• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-148
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• 1985

Nickel toxicity and interactions of nickel with zinc, copper, and lead were studied in glowing chicks fed supplemented diet. Feed intake and growth rate of the chick were reduced by 250mg nickel as a sulfate salt per kg of feed. The toxicity of nickel was decreased by zinc or copper supplementation, but not lead. High nickel feed increased nickel level in kidney and decreased zinc levels in tibia and plasma. However, low zinc levels in tibia and in plasma were reversed by zinc supplementation. Hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and aortic elastin content were increased in chicks fed nickel. These results suggest that nickel toxicity is induced by interference with zinc metabolism.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2006

The captive breeding biology of the Oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana) was studied over 3 breeding periods. Both the male and female participated in nest building, but the male started to build the nest earlier and spent much time. Time used to build the nest was steadily increased to the egg laying. The copulations were observed $30{\pm}10.53$ (n=3) times in a breeding period. Both male and female incubated their eggs but the female spent more time than the male did. The chicks were hatched $32{\pm}1.29$ (n=6) days after egg laying. Not only the male but also the female took part in the rearing chicks. The male spent more time than the female as chicks grew. The results of this study are useful to assess the ecological soundness of the breeding pair and facilitate the breeding environment in captive breeding of the Oriental white stork.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 1993

To evaluate the pathogenesis of live infectious laryngotracheitis vaccine, virus, virus and E.coli were inoculated in 4-weeks old intraorbitally and intraorally. Their pathology and serology were studied. The results were as follows. 1. thicks Inoculated with ILT vaccine alone showed no clinical sign. 2. Some of chicks inoculated with ILT vaccine followed by E.coli after 1day showed nasal discharge and cough. 3. Some of chicks inoculated with E. coli followed by ILT vaccine after 1 day and inoculated ILT vaccine and E.coli concurrently, showed nasal discharge. 4. Serum neutralization titers of chicks inoculated with ILT vaccine increased 3 weeks after Inoculation, peaked at 7 to 8 weeks and decreased. 5. Antibiotic sensitivity of E.coli were higher in Enrofloxacin (Baytril) and chloramphenical.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2010

Hypocholesterolemic effect of soy protein was examined in comparison with casein and three other dietary protein sources in chicks. In two feeding trials, 40 (Expt.1) or 50 (Expt. 2), three-day-old, male chicks were forced-fed each of five semi-purified-type diets containing isolated soy protein (ISP, cp 82%), casein (cp 92%), rice protein (RP, cp 70%), corn gluten meal (CGM, cp 65%) or fish meal (FM, cp 70%) for two weeks. The diets for Expt. 2 were supplemented with 0.3% cholesterol by replacing glucose. Each protein source was the only source of protein of each diet. Essential amino acids were added to the diets to satisfy their requirements according to NRC. The diets were forced-fed to equalize the intake of all nutrients except the amino acids which were inherently variable in the diets. Chicks fed casein showed lower body weight gain than those fed the other proteins in both experiments. Birds fed ISP and FM gained better body weight than the others. Chicks fed casein showed significantly higher levels of plasma total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TG) than those fed ISP and the other protein sources. Meanwhile, the chicks fed ISP, RP, CGM and FM showed comparable levels of plasma total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and TG. In Expt. 2, the birds fed casein and FM showed markedly elevated plasma total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels. Liver weight and levels of total lipids and cholesterol of chicks fed casein appeared significantly higher than those of the other protein diets, whereas those of the chicks fed ISP, RP, CGM and FM appeared comparable except cholesterol in FM group. In conclusion, only the chicks fed casein diets in both experiments always showed significantly higher levels of plasma cholesterol and TG compared to those fed ISP and the other protein sources. These results support the views that casein, which has unique lysine-arginine ratio, is inherently hyper-cholesterolemic, and ISP is hypocholesterolemic only when compared to casein.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of germanium biotite on the growth performance, blood composition , fecal NH$_3$-N and volatile fatty acid(VFA) in broiler chicks. Two hundred forty broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five treatments with four replicates for five weeks. Dietary treatments included 1) Control, 2) GB1(basal diet + 200 mesh 0.5%), 3) GB2(basal diet + 325 mesh 0.5%), 4) GB3(basal diet + 200 mesh 1.0%) and 5) GB4(basal diet +325 nesh 1.0%) For overall period, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion were not significantly different among treatments (P>0.05). Digestibilities of nutrients were not affected by adding GB(P>0.05). No differences occurred in red blood cell(RBC), white blood cell(WBC), hematocrit(HCT), hemoglobin(Hb), lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet of blood among the treatments (P>0.05). Fecal NH$_3$-N concentration of chicks fed GB1.0 diets(GB3 and GB4) was lower(P<0.03) than chicks fed GB0.5 diets(GB1 and GB2). Propionic acid and butyric acid in feces of chicks fed GB diets were lower(P<0.04) than in chicks fed control diet. GB diets reduced fecal acetic acid significantly compared to control (P<0.01). Also, acetic acid of feces in chicks fed GB1.0 diets(GB3 and GB4) was lower(P<0.02) than GB 0.5 diets(GB1 and GB2) treatments. In conclusion, dietary germanium biotite was an effective means of decreasing fecal NH$_3$-N and volatile fatty acid(VFA) emission.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.599-610
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• 2007

