• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1659-1664
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• 2008

To study the working mechanisms for non-starch polysaccharidases to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens, a 21-day feeding trial was conducted. Two dietary treatments were included: 1) wheat diet (the control); 2) wheat+xylanase diet (xylanase, Allzyme PT, Alltech, Kentucky, USA). There were 8 replicates with 8 birds each for each treatment and the experimental diets were given to birds from hatch. Feed intake and body weight were measured on days 7 and 21. At the same ages, samples were taken for the determination of selected groups of luminal and mucosa-associated bacteria, mucosal morphology, brush-border membrane (BBM) bound enzyme activity and ileal nutrient digestibility. The xylanase supplement increased (p<0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) at the end of the experiment but protein and starch digestibilities were not affected (p>0.05) by xylanase. Up to day 7, xylanase increased the counts of C. perfringens in the ileum and total anaerobic bacteria (TAB) in the caeca (p<0.05, p=0.07, respectively). By day 21, the counts of ileal lactobacilli (p<0.05) and TAB (p=0.07) were lower in birds given the xylanase-supplemented diet than in those on the control diet. No significant differences were observed in the counts of mucosa-associated lactobacilli and coliforms between xylanase treatment and the control at both ages. Villus height at the jejunum was not affected (p>0.05) by the supplement but crypt depth at the same site was reduced at day 7. Also, xylanase tended to increase the concentration of BBM protein (p = 0.09) and the specific activity of sucrase (p = 0.07) at day 21.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.213-217
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• 2009

In this study, the effects of processed small black soybeans on the intestinal morphological characteristics of rats were examined. Adult male rats were fed diets containing raw, cooked, or acidified small black soybean powders for 4 weeks. The total short chain fatty acid (SCFA) level was significantly higher in the acidified small black soybean supplemented group than in the raw and cooked soybean diet groups. The major SCFAs found in the experimental groups were acetate, followed by propionate and butyrate. The duodenal villus height and colonic mucosal thickness were also significantly higher in the acidified small black soybean supplemented group than in the raw and cooked soybean diet groups. The acidified small black soybean supplemented group showed the densest colonic mucosa by staining with alcian blue (AB), as compared to the raw and cooked soybean diet groups. The acidified small black soybean supplemented group exhibited strongly stained $CD4^+$ in the mucosal lamina propria, while cooked and acidified diet groups were more strongly stained $CD8^+$ in the submucosal lamina propria than the raw diet group. These results suggest that acidified small black soybeans may help improve intestinal function.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.380-384
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• 2006

Sprague-Dawley rats (n=32) were fed a diet containing basal (control), cellulose (5%), or alcohol insoluble residue (AIR) (5%) extracted from the stem and root barks of elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai) for 4 weeks. The effects of the diets, on gastrointestinal functions and morphology were evaluated. The weight gains, food intake, and food efficiencies for the cellulose and AIR diet-fed groups were not significantly different from those of the AIR-free (basal) diet. The gastrointestinal transit times of the stem and root bark AIR diets were significantly reduced (p<0.01) compared to the basal diet, and were slower than those of the cellulose diet. The fecal weights of the stem and root bark AIR diets were significantly increased (p<0.01) up to 4-fold compared to those of the basal diet. The height of the mucosal villi, and mucosal and muscle layer thicknesses of the colon were greater and more developed in the stem and root bark AIR diets (p<0.01) than in the basal diet. The villus heights in the jejunum and the colon mucosal goblet cells were more developed in the order of cellulose > stem bark AIR > root bark AIR diets.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2019

This study investigated the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with a mixture of four protein sources (wheat gluten, soy protein concentrate, tankage meal, and poultry byproduct meal) in an extruded pellet (EP) diet for olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Five experimental diets were formulated with alternative proteins replacing 0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% of FM. Taurine and betaine were added as attractants in the diets. Triplicate groups of fish (initial body weight: $196{\pm}2g$) were fed the diets to apparent satiation. Over the course of a 6-month feeding trial, there were no significant differences between the groups in growth performance, feed utilization, survival, or villus height. The dry matter and protein digestibility of FM50 diet were significantly lower than those of the control diet at water temperatures below $18.5^{\circ}C$ in months 4 and 6. This is a highly significant first report on FM replacement in an EP diet given to olive flounder over a 6-month-long feeding period. It shows that the proper mixture of protein sources can replace up to 50% of FM in olive flounder EP diets with taurine and betaine supplementation. It also shows that 40% of FM could be safely replaced in EP diets during periods of low water temperature.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.563-574
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• 2021

