• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1273-1277
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• 2002

The effect of urea treatment on chemical composition of neem seed kernel cake (NSKC) was investigated by soaking the cake in 2.1% urea solution (1.2 l $kg^{-1}$ NSKC) for five days. The effect on utilisation of nutrients by replacing groundnut cake (GNC) (30%) with urea-treated neem seed kernel cake (UTNSKC) (33%) in a concentrate mixture fed to meet 70% of the protein requirements of lambs (8 males and 8 females), was monitored in a digestibility study. Following urea treatment of NSKC only 9.5% of urea was hydrolysed and the crude protein content of the cake was increased by 6.65%. The tannin content in depulped neem seeds was 37% catechin equivalent. Whereas feeding UTNSKC had no effect on intake of dry matter (72.5 vs 66.3 g/kg $BW^{0.75}day^{-1}$) and digestibility of crude fibre (41.3 vs 43.4%), the cake depressed (p<0.01) the percent digestibility of dry matter (63.7 vs 70.2), crude protein (63.2 vs 70.2), nitrogen free extract (73.8 vs 80.5) and gross energy (64.3 vs 69.1). Digestibility of ether extract (75.8 vs 70.9%) was higher (p<0.05) in animals offered UTNSKC. The nutritive value of the composite ration consumed by lambs offered UTNSKC was lower (p<0.01) in terms of total digestible nutrients (64.7 vs 70.2%) and digestible energy (2.8 vs 3.0 Kcal/g DM). Intake of digestible energy (199.8 vs 194.1 Kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}day^{-1}$) and retention of nitrogen (7.53 vs 8.23 g $day^{-1}$) and calcium (2.12 vs 1.84 g $day^{-1}$) were comparable on the 2 rations. Animals fed UTNSKC retained less (p<0.01) phosphorus (0.37 vs 1.05 g $day^{-1}$). The results indicate that urea treatment increased the protein level of NSKC whereas feeding the treated cake as a replacement of GNC, lowered the digestibility of nutrients and retention of phosphorus.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.496-500
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• 2001

In vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out to evaluate the nutritive value of three tropical browse species as assessed by DM and CP digestibility, and NDF and ADF degradability with incubation times (T) of 6, 12, 24 and 48h. During the in vivo digestibility experiment three male castrated sheep (age 16 - 25 months) with a mean liveweight of $11.5{\pm}0.9kg$ were placed in individual metabolism stalls and were allocated to one of the three browse species in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. The browse species were all leguminous and consisted of: Acacia sieberina (A. sieberina), Ficus polita (F. polita), and Ficus sycomorus (F. sycomorus). The mean DM and CP contents of F. polita were higher than for A. sieberina and F. sycomorus (p<0.05). In contrast the NDF and ADF contents of F. sycomorus were higher compared to the other species examined (p<0.05). The in vitro DM and CP digestibility, and NDF and ADF degradability observed at different stages of incubation were higher in F. polita followed by A. sieberina and F. sycomorus. The DM and CP digestibility at 48 h incubation were 72.92, 74.84 and 53.52% and 77.38, 77.68 and 63.64% for A. seiberina, F. polita and F. sycomorus, respectively. This shows that F. polita contains more soluble materials which ruminant can benefit from and hence has more feeding value. The fermentation of F. sycomorus was slower for all the nutrients evaluated due to the presence of more fibre. Similarly, higher in vivo digestibility coefficient of DM, CP, NDF, ADF and hemicellulose were observed for F. polita reflecting its higher values of CP, ether extract (EE) and hemicellulose associated with lower values of NDF and ADF. Higher DMI and daily gain were recorded in sheep during feeding of F. polita compared to the other species evaluated. The digestibility of all the nutrients examined were higher in the in vivo than in the in vitro trial except for CP and DM. Sheep showed no visual signs of toxicity throughout the study periods. These results showed A. seiberina, F. polita and F. sycomorus can sustain sheep on a maintenance diet and could as well be used as a supplementary feed to low producing animals during the tropical dry season. Further research is needed to ascertain the viability of using these browse species on a long-term basis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.515-523
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the variability in broiler performance, apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and ileal digestible energy (IDE) between five different maize samples fed with and without xylanase at 16,000 U/kg. Various in vitro characterisations were conducted to determine if any could predict performance or AME. Samples of the maize were harvested in five diverse regions and fed individually in a mash diet as follows (g/kg): test maize 608.3; soya bean meal (SBM) 324.1; poultry fat 25.2; salt 4.6; met 2.6; lys 1.6; thr 0.5; limestone 9.7, dical 18.4; vit/min 5.0; CP 210 and ME (kcal/kg) 3,085. The diets were fed to 720 broilers with 6 replicates, each containing 12 birds per treatment, from 0 to 18 d of age. Maize samples were analysed for starch, protein, crude fibre, fat, protein solubility index (PSI) and vitreousness using near infra red reflectance spectroscopy (NIR). They were also assayed using an in vitro starch digestibility method. The results showed that there was no effect of harvest region on the feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the broilers over the 18 d period (p = 0.959, 0.926, 0.819 respectively). There was an improvement in all parameters with the addition of xylanase (FI p = 0.011; BWG and FCR p<0.001). There was a significant positive effect of xylanase on IDE, AME, IDE Intake (IDEI) and AME intake (AMEI) (p<0.0001 in all cases). Although there was no significant effect of maize source, there was a strong trend towards variability in IDE (p = 0.066) and AME (p = 0.058). There were no significant correlations (p<0.05) between any proximate or physiochemical values and any performance or AME values. This may suggest that none of those selected were suitable predictors for performance or AME. The broilers performed well according to the breed guidelines, with slightly increased FI, increased BWG and similar FCR prior to the addition of xylanase. When FCR and BWG were analysed with FI as a covariate, xylanase addition remained significant suggesting that the improvement in BWG and FCR was driven by an increase in digestibility and nutrient availability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1997

