• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2013

The present study examined effects of production performance, immune activity and egg quality by raising on exercise yard in laying Hens, the results of which could be used as baseline data to enhance animal welfare and the safety of livestock products. A total of 90 Hy-line-Brown laying hens of 13 weeks old were used in the experiment for 38 weeks. The cage group (Cage group) was raised in a cage, where an area of $0.084m^2$ was assigned to two hens, while hens in the exercise yard $1.1m^2$ group ($1.1m^2$ group) was assigned to a combination of a chicken house ($0.11m^2$) and a exercise yard ($1.1m^2$) per a hen. Hens in the exercise yard $2.2m^2$ group ($2.2m^2$ group) was assigned to a combination of a chicken house ($0.11m^2$) and a exercise yard ($2.2m^2$) per a hen. Treatment was replicated 3 times with ten birds per replication. Ten birds were arranged according to randomized block design. While initial egg production rate was significantly higher in the Cage group, $1.1m^2$ group exhibited a slightly higher rate in the mid- and late-stage of the experiment, although the difference was not statistically significant. Exercise yard treatment groups exhibited a higher feed intake rate than the Cage group up until the hens were 39 weeks old (P<0.05), but the difference dissipated from that age on. The age at first egg in the exercise yard treatment groups was 16 days later than that for the Cage group (P<0.05), although differences in the quality of the eggs were not observed. The results of immune activity test showed that IgA in the exercise yard treatment groups was significantly higher than that in the Cage group (P<0.05). IgG, IgM, and corticosterone were also higher in the exercise yard treatment groups. The soil in exercise yard increased of organic matter and decreased of cation exchange capacity (CEC) in raised hens. In sum, raising hens in a exercise yard raise style decreased the rate of initial egg production, which was followed by a slight increase during the latter part of the experiment. The exercise yard raise hens' immune activity was heightened.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate occurrence patterns of Clostridium perfringens on different raising periods in broilers. In different raising periods, we investigated the change in the gross lesion and microscopic histological findings of the mucose of the small intestine, colony forming unit (CFU) and the types C. perfringens with PCR assay. According to the gross lesions on the mucose of small intestine with 10-days-old broilers, the non-antibiotic group showed a higher value (0.6) than the antibiotic group (0.0). Whereas 20-days-old broilers with, the antibiotic treatment had a slightly lower value (1.0) than the non-antibiotic group (1.3). In the histological examination on the villi of the small intestine, there was no damage of the villi of the small intestine with 1-day-old broilers in both groups; however, the non-antibiotic group showed a higher value (0.4) than the antibiotic group (0.0) with 10-days-old broilers. In the non-antibiotic group, the CFU of C. perfringens of the fecal samples from the small intestine increased from 10 days of raising broilers and rapidly increase after 20 and 30 days of raising broilers. There was no detection of C. perfringens types with PCR assy in 1-day-old broilers, but we found C. perfringens type A in 10-, 20- and 30-days-old broilers. Although it is possible to raise healthy broilers by using antibiotics, the addition of antibiotics to concentrate feed is prohibited for public health. The results of this study would contribute to proper feeding management through the careful use of antibiotics.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2013

