• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.12
• /
• pp.1686-1695
• /
• 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
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.437-443
• /
• 2010

To be economically profitable, the poultry industry demands an increase in stocking density, which could adversely affect chicken welfare. The current study was performed to investigate the effect of stocking density on stress-related, heat shock protein genes (HSP70 and HSP90), 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) gene and telomere length in broiler chickens. Seven-day-old broiler chickens were housed at High (0.0578 $m^2$/bird), Standard (0.077 $m^2$/bird) and Low (0.116 $m^2$/bird) stocking densities with 8 replicates each until 35 d of age. The growth performance, such as body weight gain and average daily feed intake, was found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in the Low density group, but these parameters did not show any difference between the High and Standard groups. Other growth performance, such as feed conversion ratio and final feed intake, showed no difference among the treated groups. The expression levels of HSP70 and HMGCR were found to be elevated with the increase of stocking density. The expression level of these genes was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the High density stocked group compared with the other groups, whereas the expression levels were not significantly different between the Low and Standard groups. The expression levels of HSP90 did not show any significant changes among the treated groups. The telomeric length of the birds housed in High density was reduced significantly (p<0.05) when compared to that of the birds in Low density. These results clearly indicate that birds stocked at high density show physiological adaptive changes indicative of stress at gene transcriptional and telomere levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.946-951
• /
• 2010

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of blood meal (BM) as a source of histidine, and magnesium oxide (MgO) as a catalyst of carnosine synthetase, on carnosine (L-Car) content in the chicken breast muscle (CBM), laying performance, and egg quality of spent old hens. Four hundred eighty laying hens (Hy-Line$^{(R)}$ Brown), 95wk old, were allotted randomly into five replicates of six dietary treatments: T1; 100% basal diet, T2; 100% basal diet+MgO, T3; 97.5% basal diet+2.5% BM, T4; 97.5% basal diet+2.5% BM+MgO, T5; 95% basal diet+5% BM, T6; 95% basal diet+5% BM+MgO. Magnesium oxide was added at 0.3% of diets. The layers were fed experimental diets for 5wk. There were no significant differences in the weekly L-Car content in CBM among all treatments during the total experimental period, but some of the contrast comparisions showed higher L-Car in CBM of T6. The L-Car contents linearly decreased (p<0.01 or p<0.05) as the layers got older except in T4 (p>0.05). There were significant differences in egg weight (p<0.01) and soft and broken egg ratio (p<0.05). The control (T1) was highest in egg weight and T6 was lowest in soft and broken egg ratio. Among the parameters of egg quality, there were significant differences in eggshell strength (p<0.01) and egg yolk color (p<0.05). Magnesium oxide supplementation increased the eggshell strength and BM tended to decrease egg yolk color. Eggshell color, eggshell thickness, and Haugh unit were not influenced by BM and MgO. In conclusion, BM and MgO did not significantly influence the L-Car in CBM of spent layers. The L-Car content rapidly decreased as the layers became senescent. Eggshell strength was increased by MgO supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.9
• /
• pp.1317-1326
• /
• 2015

This study investigated the metabolizable energy (ME) intake, net energy of production (NEp), heat production (HP), efficiencies of ME use for energy, lipid and protein retention as well as the performance of broiler chickens fed diets based on cassava chips or pellets with or without supplementation with an enzyme product containing xylanase, amylase, protease and phytase. The two products, cassava chips and pellets, were analysed for nutrient composition prior to feed formulation. The cassava chips and pellets contained 2.2% and 2.1% crude protein; 1.2% and 1.5% crude fat; and 75.1% and 67.8% starch, respectively. Lysine and methionine were 0.077%, 0.075%, and 0.017%, 0.020% protein material, respectively, while calculated ME was 12.6 and 11.7 MJ/kg, respectively. Feed intake to day 21 was lower (p<0.01) on the diet containing cassava chips compared to diets with cassava pellets. Enzyme supplementation increased (p<0.01) feed intake on all diets. Live weight at day 21 was significantly (p<0.01) reduced on the diet based on cassava chips compared to pellets, but an improvement (p<0.01) was noticed with the enzyme supplementation. Metabolizable energy intake was reduced (p<0.01) by both cassava chips and pellets, but was increased (p<0.01) on all diets by enzyme supplementation. The NEp was higher (p<0.01) in the maize-based diets than the diets containing cassava. Enzyme supplementation improved (p<0.01) NEp in all the diets. Heat production was highest (p<0.01) on diets containing cassava pellets than on cassava chips. It is possible to use cassava pellets in diets for broiler chickens at a level close to 50% of the diet to reduce cost of production, and the nutritive value of such diets can be improved through supplementation of enzyme products containing carbohydrases, protease, and phytase.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.730-738
• /
• 2010

