• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.539-548
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• 2016

The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of palm kernel meal (PKM) inclusion and exogenous enzyme supplementation on growth performance, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) and total tract retention of nutrients in young broilers fed corn-based diets. Four inclusion levels of PKM (no PKM [PKM0], 8% [PKM8], 16% [PKM16], and 24% [PKM24]) and two enzyme additions were evaluated in a $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments. A total of 384, one-d-old male broilers (Ross 308) were individually weighed and allocated to 48 cages (eight broilers/cage), and cages were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments. Results indicated that the inclusion of 8% and 16% PKM increased (p<0.05) the weight gain compared to the PKM0 diet. Birds fed the PKM8 diets had the highest (p<0.05) feed intake. Weight gain and feed intake were severely reduced (p<0.05) by feeding the PKM24 diet. Enzyme supplementation increased weight gain (p<0.05), independent of PKM inclusion level. In PKM0 and PKM8 diets, enzyme addition significantly (p<0.05) lowered feed conversion ratio (FCR); whereas enzyme addition had no effect on FCR of birds fed PKM16 and PKM24 diets. In PKM0 and PKM16 diets, enzyme addition significantly (p<0.05) increased CAID of nitrogen and energy but had no effect in the PKM8 and PKM24 diets. Inclusion of PKM into the basal diet, irrespective of inclusion level, enhanced (p<0.05) starch and fat digestibility. Inclusion of PKM at 16% and 24% resulted in similar CAID of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) but higher (p<0.05) than that of the PKM0 and PKM8 diets. Enzyme addition, regardless of the level of PKM inclusion, significantly (p<0.05) increased CAID of NDF. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in AMEn with PKM inclusion of 24%. The present data suggest that inclusion of PKM in broiler diets could be optimized if PKM-containing diets are formulated based on digestible amino acid contents and supplemented with exogenous enzymes. If amino acid digestibility and AME of PKM considered in the formulation, it can be included in broiler diets up to 16% with no deleterious effects on growth performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1210-1218
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• 2000

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature and humidity on biochemical indices of Arbor Acres broilers at different weeks of age. The alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), lactic dehydrogenase (LD), creatine kinase (CK), plasma glucose (Glu), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), urea nitrogen (UN), uric acid (UA), plasma thyroxin (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and insulin levels were determined in all the four experiments. In experiment 1, the plasma Glu, LD and CK levels were increased by heat exposure ($35{^{\circ}C}$ and 35, 60, or 85% RH, 2 h) and this effect was aggravated by longer exposure (24 h). No significant changes (p>0.05) were found in Ca concentration, activity of AKP and ACP. In experiment 2, temperature (10, 20, 30, $33{^{\circ}C}$) had significant effect on the levels of K, Cl, UN, UA levels and the activity of LD (p<0.01), but had no significant influence on the activity of CK (p>0.05). The UN, UK and LD levels were elevated by low temperature $(10{^{\circ}C})$ (p<0.01), Cl content was increased by high temperature ($(33{^{\circ}C})$ (p<0.01), and K level was decreased by high ($(33{^{\circ}C})$ or low $(10{^{\circ}C})$ temperature and increased by medium temperature $(30{^{\circ}C})$ (p<0.01). The humidity (35, 85% RH) only had significant effect on Cl concentration which was decreased by high humidity (p<0.01). In experiment 3, the result showed that only the LD and CK activity were significantly increased (p<0.01) by high temperature (7, 24, 28, $32{^{\circ}C}$) or high humidity (35, 85% RH). Temperature and humidity had no significant effect on K, Cl, UA, UN and Glu levels (p>0.05). In experiment 4 (24, 27, 30, $33{^{\circ}C}$; 30, 45, 60, 75, 90% RH), plasma T3 level was declined by high temperature $(33{^{\circ}C})$, and this phenomena disappeared in birds under high temperature and high humidity environment. T4 concentration in plasma was not affected by temperature (p>0.05), but was increased by high or low humidity (p<0.01). Neither temperature nor humidity had significant effect on plasma insulin concentration (p>0.05). The results of the four experiments suggested that broilers at different growth periods might have different thermal requirements and would response differently to heat exposure. The plasma biochemical indices themselves had big variation; the reaction of the indices to thermal exposure treatment differed with the age of broilers. The big variation of biochemical indices themselves might cover the response of indices to temperature and humidity treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.745-752
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• 2007