An experiment with growing bulls were conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of a straw (S) with 15% molasses and 3% urea as an intimate mix (UMS) on its dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility (DMD) and reduction of methane ($CH_4$) production from fermentation in vitro of the straw. In the next experiment, the feeding of the UMS was compared with that of the feeding of molasses and urea in meals (DS) or in lick blocks (DSUMB) as supplements to straw. The UMS feeding increased daily intake of straw DM ($89.5 g{\cdot}kgW^{-0.75}$, p < 0.01) and digestible crude protein (DCP 333 g, p < 0.001) and nitrogen (N) balances ($508mg{\cdot}kgW^{-0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, p < 0.01) of the bulls than the feeding of 'S' ($65g{\cdot}kgW^{-0.75}$, 55 g and $8.0mg{\cdot}kgW^{-0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, respectively). It also increased the digestibility of DM ($594g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, p < 0.05), organic matter (OM, $641g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, p < 0.05), CP ($619g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre (ADF, 773, p < 0.05). The $CH_4$ emitted per g of DOM apparently fermented in the rumen (DOMR) was 91.0 ml in the 'S' and reduced (p < 0.05) to 61.6 ml in the UMS. The feeding of the UMS when compared with that of the DS or DSUMB also gave a higher straw intake (1.77% of live weight, LW, p <0.01) and ADF digestibility ($516g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, p < 0.05) than the other diets (1.52% or 1.55% LW and 472 or $490g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, respectively) in association with the increased microbial N yield in the rumen (14.1, 5.62 or $17.0g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ DOMR, respectively, p < 0.05), daily LW gains (233, 125 or 93 g, respectively, p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratios of the diets (26.0, 56.1, or 57.6 g feed/g LW gain, p > 0.05, respectively). It can be concluded that molasses and urea feeding as an intimate mix with straw (UMS) increased its digestion and intake in association with a reduced methane emissions in the rumen. When compared with that of their feeding in meals or in lick blocks as supplements to straw the UMS gave the highest straw in take and digestion and live weight gains of growing bulls concurring the finding that the UMS system may be the best way of molasses and urea feeding to ruminants fed straws.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.1139-1146
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• 2002

