• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.184-195
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• 2022

Objective: In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary live yeast supplementation on ruminal pH pattern, fermentation characteristics and associated bacteria in beef cattle. Methods: This work comprised of in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro fermentation was conducted by incubating 0%, 0.05%, 0.075%, 0.1%, 0.125%, and 0.15% active dried yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ADY) with total mixed ration substrate to determine its dose effect. According to in vitro results, 0.1% ADY inclusion level was assigned in in vivo study for continuously monitoring ruminal fermentation characteristics and microbes. Six ruminally cannulated steers were randomly assigned to 2 treatments (Control and ADY supplementation) as two-period crossover design (30-day). Blood samples were harvested before-feeding and rumen fluid was sampled at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 h post-feeding on 30 d. Results: After 24 h in vitro fermentation, pH and gas production were increased at 0.1% ADY where ammonia nitrogen and microbial crude protein also displayed lowest and peak values, respectively. Acetate, butyrate and total volatile fatty acids concentrations heightened with increasing ADY doses and plateaued at high levels, while acetate to propionate ratio was decreased accordingly. In in vivo study, ruminal pH was increased with ADY supplementation that also elevated acetate and propionate. Conversely, ADY reduced lactate level by dampening Streptococcus bovis and inducing greater Selenomonas ruminantium and Megasphaera elsdenii populations involved in lactate utilization. The serum urea nitrogen decreased, whereas glucose, albumin and total protein concentrations were increased with ADY supplementation. Conclusion: The results demonstrated dietary ADY improved ruminal fermentation dose-dependently. The ruminal lactate reduction through modification of lactate metabolic bacteria could be an important reason for rumen pH stabilization induced by ADY. ADY supplementation offered a complementary probiotics strategy in improving gluconeogenesis and nitrogen metabolism of beef cattle, potentially resulted from optimized rumen pH and fermentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.667-673
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• 2009

Ninety six intact male sheep (12 months old with mean live weight of about 35 kg) were used to assess the effects of restricted feeding on intake, digestion, nitrogen balance and metabolizable energy (ME). The animals were selected from two known Iranian small and large body size breeds: 48 Sangsari (S) and 48 Afshari (A), and were divided into two equal groups: restricted (R) and a control (C). Each group had 48 sheep (24 each breed). The experiment had a duration of 15 and 75 days adaptation and treatment periods, respectively. The animals were individually placed in metabolism cages and fed a diet based on pelleted concentrate mixture consisting of alfalfa, barley grain, cottonseed meal and barley straw. The animals in group C were fed ad libitum, while animals in group R were fed at maintenance level and maintained a relatively constant live weight. During the experiment, the average daily weight gain (ADG) of S and A animals in R group was 0.34 and -0.25 g/d (0.02 and -0.02 $g/kg^{0.75}/d$), respectively. While that of S and A animals in C group was 174.4 and 194.4 g/d (10.16 and 11.48 $g/kg^{0.75}/d$), respectively. Nitrogen (N) was determined by both measured and regression methods. Animals of R group stayed at about zero N balance (0.01 and -0.00 g $N/kg^{0.75}/d$ for S and A animals, respectively). The N retention of animals of both S and A breeds in C group were similar (0.45 and 0.46 g $N/kg^{0.75}/d$, respectively). Digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and ME requirement for maintenance (MEm) were measured by both constant weight technique and regression method by regressing N balance on DOMI and ME intake on ADG. The measured DOMI during constant weight was 24.61 and 24.27 g $DOMI/kg^{0.75}/d$ and the calculated DOMI from regression equation was 24.24 and 24.22 g $DOMI/kg^{0.75}/d$, for S and A animals, respectively. The measured MEm was 402 and 401 kJ $ME/kg^{0.75}/d$ and the calculated MEm from regression analysis was 398 and 400 kJ $ME/kg^{0.75}/d$ for S and A breeds, respectively. There were no significant differences between both measured and regression techniques. There was no significant difference between S and A breeds for DOMI, N retention, MEm, digestibility and metabolizability values. Digestibility values for OM, GE and CP and metabolizability were significantly (p<0.05) higher in restricted feeding sheep compared with that of sheep fed ad libitum.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.106-111
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• 2007