Effect of dietary krill meal levels on the cellular immunity was studied in broiler chicks activated immune response. One day old male broiler chicks(Ross) were fed the experimental krill meal 0.0(basal), 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% diets for 3wks. Blood TNF-α activity, ovotransferrin level and Con A induced proliferation of PBMC and splenocytes after 24 hr(21 d age) of the croton oil 10㎕ injection intra- musculary at the age of 20 days compared to the control olive oil. Krill meal diets did not affect growth performance of broiler chicks and plasma ovotransferrin levels but decreased significantly(p<0.0001) TNF-α like activity and proliferation of PBMC relative to krill meal 0.0% diet. And the proliferation of splenocytes were significantly(p<0.05) increased in birds fed krill meal 1.0% diet relative to krill meal 0.5 and 2.0% diets. The croton oil injection induced a significant(p<0.0001) increases in the TNF-α activity or the PBMC proliferation and enhanced circulating ovotransferrin levels relative to the olive oil. In birds injected with the croton oil the proliferation of PBMC was reduced linearly with the increase of dietary krill meal levels, and the proliferation of splenocytes was decreased in the krill meal 1.0 and 2.0% diets relative to olive oil. These results indicated that dietary krill meal changed the innate and cellular immunity in broiler chicks activated by the injection of croton oil.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.1011-1018
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• 2011

Aflatoxin-contaminated feed cause mortality, suppression of the immune system, reduced growth rates and losses in feed efficiency. This research study was planned to investigate the immunomodulatory and growth promoting effect of milk thistle as feed additive against aflatoxin $B_1$ in broiler chicks at NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan. Two hundred and forty (240) day old broilers chicks were randomly assigned into four major groups AfF, aflatoxin free feed; Aflatoxin $B_1$ was present in the feed at the levels of 80-520 ${\mu}g/kg$ of the feed in the remaining three groups. Aflatoxin contaminated feed was provided for 5 weeks. Group AfB was supplemented with toxin binder "Mycoad" at 3 g/kg of feed and group AfT was supplemented with milk thistle at10 g/kg of feed. Each group was further sub divided into two sub-groups, vaccinated against ND (Newcastle disease), IB (Infectious bronchitis) and IBD (Infectious bursal diseases) according to recommended schedule of vaccination or non vaccinated. Each sub group carried three replicates with 10 chicks per replicate. Chicks were reared in pens in an open sided house. Supplementary heat was provided to all the chicks during brooding period. Mean body weight gain and dressing percentage were significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, followed by AfT, AfB and Af. Weight gain and dressing percentage was the same in group AfB and AfT, while it was significantly lower in group Af. Feed intake, breast, thigh and leg weight were found significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, followed by AfB, AfT and Af. Significantly lower (better) FCR value was recorded in group AfT. Water intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfT and AfF as compared to other groups. Mortality was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group Af. Mean bursa and thymus weights were found significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, AfB and AfT followed by Af, while higher spleen weight was recorded in group AfT. Mean antibody titer against ND, IB and IBD was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfT, as compared to other groups. It is concluded that milk thistle at 10 g/kg of feed could effectively be utilized as immunostimulant and growth promotant in the presence of immunosuppressant aflatoxin $B_1$ in the feed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1445-1450
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feed withdrawal (F) and heat acclimatization (A) on malebroiler and -layer chickens responses to acute heat stress (AHS) at four weeks of age. Totals of ninety male chicks of broiler or layer type were randomly allocated into 30 pens of grower batteries with raised wire floors. Chicks were subjected to F and A three times a week through the first three weeks of age. At each time, feed withdrawal and heat acclimatization (T = $35^{\circ}C$) lasted for six and four hours, respectively. Feed consumption (FC), body weight (BW), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly for broiler type chickens only. At four weeks of age, all groups of chickens were exposed to AHS (T = $39{\pm}1^{\circ}C$) for three hours. Before and after AHS challenge, body temperature (Tb), heterophil (H), and lymphocyte (L) counts were recorded, and H/L ratio was calculated. Antibody (Ab) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was assessed from all treatments without being exposed to AHS. Group F of broiler-type chickens weighed less (p<0.05) compared to control group. Also, both A and F groups of broiler-type chickens consumed less (p<0.05) feed when compared to control group. Acute heat stress elevated Tb of all treatment groups, however the increase was more profound (p<0.001) in broiler chicks. Broiler chicks of both A and F groups showed a tendency to have higher (p = 0.08) Tb when compared to control group. Acute heat stress elevated (p<0.001) H/L ratio in both types of chickens. Broiler chicks maintained higher (p<0.001) H/L ratio. Both F and A groups reduced (p<0.01) the level of elevation in H/L ratio compared to control groups of both types of chickens. Neither A nor F group affected the Ab production in response to SRBC. However, there was a tendency towards higher Ab responses in F group when compared to other groups in both types of chickens. Results of the present study demonstrate that previous history of feed withdrawal or episodes of heat exposures improved chicks'physiological withstanding of AHS and a tendency to improved humoral immune response.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2003

