Correlations between mitochondrial respiration activity and residual feed intake after divergent genetic selection for high‐ and low‐ oxygen consumption in mice

The aims of the present study were to identify the differences between two mouse lines (high (H)‐ and low (L)‐oxygen consumption) in terms of mitochondrial respiratory activity when GMP (glutamate, malate, and pyruvate) and succinic acid are used as substrates and to examine the relationship between mitochondrial respiration activity and feed efficiency in both lines. The average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and residual feed intake (RFI) were significantly higher in the H than the L line. The correlation between FCR and RFI was significant (r = 0.60, p < 0.05). RFI was effective as an indicator of feed efficiency. When succinic acid was used as a substrate, mitochondrial respiration states 2–4, ACR, and proton leak were significantly higher in the H than the L line. When GMP was used as a substrate, respiration states 3 and 4 in the H line were significantly higher than those in the L line, and there were significant positive correlations between FCR and RFI and mitochondrial respiration states 2–4. The results indicated that selection for high or low OC changed the basal metabolic rates estimated from liver mitochondrial respiration activity and feed efficiency.     

Digesta passage and nutrient digestibility in Boran steers at low feed intake levels

The present study evaluated the effects of energetic undernutrition on liquid and solid digesta passage and on nutrient digestibility as well as their interdependencies. Using a 4 x 4 Latin square design, 12 growing Boran steers (183 ± 15.2 kg live weight) were allocated to four levels of metabolizable energy (ME) supply fixed at 100, 80, 60 and 40% of individual maintenance energy requirements (MER) during four experimental periods. Each period comprised three weeks of adaptation, two weeks of data collection and two weeks of recovery. Diets MER80, MER60 and MER40 only consisted of Rhodes grass hay (RGH), whereas diet MER100 contained (as fed) 83% RGH, 8% cotton seed meal and 9% sugarcane molasses. Feed intake differed between treatments (p < .001) and ranged from 40 ± 0.6 g dry matter (DM) per kg of metabolic weight (kg^0.75) in MER40 to 81 ± 1.3 g DM in MER100. Digestibility of neutral and acid detergent fibre (NDF, ADF) was highest at MER80, whereas rumen retention time of liquid and solid digesta was longest at MER40. The correlation of rumen retention time of liquid and solid digesta with the digestibility of proximate diet components was weak but positive, whereas the correlation of liquid and solid rumen retention time with quantitative feed and nutrient intake was strong (p < .01) and negative. Our results suggest that tropical cattle are able to buffer a moderate energy deficit by prolonging rumen retention time of digesta and hence improve diet digestibility. Conversely, a severe energy deficit cannot be buffered by digestive adaptation mechanisms and will inevitably lead to productivity losses.     

Selection for high and low oxygen consumption altered hepatic mitochondrial energy efficiency in mice

Selection for high (H) and low (L) oxygen consumption (OC) as an indirect estimation of maintenance energy requirement was determined. Feed intake and body weight were measured and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 4–8‐week‐old mice was calculated. Respiratory activity of hepatic mitochondria was measured at 12 weeks. Total feed intake (H: 103.74 g, L: 97.92 g, P < 0.01), daily feed intake (H: 3.70 g/day, L: 3.50 g/day, P < 0.01) and FCR (H: 18.79, L: 15.50, P < 0.01) were significantly different between lines. The line by sex interaction was significant for FCR. No line differences were observed in males; and the FCR of the H line was greater than in the L line in females. H line mice had the highest hepatic mitochondrial respiratory activity in state 2 (P < 0.01), the highest uncoupled respiratory rate of mitochondria in the presence of an uncoupling agent (P < 0.001), and the mitochondrial proton leak. The adenosine diphosphate/ O ratio was highest in the L line (P < 0.05). This suggests that the selection for high and low OC induced differences in basal mitochondrial respiration and basal metabolism, resulting in difference in FCR between H and L lines.     

