• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of phytase on the growth performance, organ weight, and tibia ash of broilers. A total of 1008 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (mixed gender) with body weight 42 ± 0.90 g (mean ± SD) were used in a trial for 32 d. Chicks were assigned to one of the two treatment diets. Each treatment consisted of 28 replicate cages, with 18 birds per cage. The dietary treatments were as follows: CON, basal diet; TRT1, basal diet + phytase 1,500 Fan Terminal Unit (FTU)/kg diet. Dietary inclusion of 1,500 FTU/kg phytase supplementation in broilers showed only slight improvements in daily feed intake (P=0.086) and feed conversion ratio (P=0.065) on day 9 compared with that in the control group. However, organ weights of the breast muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, and bursa of Fabricius were not affected by the dietary treatments. In addition, the dietary inclusion of 1,500 FTU/kg phytase supplementation in the broiler diet had no effect on tibia ash. The addition of 1,500 FTU/kg phytase in the basal diet of broilers did not have any adverse effect on growth performance, organ weight, and tibia ash, suggesting that phytase supplementation in broiler diets will exhibit comparable effects as that of corn-soybean meal-based diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.700-705
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ligustrum lucidum (LL) on growth performance, antioxidation, and meat quality in broilers. 270 birds (1 d old) were allotted to 3 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment. The feeding program included a starter diet from d 1 to 21 of age and a grower diet from d 22 to 42 of age. The birds were given a basal corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with 0 (the control), 5 or 10 g of LL/kg, respectively. The results showed that in the starter, grower and overall phase, broilers fed with 5 or 10 g of LL/kg had better (p<0.01) average daily gain, but there were no differences in feed: gain between treatments. In the starter and overall phase, average daily feed intake of LL groups was greater (p<0.05) than that of the control, but this difference was not observed in the grower phase. Supplementation of LL significantly increased (p<0.05) superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant capability in serum of chickens. In breast muscle, birds fed 5 g of LL/kg had an increase (p<0.05) in superoxide dismutase activity. The LL supplementation significantly decreased (p<0.05) malondialdehyde contents. Adding 5 or 10 g of LL/kg to the diet significantly increased pH value and reduced drip loss of meat (p<0.05). The results of this study indicated that dietary LL could improve growth performance, increase pH value and reduce drip loss of meat by decreasing lipid peroxidation and by improving antioxidative status in broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.451-461
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• 1993

Four hundred and eighty broiler chicks of both sexes were obtained from commercial hatchery (Hubbard) and raised on floor pens. All chicks were allowed free access to food from 0 to 7 and 20 to 56 days of age. At 7 days of age, all broilers were weighed individually, and divided into five groups as follows: 1. feed ad libitum as the control; 2. allowed free access to food 3 days and starved 1 day ($3{\times}1$); 3. allowed free access to food 2 days and starved 1 day ($2{\times}1$); 4. allowed free access to food 1 day and starved 1 days ($1{\times}1$) and; 5. allowed free access to food 2 days and starved 2 days ($2{\times}2$). Broilers were restricted for 12 days (d 7 through 17) of a 56-day trial. Broilers were fed a commercial starter diet (crude protein 23.8% and ME 3,070 kcal/kg) for 21 days, and commercial finisher diet (crude protein 20% and ME 3,160 kcal/kg) from 22 to 56 days of age. Although there was compensatory growth in some groups, (the $1{\times}1$ female group, and the $3{\times}1$ and $2{\times}1$ male grous), its level was not sufficient to achieve normal body weight at market age. There was sexual dimorphism for accelerated growth as well as differences in the ability to achieve a complete compensation of growth to the weight, feed conversion ratio, and body composition of ad libitum chicks. Early feed restriction could be used to reduce production cost because of the lower fed conversion ratio, mortality rate and the amount of starter diet consumed by broilers. The response of chicks to early feed restriction might depend on the degree of feed restriction, the method of feed restriction, duration of feed restriction, and sexes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1495-1500
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• 2003

