• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1458-1468
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• 2002

There is increasing interest in exploiting natural products as feed additives to solve problems in animal nutrition and livestock production. Essential oils and saponins are two types of plant secondary compounds that hold promise as natural feed additives for ruminants. This paper describes recent advances in research into these additives. The research has generally concentrated on protein metabolism. Dietary essential oils caused rates of NH$_3$ production from amino acids in ruminal fluid taken from sheep and cattle receiving the oils to decrease, yet proteinase and peptidase activities were unchanged. Hyper-ammonia-producing (HAP) bacteria were the most sensitive of ruminal bacteria to essential oils in pure culture. Essential oils also slowed colonisation and digestion of some feedstuffs. Ruminobacter amylophilus may be a key organism in mediating these effects. Saponin-containing plants and their extracts appear to be useful as a means of suppressing the bacteriolytic activity of rumen ciliate protozoa and thereby enhancing total microbial protein flow from the rumen. The effects of some saponins seems to be transient, which may stem from the hydrolysis of saponins to their corresponding sapogenin aglycones, which are much less toxic to protozoa. Saponins also have selective antibacterial effects which may prove useful in, for example, controlling starch digestion. These studies illustrate that plant secondary compounds, of which essential oils and saponins comprise a small proportion, have great potential as 'natural' manipulators of rumen fermentation, to the potential benefit of the farmer and the environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1084-1093
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• 2000

An in vitro gas production system was used to investigate the influence of various substrate mixtures on a natural mix of rumen microbes by measurement of fermentation end-products. The treatments were combinations of cassava (15.0, 30.0 and 45.0%) with different roughage sources (ruzi grass, rice straw or urea treated rice straw). Microbial biomass, net $^{15}N$ incorporation into cells, volatile fatty acid production, gas volume and rate of gas production increased linearly with increasing levels of cassava inclusion. There was also an effect of roughage source, with rice straw being associated with the lowest values for most parameters whilst similar values were obtained for ruzi grass and urea treated rice straw. The results suggest that microbial growth and fermentation rate increase as a function of readily available carbohydrate in the substrate mixture. A strong linear relationship between $^{15}N$ enrichment, total volatile fatty acid production and gas production kinetics support the suggestion of the use of the in vitro gas production system as a tool for screening feedstuffs as an initial stage of feed evaluation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.364-370
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• 2008

Chemical analysis and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the nutritive value for ruminants of cell mass from lysine production (CMLP) which is a by-product of the lysine manufacturing process. Proximate analysis, protein fractionation, and in vitro protein degradation using protease from Streptomyces griseus and strained ruminal fluid were carried out to estimate ruminal protein degradability of CMLP with two reference feedstuffs-soybean meal (SBM) and fish meal (FM). Amino acid composition and pepsin-HCl degradability were also determined to evaluate postruminal availability. CMLP contained 67.8% crude protein with a major portion being soluble form (45.4% CP) which was composed of mainly ammonium nitrogen (81.8% soluble CP). The amount of nucleic acids was low (1.15% DM). The total amount of amino acids contained in CMLP was 40.60% DM, which was lower than SBM (47.69% DM) or FM (54.08% DM). CMLP was composed of mainly fraction A and fraction B2, while the protein fraction in SBM was mostly B2 and FM contained high proportions of B2 and B3 fractions. The proportion of B3 fraction, slowly degradable protein, in CP was the highest in fish meal (23.34%), followed by CMLP (7.68%) and SBM (1.46%). CMLP was degraded up to 51.40% at 18 h of incubation with Streptomyces protease, which was low compared to FM (55.23%) and SBM (83.01%). This may be due to the insoluble portion of CMLP protein being hardly degradable by the protease. The in vitro fermentation by strained ruminal fluid showed that the amount of soluble fraction was larger in CMLP (40.6%) than in SBM (17.8%). However, because the degradation rate constant of the potentially degradable fraction of CMLP (2.0%/h) was lower than that of SBM (5.8%/h), the effective ruminal protein degradability of CMLP (46.95%) was slightly lower than SBM (53.77%). Unavailable fraction in the rumen was higher in CMLP (34.0%) compared to SBM (8.8%). In vitro CP degradability of CMLP by pepsin was 80.37%, which was lower than SBM (94.42%) and FM (89.04%). The evaluation of protein degradability using different approaches indicated that soluble protein in CMLP may supply a large amount of ammonia in the rumen while insoluble protein can be by-passed from microbial attacks due to its low degradability. The results from this study suggest that CMLP can be used as a protein supplement to ruminants for supplying both non-protein nitrogen to rumen microbes and rumen undegradable protein to the host animal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.433-441
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• 1995

