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Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the impact of boron supplementation on nutrient digestibility, inflammatory responses, blood metabolites and diarrhea index, and their relevance to growth performance in weaned pigs housed in good and poor sanitary environments for 14 days after weaning.Methods: A total of 108 male pigs (Duroc×[Yorkshire×Landrace]) weaned at 21 days of age were used in a randomized complete block design with 2×3 factorial arrangement. Pigs were assigned to three boron treatments (0, 5, and 10 mg/kg) under two environments (good and poor sanitary) to give six replicates per treatment (3 pigs per replicate). On 0, 7, and 14 days, one pig per replicate was euthanized to collect, ileum tissue samples, and rectal fecal samples.Results: Boron supplementation quadratically influenced (p

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a combination 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (THB) and oregano extracts (i.e., Carvacrol and Thymol) at intake/dietary different levels on growth performance, intestinal health indicators, immune responses and fecal oocyst shedding in broiler chickens under Eimeria challenged condition. A total of 336 one-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments with seven replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were: i) Non-challenged bird without any dietary treatment (NCNT), ii) Challenged bird without any dietary treatment (CNT), iii) Challenged birds fed a THB diet (0.1 g/kg, THB), iv) Challenged birds fed a combination of THB and oregano extracts diet (0.1 g/kg, COM 100), and a gradual increase of combination of THB and oregano extracts likely v) 0.15 g/kg (COM 150), and 0.2 g/kg (COM 200). On day 14, all groups except for NCNT have orally challenged with a 10-fold dose of Livacox® T anticoccidial vaccine to trigger coccidiosis. The results indicated that Eimeria-challenged broilers fed COM 100 and COM 200 diets increased (p < 0.05) body weight than CNT diet on day 35. Furthermore, birds fed COM 100 and COM 200 diets increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain compared to those fed CNT diets for the entire experimental period. There is no significant (p > 0.05) in average daily feed intake, feed efficiency between NCNT and birds fed with combined THB and oregano extracts for the entire experimental period. A combination of THB and oregano extract regardless of concentration levels or THB alone reduced (p < 0.05) lesion score in ileum compared to the CNT diet for 7 days post-infection (dpi). Birds fed COM 100 diet had lower (p < 0.05) intestinal lesion scores in jejunum and caeca on 7 dpi compared to those were in the CNT diet. No (p > 0.05) difference was observed in the oocysts per gram of feces count, intestinal morphology, carcass traits and blood cytokine concentration among the infected treatments. Collectively, we conclude that birds fed with a combination of THB and oregano extracts regardless of the ratios that were used demonstrated better recovery of health after the coccidial challenge than using only THB alone.

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of insoluble cellulose supplementation to diets on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, the incidence of diarrhea, nutrients digestibility, and inflammatory responses in altering environmental conditions of animals housing.Methods: A total of 108 male pigs (Duroc×[Yorkshire×Landrace]) were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments (cellulose 0%, 1%, 2%) and two environmental conditions (good sanitary condition vs. poor sanitary condition) to give 6 replicate pens per treatment with three pigs per each pen at 14 days post-weaning.Results: Pigs were in good sanitary condition had higher average daily gain (p

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of a multi-protease on production indicators of broiler chickens fed a crude protein and amino acid deficient-diets for 35 days immediately after hatch. A total of 448 one-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were allocated in a completely randomized design into one of eight dietary treatments (positive control [PC], negative control [NC: minus 0.5% from PC, and minus 2% of lysine, methionine, threonine and methionine plus cysteine], extreme negative control [ENC: minus 1% from PC, minus 4% of lysine, methionine, threonine and methionine plus cysteine], and plus multi-protease 150 or 300 g per ton [e. g., PC-150]; PC, PC-150, NC, NC-150, NC-300, ENC, ENC-150, ENC-300) to give eight replicates with seven birds in a battery cage. Body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and mortality were measured every week. Carcass traits, proximate analysis of breast meat, and ileum digestibility were analyzed on day 21 and 35. Feeding a multi-protease (i.e., more than 150 g/ton) for 35 days immediately after hatching improved feed efficiency and ileum digestibility (i.e., dry matter, crude protein, and energy) compared to their counterparts (i.e., diets without multi-protease: PC, NC, and ENC). In conclusion, our results indicated that broiler chickens fed nutrients deficient-diet (i.e., crude protein and amino acids) supplemented a multi-protease had an ability to compensate and (or) improve their growth performance commensurate with increased ileal digestibility for 35 days immediately after hatch.