A total of 1512 Ross 308 broilers (one - day - old) were assigned (random blocks) to 1of 3 dietary treatments with 28 replicates of 18 chicks/cage. The dietary treatments were Cornsoybean-meal based basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.1%, and 0.2% of commercial yeast hydrolysate (YH [Saccharomyces cerevisiae]). The graded level of YH supplementation has linearly increased broilers body weight gain on d 21, 35, and overall (p = 0.044, 0.029, and 0.036, respectively) experimental period. In addition, the increased level of YH supplementation has linearly reduced feed conversation ratio of broilers on d 21, 35, and overall trial period (p = 0.041, 0.052, and 0.032, respectively). However, the feed intake and mortality of broilers were not affected by the graded level of YH supplementation. Though nutrient digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.012) and nitrogen (p = 0.021) was linearly increased in broilers fed YH supplementation, at the end of the trial it fails to affect the total track digestible energy. Dietary inclusion of YH supplementation showed a beneficial effect on the microbial population as linearly improved lactobacillus (p = 0.011) and reduced Escherichia coli counts (p = 0.042). An increasing level of YH supplementation has tended to decrease NH₃ (p = 0.069) and linearly decrease H₂S (p = 0.027) of noxious gas emission in broilers. Moreover, dietary YH supplements trend to increase the glucose (p = 0.066) and reduced cholesterol (p = 0.069) level. At the end of the test, YH supplementation elicited a linear reduction in drip loss on days 5 and 7, respectively (p = 0.045, and 0.021). Furthermore, dietary inclusion of YH supplementation had linearly increased villus height (p = 0.051) but fails to affect crypt depth. Therefore, in terms of positive effects on the broiler's overall performance, we suggest that dietary supplements containing graded YH levels in the broilers diet could serve as a potential alternative for growth promoters.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.575-592
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• 2021

In livestock nutrition, natural feed additives are gaining increased attention as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters to improve animal performance. This study investigated the effects of dietary turmeric supplementation on the growth performance and gut health of weaned piglets. A total of 48 weaned piglets (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]) were used in a 6-week feeding trial. All piglets were allotted to two dietary treatments: corn-soybean meal basal diet without turmeric (control) and with 1% weight per weight (w/w) turmeric powder (turmeric). The results showed that dietary inclusion of turmeric with the basal diet improved final body weight and total average daily gain (p < 0.05). The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in the fecal samples, including acetic, butyric, and propionic acids, were higher in the turmeric group (p < 0.05). The villus height-to-crypt depth ratio was higher in the ileum of turmeric-fed piglets (p = 0.04). The 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal microbiota indicated that, at the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most predominant taxa in all fecal samples. Bacteroidetes were significantly decreased in the turmeric group compared to the control group (p = 0.021). At the genus level, turmeric showed a decreased abundance of Prevotella (p = 0.021) and an increasing trend of Lactobacillus (p = 0.083). Among the total detected species, nine bacterial species showed significant differences between the two groups. The results of this study indicated that turmeric altered the gut microbiota and shortchain fatty acid production. This suggests that turmeric could be used as a potential alternative growth promoter for piglets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1157-1168
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different amounts of wheat bran (WB) inclusion and postbiotics form by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and phytase co-fermented wheat bran (FWB) on the growth performance and health status of broilers. Methods: Study randomly allocated a total of 300 male broilers to a control and 4 treatment groups (5% WB, 5% FWB, 10% WB, and 10% FWB inclusion, respectively) with each pen having 20 broilers and 3 pens per treatment. Results: The WB does not contain enzymes, but there are 152.8, 549.2, 289.5, and 147.1 U/g dry matter xylanase, protease, cellulase and β-glucanase in FWB, respectively. Furthermore, FWB can decrease nitric oxide release of lipopolysaccharide stimulated chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells by about two times. Results show that 10% FWB inclusion had significantly the highest weight gain (WG) at 1 to 21 d; 5% FWB had the lowest feed conversion rate at 22 to 35 d; 10% WB and 10% FWB inclusion have the highest villus height and Lactobacillus spp. number in caecum; and both 5% and 10% FWB can increase ash content in femurs. Compared to control group, all treatments increase mucin 2, and tight junction (TJ), such as occludin, claudin-1, zonula occludens-1, and mRNA expression in ileum by at least 5 folds. In chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase-1 mRNA expression decreases from 2 to 5 times, and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit mRNA expression also increases in all treatment groups compared to control group. The mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), nuclear factor-κB, and IL-1β, decreases in 5% and 10% FWB groups compared to control group. Conclusion: To summarize, both WB and FWB inclusion in broilers diets increase TJ mRNA expression and anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation, but up to 10% FWB groups have better WG in different stages of broiler development.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1689-1697
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three kinds of organic acid (OA) products on the growth performance, intestinal characteristics and morphology, and cecal microflora in broilers fed a corn-soybean meal meal diet. Methods: A total of 420 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broilers with an average initial body weight of 49.11±1.02 g were used in this 42-day experiment. Birds were randomly allotted to one of five treatments (7 replicates with 12 birds per replicate). Treatments consisted of negative control (NC), basal diet; positive control (PC), basal diet+100 mg/kg of Aviramycin; OA1, basal diet+500 mg/kg of OA product 1; OA2, basal diet+1,000 mg/kg of OA product 2; and OA3, basal diet+1,200 mg/kg of OA product 3. Results: The results indicated that OA product addition had no effect on growth performance parameters, such as body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, from days 1 to 14, 15 to 28, and 0 to 42, or on the pH values of the intestine, intestinal weight, or intestinal weight to body weight ratio. The intestinal morphology in terms of villus height and crypt depth were affected by dietary supplementation of OA products, respectively. Furthermore, dietary addition of OAs had positive influences on the maintenance of the cecal microflora based on the results of 16S rRNA analysis. Conclusion: Dietary inclusion of three kinds of OA products all benefit broilers, but the mode of action may be different. This study provides a basis for the application of OA products used in the poultry industry.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.727-739
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• 2022

