• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1215-1222
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• 2022

Objective: A feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of silymarin seed extract on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta microbiota, excreta gas emission, blood profiles, and meat quality in broilers. Methods: A total of 1,088 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (mixed-sex) with an initial body weight of 42.34±0.82 g, were randomly allocated into 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 17 replicates of 16 chicks per cage and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.02%, 0.04%, and 0.06% of silymarin. Results: The inclusion of silymarin supplementation linearly increased the body weight of broilers during days 7 to 21 and 1 to 35 days. On day 35, broilers fed a diet containing graded levels of silymarin supplementation linearly increased the nutrient digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, and nitrogen and cecal Lactobacillus counts (p = 0.038). While silymarin supplement linearly reduced the methyl mercaptans (p = 0.039) and acetic acid (p = 0.007) emission in broilers. No significant effects were observed on the blood profile. Relative weights of organs such as breast muscle, bursa of fabricius were increased (linear effect, p<0.05), water holding capacity was enhanced by increasing the silymarin level from 0% to 0.06%. A linear reduction (p>0.05) in drip loss from meat samples during days 1, 3, 5, and 7 by the addition of graded level of silymarin to the diet. Conclusion: An increasing level of silymarin supplementation to the diet of broiler would be beneficial to enhance growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta microflora, blood profile, and meat quality traits.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding herb extract (HE) on productivity, intestinal microflora and blood component profile in broiler chickens. A total of three hundred twenty, 1-d-old male chicks (Ross) were divided into 4 treatments with 5 replicates, 16 birds per replicate. Dietary treatments consisted of four diets; the corn-soybean based control diet, the diet containing HE 0.1%, the diet containing HE 0.2%, and the diet containing HE 0.4%. The Control diet contained 3,100, 3,100, 3,200 kcal/kg ME and 22%, 20%, 18% CP for starter ($0{\sim}2 wk$), grower ($3{\sim}5 wk$), and finisher ($6{\sim}7 wk$) periods, respectively. There were no significant differences in feed intake and BW gain among treatments in starter period. In grower period, the BW gain of HE 0.2%, and HE 0.4% were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to Control. The 7-wk BW gain of HE 0.2% was significantly higher than Control (p<0.05). The feed intake tended to increase in HE 0.1%, but no difference was detected in feed conversion ratio among treatments. No significant differences were found in blood total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, glucose, total protein, and albumin among treatments, but total cholesterol in HE 0.4% decreased significantly as compared with Control. The cfu of Lactobacillus spp., yeast, and E. coli in the guts of chickens fed HE were not different form each other, but tended to increase as compared with Control.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.277-284
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• 2020

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with herbal extracts of Portulaca oleracea L. (POL), on the reproductive performance, blood profiles, immune response, and fecal microbial population in multiparous sows. On the basis of initial body weight, a total of 20 multiparous sows (Landrace×Yorkshire; 229.2±1.15 kg) were randomly allotted to 2 treatment groups, each including 10 replicates. The dietary treatments were administered during the lactation period, and included a corn-soybean meal-based diet (control group) and diet supplemented with 0.05% POL. Throughout the experimental period, no significant differences were observed between the two diet groups for body weight, backfat thickness, and reproductive performance. Blood profile analysis revealed significantly decreased lymphocyte concentrations and IL-1β levels (p<0.05), and increased serum IgG levels (p=0.051), of sows consuming the POL supplemented diet. Furthermore, coliform counts tended to decrease in sows consuming diet supplemented with POL (p=0.063). Taken together, our results indicate that POL supplemented diets exert beneficial effects on blood profiles, immune response, and fecal microflora of multiparous sows, without any negative effect on the reproductive performance.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 1997

