• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2011

A 35-day trial was conducted to examine the influence of floor density on the behaviour of broiler chickens. Day-old male broilers (n=756) were randomly assigned to one of four stocking densities (6 replicates of n=13, 25, 38 and 50) in 24 identical 2.6 $m^2$ pens. These stocking densities were coded very low (VL), low (L), medium (M) and high (H) and contained a floor space allowance per bird of 2,000 $cm^2$, 1,000 $cm^2$, 667 $cm^2$ and 500 $cm^2$, respectively. Scan sampling of all groups was carried out at 15-min intervals during two 1-h periods (10.00 h~11.00 h and 14.00 h~15.00 h) for five days each week. The numbers of birds engaged in different behavioural activities were recorded. It was found that the most common behaviour in all densities was lying. There was no clear effect of density during wks 1~4 of the trial, but in wk 5 birds in the L, M and H groups showed lower levels (P=0.07) of lying behaviour when compared to birds in the VL group suggesting that an increase in animal density results in decreased opportunities for undisturbed rest. This observation is supported by standing and walking behaviour, which was lower (P<0.05) in the VL group in wk 5. Foraging behaviour measured in the study by the numbers of birds pecking the ground declined as the trial progressed, but scratching increased in 2 wk then decreased. Birds in the VL group showed higher (P<0.05) level of pecking the ground behaviour compared to birds in the L, M and H groups, but scratching behaviour higher (P<0.05) and lower (P<0.05) in VL of 1 wk and 2 wk respectively. However, a peak in aggressive behaviour was observed in wk 2 and birds in the VL group showed less (P<0.05) agonistic behaviour than birds in the H and M groups. Other behaviours (dustbathing, preening, eating or drinking) were not influenced (P>0.05) by stocking density.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.256-260
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• 2018

Cannibalism is a widely observed phenomenon in the animal kingdom. However, it is rarely found among birds outside nests in the wild because it occurs irregularly and it is almost impossible to monitor animal behavior constantly. On 17 January 2017, this behavior was directly observed from a group of vultures feeding on a conspecific in a paddy field near Lake Geumho in Haenam-gun ($34^{\circ}35^{\prime}58.25^{{\prime}{\prime}}N$, $126^{\circ}26^{\prime}57.64^{{\prime}{\prime}}E$). It was observed and recorded with the binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens in a car approximately 20 m (or 60 m) away from the site. The observer approached the feeding site after the last vulture had finished feeding and flown away and found remains of a vulture, including body feathers, skull, sterna keel, and both legs. It was the first report of cannibalism in Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus in its overwintering grounds. The remaining skeleton was very fleshy, and the surrounding grass was wet with the blood of vulture. No other traces of a mammal or bird that could have been the vultures' prey were found. This report provides a detailed account of the events related to this rare observation and the causes that might have led to it.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.64-84
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• 2002

These studies were conducted to evaluate the Properties of lactic acid Producing bacteria(LAB), isolated from broiler and laying hens cecum and select the optimum strains to improve the performance, environment of poultry house, immunity, and intestinal microflora of broiler and laying hens. In experiment I , 23 LAB strains were isolated from broiler and laying hens cecum as a colony form. Six strains were selected by acid tolerance, bile salt tolerance, viability, enzyme release, antagonism, and antibiotics susceptibility. In Experiment II, selected LABs from Ex. 1 were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding various Lactobacillus on performance, nutrients digestibility, intestinal microflora, villi development and observation of epithelium surface, blood chemicals and fecal noxious gas of broiler chicks. One thousand eighty one day old broiler chicks were fed into Lactobacillus crispatus avibrol(LCB), Lactobacillus reuteri avibro2(LRB), Lactobacillus crispatus avihen1(LCH), and Lactobacillus vaginalis avihen2(LVH) at the level of 10$^4$ and 10$\^$7/cfu/g diet. Weight gam of chicks fed Lactobacillus tended to increase from the first week and was higher from 50 to 100g in Lactobacillus treatments than control. Feed intake and feed conversion were not statistically different of all treatments. Dry Matter digestibility of Lactobacillus treatments was prone to improve compared to that of control, but was not significantly different. Protein and Ca digestibility were also tended to improve in Lactobacillus treatments relative that of control. Lactobacillus treatments showed improved tendency in crude ash and fat compared to those of control, whereas phosphorus digestibility was not consistency. Nutrients digestibilities of bird fed LCH were superior to those of other treatments, It showed significantly higher in Ca and P digestibility than control(P〈0.05). Total Lactobacillus spp. of birds fed various Lactobacillus was significantly higher in illeum for five weeks(P〈0.05), but was not different at cecum. Yeast was thought to be not completely attached to intestinal lumen for one week. However, total number of yeast was significantly increased in cecum and illeum of three weeks old chicks (P〈0.05). The number of anaerobes exhibited to tendency the increase in Lactobacillus treatments from one week old of age at both ileum and cecum.