Sixty crossbred Anglo-Nubian goats (growing females), 18-24 mo of age, with a mean pre-experimental live weight of $20.9{\pm}0.44kg$ were used to investigate voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) and digestibility of supplements of Leucaena leucocephala (LL) leaves to a basal diet of guinea grass. The experiment was a 3 forms of presentation: fresh, wilted and $dry{\times}4$ levels of supplementation: 10, 20, 30 and 40% of total forage allowance with LL leaves. The goats were assigned based on weight and age to one of the twelve diets in a randomized manner and each level had five animals (replicates) per diet for 56 days. The form of presentation of LL leaves had effects on dry matter (DM) and nutrient composition. DM and NDF were higher in the dry LL leaves (p<0.05). In the diets, CP increased as the level of supplementation with LL leaves increased (p<0.05). Mean CP was similar in the fresh ($14.8{\pm}3.5%$), wilted ($14.3{\pm}3.3%$) and dry forms ($13.9{\pm}3.1%$). Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) decreased linearly (p<0.05) with increase in levels of supplementation. Organic matter (OM) followed the trend of CP concentration (p<0.05). Drying was observed to reduce the availability of CP at the different levels of supplementation and subsequently this affected the NDF of the diets. DM intake of the goats on the fresh and wilted LL leaves was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in those on the dry LL leaves. DM intake of the basal diet was observed to decrease as the level of supplementation (p<0.05) increased regardless of the form of presentation of LL. Growth rate was best (p<0.05) on the fresh form followed by wilted and the least in the dry form. Growth rate decreased linearly (p<0.05) with increase in the level of supplementation in the dry form. The form of presentation and level of supplementation influenced DM, CP and OM digestibility (p<0.05). Except for NDF, the digestibility of DM, CP and OM were better (p<0.05) in the goats on fresh LL leaves compared to the wilted and dry leaves. Based on the data on DMI, growth rate and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients, the results suggest that LL leaves is best utilized when fed fresh or wilted to goats. In the dry form of presentation, the best level of supplementation without a reduction in voluntary DMI and growth rate is the 20%. In the fresh and wilted form, LL leaves could be fed up to the 40% level with improved DMI, growth rate and nutrient utilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.396-401
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• 2006

A total of 72 castrated, crossbred ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) piglets ($5.7{\pm}0.7kg$ BW) were allotted to one of three treatments including: a dry crumbled feed fed for 40 days; liquid feed provided for 10 days followed by dry crumbled feed for 30 days; and liquid feed provided for 20 days followed by dry crumbled feed for 20 days. Liquid feed was produced fresh each day by mixing water with dry crumbled feed at a ratio of 3:1. Pigs fed liquid feed for 10 days had a higher weight gain during the first 10 days (+16.8%; p = 0.01) and over the entire experimental period (+4.9%; p = 0.07) than pigs offered dry feed. Pigs fed liquid feed for 20 days also had a higher weight gain during the period from d 0 to 10 (+12.8%; p = 0.01), from d 10 to 20 (+8.5%; p = 0.06) and from d 0 to 20 (+9.7%; p = 0.01) than pigs offered dry feed. Pigs fed liquid feed for the first 10 days had higher feed intakes from d 0 to 10 (+22.6%; p = 0.01) and from d 0 to 40 (+5.3%; p = 0.02) than pigs offered dry feed. Pigs fed liquid feed for the first 20 days had a higher feed intake from d 0 to 10 (+21.8%; p = 0.01), from d 10 to 20 (+10.6%; p = 0.06), from d 0 to 20 (+14.6%; p = 0.01) and from d 0 to 40 (+6.6%; p = 0.02) than pigs offered dry feed. Feed conversion from d 0 to 40 tended to be poorer for pigs fed liquid feed during the first 20 days (p = 0.08) indicating an increase in feed wastage with liquid feeding. Nutrient digestibility at day 10 was unaffected by dietary treatment. However, at day 30, pigs fed liquid feed for 10 days had higher digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.08), energy (p = 0.10), crude protein (p = 0.03) and neutral detergent fibre (p = 0.05) than pigs fed liquid feed for 20 days. In conclusion, liquid feeding for 10 or 20 days increased the performance of weaned pigs during the specific time period that liquid feeding occurred but there were no carry over effects into subsequent production periods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 2006