This experiment was conducted to investigate the distribution of the soil microflora of Daekwanryung highlands of Kwangwon Province. It was found that soil microorganisms each as Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Fungi, Pseudomonas spp. and Erwnia sp. were mostly in the top 0-15 cm profile. It also was found that soil microflora population was affected in many ways by kind of cropping plant. The number of Erwinia sp. that is one of the soil born plant pathogenic bacteria was more abundant in potato field than chinese cabbage soil. It was also studied difference of mountain and grassland soils from cropping soils.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary egg yolk antibody (IgY) powder supplementation on the growth performance, blood component profile, intestinal microflora, and immunoglobulin G in ducks. A total of 300 1-day-old ducks (Cherry Valley) were randomly divided into 5 groups, with 3 replicates of 20 birds. The treatment groups were the negative (NC), positive (PC), egg yolk antibody powder 0.1% (T1), egg yolk antibody powder 0.5% (T2), and egg yolk antibody powder 1.0% (T3) groups. In the growth performance of ducks during the entire experimental period, the IgY groups and positive control group (PC) showed significantly higher (P<0.05) body weights and body weight gains compared to the negative control group (NC). However, no significant differences were observed in the feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The blood component profiles showed that the IgY 0.1 and 1.0% groups decreased in total cholesterol content compared to the NC group. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotranferease (ALT) contents were lower in the IgY 1.0% group, but there were no significant differences. Regrading the leukocyte content after feeding IgY, the heterophil: lymphocyte ratio decreased in the IgY groups, especially in the IgY 0.1% group, which had a lower content than the other groups. However, these results showed no significant differences. The Lactobacillus count in the intestines significantly increased (P<0.05) in the IgY 0.1 and 0.5% groups, the level of IgY increased, and the Escherichia coli count decreased. However, no significant difference was observed in the total plate count. The immunoglobulin G content was lower in the IgY groups than in the NC group, and compared with the IgY groups, the IgY 0.5% had a lower content, which was not a significant difference.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.481-490
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• 2007

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of MOS, lectin and organic acid mixture(Organic acid F, Organic acid G) on the egg production, egg quality, profile of leukocytes and erythrocytes, small intestinal microflora and immune response in laying hens. A total of 900 Hy-line BrownⓇ laying hens of 48 wks old were assigned to one of the following 6 dietary treatments:control(C), C+AvillamycinⓇ 6ppm, C+MOS 250ppm, C+lectin 12.5ppm, C+Organic acid F(formic acid 35.4%, formate 34.6%, potassium 30.0%) 0.3% and C+0rgarnic acid G(fumaric acid 23%, calcium formate 14%, potassium sorbate 5%, calcium propionate 7%) 0.06%. Each treatment was replicated five times with thirty birds per replicate, housed in 2 bird cages. Feeding trial lasted for 6 wks under 16 hours lighting regimen. All supplemental groups were higher than the control in 6 wks hen-day and hen-housed egg production showing the highest with MOS treatment(P<0.05). Soft & broken egg productions were lower in supplemental groups than in the control except lectin treatment(P<0.05). Eggyolk color of supplemental groups was higher than that of the control except Organic acid G treatment(P<0.05). The values of RBC, HB, MCHC were highest in lectin treatment and lowest in MOS treatment(P<0.05). The numbers of intestinal microflora were not significantly different among the treatments. Serum IgG levels of all supplemental groups were higher than those of the control(P<0.05). In conclusion, for supplementation of antibiotics, immune modulators and organic acid mixture improved production parameters in general. Among the supplements, MOS showed the best performance in egg production and eggyolk color.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.266-273
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• 2020

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of diet supplementation with complex probiotics (CPB), on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, noxious gas, and fecal microflora in weaning pigs. On the basis of body weight, a total of 234 weaned pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc, 6.14±0.78kg) were randomly allotted to 3 treatments and 6 replicates (13 pigs per pen). The experimental diets were fed in a meal form for 28 days (days 0-14, PhaseI, and days 15-28, PhaseII). The dietary treatment groups were as follows: T1 (basal diet), T2 (T1+0.13% CPB) and T3 (T1+0.25% CPB). The CPB supplement contained Bacillus subtilis 1.0×10⁶ CFU/g, Enterococcus faecium 1.0×10⁶ CFU/g, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 1.0×10⁶ CFU/g, Bacillus licheniformis 3.0×10⁸ CFU/g, and Bacillus polyfermenticus 3.0×10⁸ CFU/g. Pigs fed the T3 diet showed an increase (p<0.05) in the overall average daily gain and average daily feed intake, increased (p<0.05) crude protein digestibility in PhaseI, and greater (p<0.05) dry matter and gross energy digestibility in PhaseII. Supplementation of CPB had no effect on the blood profile. Furthermore, pigs fed the T3 diet had lower (p<0.05) NH₃ emission and overall count of fecal Clostridium spp. In conclusion, we believe that CPB supplementation has a beneficial effect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, noxious gas, and fecal microflora in weaning pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.389-398
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of three strains of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) supplemented to diets on egg production, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol levels, the profile of cecal microflora, and tibia characteristics in laying hens. One hundred sixty 76-week-old Hy-Line Brown layers were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates per group (10 birds per replicate). Birds in the control group were fed a corn-soybean meal based diet. The remaining three treated groups were fed the control diet containing either 0.05% B. subtilis Ch3 (T1), 0.05% B. subtilis Ch3 + B. subtilis W1 (T2) or 0.05% B. subtilis commercial product (T3) for 6 weeks, respectively. There were no differences in feed intake, egg weight, egg production and egg mass among the groups. The dietary supplementation of B. subtilis improved eggshell strength and Haugh units compared to those of control (P<0.05). The activities of GOT and GPT in serum were not also affected by the dietary treatments. The population of total microbes and lactic acid bacteria in cecum were significantly increased by the dietary B. subtilis (P<0.05), but not the coliforms. The cholesterol concentration in egg yolk and serum in the treated groups were significantly decreased compared to those of control (P<0.05). Also, The levels of phospholipids in serum were significantly decreased compared to those of control (P<0.05). The supplementation of three strains of B. subtilis to diets significantly increased the contents of tibia ash compared to that of control (P<0.05). Thus, this study showed significant improvements in egg quality, such as eggshell strength and Haugh unit, by dietary B. subtilis strains. The B. subtilis strains added to the diets modulated the profiles of cecal microflora, reflecting beneficial effects in laying hens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.8
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• pp.18.1-18.8
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• 2017