We developed predictive growth models for Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus on various food matrices consisting primarily of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. A cocktail of three S. aureus strains, producing enterotoxins A, C, and D, or a B. cereus strain, were inoculated on sliced bread, cooked rice, boiled Chinese noodles, boiled bean sprouts, tofu, baked fish, smoked chicken, and baked hamburger patties at an initial concentration of 3 log CFU/g and stored at 8, 10, 13, 17, 24, and $30^{\circ}C$. Growth kinetic parameters were determined by the Gompertz equation. The square-root and Davey models were used to determine specific growth rate and lag time values, respectively, as a function of temperature. Model performance was evaluated based on bias and accuracy factors. S. aureus and B. cereus growth were most delayed on sliced bread. Overall, S. aureus growth was significantly (p<0.05) more rapid on animal protein foods than carbohydrate-based foods and vegetable protein foods. The fastest growth of S. aureus was observed on smoked chicken. B. cereus growth was not observed at 8 and $10^{\circ}C$. B. cereus growth was significantly (p<0.05) more rapid on vegetable protein foods than on carbohydrate-based foods. The secondary models developed in this study showed suitable performance for predicting the growth of S. aureus and B. cereus on various food matrices consisting of RTE foods.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary Weissella koreensis (Wk), a prominent kimchi lactic acid bacteria supplementation on growth performance, nutrients utilization, gut microbiota and meat characteristics in broiler chicken. Both live and killed Wk was compared to know which could be more efficacious as a feed probiotics. Three Wk supplemented groups and no Wk supplemented group were designated according to supplementation levels and cell status. Those were; Control (no Wk), 0.1 % live Wk (LWk 0.1), 0.5% live Wk (LWk 0.5) and 0.5% killed Wk (KWk 0.5). Body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were improved (P<0.05) by dietary LWk supplementation. KWk did not exert any benefit on growth performance. Crude protein utilizability of KWk supplemented diet was lower (P<0.05) than that of other diets. However, there were no differences among treatments in other nutrients utilization. Serum IgG concentration and relative weight of bursa of Fabricius was highest (P<0.05) in broiler chicken fed KWk 0.5 diet. Cecal anaerobic lactic acid bacteria count of LWk groups were higher (P<0.05) than those of control and KWk 0.5 groups. Dietary Wk supplementation failed to lower the count of cecal and fecal E. coli. There was no effect of dietary Wk on TBARS values and fatty acids profile of broiler leg meat. However, the dietary supplementation of Wk exerted characteristic difference on electronic nose flavor of broiler meat. This study showed that dietary supplementation of LWk was able to improve body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and cecal lactic acid bacterial count in broiler chicken. Further, the result of this study implemented that a live kimchi lactic acid bacteria, LWk, but not killed Wk, could be used as a probiotic feed supplement for broiler.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.123-134
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to establish new synthetic lines of Korean Native Chicken. We performed $5{\times}5$ diallel crossings with GPS lines of Korean Native Chicken for the selection of parent stock. The production traits including viability, body weight, age at first egg laying, egg weight, hen-day egg production, and hen-housed egg production were measured and analyzed for 25 crosses with 1,157 hens. The heterosis effects of these traits were also estimated. The results showed that the average survival rate during laying periods was 67.7% in the pure lines and 77.1% in the crosses. The 25 cross combinations were shown to be distinctly divided into three groups according to body weight; nine crosses in the high-weight group, 12 crosses in the medium-weight group and four crosses in the light-weight group. The average body weight at 12 weeks of age was $1,873.8{\pm}43.0g$ in the high group, $1,595.4{\pm}56.6g$ in the medium group and $1,152.7{\pm}24.7g$ in the light group, and $1,560.2{\pm}339.3g$ in the pure lines and $1,640.9{\pm}213.7g$ in the crosses. In terms of egg production performance, the age at first egg laying was $139.7{\pm}4.9$ days in the pure lines and $135.8{\pm}5.1$ days in the crosses. The average egg weight was $52.3{\pm}1.6g$ in the pure line and $53.0{\pm}1.6g$ in the crosses. The average hen-housed egg production from 20 to 40 weeks was $58.3{\pm}12.9$ eggs in the pure line and $69.2{\pm}10.4$ eggs in the crosses. The average heterosis effect was 16.9% for survival rate, 5.4% for body weight at 12 weeks, -2.7% for age at first egg laying, 1.3% for egg weight, and 14.3% for hen-day egg production. Generally, the heterosis effect for viability and egg production traits was higher than that for growth trait. On the basis of these results, it is expected that the selection of the HF combination, which had excellent growth performance, is the most desirable as the paternal strain, and the selection of GW and FW combinations, which had excellent laying performance, are preferable as the maternal strain.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.133-141
• /
• 2023