Fifty castrated crossbred ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) pigs, weighing an average of $60.6{\pm}3.1kg$ were allotted to one of five treatments in a randomized block design to examine the effects of dietary inclusion of 0.1% L-carnitine (50 ppm carnitine), 0.1% selenium-enriched yeast (0.3 ppm selenium), 0.1% Jujube fruit or 0.1% Hwangto (Red clay) on pig performance and carcass quality. All diets were based on corn, wheat, soybean meal and wheat bran and were formulated to supply 13.8 MJ DE/kg. Dietary supplementation did not influence daily gain (p = 0.57), feed intake (p = 0.52), or feed conversion (p = 0.32). Digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.60), organic matter (p = 0.74), crude protein (p = 0.76), crude fibre (p = 0.70) and energy (p = 0.75) were also unaffected by inclusion of any of the additives. Tissue samples taken from the longissimus muscle showed that the levels of carnitine (p = 0.0001) and selenium (p = 0.0001) were significantly higher with dietary inclusion of carnitine or selenium-enriched yeast. Dietary treatment did not affect dressing percentage (p = 0.33), carcass lean yield (p = 0.99) or first, $10^{th}$ and last rib midline backfat depth (p = 0.45, 0.82 and 0.47, respectively). Dietary treatment also did not affect the percentages of tenderloin (p = 0.37), bacon (p = 0.36), fat and bone (p = 0.56), picnic shoulder (p = 0.25), skirt (p = 0.80), fresh ham (p = 0.31) or ribs (p = 0.79). However, pigs fed the diet containing Jujube fruit had a higher percentage of Boston butt than pigs fed the carnitine or selenium supplemented diets (p = 0.01). Pigs fed added Hwangto had a higher (p = 0.04) percentage of loin compared with pigs fed supplementary selenium or Jujube fruit. Loin muscle from pigs fed carnitine had a significantly lower Hunter colour value for L (whiteness, p = 0.004) and a higher value for $a^*$ (redness; p = 0.069). The overall results indicate that supplementation with L-carnitine and selenium-enriched yeast can produce pork containing higher levels of carnitine and selenium, which could provide health benefits for consumers of pork without detrimental effects on pig performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1764-1772
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• 2017

Objective: This study investigated the effects of different dietary energy sources on early postmortem muscle metabolism of finishing pigs. Methods: Seventy-two barrow ($Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$, DLY) pigs ($65.0{\pm}2.0kg$) were allotted to three iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets: A (44.1% starch, 5.9% crude fat, and 12.6% neutral detergent fibre [NDF]), B (37.6% starch, 9.5% crude fat, and 15.4% NDF) or C (30.9% starch, 14.3% crude fat, and 17.8% NDF). After the duration of 28-day feeding experiment, 24 pigs (eight per treatment) were slaughtered and the M. longissimus lumborum (LL) samples at 45 min postmortem were collected. Results: Compared with diet A, diet C resulted in greater adenosine triphosphate and decreased phosphocreatine (PCr) concentrations, greater activity of creatine kinase and reduced percentage bound activities of hexokinase (HK), and pyruvate kinase (PK) in LL muscles (p<0.05). Moreover, diet C decreased the phosphor-AKT level and increased the hydroxy-hypoxia-inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ ($HIF-1{\alpha}$) level, as well as decreased the bound protein expressions of HK II, PKM2, and lactate dehydrogenase A (p<0.05). Conclusion: Diet C with the lowest level of starch and the highest levels of fat and NDF could enhance the PCr utilization and attenuate glycolysis early postmortem in LL muscle of finishing pigs.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.34.1-34.14
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• 2015