This study examined the effects of different levels of evening primrose oil (EPO) on the accumulation of ${\gamma}$-fatty acids in broiler meat. Six hundred one-day-old male chicks (Ross strain) from commercial broilers were divided randomly into 6 groups${\times}$4 repeat pens. The broilers were fed experimental diets containing 4.0% tallow (control), 0.5% EPO, 0.7% mixed oil (EPO 70:soy bean oil 30), 1.5% EPO, 3.0% EPO or 4.0% EPO for two weeks of broiler finisher. There was a significant difference in body weight gain between the control and treatment groups except for the 0.5% EPO group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the percentage of thigh and breast weight against the carcass weight between control and treatment groups except for the 0.5% EPO group in the thigh and 0.5% EPO and 4.0% EPO groups in the breast weight (p<0.05). The saturated fatty acid levels of the skin and breast muscle lipid of the broilers fed diets containing EPO were significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.05), while the level of unsaturated fatty acid was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). The ${\gamma}$-fatty acid (GLA, gamma.linolenic acid, 18:3n-6) level was particularly higher in the chicken meat lipids from the broilers fed EPO than in the control group (p<0.05). This shows that feeding EPO to chicks can produce novel functional broiler meat that is enriched in gamma-linolenic acid.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.87-90
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• 2006

The aim of the present study was to investigate the disposition pharmacokinetics of roxithromycin in broilers. Roxithromycin was administered at a single dose of 20 mg/kg body weight by intravenous (i.v.) routes. Plasma concentrations of roxithromycin were determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. After a single i.v. dose plasma concentrations were best fitted to a two-compartment open model. The values of the pharmacokinetic parameters after i.v. administration were: elimination half-life = $5.83{\pm}1.79h$, mean residence time = $6.33{\pm}0.32h$, total body clearance = $0.55{\pm}0.15L/h/kg$, and volume of distribution at steady state = $3.47{\pm}0.84L/kg$. The pharmacokinetic interpretation of roxithromycin after i.v. administration revealed that the drug was well distributed throughout the body in broilers and slowly eliminated. More studies for the application of roxithromycin against poultry disease are needed to establish a suitable pharmaceutical formulation, propose optimum dosage regimens, investigate clinical efficacy and study the tolerability of repeated doses.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.31-43
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• 2014

