• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.788-801
• /
• 2021

This study examined biochemical components, fatty acids, antioxidant dipeptides, and muscle fiber density of breast and thigh muscles from Korean new native chicken strains (A and B) at two slaughter ages, compared with white semi-broiler (W) or broilers. The pH values were different by chicken breed. The new native strains had the lowest fat content in the breast at 12 wk (p<0.05). Regardless of the muscles, A and B at 12 wk had higher levels of arachidonic acid (ARA; C20:4), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6), and nervonic acid (C24:1) than broilers (p<0.05). A similar result was observed for the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids ratio (P/S) content in the breast. Irrespective of the muscles, A and B enriched with omega-3 fatty acids had a lower ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio than broilers (p<0.05) at 12 wk. Of the antioxidant di-peptides, the anserine contents were highest in A and B than in the W or broilers (p<0.05), regardless of the muscles and slaughter ages. Furthermore, the breast meat from A and B contained a higher muscle fiber density for both slaughter ages than the W and broilers (p<0.05). Based on these findings, even if the commercial birds (broilers or W) are raised under the similar environmental conditions as A and B, the new native chicken strains have distinct meat quality attributes, particularly higher ARA and DHA levels, lower ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio, and higher anserine contents.

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

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.387-399
• /
• 2010

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of oriental herb extracts (Alpha $Plus^{(R)}$ (AP)+Dried Foxglove Powder (DFP)) on growth performance and proliferation of splenocytes in broiler chicken raised under low or high density stocking conditions. A total of 240 male broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups with three replicates composed of ten birds in low density stocking groups and thirty birds in high density stocking groups. The four treatment groups were as follows: Cl (low density without AP and DFP); T1 (low density with AP 0.2% and DFP 0.03%); C2 (high density without AP and DFP); T2 (high density with AP 0.2% and DFP 0.03%). The feed intake of the high density stocking group was significantly lower than that of low density stocking groups during overall experimental period (p<0.05). The body weight of high density stocking groups was lower than that of low density stocking groups (p<0.05). The decrease of feed intake and body weight gain in growing stage (7~25day) under the high density stocking condition seems to be recovered in final stage (26~34day). Meanwhile dietary supplementation of AP+DFP in low and high density stocking groups tended to have higher daily body weight gain than control groups. The proliferation of splenocytes in treatment groups was significantly higher than control groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, the result of the present study suggested that the oriental herb extracts (AP+DFP) could be used as an alternative feed additive resources to improve growth performance and immune activity in broiler chickens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.175-182
• /
• 2018

The carcass and meat quality of new native chicken strains (A, C, and D) being developed in the Golden Seed Project for Samgyetang were compared with a commercial native chicken (Hanhyup No. 3, H) and Baeksemi (white semi broiler, W) strains. In total, 250 male chicks were raised under the same feeding and raising conditions for 5 weeks. After slaughter, the carcass weight and percentage yield of parts from each strain were measured and the physicochemical quality traits (general composition, color values, fatty acid composition, and sensory evaluation) of breast muscles were comparatively analyzed. The carcass weight (875.10 g) of the W strain was significantly heavier than that of the other native chicken strains, while that of A strain (537.54 g) was the lowest. The percentage yield of breast meat was also higher in the W strain than in the other strains. The fat content of W strain was higher than that of the other native chicken strains. The new native chicken strains (A, C, D) had higher contents of linoleic acid (C18:2) than the H strain. The A and D strains especially showed relatively high content of arachidonic acid (C20:4), a characteristic fatty acid in native chicken meats. On the other hand, the fatty acid composition of C strain was similar to that of the W strain. This study provides important information on specific quality characteristics than can be used to select new native chicken lines for breeding program.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.159-164
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate whether water chilling had effect on water retention, freshness or internal temperature of chicken carcasses during chilling or storage in two different chicken processing plants (designated as A and B). A total of 240 carcasses from chicken processing plants (n = 120 per chicken processing plant) was randomly sampled and evaluated the effect of water chilling on carcass characteristics (i.e., water retention, water loss or freshness during chilling or storage). Torrymeter value was used as an indicator of freshness in chicken carcasses. Water chilling did not affect carcass water retention between the processing plants. However, chicken carcasses processing in B plant exhibited significantly higher freshness (p<0.05) compared with those in A plant. This difference in freshness was mainly due to the longer transit time through the water chiller in A versus B plants. Water loss of carcasses during storage was not different between plants. It was found that carcass freshness can be affected by water chilling time as manifested in this study. Further study is warranted to see whether freshness or microbiological status of chicken carcasses may be affected depending on the chilling methods, i.e., air or water chilling.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2018

This study examined the effects of dietary processed pine needle tree powder (PPNP) on growth performance, visceral organ parameters, ileal digestibility, blood metabolites and ileal morphology of broiler chickens for 5-week after hatch. In total, 220 1-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 30 pens (seven birds per pen), and each pen was assigned to one of five dietary treatments, a diet without PPNP (control) and diets with 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% PPNP. The body weight and feed intake were measured weekly. One bird from each pen was selected randomly and gently euthanized to collect the blood, visceral organs and digesta samples on 2, 3 and 5 week of age. Birds fed 2.0% PPNP showed decreased (P<0.05) overall body weight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake compared to those fed control, 0.5 and 1.0% PPNP. The small intestine length increased (P<0.05) as the level of PPNP in the diet increased. A deeper crypt depth was observed (P<0.05) when birds fed 2.0% PPNP compared to those fed the control diet at week 2. A higher V:C ratio was observed (P<0.05) in birds fed 1.0% PPNP than in those fed other treatments at week 3. Ileal protein digestibility improved (P<0.05) when birds fed 0.5% and 1.0% PPNP compared to that in those fed the control diet at week 3. The feed conversion ratio, ileal dry matter digestibility and blood urea nitrogen and cholesterol, and gizzard and ceca weights were not affected (P>0.05) by supplementation of any levels of PPNP. These results demonstrated that inclusion of PPNP in broiler diets could be a possible factor in improving overall growth performance suggesting early gut development when 1% PPNP is supplemented.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.211-220
• /
• 2017