Estimation of maintenance energy requirements in German shepherd and Labrador retriever dogs in Bangalore,India

Maintenance energy requirements (MERs) were calculated for 17 German shepherd and 20 Labrador retriever adult dogs using an in‐home prospective dietary trial. The dogs were fed the same dry pet food and body weight, food intake, body condition score and physical activity were monitored for 10 weeks. Labrador retrievers were significantly heavier and had higher body condition scores than German shepherd dogs, but there was no difference between males and females within each group. Body weights remained stable over the study period, with an average daily gain of 9.1 g. Mean (SD) MER was 103.4 (16.3) kcal/kg BW^0.75, which was some 20% lower than that currently suggested for moderately active young adult dogs. Individual MER ranged from 66.8 to 141 kcal/kg BW^0.75. There were no significant differences in MER between the two breeds, or between males and females within and between the two breeds. There was a significant inverse relationship between MER and body condition score, reflecting the lower energy expenditure of adipose tissue. The lower MER of dogs in this study, relative to previous observations, may reflect climatic and environmental differences and highlight the necessity for accurate estimates of MER in relation to the production and feeding of pet foods.     

Effect of feeding wood kraft pulp on the growth performance,feed digestibility,blood components,and rumen fermentation in Japanese Black fattening steers

This study aimed to examine the effects of feeding kraft pulp (KP) on the growth performance, feed digestibility, and rumen fermentation of Japanese Black fattening steers. Ten Japanese Black fattening steers (aged 26 months) were randomly divided into control and KP groups. The control group (n = 5) was fed concentrate feed without KP, and the KP group (n = 5) was fed concentrate feed containing 10% KP. Both the groups were provided rice straw as roughage. The experiment was conducted over a period of 12 weeks. There was no significant difference in dry matter intake, daily body weight gain, and nutrient digestibility between both groups. No difference was observed in the ruminal concentrations of volatile fatty acids among the groups. At weeks 8 and 12 after the onset of the experiment, the acetate‐to‐propionate ratio in the ruminal fluid of the KP group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The average daily pH of ruminal fluid and activity of ruminal lipopolysaccharide did not differ between the groups. Our results suggested that the growth performance and feed digestibility in the Japanese Black fattening steers were not influenced by replacing concentrate feed with KP.     

Effect of nutrient levels during the far‐off period on postpartum productivity in dairy cows

The present study aimed to determine the effects of differing nutrient levels during the far‐off period on postpartum metabolism and milk production in lactating cows. Twenty‐six multiparous cows were assigned to three dietary treatments in the far‐off period: a low‐energy diet (L, n = 9, 80% intake of the total digestible nutrients requirement), a moderate‐energy diet (M, n = 8, 105%) and a high‐energy diet (H, n = 9, 130%). During the close‐up period, all cows were provided with 105% intake. After parturition, all cows were fed a lactation diet. The BCS recovery was slow, and low milk yield was found in the H group. In the L group, BCS recovery was favorable after parturition, and lactation persistence was increased. The L group had low rumen endotoxin activity and a high initial ovulation rate after parturition. These findings indicate that a high‐energy diet during the far‐off period has a deleterious effect on milk production. In contrast, the restricted diet in the far‐off period increased adaptability with respect to peri‐parturition metabolic changes, improved the post‐parturition nutritional state, and increased milk production. Furthermore, it suggests that the nutrient levels in the far‐off period affect rumen endotoxin activity and reproductive function after parturition.     