Two bio-assays were conducted to evaluate turmeric root powder and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) as alternatives to feed antibiotics for broilers. In one trial, one hundred and eighty 19-days old broilers assigned to 18 groups of 10 were fed on one of six experimental diets with three replicates during four weeks. The diets included a basal feed without additives and with either virginiamycin, MOS, or turmeric at 1, 2 and 3 g/kg, respectively. In the second trial, one hundred and forty four 21-days old broilers arranged in 16 groups of nine were fed on the first four diets with four replicates for a similar period. Virginiamycin, MOS and turmeric (1 g/kg) in the first trial generally improved the weight gain of broilers by 3.4, 6.2 and 5.3%, respectively. In the second trial they increased the weight gain significantly (p<0.05) by 8.8, 8.0 and 15.1%, respectively. Additives improved the feed efficiency up to 15.1% and carcass recovery up to 3.1% (p<0.05). Virginiamycin, MOS and turmeric (1 g/kg) markedly reduced the abdominal fat content from 1.91% BW in the control to 1.44, 0.97 and 1.2% BW, respectively, in the first trial. The corresponding values obtained in the second trial were 1.01, 0.55 and 0.6%, respectively as compared to 1.22% in the control group. All additives showed a remarkable inhibition of duodenal coliform bacteria, yeast and mould in the caecum, and all viable microbes in the ileum. A significant (p<0.05) improvement in energy and protein utilization could be recorded with supplemented diets except for high turmeric diets. Dietary 2 and 3 g/kg addition of turmeric reduced energy and protein utilization as well as fat deposition. Present results reveal that turmeric and MOS are satisfactory alternatives to antibiotics in broiler feeds. Both MOS and turmeric possess an antimicrobial effect in vivo. Turmeric may also depress fat deposition in broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1288-1295
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• 2009

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of xylanase on performance, blood parameters, intestinal morphology, microflora and digestive enzyme activities of broilers. The wheat-based diets were supplemented with 0, 500, 1,000, 5,000 U/kg xylanase. Xylanase supplementation significantly (p<0.05) improved the feed:gain ratio of broilers from 1 to 21 d and 1 to 42 d. Supplementing 500 U/kg and 1,000 U/kg xylanase improved (p<0.05) the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the small intestine. Excess supplementation of xylanase (5,000 U/kg) increased the villus height in the ileum (p<0.01) and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the duodenum and ileum (p<0.05). The microflora in the ileum and caecum, digestive enzyme activities in the small intestine and the concentrations of serum glucose, uric acid, insulin and IGF-I were not affected by the supplementation of xylanase. Excess level of xylanase (5,000 U/kg) had a tendency to induce the multiplication of E. coli and total aerobes. The results suggested that supplementing 500 U/kg and 1,000 U/kg xylanase was beneficial for broilers and excess xylanase supplementation resulted in no further improvement or negative effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 2011

In this study, we examined the effects of formic acid administration to the drinking water on performance, intestinal microflora and carcass contamination in male broilers. A total of 312 day-old male broiler chicks were allocated to two groups with three replicates. The first group (control) received normal drinking water (pH 7.4) during the experiment. The second group consumed acidified drinking water (pH 4.5) after 5 d of age. At 43 d of age, twelve birds were randomly selected from the control group to determine the effect of acidified drinking water on carcass contamination. These birds were only given normal or acidified (pH 3) drinking water for 8 h prior to slaughter. The reduction of water pH from 7.4 to 4.5 significantly decreased body weights of male broilers at 21 and 42 d of age. However, no differences were observed between male broilers given normal and acidified drinking water in terms of feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality. The pH value of the gizzard contents was not significantly affected by acid water treatment. There were no significant differences in the intestinal population of E. coli, total organism and Salmonella between the groups. The total organism and E. coli counts of the carcass slightly decreased in the acidified group. No Salmonella was identified in carcass samples of any of the treatment groups. The results showed that drinking water acidification did not provide beneficial effects on performance, intestinal microflora and carcass contamination in male broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1686-1695
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• 2015

Molecular marker selection has been an acceptable tool in the acceleration of the genetic response of desired traits to improve production performance in chickens. The crossbreds from commercial parent stock (PS) broilers with four Thai synthetic breeds; Kaen Thong (KT), Khai Mook Esarn (KM), Soi Nin (SN), and Soi Pet (SP) were used to study the association among chicken growth hormones (cGH) and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) genes for growth and carcass traits; for the purpose of developing a suitable terminal breeding program for Thai broilers. A total of 408 chickens of four Thai broiler lines were genotyped, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. The cGH gene was significantly associated with body weight at hatching; at 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks of age and with average daily gain (ADG); during 2 to 4, 4 to 6, 0 to 6, 0 to 8, and 0 to 10 weeks of age in $PS{\times}KM$ chickens. For $PS{\times}KT$ populations, cGH gene showed significant association with body weight at hatching, and ADG; during 8 to 10 weeks of age. The single nucleotide polymorphism variant confirmed that allele G has positive effects for body weight and ADG. Within carcass traits, cGH revealed a tentative association within the dressing percentage. For the IGF-I gene polymorphism, there were significant associations with body weight at hatching; at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age and ADG; during 0 to 2, 4 to 6, and 0 to 6 weeks of age; in all of four Thai broiler populations. There were tentative associations of the IGF-I gene within the percentages of breast muscles and wings. Thus, cGH gene may be used as a candidate gene, to improve growth traits of Thai broilers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.865-870
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• 2009

