• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1348-1353
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• 2010

A grower broiler experiment (from 14 to 35 days of age) was conducted to study the effect of using two commercial mixtures of organic acids (Galliacid$^{(R)}$ and Biacid$^{(R)}$) to substitute antibiotic growth promoter (Eneramycin$^{(R)}$) on performance, carcass characteristics and intestinal microflora. 400 (Ross 308) broiler chicks were used. A basal corn-soybean meal diet were formulated and served as a control treatment. The control diet was supplemented with either 0.06% Galliacid, 0.1% Biacid or 0.02% Eneramycin. Birds fed the Galliacid-supplemented diet had 16% (p<0.001) more gain than the control, while those fed the Biacid- or Enramycinsupplemented diets recorded 3 and 5.5% more gain, respectively. Organic acids mixtures and Enramycin supplementation significantly (p<0.001) improved feed conversion ratio. These results indicated that birds fed either organic acid mixtures or Enramycinsupplemented diets utilized feed more efficiently than those fed the control diet. Galliacid significantly (p<0.01) increased dressing percentage and bursa weight (% body weight). No significant differences were detected on liver, spleen and thymus (% body weight) among treatments. Galliacid or Biacid significantly (p<0.001) decreased intestinal Escherichia coli and Salmonella compared to the control and Enramycin-supplemented diets. Dietary Enramycin significantly (p<0.001) decreased Escherichia coli, but had no effect on Salmonella counts. In conclusion, organic acid mixtures are more efficient than antibiotic growth promoter (Enramycin) in improving broiler performance and decreasing intestinal Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., and could be successfully used to substitute antibiotic growth promoters in broiler diets. However, not all of the organic acid mixtures gave the same effect either on performance or intestinal bacterial counts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.979-984
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• 2017

Objective: An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Ca concentrations in low non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) diets containing phytase on growth performance, bone mineralization, litter quality, and footpad dermatitis (FPD) incidence in growing broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 1,800 21-day-old Ross 308 growing broiler chickens were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments with 6 replicated cages. Six diets were formulated to provide increasing Ca concentrations of 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, or 9.0 g/kg in diets. The concentrations of NPP in all diets were maintained at 3.0 g/kg, and phytase was supplemented to all diets at the level of 1,000 fytase units (FTU)/kg. At the end of the 14-d feeding trial, birds were euthanized for tibia sampling, and litter samples were collected from 3 areas in the cage. The FPD incidence was measured based on a 6-point scoring system. Results: Dietary Ca concentrations had no effect on growth performance of growing broiler chickens. However, a tendency (linear, p = 0.05) for decreased feed efficiency was observed as dietary Ca concentrations were increased. The concentrations of Ca and P in the tibia of broiler chickens increased (linear and quadratic, p<0.01) with increasing Ca concentrations in low NPP diets containing phytase. Litter pH, moisture, and N contents were not affected by increasing Ca concentrations in low NPP diets containing phytase. However, a tendency (quadratic, p = 0.10) for increased FPD incidence with increasing dietary Ca concentrations was observed. Conclusion: Dietary Ca concentrations from 4.0 to 9.0 g/kg in low NPP diets containing phytase have little effects on growth performance of growing broiler chickens. However, Ca and P concentrations in the tibia are decreased if dietary Ca concentrations are less than 5.0 g/kg. The FPD incidence for growing broiler chickens may be decreased if less than 9.0 g/kg of Ca is included in diets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1632-1646
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• 2023

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary betaine (BT) supplementation on the hepatic transcriptome profiles in broiler chickens raised under heat stress (HS) conditions. Methods: A total of 180 (21-d-old) Ross 308 male broiler chicks were allotted to 1 of 3 treatment groups with 6 replicated cages in a completely randomized design. One group was kept under thermoneutral conditions at all times and was fed a basal diet (PC). Other 2 groups were exposed to a cyclic heat stress condition. One of the 2 groups under heat stress conditions was fed the basal diet as a negative control (NC), whereas the other group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.2% BT. All chickens were provided with diets and water ad libitum for 21 d. Following the experiment, the liver samples were collected for RNA sequencing analysis. Results: Broiler chickens in NC and BT group had decreased (p<0.05) growth performance. In the transcriptome analysis, the number of differentially expressed genes were identified in the liver by HS conditions and dietary BT supplementation. In the comparison between NC and PC treatments, genes related to energy and nucleic acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and immune system were altered by HS, which support the reason why heat-stressed poultry had decreased growth performance. In the comparison between NC and BT treatments, genes related to lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and immune system were differently expressed under HS conditions. Conclusion: HS negatively impacts various physiological processes, including DNA replication, metabolism of amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, and cell cycle progression in broiler chickens. Dietary BT supplementation, however, offers potential counteractive effects by modulating liver function, facilitating gluconeogenesis, and enhancing immune systems. These findings provide a basis for understanding molecular responses by HS and the possible benefits of dietary BT supplementation in broiler chickens exposed to HS.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.387-392
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• 2010