Dietary rice improves growth performance,mucosal enzyme activities and plasma urea nitrogen in weaning piglets

In this study, we evaluated the nutritional functions of rice for weaning piglets. Sixteen weaning piglets with an average initial weight of 7.2 kg were divided into two groups. One group was fed a corn‐soybean meal based diet, and the other was fed a rice‐soybean meal based diet, containing 50% corn and rice, respectively. A 2 weeks growth trial was conducted and growth performance, intestinal mucosal enzyme activities and plasma urea nitrogen were measured. The average daily gain in rice‐fed piglets was significantly higher than that in corn‐fed piglets and the average daily feed intake tended to be higher in rice‐fed piglets than in corn‐fed piglets. Maltase and aminopeptidase activities (mol/g tissue) in the jejunum in rice‐fed piglets were significantly higher than those in corn‐fed piglets, although these enzyme activities were not different in the duodenum. Sucrase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV activities in the two groups were not different in either the duodenum or jejunum. Although the feed (nitrogen) intake was higher in rice‐fed piglets, the plasma urea nitrogen in rice‐fed piglets was significantly lower (P = 0.006) than that in corn‐fed piglets. These results indicate that rice is a good alternative feedstuff for the diet of weaning piglets.     

The effects of transportation stress on Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica) fed corn‐based diet in comparison with wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase

Harvesting, handling and transporting quails to the slaughterhouses, other farms and laboratories might covertly reduce their welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two major sources of energy in poultry nutrition on reducing transportation stress in Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica). Male quails (n = 60) were divided into two groups. The first group was fed corn‐based diet, and the second was fed wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase. At the end of the experiment (day 35), quails were subjected to 80 km of transportation. Immediately on arrival and after 24 h, heterophil counts, lymphocyte counts and H:L ratios were measured. On arrival, H counts were lower, L counts were higher, and H:L ratios were lower for corn‐fed group. After 24 h, wheat‐fed group showed lower increment of H counts, greater increment of L counts and also decrement of H:L ratios rather than corn‐fed group which showed increment of H:L ratios. However, these ratios were still lower in corn‐fed group. Results indicate that corn‐based diets can help Japanese quail to better resist transportation stress, although it seems that feeding wheat‐based diets supplemented with xylanase and phytase could have positive effects for coping better with stress after journeys.     

Effects of early experience with low‐quality roughage on feed intake,digestibility and metabolism in lambs

The objective of this study was to compare the feed intake, digestibility and metabolism in lambs fed low‐quality roughage with those of lambs fed normal roughage from an early stage of their life. The study consisted of two treatments [low‐quality roughage group (LR) and control group (C)] over three time periods (P1, P2 and P3; 2 months each). Four lambs (4 months old) were allocated to each treatment. In P1 and P2, LR was fed sudangrass hay (CP: 5.1% DM; NDF: 70.4% DM), whereas C was fed timothy hay (CP: 8.4% DM; NDF: 60.3% DM). In P3, all lambs were fed sudangrass hay. Although the feed intake was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in C in P1, there were no differences between the groups in P2. The digestibility, serum glucose (GLU), urea nitrogen (SUN) and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) did not differ between the groups in P1 and P2. The average nitrogen retention, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were significantly higher in C (p < 0.05) during P1 and P2. No interaction was observed between the treatment and periods. In P3, the feed intake was greater in C (p < 0.05), whereas digestibility and nitrogen retention tended to be greater in LR. The body weight did not differ between the treatments. T4 and T3 were numerically lower in LR, while the SUN was greater in LR (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the early experience with low‐quality roughage may have improved feed digestibility and nitrogen metabolism in lambs after 4 months of rearing. Furthermore, the experienced lambs became more efficient at utilizing the low‐quality roughage. The lower thyroid hormone concentrations observed in LR suggest an adaptive change occurred in experienced lambs that to a lower basal metabolic rate.     

Effects of dietary energy levels on Pectoralis major mixed muscle protein turnover and body composition in two broiler lines housed in different grow-out environments