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the influence of various pepsin-HCL pretreatment factor, hereby the factors of duration of washing for the retrieved bags, inherent to the mobile nylon bag technique (MNBT), on apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein (AIDCP) and apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter (AIDDM). At last, the AIDCP and apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids (AIDAA) in maize, barley, wheat, rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal and three mixed diets were determined with the MNBT and ileo-rectal anastomis pigs (IRAT). For the MNBT techniques, bag measuring $25{\times}40$ MM and containing 0.75 g feedstuff samples, after pre-digestion in vitro, were introduced into the ileo-rectal anastomis pigs (IRAT) gastrointestinal tract through a duodenal cannula and recovered in the ileal digesta between 6 and 12 h. later. 1. The apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter (AIDDM) and crude protein (AIDCP) of the tested samples, with the exception of fish meal, determined by MNBT were not affected by the different pepsin-HCL pretreatment times in vitro between 2.5 h. and 4 h. 2. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference of the AIDCP and AIDDM of maize determined by the MNBT among different pepsin concentration (0.03%, 0.07% and 0.1 %) treatment in vitro. 3. The AIDCP determined with the MNBT was affected by the washed and unwashed recovered bags from the ileal digesta. 4. The AIDCP and AID amino acids (AIDAA) of maize, barley, wheat, rapeseed meal, soya-bean meal, cottonseed meal and three mixed diets from the MNBT, with a solution of 0.01N HCL (PH 2) and 0.1% of pepsin concentration, a pepsin-HCL pretreatment time in vitro or 4h. and a washing time of the recovered bag from the ileal digesta compared well with those from the IRAT. The linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation (p < 0.01) of AIDCP and AIDDA between the IRAT and MNBT.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.537-548
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• 2022

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein, crude lipid, nitrogen-free extract, energy and essential amino acids in animal-based feed ingredients were determined for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). A reference diet (RF) was formulated to contain 1.0% chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃) as an inert indicator. Nine test diets were formulated to contain RF and one of the feed ingredients (pollock meal [PM], jack mackerel meal [JMM], anchovy meal [AM], cod meal [CM], sardine meal [SM], sand eel meal [SEM], tuna meal [TM], meat meal [MM] and squid liver meal [SLM]) at a 7:3 ratio in each diet designated as PM, JMM, AM, CM, SM, SEM, TM, MM and SLM, respectively. Olive flounder, averaging 150 ± 8.0 g, were stocked at a density of 25 fish per tank in 400-L fiberglass tanks attached with fecal collection columns. Feces were collected from triplicate groups of fish one time a day for four weeks. Dry matter and crude protein ADCs of CM and SEM were significantly higher than the other tested ingredients. Lipid ADCs of JMM, CM and SEM were significantly higher than the other test ingredients. Energy ADCs of CM and SEM were significantly higher than that of the other tested ingredients. The availability of amino acids in CM was generally higher than the other animal protein sources. PM exhibited the lowest amino acid availability among the treatments. Interestingly, MM exhibited significantly higher nutrient digestibility than several marine-based ingredients. However, CM and SEM are seeming to be highly digestible and effective to use in olive flounder diet compared to the other tested ingredients. Overall, the results of this study provide information about the bioavailability of nutrients and energy in animal feedstuffs to apply when formulating cost-effective practical feeds for olive flounder.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.620-633
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• 1998

Methods developed for measuring digestibility and availability of amino acids in feedstuffs used in pig nutrition are reviewed. Digestibility is a proportion of an amino acid in a feed that is absorbed from the digestive tract and should be determined from the difference between the amount of amino acid consumed and passing the distal ileum. Techniques for ileal digesta sampling including various types of cannulas: a re-entrant, T-piece, IPV, IPVC and ileaorectal anastomosis are described and comparisons amongst these methods are presented. Other methodologies like mobile bag technique, in vitro assays and mathematical prediction method are also described. Significance and methodologies for measurement of endogenous nitrogen and amino acids losses at the distal ileum and their effect on the apparent and true nitrogen and amino acid digestibilities in feeds are discussed. Factors influencing the apparent and true amino acid digestibilities such as dry matter intake, protein, fibre and antinutritive compounds content in the diet are discussed. Amino acid bioavailability -the proportion of the total amino acid digested and absorbed in a form utilized in metabolism - measured by the growth assay may differ from its ileal digestibility. Chemical methods for determination of available lysine content in heat treated feeds are evaluated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2001

