• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권10호
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• pp.1539-1545
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• 2007

An experiment was conducted using 20 male buffalo calves to study the effect of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on their immune response and plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and selenium status. These buffalo calves (10-12 months old, average body weight $75.30{\pm}2.20 $ kg) were randomly allotted to four treatments on the basis of their body weights and were fed on wheat straw and concentrate mixture to meet their nutrient requirements of 500 g/d body weight gain. The buffalo calves were fed either a control diet (neither supplemented with Se nor VE) or diets supplemented with Se at 0.3 ppm (+Se), DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate at 300 IU (+VE), and both DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate at 300 IU and Se at 0.3 ppm (+Se+VE). These experimental diets were fed for 180 days. Blood samples were collected at day 0 and subsequently at 45 day intervals up to 180 days of experimental feeding to monitor plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and Se concentrations. To assess humoral immune response, all calves were sensitized with formalin inactivated Pasteurella multocida antigen at 135 days of experimental feeding and blood was collected on 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post vaccination (DPV) to measure antibody production using indirect ELISA. Cell mediated immune response of calves was assessed after 180 days of experimental feeding by in vivo delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction using phytohaemaglutinin-P (PHA-P) as a mitogen. Results revealed that feeding of VE and Se improved the plasma levels of these nutrients. Plasma levels of Se were affected by supplementation of both VE (p<0.001) and Se (p<0.001); however, no interaction ($Se{\times}VE$) was observed. Supplementation of Se improved the humoral immune response (p<0.008), whereas, VE showed a tendency towards improvement in cell mediated immune response (p<0.064). It was concluded that vitamin E and Se supplementation improved the status of these micronutrients and humoral immune response in buffalo calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권10호
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• pp.1606-1611
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• 2007

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dihydropyridine on laying performance and fat metabolism of laying hens. Five hundred and forty laying hens, 40 weeks old, were randomly allotted to three groups, each of which included four replicates of 45 hens. The groups were given a basal corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with 0, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine. Results showed that compared with the control group (0 mg/kg dihydropyridine), supplements of 150 and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased egg production rate by 9.39% (p<0.01) and 12.97% (p<0.01), increased mean egg weight by 3% (p>0.05) and 4.8% (p>0.05), and improved feed efficiency by 9.54% (p<0.05) and 7.25% (p<0.05), respectively; The addition of 150 and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine decreased percentage of abdominal fat by 35.4% (p<0.05) and 46.9% (p<0.05), decreased liver fat content by 32.4% (p<0.05) and 10.5% (p<0.05), increased HSL activity of abdominal fat by 39.64% (p<0.05) and 48.48% (p<0.05), increased HSL activity of liver by 9.4% (p>0.05) and 47.34% (p<0.05) and increased the content of cAMP in adenohypophysis by 14.67% (p<0.05) and 10.91% (p<0.05), respectively; The inclusion of 150 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased liver superoxide dismutase activity by 69.61% (p<0.05), and increased hepatic apoB concentration by 53.96% (p<0.05); The supplementation of 150 or 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine decreased malondialdehyde concentration of hepatic mitochondria by 30.90% (p<0.01) and 10.39% (p<0.05), respectively; Supplemented dihydropyridine had no significant effects on TG, Ch HDL-C and VLDL-C concentrations in serum; addition of 150 or 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased T3 levels in serum by 15.34% (p<0.05) and 11.88% (p<0.05) and decreased insulin concentration by 40.44% (p<0.05) and 54.37% (p<0.05), respectively. The results demonstrated that adding dihydropyridine had the tendency of improving very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) content in the ovary. It was concluded that dihydropyridine could improve laying performance and regulate the fat metabolism of laying hens and that 150 mg/kg dihydropyridine is the optimum dose for laying birds in practical conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.559-568
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• 2012