This study determined the Pectoralis (P) major mixed muscle protein turnover (PT) in two meat broiler lines, Line A and Line B, during the finishing grow-out feeding period (21–42 days) as affected by the dietary metabolizable energy (ME) levels and ambient temperatures. Experimental finishing diets consisted of 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120% ME of recommended nutrient guidelines for energy level. Fractional synthesis rates (FSR) or fractional degradation rates (FDR) were measured in P. major at day 36 and 42. Protein and fat mass gain were measured, and respective energy retention efficiencies as protein and fat (EREp and EREf) were determined. Metabolic heat production (HP) was also reported. Experimental feeding studies were conducted in cool season (24 hr mean: 69.91˚F and 63.98% RH) and in hot season (24 hr mean: 77.55˚F and 86.04% RH). Results showed that FSR or FDR values were not affected by dietary ME levels at day 36, whereas reduced FSR (p < .05) were observed at day 42 fed diets with reduced ME levels (≤100% ME) which could have resulted from greater maintenance energy requirement of maturing broilers at that age. Broilers fed reduced ME diets (≤100% ME) maintained protein mass (equivalent to broilers fed ≥100%–120% ME) by reduced FDR and increased feed intake. Grow-out ambient temperature did not affect FSR or FDR values across ME levels. Line B retained higher protein mass, lower fat mass and greater HP compared to Line A. This was followed by higher feed intake in Line B. Further, Line B exhibited higher EREp and lower EREf across dietary ME levels. In summary, PT homeostasis and body composition changes in broiler lines studied seemed to be regulated by the birds’ intent to normalize energy intake as per physiological need by controlling feed intake.     

Impact of restricting feed and probiotic supplementation on growth performance,mortality and carcass traits of meat‐type quails

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of quantitative feed restriction, along with dietary supplementation with a probiotic blend (Protexin) as a natural growth promoter, on the performance, water consumption, mortality rate and carcass traits of meat‐type quails. A total of 250 1‐day unsexed quails were randomly allocated to five equal groups in a completely randomized design. The first group (A) fed a basal diet without any restriction (24 hr/day); the second group (B1) fed the basal diet for 20 hr/day; the third group (B2) fed the basal diet enriched with probiotic (0.1 g/kg diet) for 20 hr/day; the fourth group (C1) fed the basal diet for 16 hr/day; and the fifth group (C2) fed the basal diet enriched with probiotic (0.1 g/kg diet) for 16 hr/day. Birds were fed ad‐libitum from 0–14 days of age, and then the feed restriction regimes started from 14 till 28 days of age. Results showed that quails in the control‐group consumed more feed and water than the other treatment groups (p < .01), however their body weights did not differ (p > .05) compared with the other treated groups. The best feed conversion values were achieved in quails supplemented with probiotic blend (B2 and C2) in comparison with the other groups (p < .01). Feeding probiotic had a positive effect on bird health which reduced the mortality rate. Further, mortality rate was significantly reduced (p < .05) by feed restriction, with or without probiotic supplementation. No carcass parameters were significantly affected (p > .05) by treatments. Our results show that quail could be reared under a feed restriction system, for 4–8 hr daily, along with dietary supplementation of probiotic as growth promoter for better growth performance.     

Effects of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f.) essential oil on nutrient and energy utilization of laying hens

An experiment using 96 Hy‐Line brown laying hens at 29 weeks of age that were randomly allocated to four treatments with eight replicates was conducted to assess the effects of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f.) oil (SAO) on nutrient and energy utilization. Dietary treatments were corn–soybean meal‐based diets supplemented with 0, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg SAO. The birds were fed the diets for 14 days. The conventional nutrients and amino acids of feed and excreta samples were measured for calculating apparent metabolic efficiency, and gross energy (GE) was analyzed for computation of apparent metabolic energy (AME) and true metabolic energy (TME). Endogenous losses were obtained from another 16 birds for calculating true metabolic efficiency. Birds supplemented with SAO had higher (p < 0.05) metabolic efficiency of crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM), Lys, Met, Arg, and Thr than those of control group. Quadratic effects on utilization of Lys, Met, and Thr were observed (p < 0.05). Inclusion of SAO to diet improved nutrient utilization, and the efficacy is best at 400 mg/kg.     