Confined and mechanically ventilated broiler house has been recently come into wide use to increase productivity and control rearing conditions. However, high dust concentration inside facility can threaten respiratory welfare of farmers and broilers. In Korea, there is no regulation in terms of air quality control inside agricultural facilities and sufficient data is not available. To cope with these, periodic monitoring of inhalable and respirable dust concentration were conducted according to season, broiler's activity and specific events such as shipment work for broilers in mechanically ventilated broiler house. Chamber experiment was also designed to analyze mechanism of dust generation from ground beds according to water contents and surrounding wind environment. Results showed that significant increase of inhalable (p=0.002) and respirable (p=0.03) dust were observed when activity of broilers was high according to entrance of the workers. Even shipment work for matured broilers, high level of dust were observed; inhalable dust was exceeded the threshold limit over maximum 303 % and respirable dust was over maximum 1,550 %, implying that acute respiratory symptoms could be manifested for the workers. From the chamber experiment, critical water contents for interrupting of dust generation were measured; about 45 % for inhalable dust and about 50 % for respirable dust. These results can be a trigger for designing plan of dust control however it still needs consideration of various environmental conditions, hygiene problems, etc.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.711-720
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• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effect of potassium humate and enzymes (Xylanase+Amylase+Protease) inclusion in diets on carcass characteristics, meat quality and fatty acid profiles of broilers fed canola-based diets. Methods: Two hundred and twenty broilers randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments: the control (commercial broiler diet); CM (17.5% canola meal inclusion); CMEnz (17.5% CM inclusion+0.3 g/kg Axtra XAP); CMPh (17.5% CM inclusion+1.5% Potassium Humate, PH); and CMEnzPh (17.5% CM inclusion+1.5% PH+0.3 g/kg Axtra XAP) were slaughtered at day 42 for assessment of carcass and meat quality parameters. Results: Diet had no effect on carcass traits apart from breast muscle weight and breast muscle index. The highest breast muscle weight was observed in broilers fed CMEnz ($487.6{\pm}17.5g$) followed by those fed the control diet ($474.37{\pm}17.5g$). Diet also had no significant dietary effect on pH, temperature, drip loss and shear force values of the breast muscle. However, diet significantly affected meat colour and water-holding capacity. Broilers in the control and CMPh groups ($52.94{\pm}0.67$ and $52.91{\pm}0.67$) had the highest (p<0.05) values for lightness ($L^*$), whilst those fed CMEnzPh had the lowest value ($47.94{\pm}0.67$). In contrast, CM group had the lowest (p<0.05) value for redness ($a^*$) with CMEnzPh group having the highest values. The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and the PUFA/saturated fatty acid ratio were increased in CM-based diets containing enzymes and humic acid. Conclusion: It can, therefore, be concluded that CM can be included in broiler diets in the presence of enzymes and humic acid with positive effects on meat quality and important fatty acids that are beneficial to the health of consumers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.834-841
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• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of creatine pyruvate (CrPyr) on the energy metabolism in thigh muscle of embryos and neonatal broilers. Methods: A total of 960 eggs were randomly assigned to three treatments: i) non-injected control group, ii) saline group injected with 0.6 mL of physiological saline (0.75%), and iii) CrPyr group injected with 0.6 mL of physiologi-cal saline (0.75%) containing 12 mg CrPyr/egg on 17.5 d of incubation. After hatching, 120 male chicks (close to the average body weight of the pooled group) in each group were randomly assigned to eight replications. The feeding experiment lasted 7 days. Results: The results showed that IOF of CrPyr increased glucose concentrations in the thigh muscle of broilers on 2 d after injection (p<0.05). Compared with the control and saline groups, the concentration of creatine in CrPyr group was increased on 2 d after injection and the day of hatch (p<0.05). Moreover, IOF of CrPyr increased the creatine kinase activity at hatch and increased the activities of hexokinase and pyruvate kinase on 2 d after injection and the day of hatch (p<0.05). Chicks in CrPyr group showed higher mRNA expressions of glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) and GLUT8 on the day of hatch (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrated that IOF of CrPyr was beneficial to enhance muscle energy reserves of em-bryos and hatchlings.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.295-305
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• 2021

Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of normal and low protein content (PC) of starter diet supplemented or not with blends of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on growth performance of broilers under summer conditions and to investigate whether these effects altered some quality traits and the characteristics of gastrointestinal tract. Methods: A total of 768 mixed-sex broiler chicks (Ross 308, one-d-old) with an average initial body weight (BW) of 47.6±1.03 g were allocated into six treatments with four replications in 2×3 factorial arrangement. Factors were: PC, normal (N, 22% to d 15); and low (L, 20% to d 15); and added BCAA blends, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine at zero (0L:0I:0V); 1.0, 0.25, and 0.25 (4L:1I:1V); or 1.0, 0.25, 0.75 (4L:1I:3V) g/kg of diet. Hence, six dietary treatments were named as N0L:0I:0V, N4L:1I:1V, N4L:1I:3V, L0L:0I:0V, L4L:1I:1V, and L4L:1I:3V. Average indoor temperature and humidity were 32.8℃±1.7℃ and 61.1%±4.12%, respectively. Results: BW, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass weight were not affected by PC, BCCA and their interaction (p>0.05). The L diets decreased the water holding capacity of the breast (p = 0.002) and thigh (p = 0.050) meats and dressing percentage (p = 0.005) compared to the N diets. The 4L:1I:1V diet decreased breast yield compared to the 0L:0I:0V diets (p = 0.041). The effect of PC on feed intake, mortality and gastrointestinal trait weight were depended on the L:I:V ratios under summer conditions due to interactions between factors (p<0.05). The FI and mortality of L4L:1I:1V broilers were lower than those of N4L:1I:1V birds (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the blends of BCAAs used failed to improve performance and to promote breast yields, because diets with normal or with reduced protein supplemented or not with BCAAs up to d 15 produced a similar BW and FCR in broilers raised in hot-climate conditions.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1169-1180
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• 2021

