• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.689-694
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• 2016

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of either L-methionine (L-Met) or DL-methionine (DL-Met) to diets of starter pigs on nitrogen (N) balance, metabolism, and serum amino acid profile. Eighteen crossbred ($Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) barrows weighing $15.45{\pm}0.88kg$ were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 diets with 6 pigs per treatment. The diets included a basal diet (Met-deficient diet) containing 0.24% standardized ileal digestibility Met with all other essential nutrients meeting the pig's requirements. The other two diets were produced by supplementing the basal diet with 0.12% DL-Met or L-Met. The experiment lasted for 18 days, consisting of a 13-day adaptation period to the diets followed by a 5-day experimental period. Pigs were fed ad libitum and free access to water throughout the experiment. Results showed that the supplementation of either L-Met or DL-Met improved N retention, and serum methionine concentration, and decreased N excretion compared with basal diet (p<0.01). The N retention of pigs fed diets supplemented with the same inclusion levels of DL-Met or L-Met were not different (p>0.05). In conclusion, on equimolar basis DL-Met and L-Met are equally bioavailable as Met sources for starter pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.309-313
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• 1996

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of rumen-protected lysine (RPLys) on growth rate, feed efficiency and plasma amino acid concentrations in sheep. RPLys was supplemented at the level of 0% ($T_1$), 0.2% ($T_2$) and 0.4% ($T_3$) of total DMI with 24 sheep in a 56 day feeding trial. The results are summarized as follows: 1. live weight gain of sheep in groups $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$ was 219, 216 and 244 g/d, and was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for $T_3$ through the entire experiment. 2. Feed intake was not affected by RPLys supplementation. 3. The group fed $T_3$ had a significantly (p < 0.05) better feed efficiency than the groups fed $T_1$ and $T_3$. The response of $T_3$ was higher in growing period II of feeding low protein basal diet than in period I. 4. Plasma lysine concentrations tended to be higher with supplementing RPLys, but there were no differences between $T_2$ and $T_3$. 5. Supplementing RPLys in the diets increased plasma concentrations of arginine, asparagines, threonine, serine, valine and leucine compared with sheep receiving no RPLys. In contrast, plasma histidine was lower in sheep fed the supplementing RPLys than fed the diet $T_1$ with significant (p < 0.05) difference.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.534-540
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementation of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) on methane emission, nutrient digestibility, energy utilization and blood metabolites by Holstein cows fed silages. In two sequential digestion and respiratory trials, two non-lactating Holstein cows were arranged to a balanced incomplete block design. Experimental diets consisted of two silage types; orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) based silage (OS), mixed silage (orchardgrass based silage and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silage) (MS), while two GOS levels were without supplementation (0) and 2% of dry matter intake supplementation (2). Four combination diets were OS-0, OS-2, MS-0 and MS-2. Significant effects of silage types and GOS supplementation levels were not observed for DM and OM intake. Whereas the digestibility of OM, NDF and ADF was significantly (p<0.05) higher in cows fed OS with and without GOS compared cows fed MS diets. As percentage of GE intake, fecal energy loss for OS diets was significantly (p<0.05) declined than for MS diets. In contrast, cows fed MS diets had lower (p<0.05) urine energy loss as a proportion of GE intake compared to OS diets. Energy loss as CH4 and heat production was numerically increased when cows fed both OS and MS with GOS supplementation. Compared to OS, CH4 emission in cows fed MS was numerically decreased by 10.8 %. Methane conversion ratio (energy loss as CH4 per unit of GE intake) for OS-0, OS-2, MS-0 and MS-2 were 7.1, 7.2, 6.8 and 7.0, respectively. Plasma of glucose and urea-N concentration were significantly (p<0.05) elevated from 1 h to 6 h after feeding, otherwise total protein in plasma was declined (p<0.01) at 6 after feeding.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.961-966
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• 2008