The current study was conducted to determine the optimum length of feed withdrawal for pre-harvest broilers. A total of three hundred broilers were sampled from an industrial population, and 30 chicks for each weight group (e.g., 1.5 and 2.5 kg) were randomly assigned to feed withdrawal treatments for 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h. Weight loss, yield, muscle pH, objective meat color and weights of gastro intestinal contents, crop, gizzard, provenriculus, small intestine, caecum, and rectum were determined. Live weight loss was significantly (p<0.05) increased as length of feed withdrawal extended. A significant (p<0.05) carcass yield for both 1.5 and 2.5 kg groups coincided after 9 and 6 h feed withdrawal, respectively. Net weights of intestinal contents for crop and gizzard were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by 6 h, and the reduction for proventriculus and small intestine occurred from 3 h. A noticeable effect of feed withdrawal on pH for breast muscle at 3 h postmortem occurred only when chicks were fasted for 3 h of which pH (6.05) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that for other groups including the control (5.74). There was a linear tendency of higher lightness (Hunter L* value) numerically for chicks fasted for longer periods. The highest coefficient of determinations of regression models to estimate weight loss as a function of fasting period and body weights were achieved, when the models included both linear and quadratic terms for fasting period, and linear term for both 1.5 ($R^2=0.76$) and 2.5 kg ($R^2=0.78$) body weight groups. Given the practical aspect, approximately 1.5 kg of body weight is dominant, weight loss could be predicted by the following function; live weight $loss=26.6-0.28{\times}(fasting period)^2+12.34{\times}pasting\;period-0.012{\times}body\;weight$, $R^2=0.76$. Current data implied that the optimum fasting time for pre-slaughter chicks varied depending on slaughter weight; 6 and 9-h fasting were recommendable for 2.5 and 1.5 kg chicks, with little effect on objective meat color.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1248-1255
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• 2009

This study was carried out to evaluate the fatty acid composition in Nellore cows supplemented with either linseed (n-3) or canola grains (n-6 and n-9). Fifteen Nellore cows, aged five years and bodyweight 550 kg${\pm}$48 kg, were randomly distributed to the following treatments: CON (control), LIN (linseed) and CAN (canola grains). The cows were fed for 80 days. The concentrations of C18:0, C18:2 n-6 and C20:3 n-6 fatty acid were higher (p<0.10) in CON blood plasma in comparison to follicular liquid. Likewise, PUFA, n-6 contents, PUFA:SFA and n-6:n-3 ratios were higher (p<0.10) in blood plasma. On the other hand, C18:1 n-9, C22:5 n-3, MUFA and n-3 contents were lower (p<0.10) in blood plasma. C18:0, C18:2 n-6, C18:3 n-3, C22:5 n-3, PUFA, n-6, n-3 contents and PUFA:SFA ratio were higher (p<0.10) in LIN blood plasma than in the follicular liquid. Nevertheless, C14:0, C16:0, C16:1 n-7, PUFA, C16:0, C18:1 n-9 and MUFA contents were lower (p<0.10) in LIN blood plasma. On treatment CAN, the C18:0 and SFA contents, and n-6:n-3 ratios were higher (p<0.10) in blood plasma. However, C20:3 n-6, C22:5 n-3, PUFA and n-3 contents were lower (p<0.10) in blood plasma. C16:0, C18:0, PUFA, SFA contents and PUFA:SFA ratio did not differ (p>0.10) among the treatments. C14:0, C16:1 n-7, C18:2 n-6 and n-6 contents were higher (p<0.10) for CON and CAN than LIN. C17:1 n-7, C20:4 n-6 and C 22:0 contents were higher (p<0.10) for CAN than CON and LIN. C18:1 n-9, C18:3 n-3, MUFA and n-3 contents were higher (p<0.10) for LIN and CAN than CON. C20:3 n-6 content and n-6:n-3 ratio were higher (p<0.10) for CON than LIN and CAN. C22:5 n-3 content were higher (p<0.10) for CON and LIN than CAN. The concentrations of fatty acids in blood plasma and follicular liquid were not correlated for any fatty acid, independent of the treatment studied. Canola grain added to the diet of Nellore cows resulted in increased concentrations of fatty acids n-6 and n-3 in follicular liquid.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1540-1547
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• 2014

