• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2013

In this study, the effect of extreme heat diet on growth performance, lymphoid organ, blood immunoglobulin and cecum microflora change in broilers exposed to continuous lighting and extreme heat stress (EHS) was studied. Broilers raised under normal environment temperature ($25^{\circ}C$ or extreme heat stress temperature ($33{\pm}2^{\circ}C$, and consumed chow diet (CD) or extreme heat stress diet (EHSD). Five hundred Ross 308 day-old commercial broilers were arranged in a completely randomized block design of 5 treatment groups with 4 repetitions (25 heads per repetition pen). The broilers were divided into: T1 (normal environment+CD), T2 (EHS+CD), T3 (EHS+EHSD in which the tallow in CD was substituted by soy oil and contained 5% molasses), T4 (EHS+EHSD in which the tallow in CD was substituted by soy oil and contained 5% molasses, and 1.5 times more methionine and lysine than CD), and T5 (EHS+EHSD in which the tallow in CD was substituted by soy oil, contained 5% molasses, 1.5 times more methionine and lysine than CD, and 300ppm of vitamin C). The EHS significantly reduced the body weight gain and feed intake. The blood immunoglobulin, bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen weight were significantly reduced when broilers were exposed to EHS. Compared to the normal environment temperature group, the cecum Lactobacillus sp. was low in the EHS treatment group, while Escherichia sp., Salmonella sp. and total aerobic bacteria in the EHS treatment group were high. A statistically significant difference was acknowledged between the treatment groups.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.481-487
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• 2011

Rearing density is a major factor in welfare production and health of broiler chicks. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of rearing density on the behavioral characteristics of Korean native chicks. In the study, 20, 30, and 40 chicks per pen (3.17 $m^2$) were used in each treatment and randomly allotted to 6.3 bird/$m^2$, 9.5 bird/$m^2$, and 12.6 bird/$m^2$ density, respectively. The broilers' behavior was recorded for 12 hours continuously during 1 to 8 weeks of age. The time budgets (standing, sitting, and walking) and frequencies of certain behaviors (drinking, feeding, preening, scratching, dust bathing, flapping, aggressive pecking, and pecking) in the broilers were checked during the day. The behavioral characteristics in the early period (1 to 4 weeks) were compared to the later period (5 to 8 weeks) to know the changes in each behavior as the chicks matured. It was observed that 40 chicks per pen showed significant decrease in feed intake and body weight. Corticosterone hormone was higher in the order of 12.6 bird/$m^2$ > 9.5 bird/$m^2$ > 6.3 bird/$m^2$ (p<0.05). The behaviors of standing and sitting were the highest in groups of 30 and 40 respectively. The walking behavior was gradually decreased as rearing density increased. The frequencies of the other behaviors also decreased in a high density treatment; especially for feeding, drinking, preening, and pecking. These tendencies widened the gaps of behaviors as time passed. It was concluded that a group of 20 chicks (6.3 bird/$m^2$) was the proper rearing density among these three treatments. Broilers in the lower rearing density showed more activity than that with higher density and therefore this environment may lead to better welfare condition.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary combined supplementation of antioxidants as catechin and vitamin C on growth performance, meat quality, blood profiles and stress responses of broilers exposed to high temperature. For this experiment, a total of 360 21-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were used. Treatments were assigned with 6 replicates per treatment and 10 birds per replicate in a 2 × 3 factorial design with vitamin C (0, 250 mg/kg) and catechin (0, 600, 1,200 mg/kg). The heat stress environment was maintained at temperature 32±1℃ and relative humidity 60±5% for 24 hours until the end of the experiment. The supplemented antioxidants had no significant difference in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (P>0.05). The content of total cholesterol in blood had no interaction, but decrease (P<0.01) in the supplemented catechin group. Also, the supplementation with catechin showed increase in the SOD activity of blood, and lower corticosterone and IgM levels of broilers. The contents of HSP70 and MDA in liver decrease (P<0.05) with the supplementation of antioxidants, and HSP70 showed an interaction between groups. DPPH radical scavenging ability in breast meat increased (P<0.01) in catechin, but meat quality did not show difference according to treatments. Respiratory rate decreased (P<0.05) in catechin, but no interaction with vitamin C. In conclusion, the combination of vitamin C and catechin can alleviate stress under high temperature, such as HSP70 and MDA, but further study on the optimal supplemental level is needed.