Direct and maternal genetic parameters for production traits in 1,642 pigs and maternal genetic correlations among production (1,642 pigs) and feed efficiency (380 boars) traits were estimated in 7 generations of a Duroc population. Traits studied were daily gain (DG), intramuscular fat (IMF), loineye area (LEA), backfat thickness (BF), daily feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). The RFI was calculated as the difference between actual and predicted feed intake. The predicted feed intake was estimated by adjusting the initial test weight, DG and BF. Data for production traits were analyzed using four alternative animal models (including direct, direct+maternal permanent environmental, or direct+maternal genetic+maternal permanent environmental effects). Direct heritability estimates from the model including direct and all maternal effects were $0.41{\pm}0.04$ for DG, $0.27{\pm}0.04$ for IMF, $0.52{\pm}0.06$ for LEA and $0.64{\pm}0.04$ for BF. Estimated maternal heritabilities ranged from $0.04{\pm}0.04$ to $0.15{\pm}0.05$ for production traits. Antagonistic relationships were observed between direct and maternal genetic effects ($r_{am}$) for LEA (-0.21). Maternal genetic correlations of feed efficiency traits with FI ($r_g$ of FI with FCR and RFI were $0.73{\pm}0.06$ and $0.90{\pm}0.05$, respectively) and LEA (rg of LEA with FCR and RFI were $-0.48{\pm}0.05$ to $-0.61{\pm}0.05$, respectively) were favorable. The estimated moderate genetic correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects for IMF and LEA indicated that maternal effects has an important role in these traits, and should be accounted for in the genetic evaluation system.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.381-386
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• 2016

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of two different feeding systems on blood metabolites in Holstein heifers and analyze the economic impacts of the feeding systems. The following two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding system on blood metabolite changes in Holstein heifers and analyze the economic impacts of the two systems. In experiment 1, the effects of two different feeding systems on cortisol, progesterone, and estradiol in Holstein heifers were examined. In experiment 2, the effects of two different feeding systems on the body weights of Holstein heifers and profitability of the two feeding systems were studied. Results showed that the pasture-raised heifers showed significantly decrease in the levels of blood cortisol (p<0.05) and increases in the levels of progesterone and estradiol (p>0.05) when compared with heifers raised in indoor feeding system. The average daily gain was significantly higher (p<0.05) in indoor-raised heifers (0.73 kg/day) as compared to pasture-raised heifers (0.58 kg/day). Also, 25.2% more profits were obtained from the pasture feeding system as compared to the indoor feeding system. These results together would be useful in the investigation of feeding system and growth performance in dairy cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 2000

In order to clarify the inhibitory effects of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) lipids on ruminal fermentation and digestion, two experiments were carried out in vitro. Experiment 1 was carried out using residues of grass hay from which the lipid fraction was removed by ether extraction. To ground grass samples were added 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0% lipids and incubated anaerobically at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h, with the mixtures of artificial saliva and rumen fluid. Increasing grass lipid levels remarkably reduced DM and NDF disappearances. Volatile fatty acid concentration was significantly reduced at 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0% lipid levels. Microbial nitrogen proportion to total nitrogen tended to decrease by the addition of the lipids. These results indicated that grass lipids have a marked inhibitory effect on ruminal fermentation and digestion, especially when to the substrate was added 3% or more grass lipids as ether extracts. Experiment 2 was conducted to study the relationship between changes in the free fatty acids and changes in the fermentation traits. Samples were incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 h as a sole substrate. The polyunsaturated fatty acids steadily decreased during incubation, whereas the saturated fatty acid ($C_{18:0}$) increased. It was suggested that the hydrogenation was extended during the initial stage of incubation. The unsaturated fatty acids ($C_{18:2}$, $C_{18:3}$) produced at the initial stage of incubation were negatively correlated with the amount of microbial N and DM disappearance, indicating that polyunsaturated fatty acids had the possibility to show an inhibiting effect on ruminal fermentation and digestion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.515-522
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• 1995

The field experiment was carried out to study the growth and fodder yield of the Gliricidia sepium provenances in fence system in dryland farming area in Bali, Indonesia for 24 months. The design of the experiment was a completely randomized block arrangement, consisted of 16 treatments (Gliricidia sepium provenances) and 12 blocks with 10 plants per provenance. Of the 16 gliricidia provenances, six were from Mexico (M), four were from Guatemala (G), and one each was from Colombia (C), Indonesia (I), Nicaragna (N), Panama (P), Costa Rica (R) and Venezuela (V). After 40 weeks establishment the gliricidia were lopped regularly 4 times a year, twice during the four month wet season and twice during the eight month dry season at 150 cm height. There were variations (p < 0.05) in stem elongation from 10 to 121 cm, leaf retained from 48 to 105%, leaf shedding from 53 to 86%, branch number from 4 to 7, fodder yield from 281 to 648 g DW/plant, and wood yield from 53 to 179 g DW/plant; and such variations were affected by the seasons. Retalhuleu provenance of Guatemala (G14), Belen provenance of Nicaragua (N14) and Bukit Bali provenance of Indonesia (I) were ranked first, second and third, respectively, measured in terms of stem elongation, leaf retention, fodder and wood yields during the wet and dry seasons.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1314-1321
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• 2016

