhibited similar weight gain. Only piglets fed EFS 100 diet showed a significantly decreased growth rate. No other significant effect was found in feed intake and feed conversion ratio. At d 7, dry matter digestibility was higher in pigs fed SBM diet than piglets fed EFS 75 diet (p<0.05) and crude protein digestibility was higher in piglets fed SBM diet than piglets fed EFS 50, EFS 75 and EFS 100 (p<0.05). At d 21, no difference other than in phosphorus digestibility was detected. This indicates that piglets at 21 d postweaning are capable of utilizing nutrients from FFS. No treatment effects were detected in blood metabolites. The data suggests that piglets at 16 d of age are not sufficiently mature to use extruded FFS in their diets. Nevertheless, FFS seemed to be able to replace upto 50% of SBM in weaned piglet diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.493-499
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to find the way to prolong the storage time of sawdust-based oyster mushroom (Pleurotus osteratus) spent substrate (OMSS) by fermenting with potential probiotic microorganisms to recycle the otherwise waste of mushroom farms. To this purpose, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened to select the best lactic acid-producing strains. Three strains of LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum Lp1', Pediococcus acidilacticii Pa193, L. plantarum Lp2M) were selected and in mixture they lowered the pH of the fermented OMSS to 3.81. fOMSS (fermented sawdust-based oyster mushroom spent substrate) could be stored at room temperature for at least 17 days without any deterioration of feed quality based on the pH, smell, and color. In dry matter disappearance rate in situ, commercial TMR (total mixed ration), OMSS and OMMM (oyster mushroom mycelium mass) showed no significant differences between the samples after 6, 12 and 24 h incubation except for 48 h. Two separate field studies were performed to test the effects of fOMSS supplement on the growth performance of postweaning Holstein calves. Field trials included groups of animals feeding calf starter supplemented with: Control (no supplement), AB (colistin 0.08% and oxyneo 110/110 0.1%), fOMSS (10% fOMSS) and fConc (10% fermented concentrate) and DFM (direct-fed microbials, average $10^9$ cfu for each of three LAB/d/head). Growth performance (average daily gain and feed efficiency) of the fOMSS supplement group was higher than that of AB followed by fConc and DFM even though there was no statistically significant difference. The Control group was lower than any other group. Various hematological values including IgG, IgA, RBC (red blood cell), hemoglobin, and hematocrit were measured every 10 days to check any unusual abnormality for all groups in trial I and II, and they were within a normal and safe range. Our results suggest that sawdust-based OMSS could be recycled after fermentation with three probiotic LAB strains as a feed supplement for post-weaning calves, and fOMSS has the beneficial effects of an alternative to antibiotics for a growth enhancer in dairy calves.