• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of organic acid mixture on growth performance, cecal microflora, blood characteristics and immune response in broiler chicks and to prove the possibility of organic acid mixture as an alternative to antibiotics growth promotor. A total of four hundred eighty, 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross$\times$Ross 308) were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates of 30 birds each. The treatments were NC (free antibiotics), PC (basal diet with virginiamycin 10 ppm and salinomycin 60 ppm), 0.3% organic acid, and 0.5% organic acid. The final body weight and body weight gain were significantly higher in organic acid 0.5% than NC (P<0.05). The feed conversion ratio in all treated groups were significantly improved as compared to that of NC (P<0.05). The carcass rate and relative organs weight were not significantly difference among the groups. The relative weight and length of small intestine in PC were significantly decreased than the other groups. The numbers of cecal coliform bacteria and Salmonella in all treated groups were significantly lower than NC (P<0.05). The number of cecal lactic acid bacteria was not different among the groups. No significant differences among the groups were observed in the contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in blood serum. The contents of total protein and globulin in blood serum of PC and organic acid treated groups were significantly increased as compared to those of NC (P<0.05). Therefore, albumin:globulin ratio of PC and organic acid treated groups was significantly lower than NC (P<0.05). The total white blood cell (WBC), heterophil, lymphocyte, and stress indicator (heterophil:lymphocyte ratio) were not significantly different among the groups. No significant difference was observed on the expression rate of splenic cytokines mRNA in organic acid treated groups compared to the control. Consequently, supplemental organic acid mixture improved the growth performance, and influenced positive effects on the intestinal microflora by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria without any adverse effects on relative weights of organs and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chicks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2013

The present study was performed to assess the worth of using the by products for seaweed (Eucheuma spinosum) ethanol production process (SEPPB) as broiler feeds. For this purpose, 225 broiler chicks (white mini broilers) were used as experimental animals. The control (Control group) was fed with the broiler feeds. 5% mixture (5% SEPPB group) was fed with a 5% SEPPB mixture feeds, and the 10% mixture (10% SEPPB group) was fed with a 10% SEPPB group mixture feeds. The experiment was repeated for five times and 15 birds were assigned in each experiment and the experimental period was five weeks. There was no difference in the rate of weight gain until the second week of the 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group. However, the weight gain rate was increased to 6.2% for the 5% SEPPB group and 11.4% for the 10% SEPPB group as compared to the Control group at the third weeks of the experimental period. There was no statistical significant difference in terms of feed FCR and feed intake. Analyses of the quality of chicken breasts showed that pH was 2.5% higher in the 5% SEPPB group and 2.3% higher in the 10% SEPPB group. Shearing force was 31.3% lower in the 5% SEPPB group and 14.7% lower in the 10% SEPPB group, while heating loss was 14.4% lower for 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group when compared to the Control group. No significant differences were observed in terms of moisture, protein, and crude ash components in chicken breast analyses. However, crude fat was 36.8% higher in the 5% SEPPB group when compared to the Control group (P<0.05). Analyses of fatty acid in chicken breast meat showed that stearic acid was significantly higher in the 10% SEPPB group (P<0.05) and linolenic acid was significantly higher in 5% SEPPB group and 10% SEPPB group in comparison to the Control group (P<0.05). Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in blood serum was 44% higher in the 5% SEPPB group and 36% higher in the 10% SEPPB group (P<0.05). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was similar in both the Control and the 5% SEPPB group, but it was 62% higher in the 10% SEPPB group in comparison to the Control group (P<0.05). Analyses of serum chemical values revealed that albumin was the highest in the 5% SEPPB group, followed by the Control group and then 10% SEPPB group.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary resveratrol on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, immunoglobulin, and blood antioxidant activity in broiler chicks. Three hundred twenty one-day old broiler chicks were divided 8 treatments (C(-), basal diet; C(+), basal diet with antibiotics; DL-${\alpha}$-tocopherol 20 IU; DL-${\alpha}$-tocopherol 200 IU; resveratrol 20 ppm; resveratrol 200 ppm; methylated resveratrol 20 ppm; methylated resveratrol 200 ppm) with 4 replicates and 10 birds per replicate. Birds were reared for 35 days, and, at the age of 35 days, eight birds of average weight from each replicate were selected for blood samples collection. There were no significant differences on feed intake and feed conversion ratio. But final body weight and weight gain in antibiotics, resveratrol and methylated resveratrol treatments were significantly higher than no-antibiotics and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol treatments (P<0.05). There were no significant differences on carcass rate and relative organ weights among treatments, however, weights of liver and bursa of februcius in antibiotics, resveratrol and methylated resveratrol treatment were lower than other treatments. Weight of pancreas was high in resveratrol and methylated treatment. On the cecal microflora (total microbes, Coliform bacteria, Salmonella spp., and lactic acid bacteria), these in resveratrol and methylated resveratrol treatments didn't show the differences compared with those in no-antibiotics, antibiotics, and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol treatments. In the serum, there were no significant differences on creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) among treatments, though globulin contents of reseveratrol 200 ppm and methylated resveratrol 20 ppm treatments decreased compared to those of other treatments. Immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG and IgM) were significantly decreased in antibiotics and resveratrol treatments compared to that of no-antibiotics and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol treatments (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) like activity tended to increase in resveratrol groups (P<0.05), however, there was no significant difference on malondiakdehyde (MDA) content among treatments. In conclusion, these results showed that resveratrol derived from mulberry can be used as alternative of antibiotics through improvement of broiler's performance and maintain of health.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.593-602
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• 2004