White (Lohmann LSL) and Brown (ATAK-S) laying hens, were reared under organic and conventional cage rearing systems, and the effects of the rearing system on performance parameters, egg production, egg characteristics, and immune response were investigated. For this purpose, a total of 832 laying hens of two commercial hybrids, i.e., 416 white (Lohmann LSL) and 416 Brown (ATAK-S) layers, were used. The experiment lasted between 23 and 70 wk of age. In this study, the white layers yielded more eggs as compared to the brown layers in both organic and conventional production systems. Egg weight exhibited a similar pattern to that of laying performance. However, the total hen-housed egg number for the white birds in the organic system was fewer than that of white birds in the conventional cage facility; conversely, a contradictory tendency was observed for the brown birds. Livability of the white layers in the organic system was remarkably lower (14%) than that of the brown line, whereas the white line survived better (3.42%) than their brown counterparts in conventional cages. The feed conversion ratio of the white hens was markedly inferior in the organic system as compared to that of the white hens in the conventional system, whereas relatively lower deterioration was reported in brown layers when reared in an organic system. The organic production system increased egg albumen height and the Haugh unit in eggs of the brown layers. The yolk color score of organic eggs was lower than that of conventional eggs for both brown and white hens. The egg yolk ratio of eggs from white layers was found to be higher in organic eggs as compared to those obtained in the conventional system. All organic eggs had heavier shells than those produced in the conventional system. Eggs from brown layers had more protein content than eggs from white layers. Neither housing systems nor genotype influenced egg yolk cholesterol concentration. When compared to conventional eggs, n-3 fatty acid content was lower in organic eggs, and the n-6:n-3 ratio was higher in organic eggs. In conclusion, two hen genotypes showed different responses in terms of performance and egg quality to two different rearing systems. A commercial white strain produced more eggs with higher egg quality as compared to a native brown strain. The brown strain was found to have adapted well to organic production conditions when survival and total egg number was taken into consideration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.86-93
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• 2004

Sixteen early lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes, four animals in each group, were used in a Completely Randomized Design to evaluate the effect of varying levels of both ruminally protected fat and urea treated corncobs ensiled with or without corn steep liquor (CSL) on feed intake, digestibility and milk production and its composition. Four experimental diets were formulated. The control (C) diet was balanced to contain 0% fat and 35% urea treated corncobs ensiled with 0% CSL. The low fat (LF), medium fat (MF) and high fat (HF) diets had 45, 55 and 65% urea treated corncobs ensiled with 9% CSL and 2, 4 and 6% ruminally protected fat, respectively. Dry matter, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intakes by buffaloes remained similar across all treatments. However, DM and NDF as a percent of body weight and digestible DM intakes were higher in HF diet when compared to C, LF and MF diets. Digestible NDF intakes were also significantly higher in HF diet as compared to all other diets. The intakes of ADF and digestible ADF were higher in MF and HF than C and LF diets. The significant variation in digestible DM, ADF and NDF intakes may be attributed to the ammoniation of corncobs along with CSL that caused significant changes in the degradability and digestibility of the diets. Ether extract and digestible EE intakes differed significantly (p<0.05) among all treatments. Intakes of EE were the highest in animals fed HF diet, which was because of added fat. Apparent DM digestibility was the highest in animals C diet and was the lowest in those fed LF diet. Neutral detergent fiber and ADF digestibilities were higher in animals fed diets containing urea treated corncobs ensiled with 9% CSL when compared to those fed diets containing urea treated corncobs ensiled without CSL. Apparent digestibility of CP was noted highest (71.47%) in animals fed HF diet when compared to those fed MF (67.75%), LF (67.04%) and C (65.39%) diets. Milk yield (4% FCM) was the higher in buffaloes fed HF, MF and LF diets than those fed C diet. These results indicated that increasing levels both of fat and urea treated corncobs ensiled with CSL elevated the negative effects of poor quality fibrous feed on milk production by buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.73-79
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• 2016

The objective was to evaluate the effect of fodder tree species (FTS) with condensed tannin contents: Cordia elaeagnoides, Platymiscium lasiocarpum, Vitex mollis, and Haematoxylon brasiletto, on in vitro methane ($CH_4$) production at 24 h post incubation. The analysis was performed using the in vitro gas production technique, with three levels of inclusion/species: 600, 800, and 1,000 mg and with 4 replicates/species/level of inclusion. The substrate was incubated at $39^{\circ}C$, and the gas and $CH_4$ production were recorded at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h post incubation. The data collected was analyzed through Pearson correlation, polinomial regression and fixed effects models. There were negative correlations between FTS-total gas volume (r = -0.40; p<0.001); FTS-volume of $CH_4$ produced (r = -0.40; p<0.001) and between the inclusion level-volume of $CH_4$ produced (r = -0.20; p<0.001). As well as a positive correlation between hours post incubation-total gas volume (r = 0.42; p<0.001) and between hours post incubation-volume of $CH_4$ produced (r = 0.48; p<0.001). The FTS: C. elaeagnoides, V. mollis, and H. brasiletto have potential, in the three inclusion levels analyzed, to reduce $CH_4$ emission on in vitro trials (>32.7%), taking into account the total $CH_4$ production at 24 h of the forage used as reference (Avena sativa). It's suggested that C. elaeagnoides-according to its crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and condensed tannins content- is the best alternative within the FTS analyzed, for feeding ruminants and for the control of $CH_4$ emissions during the dry season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.119-125
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• 2006