This investigation was conducted to study the effect of dietary formic acid (FA) and propionic acid (PA) mixture on inhibitory effect of Salmonella pullorum in layer chicks. Nine groups of one day-old layer chicks in addition to positive and negative controls, were fed with acids treated feed containing mixture of different acids concentrations, from 0.5% and 0.5% up to 1.5% and 1.5% FA and PA, respectively. Positive and negative controls were fed untreated feed. Groups except the negative control were challenged orally on day three with $10^4$ cfu/ml S. pullorum. Cloacal swabs were taken at three successive days and at 7, 14 and 21 days of challenge. After 1, 2 and 3 weeks after challenge, 4 chicks from each group were sacrificed and crop and cecal contents were examined for S. pullorum and pH. The numbers of S. pullorum positive culture from the excretion of all treated groups except groups treated with mixture of 0.5% and 0.5%, 1% and 0.5%, 0.5% and 1% FA and PA decreased significantly (p<0.05) as compared with the positive control. The mortality rates of all treated groups except the group treated with 0.5% FA and 0.5% PA were decreased significantly (p<0.05) as compared with the positive control. The treatment significantly (p<0.05) lowered the pH of the crop and cecal contents in all groups except the group treated with 0.5% FA and 0.5% PA as compared with the control. Also, the treatment significantly (p<0.05) lowered the pH of the crop and cecal contents in all groups after three weeks of treatment compared to the first and second weeks. The treatments significantly (p<0.05) lowered the frequency of S. pullorum recovery from crop and cecal contents in six groups treated with 1.5 and 0.5, 1 and 1, 1.5 and 1, 0.5 and 1.5, 1 and 1.5, 1.5% and 1.5% FA and PA respectively. These results indicate that addition of FA and PA mixture in a total concentration of 2 % or more to the diet of newly hatched infected layer chicks significantly decreases the crop and cecal colonization by S. pullorum and significantly decreases S. pullorum fecal excretion and reduced the chick mortality rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.396-403
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• 2009

Male broiler chicks were fed graded levels of organic zinc (zinc-methionine) supplementation to investigate the effects of partial or complete substitution of the organic zinc source for inorganic ones on the development of lymphoid organs and immunological responses. A total of 450 day-old male broilers were distributed into groups of 10 chicks and randomly assigned to nine experimental diets during a 42-day feeding trial. Dietary treatments consisted of two basal diets supplemented with 40 mg/kg added zinc as feed-grade Zn sulfate or Zn oxide in which, Zn was replaced with that provided from zinc-methionine (ZnMet) complex at the levels of 25, 50, 75 or 100%. Two randomly-selected birds from each pen replicate were bled and then slaughtered by cervical cutting on the final day of the trial to measure leukocyte subpopulations and relative weights of lymphoid organs. Among lymphoid organs, only thymus weight was affected (p<0.05) by dietary treatments. The sulfate-supplemented birds were heavier (p<0.01) in relative weight of thymus than oxide-supplemented birds. The 10 days of age-assessed cutaneous hypersensivity reaction was stronger in chicks fed ZnMet-containing diets. Dietary ZnMet supplementation caused (p<0.05) an increase in proportion of lymphocytes and consequently a decrease in heterophil to lymphocyte ratio. Diet fortification by zinc-methionine complex increased (p<0.01) Newcastle antibody titer at 19 days of age. Also, a similar response was observed in antibody titers at 6 and 12 d after infectious bronchitis vaccine administration. There was no significant effect of replacement of dietary zinc on antibody titer against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) at the 6th d post-vaccine inoculation; however, at d 12 after vaccination, ZnMet-fortified diets improved antibody titer against IBDV. Although dietary inclusion of ZnMet had no marked effect on primary antibody titer against sheep erythrocytes, effective responses were observed during secondary reaction from the viewpoint of both total antibody and immunoglobulin Y (IgY) titers. From the present findings, it can be concluded that dietary supplementation with organic zinc improves both cellular and humoral immune responses. It is necessary to replace 75% of supplemental inorganic zinc with organic ZnMet complex to achieve the optimum immunological responses in broiler chicks.