The accuracy of genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) was evaluated for sixteen meat quality traits in a Berkshire population (n = 1,191) that was collected from Dasan breeding farm, Namwon, Korea. The animals were genotyped with the Illumina porcine 62 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) bead chips, in which a set of 36,605 SNPs were available after quality control tests. Two methods were applied to evaluate GEBV accuracies, i.e. genome based linear unbiased prediction method (GBLUP) and Bayes B, using ASREML 3.0 and Gensel 4.0 software, respectively. The traits composed different sets of training (both genotypes and phenotypes) and testing (genotypes only) data. Under the GBLUP model, the GEBV accuracies for the training data ranged from $0.42{\pm}0.08$ for collagen to $0.75{\pm}0.02$ for water holding capacity with an average of $0.65{\pm}0.04$ across all the traits. Under the Bayes B model, the GEBV accuracy ranged from $0.10{\pm}0.14$ for National Pork Producers Council (NPCC) marbling score to $0.76{\pm}0.04$ for drip loss, with an average of $0.49{\pm}0.10$. For the testing samples, the GEBV accuracy had an average of $0.46{\pm}0.10$ under the GBLUP model, ranging from $0.20{\pm}0.18$ for protein to $0.65{\pm}0.06$ for drip loss. Under the Bayes B model, the GEBV accuracy ranged from $0.04{\pm}0.09$ for NPCC marbling score to $0.72{\pm}0.05$ for drip loss with an average of $0.38{\pm}0.13$. The GEBV accuracy increased with the size of the training data and heritability. In general, the GEBV accuracies under the Bayes B model were lower than under the GBLUP model, especially when the training sample size was small. Our results suggest that a much greater training sample size is needed to get better GEBV accuracies for the testing samples.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.404-409
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• 2009

A total of 240 day-old broiler chicks were used to study the effects of phytase on performance and phosphorus (P) excretion from birds fed diets containing low phytate barleys formulated without inorganic P. A positive control based on Harrington barley (HB) was formulated to meet requirements for total P. Three experimental diets, based on either HB (0.39% total P with 0.28% phytate P) or the low phytate varieties LP 422 (0.36% total P with 0.14% phytate P) and LP 955 (0.40% total P with 0.01% phytate P), were formulated to be below requirements for total P by removing all the inorganic P from the diet. The four diets were fed with and without 1,000 FTU/kg phytase. Apparent P digestibility was significantly higher (p<0.01) for birds fed the low phytate barleys than for birds fed HB either supplemented or un-supplemented with inorganic P. P excretion was significantly lower (p<0.01) for birds fed HB without inorganic P than with inorganic P. P excretion was further reduced by the use of the low phytate barleys LP 422 and LP 455 (p<0.01). Phytase supplementation did not affect P excretion (p = 0.39). Body weight gain and feed intake were highest for birds fed the HB diet with inorganic P and lowest for birds fed the HB diet without inorganic P (p<0.01). Among the three low P diets, body weight gain and feed intake of broilers increased as the level of phytate in the barley declined (p<0.01). Phytase modestly increased body weight gain (p = 0.08) and feed intake (p = 0.04). The overall results of this study indicate that it may be possible to reduce the amount of inorganic P used when formulating diets with low phytate barley compared with the levels needed when formulating diets with normal phytate barley. However, it is not possible to completely replace the inorganic P in diets containing low phytate barley without impairing poultry performance. Feeding diets devoid of supplementary inorganic P in combination with low phytate barley resulted in a significant reduction in P excretion by poultry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.382-392
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• 2012