The present study including two experiments was designed to determine the effect of media containing different rare earth elements (REE) on proliferation and fatty acids accumulation in 3T3-L1 cell cultures. In Experiment 1, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in 96-well plates ($1.5{\times}10^4cells/ml$) were cultured with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 24 h. Then the media were changed to the following 10 different media for 48 h: DMEM containing 10% FBS for the control; the above media containing $5{\mu}M$, $10{\mu}M$ or $15{\mu}M$ of $LaCl_3$, $CeCl_3$ or the mixture of these REE chlorides. The proliferation rate of the cells was measured and compared by a non-isotope method-XTT method. In Experiment 2 the cells in 24-well plates ($1.5{\times}10^4cells/ml$) were cultured in DMEM containing 10% FBS for 7 days until confluent and then were changed to above DMEM containing dexamethasone, methyl-isobutylxanthine and insulin (DMI) for two days. Afterwards the media were changed to the 10 different media with REE supplements as in Experiment 1 and cultured for 6 days. The cells were then harvested for fatty acids analysis by gas chromatography. It was found that supplementation of La (5, 10 and $15{\mu}M$), Ce ($5{\mu}M$ and $15{\mu}M$) and the mixture REE (5, 10 and $15{\mu}M$) stimulated (p<0.05) the proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (Experiment 1). In the differentiating 3T3-L1 cells supplementation of La ($5{\mu}M$ and $10{\mu}M$), Ce ($5{\mu}M$) and the mixture REE ($5{\mu}M$ and $15{\mu}M$) decreased (p<0.05) the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) per $10^5cells$, while the supplementation of La ($5{\mu}M$), Ce ($5{\mu}M$) and the mixture REE ($15{\mu}M$) increased (p<0.05) the ratio of saturated fatty acids (SFA) to MUFA. These results indicate that the supplementation of REE to the media may affect proliferation, differentiation and lipogenesis rates of 3T3-L1 cells. However, the effect may depend upon the level or type of REE applied.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.378-384
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• 2007

Three microorganisms and one chemical preservative were tested for their effects on the fermentation and aerobic stability of whole-crop wheat, sorghum and maize silages. Wheat at the early dough stage, sorghum at the late milk stage and maize at the one-third milk line stage were harvested and ensiled in 1.5-l anaerobic jars untreated or after the following treatments: control (no additives); Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) at $1.0{\times}10^6$ colony-forming units (CFU)/g of fresh forage; L. buchneri (LB) at $1.0{\times}10^6$ CFU/g; Propionibacterium acidipropionici (PA) at $1.0{\times}10^6$ CFU/g; and a formic acid-based preservative (FAP) at 3 ml/kg of fresh forage weight. Three jars per treatment were sampled on d 90 after ensiling, for chemical and microbiological analysis. At the end of the ensiling period, 90 d, the silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test lasting 5 d. In this test, $CO_2$ produced during aerobic exposure was measured along with chemical and microbiological parameters which serve as spoilage indicators. The silages inoculated with LP had higher concentration of lactic acid compared with the controls and the other treated silages (p<0.05). The controls and LP-inoculated silages spoiled upon aerobic exposure faster than LB, PA and FAP-treated silages. The controls and LP-inoculated silages spoiled upon aerobic exposure faster than LB, PA and FAP-treated silages due to more $CO_2$ production (p<0.05) in these two groups and development of yeasts unlike the other groups. In the experiment, the silages treated with LB, PA and FAP were stable under aerobic conditions. However, the numbers of yeasts was higher in the LP-inoculated wheat, sorghum and maize silages compared with the LB, PA and FAP-treated silages. The LB, PA and FAP improved the aerobic stability of the silages by causing more extensive heterolactic fermentation that resulted in the silages with high levels of acetic and propionic acid. The use of LB, PA and FAP as silage additives can improve the aerobic stability of whole-crop wheat, sorghum and maize silages by inhibition of yeast activity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권12호
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• pp.1648-1653
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• 2009