The present study was performed to assess the worth of using the by products for seaweed (Eucheuma spinosum) ethanol production process (SEPPB) as broiler feeds. For this purpose, 225 broiler chicks (white mini broilers) were used as experimental animals. The control (Control group) was fed with the broiler feeds. 5% mixture (5% SEPPB group) was fed with a 5% SEPPB mixture feeds, and the 10% mixture (10% SEPPB group) was fed with a 10% SEPPB group mixture feeds. The experiment was repeated for five times and 15 birds were assigned in each experiment and the experimental period was five weeks. There was no difference in the rate of weight gain until the second week of the 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group. However, the weight gain rate was increased to 6.2% for the 5% SEPPB group and 11.4% for the 10% SEPPB group as compared to the Control group at the third weeks of the experimental period. There was no statistical significant difference in terms of feed FCR and feed intake. Analyses of the quality of chicken breasts showed that pH was 2.5% higher in the 5% SEPPB group and 2.3% higher in the 10% SEPPB group. Shearing force was 31.3% lower in the 5% SEPPB group and 14.7% lower in the 10% SEPPB group, while heating loss was 14.4% lower for 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group when compared to the Control group. No significant differences were observed in terms of moisture, protein, and crude ash components in chicken breast analyses. However, crude fat was 36.8% higher in the 5% SEPPB group when compared to the Control group (P<0.05). Analyses of fatty acid in chicken breast meat showed that stearic acid was significantly higher in the 10% SEPPB group (P<0.05) and linolenic acid was significantly higher in 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group in comparison to the Control group (P<0.05). Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in blood serum was 44% higher in the 5% SEPPB group and 36% higher in the 10% SEPPB group (P<0.05). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was similar in both the Control and the 5% SEPPB group, but it was 62% higher in the 10% SEPPB group in comparison to the Control group (P<0.05). Analyses of serum chemical values revealed that albumin was the highest in the 5% SEPPB group, followed by the Control group and then 10% SEPPB group.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding with dietary silicate based complex mineral (SCM) on the performance of laying hens. SCM at five levels (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% and 0.8%) was added to commercial diets, and fed to four hundred fifty Hy-Line Brown from fifty four to sixty five weeks of age. Egg production increased as the addition of dietary SCM to basal diets increased up to 0.6% (P<0.05). Furthermore, Feed intake increased in a manner similar to that of egg production (P<0.05). However, there was no difference in feed efficiency among the treatments. Eggshell thickness and breaking strength were significantly higher for the chickens fed with SCM than control from sixty weeks old to the end of experiment (P<0.05). Similarly, albumen height and Haugh unit were significantly higher for the chickens fed with SCM compared to those of control group (P<0.05). AST of birds fed SCM showed significantly higher than control (P<0.05). However, blood neutral fat level tended to increase in SCM treatments. Moreover, bone mineral density increased with SCM addition up to 0.4% (P<0.05). IL-2 (Interleukin-2) and IL-6 (Interleukin-6) levels appeared to be improved in the chickens fed with SCM addition diets, although not statistically different from all treatments. The results of this study indicated that the optimum SCM for improving the performance, egg quality and immunological competence of laying hens from 54 to 65 weeks of age was 0.6%.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary silicate based complex mineral (SCM) on the performance of broiler chicks. Four hundred fifty one day old Cobb ${\times}$ Cobb broiler chicks were fed with commercial diets at 0%, 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% and 0.20% SCM with five replicates for five weeks. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion were measured weekly, and blood composition, immunity and meat quality were evaluated at the end of experiment. During overall period weight gain in chicks fed diet containing 0.1% SCM was significantly increased as compared with that of control (p<0.05). Feed intake showed no consistency among the treatments. Feed conversion appeared to increase in the chickens fed with SCM addition diets during prestarter period. Albumin, glucose and other blood parameters related to chicken health tended to improve at the level of 0.05% SCM addition treatments. Drip loss in breast meat was significantly decreased in more than 0.05% SCM addition (p<0.05). The expression of IL-2 (Interleukin-2) in blood increased significantly in the chickens fed with SCM of 0.05% or 0.10% level than other treatments (p<0.05). The optimum SCM concentration for commercial dietary supplementation for improving broiler performance and other health-related parameters was 0.10%.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.253-258
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• 2017

This study was aimed at evaluating the additivity of crude protein digestibility in mixed diets of corn and soybean meal (SBM), and comparing direct and indirect methods for evaluating crude protein (CP) digestibility. Totally, five hundred and twenty-five 18-day-old broiler chickens were grouped into 7 blocks based on body weight, and randomly allocated to 6 treatment groups in a randomized complete block design. The basal diet, diet 3, was corn-SBM-based, containing 65% corn and 28% SBM. Diets 1 and 5 contained corn and SBM, respectively, as the sole CP source. To use the difference method, 2 diets, diets 2 and 4, were prepared by mixing corn and SBM at the expense of the basal diet, respectively. Diet 2 contained 79% corn and 14% SBM, and diet 4 contained 32.5% corn and 34% SBM. To evaluate the additivity of digestibility values, the difference between measured values for the mixed diets (diets 2, 3, and 4) and predicted values calculated using the measured values for diets 1 and 5 was examined. The apparent (AID) and standardized (SID) ileal digestibility of CP in SBM differed between the direct and indirect methods; however, corresponding digestibility did not differ for corn. Additionally, the predicted and measured digestibility of both AID and SID differed in diets 2 and 3, implying that the digestibility values obtained from diets 1 and 5 were not additive for mixed diets. In conclusion, this study showed that digestibility evaluated by direct and indirect methods depends on the ingredients having different CP concentrations, and this finding may be considered to improve the accuracy of feed formulation for broiler chickens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2017