Effects of dietary Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis on laying performance,egg quality,blood biochemistry and immune response of organic laying hens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different probiotic micro‐organisms on the performance, egg quality and blood parameters of organically reared hens. A total of 900 16‐week‐old Hy‐Line layer hybrids were randomly assigned to three groups of 300 birds each. The control (CTR) group was fed a corn–soya bean cake‐based diet; the L group was fed the same diet supplemented with 0.1% Lactobacillus acidophilus, while the B group was fed the same diet supplemented with 0.05% Bacillus subtilis. Data were recorded at the beginning (weeks 5 and 6: T1) and at the end (weeks 19 and 20: T2) of the experiment, and no differences in hen performance were recorded between dietary groups or sampling times. All of the investigated clinical chemistry parameters, except GGT, were affected by diet (p < 0.05), with the best results recorded for the probiotic‐treated groups. The immune‐response values showed higher blood bactericidal activity in the B and L groups at T2 (p < 0.05) and a lower lysozime concentration in the B group at T1. Higher antibody production against Newcastle disease virus was observed in the L group compared to the CTR (p = 0.013). No differences in oxidative status were recorded, and no effects of diet on egg quality were observed. Among the physical egg characteristics, only the Roche scale colour was affected by diet (p < 0.05): the egg yolk was paler in the L group. The age of the hen was the most relevant factor affecting physical egg characteristics. The chemical parameters of the egg were almost unaffected by supplementation with probiotics except for the lipid content, which decreased with the L diet (p < 0.05). Both probiotic inclusions had beneficial effects on hen metabolism and welfare, and L. acidophilus induced the best immune response.     

Optimizing the growth and immune system of dairy calves by subdividing the pre-weaning period and providing different milk volumes for each stage

In systematically considering the advantages and disadvantages of complementarity in high or low milk feeding, novel milk feeding schemes involving altering the volume of supplied milk in different stages of the pre-weaning period but maintaining the total milk feeding volume were tested. Twenty-seven newborn male Holstein calves were selected and randomly assigned to 3 treatments. Calves in the control (CON) group were fed 7 L of milk daily from 4 to 66 d of age. Calves in the low-high (LH) group were fed 6 L of milk daily at the beginning, and then the daily feeding volume was later increased to 7 to 8 L of milk, which served as the early-period low-volume feeding group. The calves in the high-low (HL) group were fed 7 to 8 L daily at the beginning, and then the daily feeding volume was decreased to 6 L of milk, which served as the early-period high-volume feeding group. Then all calves were fed 3 L of milk daily from 67 to 70 d of age, weaned at 70 d of age, and then fed starter feed to 100 d of age. All calves had access to the starter feed from 15 to 100 d of age. The diarrheal condition of calves was recorded daily and the growth performance including the starter feed intake and body weight of calves was recorded at 70 and 100 d of age. Then, five 100-d-old calves from each treatment were sampled for measurement of plasma indices, ruminal morphology, and volatile fatty acids. When compared with the CON and LH groups, calves in the HL group exhibited a significantly increased body weight and lower diarrhoeal rate. When compared with the CON group, calves in the HL group exhibited a significantly increased average daily feed intake, ruminal epithelium papillae length, total volatile fatty acids, and percentages of propionate and butyrate. Moreover, the significantly increased plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) content and a trend of decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) content (P = 0.083) were also identified in the HL group when compared with the CON group. Overall, the early-period high-volume feeding for calves produced greater body weight gain and a lower incidence of diarrhea.     

Effect of dietary concentrate content on feed intake,feed efficiency,and meat quality of Holstein steers fattened in a hot environment

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding high and low concentrate diets on feed intake and feed efficiency, the morphological characteristics of the rumen papillae, and meat quality of Holstein steers fattened under hot climate conditions in Oman. Ten male Holstein calves, of 5 months of age, were selected for the experiment. The animals were fed concentrate and Rhodes grass hay and were divided into two groups of high concentrate (HC, n = 5) and low concentrate diets (LC, n = 5), in which their feed intake, weight gain, and feed efficiency were evaluated across three growing periods. Feed intake and efficiency and average daily gain (ADG) of the HC group were significantly greater than for the LC group and were affected by the diet (p < .01) and the period (p < .001). Across the fattening periods, ADG declined in both groups, with ADG improved by 35% for steers on the HC diet compared to steers on the LC diet. Carcass meat quality was not affected significantly by the dietary concentrate level. In conclusion, our results can be used to make improvements in feed efficiency of Holstein steers under hot climate conditions.     