We conducted this 10-wk experiment to evaluate the effects of dietary phytoncide, Korean pine extract as phytogenic feed additive (PFA), on growth performance, blood characteristics, and meat quality in finishing pigs. A total of 160 pigs ([Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire]${\times}$Duroc, body weight (BW) = $58.2{\pm}1.0kg$) were randomly allocated into 1 of 4 treatments according to their BW and sex, 10 replicate pens per treatment with 4 pigs per pen were used (2 barrows and 2 gilts). Dietary treatments were: CON, control diet; PT2, CON+0.02% PFA; PT4, CON+0.04% PFA; PT6, CON+0.06% PFA. Overall, average daily gain (ADG) was higher in PT4 (p<0.05) than in PT6, average daily feed intake (ADFI) was lower in PT6 than in CON (p<0.05). Besides ADFI decreased linearly (p<0.05) with the increased level of phytoncide and gain:feed ratio in PT4 treatment was higher (p<0.05) than CON treatment. During 5 to 10 weeks and overall, quadratic (p<0.05) effect was observed in ADG among the treatments. At the end of this experiment, pigs fed with PT4 diet had a greater (p<0.05) red blood cell concentration compared to the pigs fed CON diet. Water holding capacity increased linearly (p<0.05) with the increased level of phytoncide supplementation. Moreover, firmness, redness, yellowness, and drip loss at day 3 decreased linearly (p<0.05) with the increase in the level of phytoncide supplementation. In conclusion, inclusion of phytoncide could enhance growth performance without any adverse effects on meat quality in finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1610-1616
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• 2020

Objective: This study was to evaluate the effect of husbandry systems and strains on cecum microbial diversity of Jingyang chickens under the same dietary conditions. Methods: A total of 320 laying hens (body weight, 1.70±0.15 kg; 47 weeks old) were randomly allocated to one of the four treatments: i) Silver-feathered hens in enrichment cages (SEC) with an individual cage (70×60×75 cm), ii) Silver-feathered hens in free range (SFR) with the stocking density of 1.5 chickens per ten square meters, iii) Gold-feathered hens in enrichment cages (GEC), iv) Gold-feathered hens in free range (GFR). The experiment lasted 8 weeks and the cecum fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA high throughput sequencing at the end of experiment. Results: i) The core microbiota was composed of Bacteroidetes (49% to 60%), Firmicutes (21% to 32%) and Proteobacteria (2% to 4%) at the phylum level. ii) The core bacteria were Bacteroides (26% to 31%), Rikenellaceae (9% to 16%), Parabacteroides (2% to 5%) and Lachnoclostridium (2% to 6%) at the genus level. iii) The indexes of operational taxonomic unit, Shannon, Simpson and observed species were all higher in SFR group than in SEC group while in GEC group than in GFR group, with SFR group showing the greatest diversity of cecum microorganisms among the four groups. iv) The clustering result was consistent with the strain classification, with a similar composition of cecum bacteria in the two strains of laying hens. Conclusion: The core microbiota were not altered by husbandry systems or strains. The free-range system increased the diversity of cecal microbes only for silver feathered hens. However, the cecum microbial composition was similar in two strain treatments under the same dietary conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.1007-1013
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• 2004

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of cadmium levels on weight gain, nutrient digestibility and the retention of iron, copper and zinc in tissues of growing pigs. A total of one hundred and ninety-two crossbred pigs (barrows, Duroc$\times$Landrace$\times$Yorkshine, 27.67$\pm$1.33 kg of average initial body weight) were randomly allotted to four treatments. Each treatment had three replicates with 16 pigs per pen. The corn-soybean basal diets were supplemented with 0, 0.5, 5.0, 10.0 mg/kg cadmium respectively, and the feeding experiment lasted for eight-three days. Cadmium chloride was used as cadmium source. The results showed that pigs fed the diet containing 10.0 mg/kg cadmium had lower ADG and FCR than any other treatments (p<0.05). Apparent digestibility of protein in 10.0 mg/kg cadmium-treated group was lower than that of other groups (p<0.05). There was lower iron retention in some tissues of 5.0 mg/kg and 10.0 mg/kg cadmium treatments (p<0.05). However, pigs fed the diet 10.0 mg/kg cadmium had higher copper content in most tissues than that of any other groups (p<0.05). There was a significantly increase of zinc retention in kidney of 10.0 mg/kg cadmium additional group (p<0.05) and zinc concentrations in lymphaden, pancreas and heart of 10.0 mg/kg cadmium treatment were lower than those of the control (p<0.05). This study indicated that relatively high cadmium level (10.0 mg/kg) could decrease pig growth performance and change the retention of iron, copper and zinc in most tissues during extended cadmium exposure period.