The present study investigated the effects of supplementing a low protein (LP) diet supplemented with key essential amino acids (AA) to broilers on growth performance, intestinal tract function, blood metabolites, and nitrogen excretion when the animals were maintained under various sanitary conditions for 35 D after hatching. Three hundred eighty-four one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to groups that received one of 6 dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (i.e., 2 environmental conditions and 3 dietary treatments) to give 8 replicates per treatment. Broilers were challenged with 2 environmental conditions (sanitary vs. poor sanitary). The dietary treatments were (1) high protein (HP) diet, (2) LP diet, and (3) LP diet with synthetic key essential AA (LPA): the LP diet was supplemented with synthetic AA up to the required levels for broilers. On day 14, birds consumed the LP diet impaired growth performance compared with those fed the HP diet, while the average daily weight gain-to-feed conversion ratio of birds fed the LPA diet improved to the level of birds fed the HP diet under poor sanitary conditions (P < 0.05). Broilers raised under poor sanitary conditions and fed the LP diet displayed higher (P < 0.05) zonula occludens (ZO-1) expression on day 14 than broilers fed either the HP or LPA diet. Under sanitary conditions, birds fed HP and LPA diets showed higher villus height and crypt depth compared with those of broilers fed the LP diet on day 35. Moreover, broilers raised in the poor sanitary environment had higher (P < 0.05) serum endotoxins than those raised in the sanitary environment. Broilers fed the LPA diet showed reduced (P < 0.05) nitrogen excretion on days 14 and 35 compared with those fed the LP and HP diets independent of the environment. In conclusion, the LPA diet did not impair growth performance under poor sanitary conditions for 14 D after hatch while resulting in lower nitrogen excretion in any environment conditions throughout the experiment.

This study was designed to determine the effect of phytase extracted from Aspergillus niger (Natuphos® E) on growth performance, bone mineralization, phosphorous excretion, and meat quality parameters in broilers fed available phosphorous (aP)-deficient diet. In total, 810 one-day-old Indian River broilers were randomly allotted into one of three dietary treatments, with six replicates per treatment. The three dietary treatments were 1) control group (CON: basal diet with sufficient aP), 2) low phytase (LPY: available phosphorus-deficient diet supplemented with 0.01% phytase), and 3) high phytase (HPY: available phosphorus-deficient diet supplemented with 0.02% phytase). Average daily gain and, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were measured for 35 days. Excreta were collected from each pen on day 35. One broiler from each cage was euthanized to collect visceral organs and tibia samples. Broiler chickens fed LPY and HPY showed improved (P

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary emulsifiers and lipase supplementation on growth performance, blood metabolites, intestinal organ weight, gut morphology, nutrient digestibility, carcass measurements, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A total of 384, 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to one of eight dietary treatments arranged in a completely randomized design with 6 replications per treatment and 8 birds per cage. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based and formulated to meet the nutritional requirements for Ross 308 specifications. Beef tallow used as the fat source in all diets. Dietary treatments were as follows, (1) positive control (PC; energy sufficient diet); (2) negative control (NC; energy deficient,−100 ME, kcal/kg); (3) NC+POL (0.1%, Polysorbate-20); (4) NC+CET (0.1%, Ceteth-20); (5) NC+POL+TLL (0.1%, Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase); (6) NC+POL+CRL (0.1%, Candida rugosa lipases); (7) NC+CET+CRL and (8) NC+LL (0.05%, Lysolecithin). Growth performances were measured weekly. One bird per pen was selected and sacrificed to collect blood, ileal digesta, jejunum sample, viscera organ weight, and meat samples on day 21 and 35. Results revealed that birds fed NC+POL+CRL diet had higher (P < 0.05) body weight, weight gain, and the improved (P < 0.05) feed efficiency compared to birds fed other low energy diets, and the effect was more prominent at the grower phase from day 21 to 35. Similarly, higher (P < 0.05) villi height and lower (P < 0.05) crypt depth commensurate with higher (P < 0.05) V:C ratio were observed with the broiler chickens fed NC+POL+CRL diet compared to broiler chickens fed NC diet on day 21 and 35. Moreover, broiler chickens fed NC+POL+CRL diet showed improved fat and energy digestibility compared NC diet counterpart on day 35. This study, therefore indicated that Polysorbate-20 together with Candida rugosa lipases had promising ability to improve growth performance of broiler chickens fed with low energy diet and curtail the growth depression without affecting blood metabolites, carcass, and visceral organs weights.