We conducted a 5 × 5 diallel cross-combination test using 1,060 chickens from pure lines of Korean Rhode-C, -D, Korean Leghorn-F, -K, and Korean Native Yellowish-brown chicken (KNC-Y) to develop a new Korean native chicken layer breeder. The laying performance and combining ability, including livability, body weight, age of first egg-laying, hen-day egg production, and egg weight, were analyzed. The livability from birth to 48 weeks was 72.1±24.0%, with the highest observed in the YC and the lowest in the DK combination (P<0.01). The YC combination exhibited the highest general combining ability (GCA), while the YD combination showed the highest specific combining ability (SCA). Regarding body weight, combinations involving Leghorn showed lighter weights compared to combinations with Rhode and KNC-Y (P<0.01). Additionally, the offspring from the KNC-Y combination reached sexual maturity earlier than those from the Rhode combination. The hen-day egg production was 70.7±12.0%, with the highest seen in the CK combination at 86% (P<0.01). The effects of GCA and SCA on hen-day egg production were similar, with the SCA being highest in the YD combination and the GCA being highest in the Rhode-C. Significant differences in egg weight were observed among the combinations, with the eggs from Rhode and Leghorn combinations being heavier than those from combinations with KNC-Y (P<0.01). In conclusion, the YC and YD combinations, characterized by excellent livability, are highly desirable paternal strains, while the CF and CK combinations, with excellent laying performance and moderate egg weight, are preferred maternal strains for Korean native chicken layer breeders.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.622-629
• /
• 2014

The present study was conducted to compare the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of the egg-type male growing chicken (EM), white-mini broiler (WB), and commercial broiler (Ross 308, CB). A total of 360 1-d-old chicks were reared together using a completely randomized design with 4 replicates for each group under the identical feeding and rearing conditions. The ADG and gain:feed were the highest in CB, intermediate in WB, and the lowest in EM (p<0.05), and the live and carcass weights of CB and EM were significantly higher than those of WB (p<0.05). The pH of breast meat from WB and CB was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that from EM with a similar body weight. The EM had the lowest moisture (p<0.05) and the highest protein content (p<0.05), whereas the fat and ash contents were not different among groups. The mystiric acid (C14:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1 ${\omega}7$), and oleic acid (C18:1 ${\omega}9$) levels were significantly higher in breast meat from CB (p<0.05). The monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content showed the highest (p<0.05) levels in CB. In contrast, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents of breast meat, including linoleic acid (C18:2 ${\omega}6$) and arachidonic acid (C20:4 ${\omega}6$), were higher (p<0.05) in EM and WB than in CB. In conclusion, the EM and WB had less growth performances in comparison with CB, but they each had some unique features (taste, flavor, and physiological characteristics) when raised under the identical rearing and feeding conditions.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.323-329
• /
• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation diets with Kalopanax pictus leaf powder on performance, proximate composition, carcass characteristics and blood characteristics of chicken meat. Broiler chicks were fed diets containing Kalopanax pictus leaves with concentration of 0% (Control), 0.5% (T1), 1.0% (T2), and 2.0% (T3) for five weeks. There were no significant differences in performance among treatment, however there were significant decrease in mortality within treatment. The crude fat of chicken meat was increased in diets by addition of Kalopanax pictus leaf powder than control, but moisture, crude protein, and crude ash were no significant differences. The abdominal fat was significantly increased by the supplementation of Kalopanax pictus leaf powder compare to the control (P<0.05). The total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride of control were higher than treatment groups, and the HDL-cholesterol and glucose of control were lower than treatment groups (P<0.05). Especially, T2 and T3 were significantly (P<0.05) more effective in improving cholesterol compare to other treatment groups. In conclusion, these data indicate that supplementation of 1.0% Kalopanax pictus leaf powder (T2) were most effective in decreasing total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride and increasing HDL-cholesterol.