An intrauterine catch‐up growth regimen increases food intake and post‐natal growth in rats

Nutritional conditions during the intrauterine stage are an important developmental programming factor that can affect the growth and metabolic status during foetal development and permanently alter the phenotypes of newborn offspring and adults. This study was performed to examine the effects of intrauterine catch‐up growth (IUCG) on food intake, post‐natal body growth and the metabolic status of offspring and growing rats. Control pregnant rats were fed ad libitum during the entire gestation period. For the IUCG regimen, pregnant rats were fed 50% of the food of the controls from pregnancy days 4 through 11 (8 days), followed by ad libitum feeding from pregnancy days 12 through parturition. The birth weight of offspring was not affected by the IUCG regimen. At weaning, offspring from each treatment group were assigned to two groups and given either a normal diet or high‐fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks until 103 days of age. In the normal diet group, the IUCG offspring showed a 9.0% increase (P < 0.05) in total food intake, were 11.2% heavier (p < 0.05) at 103 days of age and had an 11.0% greater (p < 0.05) daily weight gain compared with control offspring. The IUCG regimen did not affect body glucose and lipid metabolism. After exposure to the HFD, the IUCG regimen has not exacerbated metabolic disorders. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the IUCG nutritional regimen during pregnancy can increase the food intake and post‐natal body growth of offspring without inducing metabolic disorders such as obesity and insulin resistance. The IUCG nutritional regimen might be used to improve the food intake and post‐natal body growth of domestic animals.     

Influence of birth weight and nutrient supply before and after weaning on the performance of rabbit does to age of the first mating

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of birth weight and the influence of nutrient supply during nursing and after weaning on the performance of suckling and growing rabbits (n = 182). The experiment was set-up using a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Newborn female rabbits were divided on the basis of their birth weight in 3 classes: low /L/ = 35–45 g, medium /M/ = 53–58 g and high /H/ = 65–70 g. Half of the litters were nursed by one (O) doe and the other half by two does (T). Kits were weaned at 3 weeks of age. From the age of 4 weeks half of the rabbits were fed ad libitum (AL), while the other half were reared on a restricted feeding regime (R) corresponding to 80–85% of the ad libitum feed intake level.Birth weight had a significant effect on the body weight up to the end of the experiment (18 weeks of age). H kits attained higher body weight at all ages (3772 g at 18 weeks of age compared to 3565 g and 3373 g for L and M rabbits, respectively). Significant differences were found in feed intake between 3 and 15 weeks of age, in feed conversion between 9 and 12 weeks of age and in weight gain between 3 and 4 and 12 and 15 weeks of age, in the majority of cases in favour of the H rabbits.Nursing by one or two does exerted the most pronounced effect on the body weight. T kits had significantly higher body weight than O kits up to 15 weeks of age (3306 vs. 3108 g). Differences in feed intake, feed conversion and body weight were only periodically demonstrable between the groups O and T.The feeding regime exerted a significant influence on the feed intake, weight gain and body weight of kits. Significant differences in the feed conversion were found, however, only between 15 and 18 weeks of age. Although AL rabbits achieved better feed conversion at all ages except the period between 9 and 12 weeks of age.It seems that the three factors (birth weight, number of nursing does and feeding regime), especially the feed restriction, could influence the production of does.     