This study was to investigate the effect of chick weight in the early growth period on market-weight of Korean native chickens (KNCs). We measured the body weights of 1,087 chickens (male 479, female 608) of 13 KNC strains at 1-84 days of age at two week intervals. The growth performance of the 13 KNC strains was investigated. Correlation coefficients among the weights of chickens in each growth period and regression of market-weight on early chick weights were analyzed. The results showed that the average body weight of 70-day-old KNCs was 1,962g: 2,154g and 1,819.7g for males and females, respectively. The equation for regression of body weight on age was estimated as $\hat{Y}=0.1347X^2+18.738X-40.134$ ($R^2=0.9418$). Using this regression equation, the duration required to attain a KNC market-weight of 2 kg was estimated as 71.8 days. All the correlation coefficients between early chick weight and market-weight were significantly positive. Although the correlation coefficients among the chick weights in each growth period decreased with increase in age interval, early growth weight had a significant effect on late growth performance. The correlation coefficient between market-weight at 70-days and chick weight at 1-day was estimated to be a low as 0.10-0.13. In the estimations of market-weight correlation coefficients, correlation coefficient and coefficient of determination were high in the female and male chicks after 28-days and 42-days of age, respectively. The results of the analysis of correlation and regression between early chick weight and market-weight of KNCs showed that market-weight could be predicted based on the weights of 28-day-old females and 42-day-old males.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2020

This study presents the production characteristics and physiological characteristics of five Korean native chicken (KNC) breeds consisting of Hwanggalsaek Jaeraejong (HJ), Korean Rhode Island Red (KR), Korean White Leghorn (KL), Korean Brown Cornish (KC), and Korean Ogye (KO). We investigated their production performances, vitalities, and stress responses. We measured the survival rate, body weight, age at first egg-laying, hen-day egg production, egg weight, amount of telomeric DNA, heterophil-lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio), and heat shock protein (HSP)-70, HSP-90α and HSP-90β gene expression levels for 493 KNCs. The survival rate was highest in KR, and lowest in KO. Body weights were steadily high in the order of KC, KR, HJ, KO and KL. Average hen-day egg production was highest in KL, and lowest in KC. While the amount of telomeric DNA was highest in KR, and lowest in KC. Furthermore, both the H/L ratio and the HSP-90β gene expression level were highest in KC, and lowest in KR. These results indicated that the KR breed was highly resistant to stress, whereas KC was more susceptible to stress. Taken together, it is considered that with improvements the KC breed would be more suited to be used as a Korean broiler breed while KL would be more appropriately used as a Korean layer breed. In addition, it is considered that the KR breed is appropriate to be used as a maternal chicken breeder based on good production capacity and excellent robustness, while the HJ breed is desirable to be improved as a high-quality Korean meat breed based on its excellent meat quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1619-1637
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• 2000