This study was conducted to determine the total lysine requirement for female broiler breeders from days 14 to 42. Two-hundred and ten female broiler breeders were used in a completely randomized design with 6 replicates per treatment and 5 chicks per pen under restricted feeding. The contents of total lysine used in this experiment were 0.68, 0.72, 0.76, 0.80, 0.84, 0.88 and 0.92% in the diet. A basal diet was formulated to meet or to exceed the Ross 308 female broiler breeders’ nutrient specifications except for the lysine. Body weight and feed intake were measured to calculate feed efficiency, and body weight uniformity was defined on a weekly basis. One chick per pen was randomly selected to collect blood samples, organ and an abundance of sexual maturity associated miRNAs (miR-21, mi-26a and mi-375) in the plasma was measured on day 42. Increasing total lysine contents in the diet improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio from days 14 to 42. The combined values from the two models for BW, average daily gain and feed efficiency were estimated at 1.04, 1.00 and 1.21% total lysine, respectively. Total lysine contents did not affect the ovary weight, serum estradiol-17b, serum progesterone and plasma urea nitrogen or the expression levels of the three miRNAs on day 42. Therefore, the results from the current study indicated that female broiler breeders fed on 0.68% total lysine could achieve the recommended BW, suggested by field practice when data were fitted into the overlapped point of linear-, and quadratic-plateau models.

Quantitative energy changes in the feeding regimens affect metabolic efficiency and product quality of an animal. Apparent metabolisable energy (AME) is used to evaluate energy utilization such as the difference between the energy consumed and the energy lost. Given the importance of the diet in the profitability we focused on determination of AME levels using biomarkers based on molecular techniques. qRT-PCR was performed to determine gene expression differences in ducklings with different metabolisable energy (ME) levels and potential biomarker genes from circulating mRNA in the body fluid based on estimated AME values. Muscle tissues and cell-free plasma samples were obtained from ducklings fed at three different ME levels (basal ME: 2300; AME: 2900; high ME: 3300 kcal/kg diet). We first identified that 18 S ribosomal RNA was the most suitable endogenous reference gene for determining gene expression analysis. Next, we investigated expression levels of genes related to cell growth, proliferation, oxidative stress, myogenic differentiation, adipocyte differentiation, and mitochondrial function. qRT-PCR assay demonstrated that MAPK8 , MAP2K4 , HADHA , CSRP3 , and MYL1 were gradually up-regulated at the AME and high ME levels. However, PRKAG2 , CRH , and PPARG transcript levels were significantly increased in the muscle and the cell-free plasma at the excessive high ME level but not at the AME and the basal ME level. Finally, HSP90AA1 and HSPB7 were not different between AME and high ME level. Our findings suggest that altered patterns of gene expression in response to different levels of energy are useful biomarkers to evaluate the AME value with growing ducklings. Upregulation of genes including MAPK8 , PRKAA2 , and PRKAG2 at the excessive high ME and their enrichment for lipid and fatty acid biosynthetic process in gene network analysis also supported our molecular approach using circulating nucleic acid in the body fluid.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and meat quality traits of broilers fed a diet supplemented with dry-ground curry leaves (Murraya koenigii). A total of 750 one-day-old broiler chicks (Cobbs 500) were arranged in the experiment with a completely randomized design and allotted to one of five treatments, with T1-Control and T2-T5 curry leaves powder levels (i.e., 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9% and 1.2%, respectively). The initial body weights, final body weights and daily feed intake were measured over an experimental period of 32 days. At the conclusion of the experiment, the carcass weights and meat quality parameters were measured. The birds fed diets supplemented with curry leaves powder had a higher weight gain (P 0.05) in feed intake among the dietary treatments. Similarly, supplementation of curry leaves powder had no effect (P>0.05) on the proportions of the carcass, leg meat and drumstick. No differences were (P>0.05) observed in cooking loss or the pH of meat from broilers fed the curry leaves supplemented diet. However, curry leaf supplementation affected (P