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of yeast with bacteriocin and Lactobacillus cultures (mixture of Lactobacillus agilis BCRC 10436 and Lactobacillus reuteri BCRC 17476) supplements, alone or in combination, on broiler chicken performance. Methods: A total of 300, 1-d-old healthy broiler chickens were randomly divided into five treatment groups: i) basal diet (control), ii) basal diet+0.25% yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (YC), iii) basal diet+0.25% yeast with bacteriocin (BA), iv) basal diet+Lactobacillus cultures (LAB), and v) basal diet +0.25% yeast with bacteriocin+Lactobacillus cultures (BA+LAB). Growth performance, cecal microbiota, cecal fermentation products, and blood biochemistry parameters were determined when chickens were 21 and 35 d old. Results: The supplementation of YC, BA, and BA+LAB resulted in a significantly better feed conversion rate (FCR) than that of the control group during 1 to 21 d (p<0.05). The LAB supplementation had a significant effect on the presence of Lactobacillus in the ceca at 35 d. None of the supplements had an effect on relative numbers of L. agilis and L. reuter at 21 d, but the BA supplementation resulted in the decrease of both Lactobacillus strains at 35 d. The BA+LAB supplementation resulted in higher short chain fatty acid (SCFA) in the ceca, but LAB supplementation significantly decreased the SCFA at 35 d (p<0.05). All treatments tended to decrease ammonia concentration in the ceca at 21 d, especially in the LAB treatment group. The BA supplementation alone decreased the triacylglycerol (TG) concentration significantly at 21 d (p<0.05), but the synergistic effect of BA and LAB supplementation was required to reduce the TG concentration at 35 d. The YC supplementation tended to increase the plasma cholesterol at 21 d and 35 d. However, the BA supplementation significantly decreased the cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol level at 35 d. In conclusion, the BA+LAB supplementation was beneficial to body weight gain and FCR of broiler chickens. Conclusion: The effect of BA and LAB supplementation may be a result of the growth of lactic acid bacteria enhancement and physiological characterization of bacteriocin, and it suggests that the BA and LAB supplementation level or Lactobacillus strain selection should be integrated in future supplementation designs.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.181-189
• /
• 2011

A 5-month (May to November in 2009) monitoring program for five viral pathogens in litter, such as avian influenza virus A (AIV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), fowl adenovirus (FAdV), and chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) was conducted in 62 flocks at 31 broiler farms (two flocks in each farm) in Korea in 2009. Viral pathogens were examined twice (before and at the end of the rearing period) at 31 broiler farms, and included fresh litter (n = 16) and recycled litter (n = 15) farms. Thirty-seven viruses (14 IBVs, 2 IBDVs, 9 FAdVs, and 12 CIAVs) were isolated from 75% (12/16) and 73% (11/15) of fresh litter and reused litter farms during the period, respectively, indicating no difference in viral contamination rate between farms using new and reused litter. Of these isolates, three (two CIAVs and one IBDV) were isolated from recycled litter samples collected before the rearing period at three broiler farms, whereas the others (n=34) were isolated from fresh and recycled litter samples collected at the end of the rearing period. When the performances, involving viability, body weight, and feed conversion ratio, were compared, no significant differences were found between farms using fresh and recycled litter during the period.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2012

To evaluate the effects of n-3 and n-9 fatty acid combination on broiler chicks, diets containing the combinations of five different fat sources including flaxseed oil, fish oil, EPA, DHA and olive oil were provided, and all chicks were processed at 4 weeks of growth. Liver, breast and thigh samples were collected and fatty acid composition and/or CIE $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$ measurement were measured. Also, live chick and liver weights were weighed and the ratio was provided as an evidence of fat accumulation in liver. No significant difference was determined in both live and liver weight ratio and liver color. EPA was low in FHO as compared to livers from others. In contrast, DHA was significantly high in FHO. In broiler breasts derived from FDO, AA and n-3 fatty acid content was high, but only numerical differences of EPA and DHA were determined in breasts from FDO. The thighs from FHO showed high in EPA, DHA and n-3 fatty acid content but had low in AA and n-6 to n-3 ratio. Therefore, the results indicate that broiler chicken diets containing either FDO or FHO may be possible combination diets increasing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in broiler chicks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.682-689
• /
• 2012

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate effects of Bacillus licheniformis on growth performance and meat quality of broilers. Nine hundred one-d-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups with three replicate pens of 100 broiler chicks. Three treatments were i) control, ii) basal diets supplemented with 1 ml of B. licheniformis for each in feed water per day iii) basal diets supplemented with 2 ml of B. licheniformis per chick in feed water per day. The supplementation of B. licheniformis significantly increased body weight in grower chickens (p<0.05), and significantly improved the feed conversion in 3 to 6 and 0 to 6 wk feeding period compared with the control group (p<0.05). Additionally, the supplement also resulted in increased protein and free amino acid contents, and decreased fat content in chicken breast fillet (p<0.05). Furthermore, improvement in sensory attributes was observed in broilers fed with the probiotic. In conclusion, B. licheniformis treatments resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in broiler productivity based on an index taking into account daily weight gain and feed conversion rate. Meanwhile, the probiotic contributed towards an improvement of the chemical, nutritional and sensorial characteristics of breast fillet. Overall, the study indicates that B. licheniformis can be used as a growth promoter and meat quality enhancer in broiler poultry.