A review was undertaken to obtain information on the range of beak-trimming methods available or under development. Beak-trimming of commercial layer replacement pullets is a common yet critical management tool that can affect the performance for the life of the flock. The most obvious advantage of beak-trimming is a reduction in cannibalism although the extent of the reduction in cannibalism depends on the strain, season, and type of housing, flock health and other factors. Beak-trimming also improves feed conversion by reducing food wastage. A further advantage of beak-trimming is a reduction in the chronic stress associated with dominance interactions in the flock. Beak-trimming of birds at 7-10 days is favoured by Industry but research over last 10 years has shown that beak-trimming at day-old causes the least stress on birds and efforts are needed to encourage Industry to adopt the practice of beak-trimming birds at day-old. Proper beak-trimming can result in greatly improved layer performance but improper beak-trimming can ruin an other wise good flock of hens. Re-trimming is practiced in most flocks, although there are some flocks that only need one trimming. Given the continuing welfare scrutiny of using a hot blade to cut the beak, attempts have been made to develop more welfare friendly methods of beak-trimming. Despite the developments in design of hot blade beak-trimmers the process has remained largely unchanged. That is, a red-hot blade cuts and cauterises the beak. The variables in the process are blade temperature, cauterisation time, operator ability, severity of trimming, age of trimming, strain of bird and beak length. This method of beak-trimming is still overwhelmingly favoured in Industry and there appears to be no other alternative procedures that are more effective. Sharp secateurs have been used trim the upper beak of both layers and turkeys. Bleeding from the upper mandible ceases shortly after the operation, and despite the regrowth of the beak a reduction of cannibalism has been reported. Very few differences have been noted between behaviour and production of the hot blade and cold blade cut chickens. This method has not been used on a large scale in Industry. There are anecdotal reports of cannibalism outbreaks in birds with regrown beaks. A robotic beak-trimming machine was developed in France, which permitted simultaneous, automated beak-trimming and vaccination of day-old chicks of up to 4,500 chickens per hour. Use of the machine was not successful because if the chicks were not loaded correctly they could drop off the line, receive excessive beak-trimming or very light trimming. Robotic beak-trimming was not effective if there was a variation in the weight or size of chickens. Capsaicin can cause degeneration of sensory nerves in mammals and decreases the rate of beak regrowth by its action on the sensory nerves. Capsaicin is a cheap, non-toxic substance that can be readily applied at the time of less severe beak-trimming. It suffers the disadvantage of causing an extreme burning sensation in operators who come in contact with the substance during its application to the bird. Methods of applying the substance to minimise the risk to operators of coming in contact with capsaicin need to be explored. A method was reported which cuts the beaks with a laser beam in day-old chickens. No details were provided on the type of laser used, or the severity of beak-trimming, but by 16 weeks the beaks of laser trimmed birds resembled the untrimmed beaks, but without the bill tip. Feather pecking and cannibalism during the laying period were highest among the laser trimmed hens. Currently laser machines are available that are transportable and research to investigate the effectiveness of beak-trimming using ablasive and coagulative lasers used in human medicine should be explored. Liquid nitrogen was used to declaw emu toes but was not effective. There was regrowth of the claws and the time and cost involved in the procedure limit the potential of using this process to beak-trim birds.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2006

Offensive odor from CAFO(concentrated animal feeding operation) and its control have become a significant issue in Korea. Control of odors from the CAFO requires to identify major odorant and their generation mechanisms. In this study, an easy method to collect gas sample and to quantify its odorants is proposed. The method involves on-site odorant extraction with solid-phase microextraction and quantitation with GC/MSD or GC/FID. Analytes of the current study include: trimethylamine(TMA), carbon disulfide($CS_2$), dimethyl sulfide(DMS), dimethyl disulfide(DMDS), acetic acid(AA), propionic acid(PA) and n-butyric acid(BA). The resulting linearity($R^2$) of calibration curve for each analyte was good over the range from several ppbv to ppmv; 0.984 for TMA(0.056-1.437), 0.996 for $CS_2$(0.039-0.999), 0.994 for DMS(0.029-0.756), 0.995 for DMDS(0.024-0.623), 0.992 for AA(0.068-1.314), 0.955 for PA(0.047-0.940), and 0.976 for BA(0.036-0.712). Method detection limits were 5.67, 6.39, 5.78, 25.2, 0.098, 0.363 and 0.099 ppbv for AA, PA, BA, TMA, DMS, $CS_2$, and DMDS, respectively. With the developed method, odorants from poultry, swine, and cattle barns were analysed. All the compounds but DMDS were detected from the sample collected in the poultry barn, and their levels exceeded the representative published human olfactory threshold.