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of source of supplemental zinc (Zn) on performance, nutrient digestibility and plasma mineral profile in Cashmere goats during the cashmere fiber growing period. Twenty-seven Liao Ning Cashmere wether goats (9-10 month of age; initial BW = 19.31${\pm}$0.32 kg) were fed a basal diet (containing 22.3 mg Zn/kg DM) with no supplemental Zn (control) or 20 mg of supplemental Zn/kg of DM from Zn sulfate ($ZnSO_{4}$) or Zn methionine (ZnMet) for 60 days including a 10-day metabolism trial. Average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and gain:feed (G/F) (p<0.05) were increased by Zn supplementation, but no differences were noted between Zn sources (p>0.05). The length and diameter of cashmere fiber did not differ among treatments (p>0.05). Zn supplementation had no influence on digestibility of DM, CP, EE and NDF (p>0.05). However, ADF digestibility in the group supplemented with ZnMet was significantly higher than in other treatments (p<0.05). Plasma Zn was increased (p<0.05) and Cu tended to be decreased (p = 0.057) by Zn supplementation, but no differences were found between Zn sources (p>0.05). Plasma alkaline phosphatase activity (AKP) was improved by Zn supplementation (p<0.05) and was higher in the $ZnSO_{4}$ than the ZnMet group (p<0.05). Zn retention was increased (p<0.05) and apparent absorption rate was decreased (p<0.05) by Zn supplementation. The results indicate that supplementation of 20 mg Zn/kg DM either as $ZnSO_{4}$ or ZnMet in the basal diet containing 22.3 mg Zn/kg DM can improve growth performance in Cashmere goats, and effectiveness of the two sources is similar on performance measurements.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.338-345
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• 2001

An experiment was conducted to determine the optimal inclusion ratio of spray dried plasma protein (SDPP) and dried porcine solubles (DPS) for maximizing growth and improving immunity in weaned pigs. One hundred-fifty male (barrow) pigs were allotted in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were as follows: 1) control (6% SDPP), 2) S6D6 (6% SDPP+6% DPS), 3) S6D3 (6% SDPP+3% DPS), 4) S3D6 (3% SDPP+6% DPS) and 5) S3D3 (3% SDPP+3% DPS). Each treatment has 6 replicates with 5 pigs per replicate. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were highest, but not significantly different when pigs were fed a diet contained 6% SDPP and DPS from d 0 to 7 after weaning. Pigs fed the S6D3 diet showed better weight gain and feed intake than other treatments, especially compared with pigs fed S3D6 diet (p<0.05) from d 8 to 21 after weaning. For the overall experimental period, pigs fed the S6D3 diet showed the best improvement in ADG and ADFI. The digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) were higher in pigs fed the S6D6 diet than other diets from d 0 to 7 after weaning. However, pigs fed S6D3 diet showed higher DM, CP and essential amino acids (except methionine and arginine) digestibilities than pigs fed other diets from d 8 to 21 after weaning, although there was no significant difference. From d 8 to 21 after weaning, threonine, valine, isoleucine and leucine digestibilites were higher in S6D6 group, and phenyalanine, histidine, lysine and arginine digestibility were higher in S6D3 group than other groups. The ratio of CD4 and CD8 positive lymphocytes during the overall experimental period was independent of the ratio of SDPP and DPS. However, CD4+:CD8+ ratio was numerically lowered in pigs fed diet the S6D3 diet. Therefore, the present study suggests that an optimal inclusion ratio for maximizing growth performance and maintaining low immune status is 6% of SDPP and 3% of DPS in weaned pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.1120-1128
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• 2016

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogen and starch on the nutritional performance of grazing cattle during the rainy season. Five rumen cannulated Nellore steers, averaging 211 kg of body weight (BW), were used. Animals grazed on five signal grass paddocks. Five treatments were evaluated: control (forage only), ruminal supplementation with nitrogen at 1 g of crude protein (CP)/kg BW, ruminal supplementation with starch at 2.5 g/kg BW, supplementation with nitrogen (1 g CP/kg BW) and starch (2.5 g/kg BW), and supplementation with nitrogen (1 g CP/kg BW) and a mixture of corn starch and nitrogenous compounds (2.5 g/kg BW), thereby resulting in an energy part of the supplement with 150 g CP/kg of dry matter (DM). This last treatment was considered an additional treatment. The experiment was carried out according to a $5{\times}5$ Latin square design following a $2{\times}2+1$ factorial arrangement (with or without nitrogen, with or without starch, and the additional treatment). Nitrogen supplementation did not affect (p>0.10) forage intake. Starch supplementation increased (p<0.10) total intake but did not affect (p<0.10) forage intake. There was an interaction between nitrogen and starch (p<0.10) for organic matter digestibility. Organic matter digestibility was increased only by supplying starch and nitrogen together. Nitrogen balance (NB) was increased (p<0.10) by the nitrogen supplementation as well as by starch supplementation. Despite this, even though a significant interaction was not observed (p>0.10), NB obtained with nitrogen plus starch supplementation was greater than NB obtained with either nitrogen or starch exclusive supplementation. Supplementation with starch and nitrogen to beef cattle grazing during the rainy season can possibly improve digestion and nitrogen retention in the animal.