Mycotoxin contamination in pig feeds has a negative impact on growth performance, the immune system, and major body organs. Arginine (Arg) plays an important role in animals' body biochemistry and physiology. This study aimed to determine the effect of dietary Arg supplementation on mitigating the negative effects of mycotoxins in growing pigs. A total of 72 growing pigs (Landrace × Large white) with initial mean body weight (BW) = 55 ± 2.5 kg were allotted to four treatment groups with three replicates per group of six pigs per replicate in a completely randomized design. The treatments included a non-toxin diet with 1.2% Arg (NT1.2) and mycotoxin-challenged treatments supplemented with 1.2% Arg (TX1.2), 1.3% Arg (TX1.3), and 1.4% Arg (TX1.4). Statistical analysis of data included the effects of dietary level of Arg. The results indicated a significantly higher BW (p < 0.05), average daily gain (p < 0.05), and gain-to-feed ratio (p < 0.05) in the NT1.2 group than in the TX1.2, TX1.3, and TX1.4 groups. The relative weight of the liver was higher (p < 0.05) in the TX1.2 compared to that of the NT1.2 group, although it was not different from that of TX1.3 and TX1.4. The level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05) in the liver tissue of the TX1.2 group compared to that of the other treatments. Overall, dietary Arg supplementation remedied liver injury and alleviated the compromised immune system caused by mycotoxin toxicity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.752-769
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• 2022

Wheat gluten is an increasingly common ingredient in poultry diets but its impact on the small intestine in chicken is not fully understood. This study aimed to identify effects of high-gluten diets on chicken small intestines and the variation of their associated transcriptional responses by age. A total of 120 broilers (Ross Strain) were used to perform two animal experiments consisting of two gluten inclusion levels (0% or 25%) by bird's age (1 week or 4 weeks). Transcriptomics and histochemical techniques were employed to study the effect of gluten on their duodenal mucosa using randomly selected 12 broilers (3 chicks per group). A reduction in feed intake and body weight gain was found in the broilers fed a high-gluten containing diet at both ages. Histochemical photomicrographs showed a reduced villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum of gluten-fed broilers at 1 week. We found mainly a significant effect on the gene expression of duodenal mucosa in gluten-fed broilers at 1 week (289 differentially expressed genes [DEGs]). Pathway analyses revealed that the significant DEGs were mainly involved in ribosome, oxidative phosphorylation, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways. These pathways are involved in ribosome protein biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism, respectively. Our results suggest a pattern of differential gene expression in these pathways that can be linked to chronic inflammation, suppression of cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. And via such a mode of action, high-gluten inclusion levels in poultry diets could lead to the observed retardation of villi development in the duodenal mucosa of young broiler chicken.