• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.247-255
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• 2009

This work was conducted to investigate the effects of the addition level of Corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (CDDGS) and phytase in broiler diets on the broiler performance and the ileal amino acid digestibility. Three eighty four Ross broiler (one-day-old) were assigned randomly to 8 treatments groups (12 birds/pen, 4 pens/treatment) as $4{\times}2$ complex factors of CDDGS 4 treatments (0, 5, 10 and 15%) and phytase 2 treatments (0, 500 FTU/kg), and fed experimental diets for 6 weeks (starter, 0~2 wk; grower, 2~4 wk; finisher, 4~6 wk). After the feeding trial was finished, 12 broilers (6 weeks) with similar weights were selected from all treatments to investigate the digestibility of nutrients and amino acids for the first week. The experimental diets contained similar ME and CP of all treatments. Body weight gains and feed intakes were high at phytase treatments (P>0.05), but there was no difference in feed intake of the chicks. The amino acid digestibilities of diets were improved for iso-leucine, lysine, threonine, valine, aspartic acid, proline, serine and tyrosine (P<0.05). Finally, this work showed that growth performance and amino acid digestibility were improved by the addition of CDDGS and phytase in broiler diets.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of betaine on egg production, lipid metabolism, and osmoregulation in 18-to 42-week-old ISA Brown laying hens. In experiment 1, three hundred and sixty one hens were fed a com-soy basal diet contailing 16% crude protein (CP), 2800 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), 0.33% methionine, and 0, 300, 600, or 1200 mg betaine per kg diet. Egg production, egg weight, feed consumption, feed conversion, and egg quality were measured every eight weeks. Betaine concentration in live and egg were determined along with serum cholesterol, abdominal fat, total serum protein and albumin levels. In experiment 2, twenty thirty-three-week-old laying hens were fed the same diets as those used in experiment 1 in individual cages and the amount of feed and water consumption were measured for two weeks. At the end of experiment 2, all birds were killed to determine blood plasma and ileal osmopressure, arginine vasotocin (AVT), and liver moisture content. In experiment 1, egg production between the treatments during the first eight weeks were not different, whereas the significant increment of egg production were noticed in the birds fed more than 600 ppm betaine after reaching the peak egg production stage (p<0.05). The egg weight was reduced significantly by the betaine supplementation for the first 8 weeks (p<0.05). Feed conversion tended to improve by betaine supplement. Egg quality was not enhanced by betaine supplementation. Liver betaine level increased with betaine feeding compared to the control but betaine concentration in eggs decreased with betaine supplementation. Betaine supplementation elevated the level of serum total cholesterol and triglyeerides compared to the control. Abdominal fat content was increased by betaine supplementation, whereas liver fat content decreased. In experiment 2, water consumption significantly increased in hens fed diets containing 300 and 600 mg betaine/kg (p<0.05) and osmotic pressure of ileal digesta increased with betaine supplement. Liver moisture content was not affected by betaine, but AVT increased in hens fed betaine. The overal results suggested the possibility of using betaine as a feed additives in the laying hens beacuse of its positive contribution to improving egg production and other metabolic parameters related to lipid metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2008

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of a molting diet method in molt induction and post-molt performance of laying hens. Eighty-one ISA Brown hens at 62 wk of age were randomly divided into three groups. After a 4-wk preliminary period, a control group was fed a corn-soybean-based layer diet, and for the other groups, molting was induced by starvation (MS) or feeding a molting diet (MD). For the MS group, feed was withdrawn for 2 wk; this was followed by feeding a layer diet every other day for 1 wk and then the control diet. The MD group was fed a molting diet containing low-protein and low-energy diet based for 4 wk; this was followed by feeding a layer diet. They had a free access to their diet and water. Egg production, egg quality, feed intake, and ovary and oviduct weights were measured throughout the experimental period. During molting, the feed intake in the MD group was lower than that of the control. Body weight of the molted groups was significantly reduced. The MS group feeding totally ceased egg production within 4d; after the initiation of feeding and decreased; in the MD group, egg production to 9.3% by d 10. On d 14, the ovaries and oviducts of the molted groups were distinctly lighter than those of the control. Throughout the post-molt period, egg production and egg shell thickness of the molted group improved; but there were no significant differences. Eggs from the MD-fed or control group were heavier than those of the MS-fed or control group. Finally, feeding of a low-protein and low-energy diet effectively induces molting and increase post-molt production, but further research will be conducted to determine the effects of the molt diet with other ingredients and to reduce the energy level of the molt diet for maximizing molt induction and post-molt egg quality.