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of fermented spent mushroom substrate (FSMS) on growth performance, blood profile, intestinal microflora and ammonia gas production of feces in broiler chickens. A total of three hundred sixty, 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross) were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 replicates of 20 birds each. The treatments were control (free FSMS), 15% FSMS (basal diet with 15% FSMS) and 30% FSMS (basal diet with 30% FSMS). The final body weight and body weight gains were slightly improved in 30% FSMS than control (P<0.05). Feed intake and feed conversion were significantly improved as compared to those of the control groups. The Leukocytes of blood serum in FSMS groups were significantly decreased as compared to those of control groups. There are no significant differences among the groups in the contents of albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (TCHO), glucose (GLU), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in blood serum. The content of total glucose (TG) in 30% FSMS containing dietary groups was significantly decreased as compared to that of the control groups. The content of HDLC in 30% FSMS containing dietary groups was significantly increased as compared to that of the control group. The number of lactobacillus in the intestinal microflora were significantly increased in chicks fed FSMS groups. The ammonia gas production in FSMS groups was siginificantly decreased as compard to that the control groups. These results indicated that dietary FSMS exerted growth performance for feeding broiler.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1291-1300
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• 2018

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) level and exogenous protease supplementation on growth performance, serum metabolites, carcass traits, small intestinal morphology and endogenous protease activity in broiler chickens reared under a tropical climate. Methods: A total of 480 day-old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments in a $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement. The main effects were CP level (21.0%, 19.7%, 18.5%, or 17.2% from 1 to 21 days and 19.0%, 17.9%, 16.7%, or 15.6% from 22 to 35 days) and protease enzyme supplementation (0 ppm or 500 ppm). All experimental diets were fortified with synthetic feed-grade lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan to provide the minimum amino acid recommended levels for Cobb 500. Results: Reducing dietary CP linearly reduced (p<0.05) growth performance, serum albumin, total protein, and carcass traits and increased (p<0.05) serum triglycerides and abdominal fat. There was no consistent effect of reducing dietary CP on morphological parameters of the intestine and on the pancreatic and intestinal endogenous protease activity (p>0.05). Protease supplementation improved (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio, body weight gain, carcass yield and intestinal absorptive surface area. Conclusion: Protease supplementation, as measured by growth performance, intestinal morphology and carcass yield, may alleviate the detrimental effects of low protein diets in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.349-354
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• 1996

An Experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary excessive chromium picolinate on growth performance, nutrient utilizability and the content of serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose, triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid in broiler chicks. Experimental diets based on corn-soybean meal were supplemented at 0, 800, 1,600 and 2,400 ppb chromium in the form of chromium picolinate. Each treatment had six replicates of six female chicks each (average initial weight=45.6 g). Experimental period lasted for six weeks. Excessive supplementation of chromium as chromium picolinate had no effect on body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and nutrient utilizability of broiler chicks. Mortality was improved with a supplementation of chromium (p < 0.05). However, serum glucose decreased as chromium level increased (p < 0.05). Up to 2,400 ppb chromium as chromium picolinate, signs of toxicity were not noticed in this study.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2012