Effect of dietary nucleotide supplementation without or with in-feed antibiotics on piglet performance and energy and nutrient digestibility was determined. Supplementing antibiotics without or with nucleotides (1000 ppm) increased weight gain (P

The current study evaluated the effect of different levels of a 6-phytase from Buttiauxella sp. expressed in Trichoderma reesei on ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility in growing pigs. Twelve ileal cannulated pigs (initial BW = 25 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 treatments in a replicated 6 × 6 Latin square design to give 12 observations per treatment. The experimental diets consisted of a corn soybean meal-based control diet (NC), NC supplemented with 4 levels of phytase (i.e. 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 FTU/kg) and a low-protein diet (5% casein) used to quantify endogenous amino acid (AA) losses. All diets contained titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. Pigs were given their daily feed allowance at a rate of 45 g/kg BW determined at the beginning of each experimental period. Each period lasted for 9 d with 5 d of adaptation to experimental diets followed by 2 d of faecal and 2 d of ileal digesta collection. Data were analyzed using the mixed model procedures of SAS. The final model had treatment as the main effect as pen and period effects were non-significant. Increasing levels of 6-phytase supplementation linearly increased (P

This study investigated whether the inclusion of a stimbiotic (STB) can improve performance, influence intestinal microbiota and fermentation activity, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in piglets fed a low zinc oxide diet without antimicrobial growth promotors compared to fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) and mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) when housed either in good sanitary (GS) or poor sanitary (PS) environments. One hundred forty-four male pigs (28-day-old) were sorted by initial body weight (BW) and allocated to one of six experimental treatments: 1) GS environment without any additive (GS-CTR); 2) GS environment with 0.01% stimbiotic (GS-STB); 3) PS environment (without cleaning and disinfection of a previously populated room) without any additive (PS-CTR); 4) PS environment with 0.01% STB (PS-STB); 5) PS environment with 0.1% MOS (PS-MOS); and 6) PS environment with 0.2% FOS (PS-FOS). Each treatment had six replicates, with four animals each. Three feeding phases, based on corn, wheat, and soybean meal were available ad libitum for the 42-days of the study. Housing piglets under PS conditions negatively influenced performance, increased plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), affected the fecal microbial populations and increased concentrations of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) compared to GS. Stimbiotic improved 42-d-BW under PS conditions (P < 0.05) whereas MOS or FOS had no effect. On d35, plasma TNF-α was reduced with STB in PS (P < 0.05). The ratio between VFA:BCFA increased (P < 0.05) with STB, MOS or FOS in PS, and under GS condition, STB also increased the ratio. Stimbiotic increased the proportion of Clostridiales Family XIII Incertae Sedis and Clostridiaceae, while MOS and FOS increased Selenomonadaceae, Catabacteriaceae and Fibrobacteraceae. These results indicate that STB shifted the intestinal microbiome to favor fiber fermentation which likely contributed to reduced inflammatory response and improved performance, particularly in piglets reared in PS conditions.