A feeding trial was carried out to investigate the effect of supplemental complex probiotics on performances, physio-chemica1 properties of meat and inetestinal microflora in broiler chicks. Four hundred eighty broiler chickens, one days old with mixed sexes were fed one of four diets containing 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4% complex probiotics for 7 weeks. There were four replicates with thirty chicks per pen. Diet contained ME 3,100, 3,l00kcal/kg, and CP 22.0, 20.0% for starting and finishing period, respectively. Body Weight gain of chicks fed the complex probiotics tended to increase from the frist week and all complex probiotics higher than control from the 4th week. Chickens fed the diets containing 0.2% probiotics had higher(P<0.05) than those fed the other levels from the 4th week to 5th week. Feed conversion also improved significantly(P<0.05) in the supplemental 0.2% probiotics from the 4th week to 5th week. In physio-chemica1 properties of meat, carcass rate increased significantly(P<0.05) in the supplemental 0.4% probiotics compared to that of control at 7 weeks overall means and abdominal fat pad rate increased significantly(P< 0.05) in the supplemental 0.2% probiotics compared to that of control. Cooking loss decreased significantly(P<0.05) in the supplemental all probiotics. But shear force increased significantly(P<0.05) in the supplemental 0.4% probiotics. The number of ileum and cecum Lactobacillus spp. tended to increase in the supplemental complex probiotics at 7 week of age, but was not significantly different. As the result, supplemental complex probiotics increased performance and physio-chemica1 properties of meat and the number of intestinal Lactobacillus of broiler chicks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.245-254
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the supplemental alkali feldspar-ilite(feldspar) on growth performance and meat quality in broiler ducks for 43 days. One hundred eighty broiler ducks were divided into 5 groups of 12ducks. Dietary levels of feldspar 0, 0+antibiotics, 0.5, 1.0 and $1.5\%$ were added to experimental diets of each of the groups. Daily weight gain was slightly increased in 1.0 and $1.5\%$ feldspar treatments. Feed intake was slightly increased at all feldspar treatments. Glucose concentration of serum profile was decreased whereas BUN concentration was significantly increased (p<0.05) at $0.5\%$ feldspar. Cholesterol concentration was decreased at all feldspar treatments, this difference was especially observed in supplemental levels of $0.5\%$ feldspar(p<0.05). Carcass weight was increased at all feldspar treatments. Moisture and crude fat contents of proximate chemical composition in duck meat were decreased at all feldspar treatment, this difference especially was observed in supplemental levels of $1.5\%$ feldspar(p<0.05) on crude fat content. Lightness and yellowness was increased at all feldspar treatment. Cholesterol contents and TBA in meat were decreased, but this parameters were not difference by feldspar treatment. The composition of saturated fatty acids(SFA) was decreased, whereas unsaturated fatty acids(USFA) was slightly increased by feldspar treatment. The Pb content of heavy metal concentrations was increased with compared control, but not difference. The appearance of sensory evaluation was improved by supplemental feldspar, especially in supplemental feldspar, 1.0 and $1.5\%$(p<0.05). The results of this study indicate that the supplemental alkali feldspar may improve the production and meat quality of broiler ducks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2010

The current work was carried out to investigate the effect of crossbred Korean native chickens (KNC) on performance and carcass ratio. Seven hundred twenty 1-d-old chicks were divided into groups by strain (A, B, C and D) and sex (male and female). Strains were A) (KNC egg-meat type C strains $\times$ KNC meat type S strains) $\times$ KNC meat type H strains, B) (KNC egg-meat type C strains $\times$ KNC meat type H strains) $\times$ KNC meat type S strains, C) (KNC native R strains $\times$ KNC meat type S strains) $\times$ KNC meat type H strains and D) (KNC native L strains $\times$ KNC meat type H strains $\times$ Ross broiler. Experimental diets consisted of 3 phases such as starter(0~5 weeks; CP 20.0%, ME 3,050 kcal/kg), earlier (5~8 weeks; CP 18.0%, ME 3,100 kcal/kg) and finisher (8~12 weeks; CP 16.0%, ME 3,150 kcal/kg). Body weight (BW) and feed intake (FI) was measured every week and carcass ratio(CR) was calculated at 5 and 10 week after starting experiment. There was no difference in BW among strains until 5 weeks (P>0.05), however D strain resulted in a higher BW after 5 weeks (P<0.05). Body weight gain (BWG) and FI in D strain were also significant higher compared to the other strains for all periods. However, D strains showed the lowest (P<0.05) fee conversion ratio (FCR). The other strains except D showed a similar BW, BWG, FI and FCR among strains. In addition, there were no differences in carcass weight (CW) and carcass ratio (CR) among strains at 5 weeks, however D strain showed higher CW and CR at 10 weeks. These results suggested the basic data that needed to develope the new strains.