This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of multi-probiotics, fermented ginseng byproducts and fermented sulfone as an alternative to probiotics on performance, intestinal microflora and immunity of broiler. A five weeks trial was conducted with one day old Ross${\times}$Ross broilers (n=340), divided into five groups which further divided into 4 replicates with 17 birds in each replicate. Birds were assigned to 5 dietary treatments as control, antibiotic avilamycin (AB), multi-probiotics (MP), fermented sulfone (FS) and fermented ginseng byproducts (FGB). Growth parameters were recorded on weekly basis while rest of the parameters viz. blood and faeces were collected at the end of the experiment. Growth parameters were not affected statistically by dietary treatments. However, numerically, higher body weight, splenocytes proliferation and lower total cholesterol and LDL values were found in MP treatment (P>0.05). Salmonella spp. count ($P{\leq}0.001$) and E. coli (P<0.001) concentrations in the ileum were found lowest in AB treatment while FS group showed lowest level of yeast (P<0.10) and Lactobacillus spp. ($P{\leq}0.001$). Fecal ammonia and $CO_2$ emission was significantly decreased in FGB than other dietary treatments (P<0.05). It was concluded that multi-probiotics would be valuable feed additives to improve the growth performance, Lactobacillus proliferation and immunity of broiler chicks.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2010

The large amount of tissue culture medium (TCM), which contains some of the active secretory components of Korean wild ginseng (KWG; Panax ginseng) such as saponins, is usually discarded after harvest of KWG. The present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of oral administration of the TCM-KWG on growth performance and diseases resistance in broiler chickens. A day old broiler chickens randomized in 6 groups (n = 60/groups) were administered orally with 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mL/L TCMKWG through drinking water for 5 weeks and examined the change of weight gain, feed intake and blood components. Also, five weeks old broiler chickens (n = 15/groups) were challenged orally with Salmonella (S.) gallinarum and investigated the mortality in broiler chickens. An average weight gain and feed intake significantly didn't change in TCM-KWG administration groups as compared to control group. The concentration of calcium (Ca), phosphate (Pi) and potassium (K) in serum were increase by TCM-KWG administration in broiler chickens. We also found that oral administration of TCM-KWG through drinking water significantly reduced the mortality in broiler chickens experimentally infected with virulent S. gallinarum. The results of this study indicated that TCM-KWG administration may elevate the resistance on disease and improved the skeleton formation and body homeostasis of chickens, and TCM-KWG can be used as a cost-effective and environmentally alternative additives to control of the disease and growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.213-215
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• 1994

Poultry feeding systems are likely to change for increased efficiency of production. An experiment was conducted to compare the response of broilers to choice feeding of corn with a standard broiler ration. The treatments consisted of providing broiler feed as the only feed (SINGLE FEED) and access to corn as a choice to a complete broiler feed (CHOICE FEEDING). Weights and feed consumption were obtained at weekly intervals. Samples at the conclusion of the experiment were taken to determine the weight of abdominal fat. Results showed that there was no significant difference in term of liveweight between the two feeding regimes. However, birds given a choice of the broiler feed and corn had better feed efficiency which is reflected by the lower total feed intake. Corn intake was 23.1% of total feed intake in the choice fed birds. In term of carcass colour, birds fed corn as a choice was observed to have a deeper yellow skin colour than the birds fed with broiler feed only.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1342-1349
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of β-mannanase on growth performance, carcass characteristics, excreta microflora, blood constituents, and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 680 one-d-old Ross 308 (as hatched) broiler chickens were used in a 35-d growth assay. Chicks were sorted into pens with 17 birds/pen and 10 pens/treatment. Treatment diets were contained either 44% or 48% crude protein (CP) soybean meal (SBM) with or without β-mannanase. Results: Using SBM containing 48% CP led to an improvement (p<0.05) in feed conversion ratio (FCR) from d 1 to 14. Addition of β-mannanase to the diets significantly improved body weight gain (BWG) and FCR from d 1 to 14. During overall experimental period, BWG was affected (p<0.05) by CP level of SBM and inclusion of β-mannanase, but FCR and feed intake were not affected. Carcass characteristics were not influenced by treatment diets. The results showed that digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and energy was not affected by CP level of SBM and/or inclusion of β-mannanase. Among essential amino acids (EAA) apparent digestibility of valine, methionine, and leucine improved (p<0.05) by the addition of β-mannanase to the diets. The results demonstrated that ileal digestibility of DM, N, and energy was not affected by treatment diets. Among EAA, the ileal digestibility of valine and arginine was higher (p<0.05) in the diets containing 48% CP SBM and/or β-mannanase. Excreta Lactobacillus count increased (p<0.05) by the addition of β-mannanase to the diets. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and total protein level were not affected by treatments. Conclusion: Feeding chickens with diets containing 44% CP SBM resulted in detrimental effects on growth performance and digestibility of nutrients, but addition of β-mannanase to the 44% CP diet improved the growth performance of chickens without any effects on carcass characteristics.