This study evaluated the effects of dietary anticoccidial drugs plus antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) on parameters of immunity in commercial broiler chickens. Day-old chicks were raised on used litter from a farm with endemic gangrenous dermatitis to simulate natural pathogen exposure and provided with diets containing decoquinate (DECX) or monensin (COBN) as anticoccidials plus bacitracin methylene disalicylate and roxarsone as AGPs. As a negative control, the chickens were fed with a non-supplemented diet. Immune parameters examined were concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated spleen cell proliferation, intestine intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) and spleen cell subpopulations, and cytokine/chemokine mRNA levels in IELs and spleen cells. ConA-induced proliferation was decreased at 14 d post-hatch in DECX-treated chickens, and increased at 25 and 43 d in COBN-treated animals, compared with untreated controls. In DECX-treated birds, increased percentages of $MHC2^+$ and $CD4^+$ IELS were detected at 14 d, but decreased percentages of these cells were seen at 43 d, compared with untreated controls, while increased $TCR2^+$ IELs were evident at the latter time. Dietary COBN was associated with decreased fractions of $MHC2^+$ and $CD4^+$ IELs and reduced percentages of $MHC2^+$, $BU1^+$, and $TCR1^+$ spleen cells compared with controls. The levels of transcripts for interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-17F, IL-13, CXCLi2, interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), and transforming growth factor${\beta}$4 were elevated in IELs, and those for IL-13, IL-17D, CXCLi2, and IFN-${\gamma}$ were increased in spleen cells, of DECX- and/or COBN-treated chickens compared with untreated controls. By contrast, IL-2 and IL-12 mRNAs in IELs, and IL-4, IL-12, and IL-17F transcripts in spleen cells, were decreased in DECX- and/or COBN-treated chickens compared with controls. These results suggest that DECX or COBN, in combination with bacitracin and roxarsone, modulate the development of the chicken post-hatch immune system.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1599-1609
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• 2020

Objective: This study was designed to determine how feeding diets differing in crude protein (CP) and undegraded intake protein (UIP) levels affected productivity, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics, and the production economics of Hanwoo steers. Methods: Thirty-six Hanwoo steers (age = 8.2±0.5 mo; body weight = 254±16.1 kg) were assigned at random to one of three treatments (4 steers/pen; 3 pens/treatment): i) a low-CP diet (LP; control) containing 12.1% CP with 35.1% UIP, 12.0% CP with 36.8% UIP, and 12.9% CP with 48.8% UIP, in the growing, fattening, and finishing periods, respectively; ii) a high-CP, low-UIP diet (HPLU) containing 15.0% CP with 33.7% UIP, 14.0% CP with 35.7% UIP, and 13.1% CP with 46.7% UIP, respectively; and iii) a high-CP, high-UIP diet (HPHU) containing 15.0% CP with 45.8% UIP, 14.0% CP with 44.6% UIP, and 13.0% CP with 51.1% UIP, respectively. Results: The treatments did not affect feed intake and growth performance, except for average daily gain during the fattening period that tended to be the lowest (p = 0.08) in the HPLU-fed steers. The feed CP conversion ratio over the entire feeding period was higher with high-CP diets. The treatments did not affect most blood metabolites; however, blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations during the fattening and finishing periods were the lowest in steers fed a HPLU diet. The treatments had negligible effects on cold carcass weight, yield traits including longissimus muscle area, backfat thickness, yield index, and yield grade, plus quality traits including meat color, fat color, texture, and maturity. However, marbling score and frequency of carcass quality grade 1⁺⁺ were greater in HPHU-fed steers. Conclusion: Feeding diets with higher CP and UIP levels did not affect growth performance but tended to improve the carcass quality of Hanwoo steers, resulting in greater economic return.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.109-115
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• 2004