Background: Over the past 30-40 years, various carbon implant materials have become more interesting, because they are well accepted by the biological environment. The traditional carbon-based polymers give rise to many complications. The polymer complication may be eliminated through carbon fibres bound by pyrocarbon (carbon/carbon). The aim of this study is to present the long-term clinical results of carbon/carbon implants, and the results of the scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer investigation of an implant retrieved from the human body after 8 years. Methods: Mandibular reconstruction (8-10 years ago) was performed with pure (99.99 %) carbon implants in 16 patients (10 malignant tumours, 4 large cystic lesions and 2 augmentative processes). The long-term effect of the human body on the carbon/carbon implant was investigated by comparing the structure, the surface morphology and the composition of an implant retrieved after 8 years to a sterilized, but not implanted one. Results: Of the 16 patients, the implants had to be removed earlier in 5 patients because of the defect that arose on the oral mucosa above the carbon plates. During the long-term follow-up, plate fracture, loosening of the screws, infection or inflammations around the carbon/carbon implants were not observed. The thickness of the carbon fibres constituting the implants did not change during the 8-year period, the surface of the implant retrieved was covered with a thin surface layer not present on the unimplanted implant. The composition of this layer is identical to the composition of the underlying carbon fibres. Residual soft tissue penetrating the bulk material between the carbon fibre bunches was found on the retrieved implant indicating the importance of the surface morphology in tissue growth and adhering implants. Conclusions: The surface morphology and the structure were not changed after 8 years. The two main components of the implant retrieved from the human body are still carbon and oxygen, but the amount of oxygen is 3-4 times higher than on the surface of the reference implant, which can be attributed to the oxidative effect of the human body, consequently in the integration and biocompatibility of the implant. The clinical conclusion is that if the soft part cover is appropriate, the carbon implants are cosmetically and functionally more suitable than titanium plates.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.497-503
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• 2004

The effect of adding carbohydrate-rich feedstuffs to sweet potato leaves (SPL) on silage quality was studied using a total of 180 laboratory silos. Silage quality was assessed by changes of pH, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and ammonia nitrogen ($NH_{3}$-N). Pre-wilted SPL was mixed with cassava root meal (CRM), sweet potato root meal (SPM) or sugar cane molasses (Mo) at levels of 0, 30, 60 and 90 g $kg^{-1}$ (air-dry weight of additives to pre-wilted weight of SPL). Samples for assessing silage quality were collected after mixing the SPL with the additive and thereafter at 7, 14, 28 and 56 days of ensiling. There was a marked decrease in pH after 7 days and the pH remained low and stable until day 56. Addition of 60 and 90 g $kg^{-1}$ resulted in a lower pH (p<0.05) than the other treatments. The DM content of the silage increased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of additive, while there were no differences in DM with time of ensiling. The CP content of the silage decreased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of additive. The CP content did not change up to 28 days, but was lower (p<0.05) after 56 days in all treatments. The $NH_{3}$-N levels were increasing (p<0.05) with time of ensiling, and were lower (p<0.05) with additive levels of 60 g $kg^{-1}$ or higher. Also, the additive source affected the $NH_{3}$-N values, with the lowest values found for Mo. Castrated male pigs (Large White$\times$Mongcai) were used in 4$\times$4 Latin square design to study the total tract digestibility and nitrogen (N) utilisation of diets with inclusion of ensiled SPL. The diets were based on cassava root meal with inclusion of protein from either fish meal (C) or SPL ensiled with CRM (D1), SPL ensiled with SPM (D2) and SPL ensiled with Mo (D3). The digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and CP were higher (p<0.05), and the digestibility of crude fibre (CF) was lower (p<0.05), in diet C than in diets D1, D2 and D3. However, there were no differences (p>0.05) in digestibility of dietary components between diets D1, D2 and D3. Also, the excretion of N in faeces was higher (p<0.05) and the N retention was lower (p<0.05) in diets D1, D2 and D3 than in diet C. It can be concluded from the present experiments, that a good quality silage can be produced from pre-wilted SPL by addition of 60 g $kg^{-1}$ of either CRM, SPM or Mo. Diets with inclusion of 450 g ensiled SPL $kg^{-1}$ DM showed a high digestibility of dietary components and thus ensiled SPL should be considered as a potential feed resource for growing pigs.