• 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.19 no.7
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• pp.1026-1032
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• 2006

The present experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of liquid methionine hydroxy analogue-free acid (MHA-FA) in comparison to DL-methionine (DL-Met) in broilers. 567 day-old Avian chicks were divided into 7 treatments with 5 replicates of 16 birds each. During the 35d (7-42 d) experimental periods chicks were given two basal diets. From 7 to 21d of age, a starting basal diet containing 19.5% protein and 0.33% methionine was supplemented with two graded levels of DL-Met (0.070 and 0.160%) or four levels of MHA-FA (0.118, 0.143, 0.221 and 0.268%). From 22 to 42d of age DL-Met (0.050 and 0.080%) or MHA-FA (0.071, 0.074, 0.112 and 0.140%) were added to a finishing basal diet with 18.0% protein and 0.28% methionine. Chicks fed on supplemental DL-Met or MHA-FA had significantly higher (p<0.05) body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the control group from 7-21d of age. During the finishing phase (22-42 d), body weight and weight gain of chicks in DL-Met or MHA-FA treatments were similar to those in the control, but FCR was improved (p<0.05) with supplementation of DL-Met or MHA-FA. Breast yield was higher (p<0.05) on DL-Met or MHA-FA supplemented than un-supplemented diets. The thigh meat yields emanating from diets with DL-Met or MHA-FA were lower (p<0.05) than that in control. Abdominal fat was also higher in broilers fed the control diet than in DL-Met or MHA-FA supplemented treatments. Methionine requirement of broilers was calculated to be 0.44 and 0.35% and cystine requirement was 0.35 and 0.31% for the starting (7-21 d) and finishing phase (22-42 d), respectively. The efficacy of MHA-FA in comparison to DL-Met for weight gain was 64 and 85% and for FCR was 55 and 60% at 7-21 and 22-42 d of age, respectively, while it was 74, 72, 52 and 48% for breast yield, thigh meat production, body energy content and energy deposition ratio at 42 d of age, respectively. In conclusion, in practical diet formulation for broiler chicks the average bioavailability of MHA-FA relative to DL-Met could be considered as 60 and 73% for 7 to 21d and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation diets with Kalopanax pictus leaf powder on performance, proximate composition, carcass characteristics and blood characteristics of chicken meat. Broiler chicks were fed diets containing Kalopanax pictus leaves with concentration of 0% (Control), 0.5% (T1), 1.0% (T2), and 2.0% (T3) for five weeks. There were no significant differences in performance among treatment, however there were significant decrease in mortality within treatment. The crude fat of chicken meat was increased in diets by addition of Kalopanax pictus leaf powder than control, but moisture, crude protein, and crude ash were no significant differences. The abdominal fat was significantly increased by the supplementation of Kalopanax pictus leaf powder compare to the control (P<0.05). The total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride of control were higher than treatment groups, and the HDL-cholesterol and glucose of control were lower than treatment groups (P<0.05). Especially, T2 and T3 were significantly (P<0.05) more effective in improving cholesterol compare to other treatment groups. In conclusion, these data indicate that supplementation of 1.0% Kalopanax pictus leaf powder (T2) were most effective in decreasing total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride and increasing HDL-cholesterol.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1195-1201
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• 2009

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality in Arbor Acres broilers. A total of 240 1-d-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments (0, 300 ppm, 600 ppm, and 900 ppm dietary LA supplementation, respectively). Birds were slaughtered at 42 days old. Live body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average feed intake (AFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), dressing percentage, breast muscle percentage, thigh muscle percentage, abdominal fat percentage, muscle color (L*, a*, b*), pH values at 24 h postmortem, meat shear force value (SFV) and anti-oxidative ability were measured. Results showed that addition of 600 ppm or 900 ppm LA decreased BW (p<0.01), ADG (p<0.01) and AFI (p<0.05) compared with other diets. FCR was not affected by dietary LA content. LA had no marked effect on dressing percentage, breast muscle percentage or thigh muscle percentage. Abdominal fat percentage was lower (p<0.05) in the 900 ppm LA supplementation group than the control group. Dietary 900 ppm LA increased (p<0.05) breast and thigh muscle pH value at 24 h postmortem compared with the control treatment. Dietary LA increased thigh muscle a* value, though no significant difference was found in thigh muscle a* value among the treatments. Dietary LA significantly decreased breast muscle L* value (p<0.05), breast muscle b* value (p<0.01) and thigh muscle b* value (p<0.05). Broilers fed LA had higher breast muscle a* value (p<0.05) and thigh muscle L* value (p<0.05). All test groups had lower (p<0.05) breast muscle SFV than the control group. Dietary 600 ppm or 900 ppm LA both decreased (p<0.01) thigh muscle SFV compared with the control treatment. Dietary 900 ppm LA significantly increased (p<0.05) TAOC, SOD and GSHPx compared with no LA treatment. Broilers fed LA had lower (p<0.01) MDA compared with the control treatment. These results suggested that dietary LA enhanced the anti-oxidative ability and oxidative stability, and contributed to the improvement of meat quality in broilers.