Background: In 2006, the European Union (EU) has decided to forbid use of antibiotics as growth promoters. Although many researches had been conducted about fiber source as alternatives of antibiotics, there are still lack of reports in the literature about the optimum level of sugar beet pulp supplementation, affecting growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weaning pigs. Therefore, different level of sugar beet pulp was added to diets to determine the effects of sugar beet pulp supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, blood profile and incidence of diarrhea in weaning pigs. Methods: A total of 200 weaning pigs [$(Yorkshire{\times}Landrace){\times}Duroc$], averaging $9.01{\pm}1.389kg$ of initial body weight were, allotted to 5 treatments in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Each treatment was composed of 4 replicates with 10 pigs per pen. The treatments were control treatment: Corn-SBM basal diet + ZnO (phase 1: 0.05%; phase 2; 0.03%) and four different levels of sugar beet pulp were supplemented in Corn-SBM basal diet (3, 6, 9 or 12%). Two phase feeding programs (phase 1: 1-2 weeks; phase 2: 3-5 weeks) were used for 5 week of growth trial. Results: In feeding trial, there were no significant differences in growth performance and incidence of diarrhea among treatments. The E.coli counts were not significantly different among dietary treatments but linear response was observed in Lactobacillus counts as sugar beet pulp supplementation increased (P < 0.05). In addition, IGF-1, IgA and IgG were not affected by dietary treatments. However, the BUN concentration was decreased when pigs were fed the treatments of diets with SBP compared to that of control treatment (P < 0.05). In nutrient digestibility, crude fiber and NDF digestibilities were improved as the sugar beet pulp increased (P < 0.05). However, digestibilities of crude ash, crude fat, crude fiber and nitrogen retention were not affected by dietary sugar beet pulp levels. Conclusion: This experiment demonstrated that sugar beet pulp can be supplemented in weaning pigs' diet instead of ZnO to prevent postweaning diarrhea without any detrimental effect on growth performance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus, medicinal plant extracts, and plant extracts on growth performance, cecal microflora, relative organ weight, and lymphocyte profile in broiler chickens. One hundred broilers (5 wk old) were used and divided into five (treatment) ${\times}$ two (challenged Salmonella) groups containing 10 broilers. The treatments were as follows: no antibiotics group (NC), antibiotics group (PC), 0.1% lactic acid bacteria group (LB), 100 ppm medicinal plant extract group (MPE), and 100 ppm herb extract group (HE). A basal diet was formulated as 3,100 kcal/kg ME and 20% CP based on corn and soybean meal. Broilers were fed with the experimental diets with no challenge for 1 wk and with challenge of SG for 2 wk. SG were added in water as $1.0{\times}10^6cfu/L$. Final body weight and weight gain were significantly decreased following challenge with SG (P<0.05). However, with the addition of antibiotic alternatives, growth performance was improved and reduction of performance following challenge with SG was lowed compared with that of the NC treatment (P<0.05). Coliform bacteria and Salmonella but not lactic acid bacteria increased with the addition of antibiotic alternatives (P<0.05). Lactobacillus increased significantly with the addition of lactic acid bacteria compared with the NC and PC treatments (P<0.05). The weight of liver, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius increased with addition of antibiotic alternatives (P<0.05). WBC was highly reduced at 4 days after challenge with SG, but was normally maintained thereafter. There was no significant difference in coliform bacteria, Salmonella, organ weights, or WBC with the addition of antibiotic alternatives. Finally, Lactobacillus, medicinal plant extract, and herb extract can be used as antibiotic alternatives; but one alternative completely can't alternate as antibiotics. Therefore, further studies are needed to investigate the synergistic effects of two or more antibiotic alternatives.