Backgrounds/Aims: The aim of this study was to compare operative versus non-operative management of patients with liver injury and to ascertain the differences of the clinical features. Methods: From April 2000 to July 2012, 191 patients were admitted to Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital for liver injuries. Of these, 148 patients were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed using computed tomography (CT). The liver injury was graded in accordance with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma liver injury scoring scale. Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent surgery and those treated with non-operative management (NOM). There was a comparison between these two groups concerning the clinical characteristics, grade of liver injury, hemodynamic stability, laboratory findings, and mortality. Results: According to the 148 patient records evaluated, 108 (72.9%) patients were treated with NOM, and 40 (27.1%) underwent surgery. Patients treated with NOM had significantly fewer severe injuries as rated using the Revised Traumatic Injury Scale, Injury Severity Score, and Glasgow Coma Scale. Grade of liver injury and number of patients with extravasation of contrast dye on CT and hemoperitoneum were higher in the operative group than in the NOM group. There were significant differences between the two groups for: heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and mean hemoglobin levels at admission and after 4 hours. The operative group experienced a significantly higher mortality than the NOM group. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that hemodynamic stability and the following should be considered for deciding the treatment for liver injuries: grade of liver injury, amount of blood loss, and injury scales scores.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the nutritive value of egg obtained from hens immunized with E. coli K88 antigens (EGG), and EGG-exchange (an egg product containing 4.0 g/kg EGG, 646.0 g/kg normal egg and 350.0 g/kg inulin; EGG-X) fed to weaned pigs. In experiment 1, 12 ileal-cannulated barrows (initial BW of 17 kg) were fed four diets over two 7-d periods to determine standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in EGG and EGG-X. In period 1, pigs were fed three diets in a completely randomized design to give four replicates per diet. The three diets were a cornstarch-based diets with EGG, EGG-X, or spray dried porcine plasma (SDPP) as the sole source of crude protein (CP). In period 2, a low-casein diet was fed to all pigs to determine endogenous AA losses for calculation of SID of AA. Titanium dioxide (3.0 g/kg) was added in all diets as an indigestible marker. In experiment 2, 96 piglets (initial body weight (BW) of 5.9 kg) weaned at 21 days (d) and housed in 24 pens (4 pigs per pen) were fed four diets in a completely randomized design (6 pens per diet) to investigate the effects of including EGG and EGG-X in diets for weaned pigs on growth performance, pancreas weight, intestinal histomorphology, and blood parameters. The four diets were a corn-soybean meal-based (CON; no antimicrobial agents added), CON + 3.0 g/kg EGG, CON + 50 g/kg EGG-X, and CON + 50 g/kg SDPP. Pigs were fed the test diets for 14 d (phase I) and then a common commercial diet for another 11 d (phase II). Growth performance was determined in both phases I and II whereas the rest of the response criteria were determined in phase I. The EGG and EGG-X were similar in SID of indispensable AA, which ranged from 6.50 g/kg (for histidine in EGG) to 7.96 g/kg (for arginine in EGG-X). The SDPP had higher (P

Antibiotics in the diets for poultry were not only used for avoiding and (or) control bacterial infections but for promoting growth of the birds. However, there has been massive concerns of negative effects of antibiotics on human health such as development of antibiotics-resistance bacteria and (or) genes. Subsequently, some of countries (i.e., European Union member of country and South Korea) banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the diets for livestock industries in 2006 and 2011, respectively. Thus, it has become important to develop feeding strategies and feed additives to control and reduce the occurrence of diseases in livestock without using in-feed antibiotics. In this review, therefore, it is attempted to gather information with respect to (1) understanding the digestive physiology and (2) knowledge pertaining to interaction linking feed additives and its physiological and metabolic responses in broiler chickens. Key words : additives, antibiotics, chickens, grwoth, feed

Numerous experiments have demonstrated that feeding a lower protein diet decreases protein fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and reduces the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). However, there is a lack of holistic evidence underpinning the relationship between feeding a lower protein diet and PWD in relation to physiological responses and protein fermentation in the GIT. The scope of this article, therefore, will: (i) focus on the impact of dietary protein levels on selected indices of GIT health in weaned pigs without and with experimental infection with an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli; and (ii) attempt to conduct regression analysis to examine the relationships between dietary-origin protein intake, nitrogen fermentation indices, fecal consistency and the incidence of PWD. We used datasets generated from a series of four intensive experiments in weaned pigs. The collective results derived from these datasets indicate that restriction of daily protein intake to less than 60 g through feeding a lower protein diet for as little as 7 days after weaning reduced the incidence of PWD commensurate with a reduction in protein fermentation indices.