The effects of dietary calcium iodate on productive performance,egg quality and iodine accumulation in eggs of laying hens

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of various levels of supplemental calcium iodate (CI) on productive performance, egg quality, blood indices and iodine (I) accumulation in the eggs in commercial laying hens. A total of 240 White Leghorn layers (Hy‐line W36) were divided through a completely randomized design into six treatments with five replicates and eight hens per each at 32 weeks of age. This experiment lasted for 12 weeks. Concentrations of I in the mash diets were 0.74, 3.13, 5.57, 8.11, 10.65 and 12.94 mg I/kg of feed in treatments 1–6 respectively. The added doses of CI were included 0.0 (control), 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 mg/kg of diet for treatments 1–6 respectively. There were no significant differences in productive performance among the treatments. The highest eggshell strength was observed in group fed diet containing 3.13 mg I/kg (p = .014). The highest percentage of calcium and lowest percentage of phosphorus in eggshell were observed in group fed diet containing 12.94 mg I/kg (p = .0001). Feeding hens with diet containing 12.94 mg I/kg increased serum triiodothyronine‐to‐thyroxine ratio (p = .0001). Serum alanine aminotransferase activity in hens fed diet containing 12.94 mg I/kg was significantly more than control (p = .041). Blood Serum triglycerides in hens fed diet containing 8.11 mg I/kg were significantly higher than control (p = .0001). Edible fraction of the eggs of birds fed diet containing 12.94 mg I/kg was enriched by I almost 3 times more than those fed diet containing 0.74 mg I/kg. The results suggested that egg production, egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected by dietary I levels. Iodine accumulation in the eggs were increased by increasing dietary I levels and the level of 10 mg/kg CI could supply I enrichment of the eggs.     

Effects of supplementing Barodon,Bacillus subtilis,and Ampbio on growth performance,biochemical metabolites,and hormone levels in Korean native heifers

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing feed additives of Barodon®, effective microorganism® (Bacillus (B.) subtilis), and Ampbio® on the growth performance, blood metabolites, stress, and reproductive hormone levels of Korean native heifers. A total of 48 Korean native heifers were assigned to four groups with 6 heifers in each group. The groups were control, Barodon (0.2%), beneficial microorganism (1%), and Ampbio (1%). Animals in all groups were fed a basal diet composed of selected feed additives and water ad libitum for 99 days. Results showed that there are significant changes in body weight and daily gain in the Ampbio-supplemented group as compared with the control and other feed additives groups (p?<?0.05). The increased level of feed intake (7.30?±?0.03 kg) and feed requirements (10.81?±?0.52 kg) was observed in the Ampbio-fed group followed by the effective microorganism (EM), Barodon, and control groups. There were no significant changes in albumin, glucose, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and total protein level, but the decreased levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides and the increased level of blood urea nitrogen were noted in the Ampbio-fed group as compared with the control and other feed additive groups. The reduced level of cortisol (p?<?0.05) and elevated levels of progesterone and estradiol (p?>?0.05) were noted in the Ampbio-fed group as compared to the other feed additive groups. It is therefore concluded that incorporation of Barodon, EM (B. subtilis), and Ampbio in the recommended diet improved the growth and health performance of Korean native heifers.

     

Evaluating the suitability of maggot meal as a partial substitute of soya bean on the productive traits,digestibility indices and organoleptic properties of broiler meat

This study was conducted to replace soya bean meal with maggot meal at difference percentages. A total of 120 one‐day‐old broiler chicks were divided into four groups. Four diets were formulated with maggot meal to replace soya bean meal at the rate of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% designated as A, B, C and D respectively. Feed and water were offered ad libitum during the study which lasted for 28 days. Feed intake decreased significantly in treated groups while body weight, Feed conversion ratio and dressing percentage increased significantly in group D. Apparent metabolizable energy increased significantly in the group fed 30% maggot meal; however, no significant difference was found in dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract between the control and treated groups. The result of sensory evaluation revealed that tenderness and juiciness increased significantly in group C and B respectively. The colour and flavour were most accepted in group B and C. The results indicate that replacement of soya bean meal at the rate of 30% in broiler feed produced most favourable results.