Objective: This research aimed to study the effects of Artemisia argyi flavonoids (AAF) supplemented in diets on the growth performance and immune function of broiler chickens challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: A total of one hundred and ninety-two 1-d-old broiler chicks were assigned into 4 treatment groups, which were, respectively, fed a basal diet (control), fed a diet with 750 mg/kg AAF, fed a basal diet, and challenged with LPS, fed a diet with 750 mg/kg AAF, and challenged with LPS. Each treatment had six pens with 8 chicks per pen. On days 14, 16, 18, 20 (stress phase I) and 28, 30, 32, 34 (stress phase II), broilers were injected with LPS (500 ㎍/kg body weight) or an equivalent amount of saline. Results: The results demonstrated that dietary AAF significantly improved the body weight (d 21) and alleviated the decrease of average daily gain in broilers challenged with LPS on d 21 and d 35 (p<0.05). Dietary AAF increased bursa fabricius index, and dramatically attenuated the elevation of spleen index caused by LPS on d 35 (p<0.05). Furthermore, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration decreased with AAF supplementation on d 21 (p<0.05). Diet treatment and LPS challenge exhibited a significant interaction for the concentration of IL-1β (d 21) and IL-6 (d 35) in serum (p<0.05). Additionally, AAF supplementation mitigated the increase of IL-1β, IL-6 in liver and spleen induced by LPS on d 21 and 35 (p<0.05). This study also showed that AAF supplementation significantly reduced the expression of IL-1β (d 21) and nuclear transcription factor kappa-B p65 (d 21 and 35) in liver (p<0.05), and dietary AAF and LPS treatment exhibited significant interaction for the gene expression of IL-6 (d 21), toll like receptor 4 (d 35) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (d 35) in spleen (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, AAF could be used as a potential natural immunomodulator to improve growth performance and alleviate immune stress in broilers challenged with LPS.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.385-392
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• 2021

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of lycopene on growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, serum lipids levels, activities of hepatic lipid metabolism related enzymes and genes expression in broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 256 healthy one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups with eight replicates of eight birds each. Birds were fed basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene, respectively. Results: Dietary 100 mg/kg lycopene increased the body weight at 21 day of age compared to the control group (p<0.05). Compared to the basal diet, broilers fed diet with 100 mg/kg lycopene had decreased abdominal fat weight, and broilers fed diet with 100 and 200 mg/kg lycopene had decreased abdominal fat percentage (p<0.05). Compared to control, diets with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene reduced the levels of total triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum, and diets with 100 and 200 mg/kg lycopene reduced the level of serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05). The activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in 400 mg/kg lycopene treated broilers and the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene treated broilers were lower than those fed basal diet (p<0.05). Lycopene increased the mRNA abundance of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase α (AMPK-α), whereas decreased the mRNA abundance of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, FAS, and ACC compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dietary lycopene supplementation can alleviate abdominal fat deposition and decrease serum lipids levels, possibly through activating the AMPK signaling pathway, thereby regulating lipid metabolism such as lipogenesis. Therefore, lycopene or lycopene-rich plant materials might be added to poultry feed to regulate lipid metabolism.