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of taurine (Tau) supplements on broiler growth performance, serum constituents and antibody production. In Exp. 1, 3 day old chicks received a basal diet supplemented with Tau at 0, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 or 0.40% for 6 weeks. Although dietary Tau supplementing at 0.30 or 0.40% enhanced feed conversion and reduced feed consumption during 0 to 3 weeks (p<0.05), neither serum total cholesterol or anti-Newcastle disease virus (NDV) titer were affected. In Exp. 2, dietary Tau supplement at 0.25-0.75% enhanced feed conversion of broilers during 0 to 3 weeks, but daily gain and feed consumption were not affected. The 0.75% Tau supplement group displayed lower serum total cholesterol at 6 weeks (p<0.05) comparing with the control group but no difference in anti-NDV titers. In Exp. 3, broilers were treated with dietary Tau of 0 or 0.50% combined with low (0/0%), medium (0.18/0.08%), or high (0.36/0.16%) methionine (Met) levels for 6 weeks (0 to 3/3 to 6 weeks). The addition of Met significantly improved daily gain and feed conversion of broilers during 0 to 3 weeks (p<0.01). Dietary Tau interacted significantly with Met on daily gain and feed consumption. Broiler serum amino acids revealed that Met supplements only increased serum Met level, but only serum Tau level was enhanced as given dietary Tau supplementation. The broilers receiving Tau normalized serum triglycerides level by feeding with the low Met diet and tended to display higher anti-NDV titers (p<0.10). The experimental results suggest that the growth response obtained by Tau supplements results partly from interactions with sulfur amino acids. However, the modulation of the broiler lipid metabolism may be responsible for dietary Tau.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 2018

Objective: Broilers show clear preference towards red color light (RL). However setting of an optimum light intensity is difficult since dim intensities that favor growth reduce welfare. This experiment was conducted to test the most effective RL intensity regimen (Dim [5 lux; DI] vs high [320 lux; HI]) in combination applied at different growth stages that favors for both performance and welfare. Methods: Complete randomize design was adopted with 6 replicates. Treatments were; T1 = early DI (8-21 d)+latter HI (22-35 d); T2 = early DI (8-28 d)+latter HI (29-35 d), T3 = early HI (8-21 d)+latter DI (22-35 d), T4 = early HI (8-28 d)+latter DI (29-35 d) and T5 = control (white light; WT) (8-35 d) at medium intensity (20 lux). Body weight (BW), weight gain (WG), water/feed intake and ratio, feed conversion ratios (FCR) were assessed. Common behaviours (15) were recorded by scan sampling method. Lameness, foot pad dermatitis, breast blisters, hock burning damage were assessed as welfare parameters. Fear reactions were tested using Tonic Immobility Test. Ocular and carcass evaluations were done. Meat and tibiae were analyzed for fat and bone ash respectively. Results: On 35 d, the highest BW ($2,155.72{\pm}176g$), WG ($1,967.78{\pm}174g$) were recorded by T2 compared to WT ($BW_{WT}=1,878.22{\pm}155$, $WG_{WT}=1,691.83{\pm}160$). But, application of RL, either DI, or HI during early/latter stage had no significant effect on FCR. Under HI, birds showed much higher active behaviours. DI encourages eating. Though LI changed from DI to HI, same trend could be seen even under HI. The highest leg strength ($218.5{\pm}120s$) was recorded by T2. The lowest leg strength ($64.58{\pm}33s$) and the highest ocular weight ($2.48{\pm}1g$) were recorded by T1. Significantly (p<0.05) the highest skin weight ($162.17{\pm}6g$) but the lowest fat% in meat ($13.03%{\pm}5%$) was recorded by T2. Conclusion: Early exposure to DI-RL up to 28 days followed by exposure to HI-RL is the most favorable lighting regimen for optimizing production, better welfare of broilers and improving health benefits of meat.