The expediency of promoting rabbit production on underutilized by-product feedstuffs prompted the current investigation of caecal fermentation pattern, blood biochemical profile and histopathological changes of vital organs in 48 broiler rabbits fed diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 20% level of neem seed kernal cake (NSKC) for 6 weeks and subsequently sacrificed. The NSKC incorporation in the diet did not exert any adverse effect on caecal fermentation although the weight of caecum and its contents was significantly (p<0.01; p<0.05) lower in rabbits fed the diet containing 20% NSKC. Except for blood glucose concentration, none of the blood biochemical constituents (serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, haemoglobin) and the activities of different enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, asparatate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase) varied significantly due to NSKC feeding. A histopathological examination of the vital organs (liver, kidney, heart, spleen, lungs, intestine and stomach) revealed a variable degree of villus atrophy in the intestine and degenerative changes in the liver and tubular epithelium of kidney in some rabbits when NSKC was fed at levels above 10%.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.764-772
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• 2003

Two genetic constructs used to confer improved agronomic characteristics, namely herbicide tolerance (HT) in maize and soyabean and insect resistance (Bt) in maize, are considered in respect of feeding to farm livestock, animal performance and the nutritional value and safety of animal products. A review of nucleic acid (DNA) and protein digestion in farm livestock concludes that the frequency of intact transgenic DNA and proteins of GM and non-GM crops being absorbed is minimal/non existent, although there is some evidence of the presence of short fragments of rubisco DNA of non-GM soya in animal tissues. It has been established that feed processing (especially heat) prior to feeding causes significant disruption of plant DNA. Studies with ruminant and non-ruminant farm livestock offered GM feeds demonstrated that animal performance and product composition are unaffected and that there is no evidence of transgenic DNA or proteins of current GM in the products of animals consuming such feeds. On this evidence, current HT and Bt constructs represent no threat to the health of animals, or humans consuming the products of such animals. However as new GM constructs become available it will be necessary to subject these to rigorous evaluation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.460-466
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• 1999

The huge amount of demand for feedgrains from this region could not possibly be met by producing countries from the other regions. In order to fulfill this increasing demand for conventional raw materials, an alternative for the conventional raw materials produced in the Asia and Pacific region is becoming increasingly more important. A potential alternative is concentrates or non-conventional concentrates produced locally in relative abundance in this region. These feedstuffs include feed grains, by-products from the milling, sugar industries, brewing and distilling industries. Vegetable, citrus, and animal by-products from abattoir, feather meal and blood meal are also possibilities. In addition to more widespread use of unconventional feed sources, the following approach is recommended to improve utilization and performance. These include establishing the nutritive value of non-conventional feeds, quality control to minimize variability, proper storage and processing to assure the nutritive value and prevent mycotoxin contamination, properly balance amino acids with protein sources, supplementation with synthetic amino acids and the use of enzymes to increase digestibility. Currently, practical applications for these resources in feed formulation are negligible despite the potential. The socio-economic aspects will dominate the use of these non-conventional concentrates. In the future, the feed industry will resolve the problems in using locally available raw feed materials.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.553-560
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• 1994

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the feed value of Macol meal, which is one of the byproducts from the extraction of liquid syrup from barley grain, on lactating dairy cows. All of the lactating dairy cows feeding in eight dairy farms were used in feeding experiment and fed concentrates plus Macol meal 5Kg as wet basis. The milk yields and milk fit during the periods of 10 months were investigated and blood picture, blood chemistry and diseases occuring frequency before and after feeding Macol meal were analyzed. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. In the proximate compositions, the contents of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, crude as and nitrogen free extracts was 68.8%, 7.43%, 1.04%, 7.08%, 1.56% and 14.09% respectively. On the other hand, the contents of NDF, ADF and cellulose was 36.68%, 35.71% and 10.85%, as dry matter basis, respectively. 2. The daily milk yield per head was 22.84kg during two months before feeding Macol meal and 23.89 kg during the periods of ten months after feeding Macol meal. 3. The blood picture and blood chemistry were not affected by feeding Macol meal. 4. The diseases occuring frequency were not significantly affected by feeding Macol meal. from the results of this experiment it could be concluded that Macol meal can be used in lactating dairy cows rations without any adverse effects.