In this study, we have attempted to understand the effects of taurine on serum and liver concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides in broiler chickens and mice in the post-absorptive state, and on in vitro protein synthesis in the livers of broiler chickens and laying hens, as well as the effects of taurine on in vivo protein synthesis in the liver of mice. The experimental animals were subjected to 24 h of starvation in order to perpetuate a post-absorptive state. Serum concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the taurine groups than in the controls in both the broilers and the mice. However, taurine resulted in a significant (p<0.05) reduction in liver concentrations of total cholesterol and triglycerides, relative to what was seen in the control groups of both animals. Taurine stimulated the in vitro synthesis of 57-kDa, 40-kDa and 23-kDa proteins in the liver of broilers, but inhibited the in vitro synthesis of 54-kDa, 37-kDa and 24-kDa proteins. Taurine in the liver of laying hens exerted effects on in vitro protein synthesis, with the exception of the 26-kDa protein which was not detected in broiler liver, but was inhibited by taurine in the liver of laying hens. Unlike the findings regarding in vitro protein synthesis in the liver of broilers or laying hens, taurine appeared to stimulate the synthesis of only two proteins, a 47-kDa and a 40-kDa protein, in the liver of mice. Overall, theses findings indicate that taurine treatment results in a reduction in cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, and also affects protein synthesis in the livers of broilers, laying hens, and mice.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.468-474
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• 2020

The study was to determine the effects of diverse concentrations of T-2 toxin in broiler diet. Three hundred 1-day-old chicks with initial body weight of 46 ± 0.52 g were chosen and randomly assigned into five dietary treatments with 5 replicate cages and 12 broilers per cage for 42 d feeding trial. Dietary treatments were prepared with basal diets containing 0 (T₁), 50 (T₂), 100 (T₃), 150 (T₄), 200 (T₅) ppb T2-toxin. Significant results were observed in the decreased intake of feed, feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight gain (BWG), level of serum protein, cholesterol and hemoglobulin of broilers in increased concentration of the T-2 toxin in diet (150 and 200 ppb) groups than control. Also, observed that the uric acid, serum glutamic pyruvic transferase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transferase (SGOT) and Heterophil/Lymphocyte (H/L) ratio value were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in groups T₄ and T₅ than control. However, the BWG, feed intake and FCR, as well blood biochemical profiles of serum protein, cholesterol, hemoglobulin, uric acid, SGPT, SGOT and H/L ratio in groups T₂ and T₃ were statistically similar to control diet of broilers. It was concluded that the results showed that no adverse effects on growth performance and blood biochemical parameters in broilers feed with T-2 toxin (50 and 100 ppb) during the entire trial.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1440-1446
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• 2011

The study investigated the effects of dietary Vitamin E (VE) on nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, immune function and analyzed the correlation between NO free radical and cytokines (IL-2 and IL-6) in broilers. One hundred and fifty 2-week-old broilers were randomly divided into three groups. Control group and lower VE ($VE^-$) group were provided with a basic diet supplemented with 12.55 mg/kg VE and 2.55 mg/kg VE for 30 days, respectively. Higher VE ($VE^{-}-VE^+$) group was supplemented with 2.55 mg/kg VE in the first 15 days and then 32.55 mg/kg VE in the next 15 days. Five broilers in each group were then sacrificed on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th days, respectively, and the content of NO free radical, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) and cytokines, IL-2 and IL-6, were measured. The results showed that lower VE could decrease growth performance of broilers while higher VE could increase growth performance and eliminate differences resulted from feeding lower VE dietary in early stages (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, lower VE could increase significantly NO and MDA concentration, and increase IL-2 concentration in serum (p<0.05). Higher VE could significantly increase activities of SOD and glutathione GSH-Px (p<0.05). IL-2 is positively correlated with NO in heart (p<0.05) and IL-6 is negatively correlated with NO in liver (p<0.05) and heart (p<0.01). These results indicate that dietary VE could regulate antioxidant capacity and NO metabolism of broilers and higher VE-supplemented diet could directly decrease production of IL-2.