Pathogenic E. coli associated post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) and edema disease are common diseases in commercially-housed weanling pigs. An enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) oral challenge model has been used to mimic the physiological responses observed in commercial conditions. However, an oral challenge procedure has two major limitations: (1) the ETEC cell density is unknown at the point of oral inoculation, and (2) blending ETEC with traditional TSB (trypticase soy broth) is not palatable and hence decreases acceptability by piglets. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to (1) establish a regression equation that can be used for estimation of ETEC concentration in dilution media using the spectrophotometric measurement of cell density; and (2) examine survival of ETEC after blending either with TSB, sweetener or dextrose. A strain of ETEC (serogroup beta-hemolytic E. coli O149; K91; F4; toxins LT, STa, STb) was grown in TSB for 3.5 hours, centrifuged, the supernatant was discarded, and the ETEC pellet was then blended either with TSB (100 mL), sweetener (60 mL TSB + 40 mL fruit flavored concentrate), or dextrose (50 mL TSB + 50 mL dextrose; 0.5g/mL dextrose). Cell density was measured using the colorimetric method and also plated on a 5% sheep blood agar for counting of ETEC colony forming units at 0, 5, 35, 65 and 125 min after blending. The optical density at 600 nm explained 83% of ETEC colony forming units, indicating that the established linear equation (y= 6E+08x ? 4E+07, P＜0.004) can be used for robust quantification of ETEC cell density in TSB, sweetener and dextrose media. When ETEC was blended with sweetener and dextrose, survival of ETEC was decreased by 45% and 72% within 5 min post-blending. Therefore, further research is required to find out the suitable medium that has potential to improve palatability without compromising survival of ETEC.

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of a nucleotide rich yeast extract (NRYE) on the growth performance and the colibacillosis of weaned pigs. In Experiment. 1, a total of 168 mixed-sex piglets weaned at 17 ± 2 days of age were fed diets formulated to meet or exceed nutrient requirements for 28 days. Diets consisted of i) Positive control (PC) containing antibiotics (110 mg/kg of chlortetracycline HCl and 31.2 mg/kg of tiamulin), ii) Negative control (NC) without antibiotics, iii) NC with the addition of 1 g/kg of NRYE (NRYE1), and iv) 2 g/kg of NRYE (NRYE2). No differences (P > 0.10) were found among treatments for average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), whilst pigs fed NRYE1 weighed more (P 0.10) were observed in ADFI among dietary treatments. In Experiment 2, a total of 144 barrows were randomly assigned to 4 treatments groups to give 6 replicates (6 pigs per pen) per group. Four treatment diets were similar to previous experiment. Pigs in PC fed a control diet without NYRE supplementation and also did not received an oral challenge. PC treatment was housed in a separate room within the same facility with a similar environment. Pigs in NC, NRYE1 and NRYE2 were fed the non-medicated control diet with 0g/kg, 1 g/kg or 2 g/kg NYRE, respectively and were orally challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88+ (ETEC) after the 3 days of weaning. From day 3 to 28 post-challenge, pigs fed diets NRYE1 or NRYE2 had greater (P

This study was conducted to examine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid with vitamin C and E on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and meat quality in broiler chickens under tropical conditions. A total of 288 one-day-old male ROSS 308 chicks (40±0.1 g) were used in a completely randomized design and allotted to one of six dietary treatments to form sixe replicates per treatment (eight birds per cage). The six dietary treatments were: a corn-soybean meal-based diet (NC; no antimicrobial compounds added) with 8 ppm alpha-lipoic acid (ALA); 150 ppm vitamin C and 75 ppm vitamin E (E-75); E-75 plus ALA (E-75-ALA); 150 ppm vitamin C and 50 ppm vitamin E (E-50) plus ALA (E-50-ALA); and 150 ppm vitamin C and 25 ppm vitamin E (E-25) plus ALA (E-25-ALA). All dietary treatments were continuously provided in liquid form, dissolved in water. Birds were housed in a battery cage (n = 36), and were offered dietary treatments on an ad libitum basis. The ambient temperature was maintained at 32±1 ºC for the first three weeks and reduced gradually to 28 ºC by the end of the experiment (day 35) to induce moderate tropical condition. One bird per pen (n = 6), and another bird per pen (n = 6) were euthanized via cervical dislocation to obtain terminal ileum to measure villus height and crypt depth at day 21, and to harvest breast meat and drumsticks to evaluate meat quality traits at day 35, respectively. Dietary treatment E-75-ALA improved body weight and average daily gain compared with birds fed other dietary treatments from day 1 to day 35. Birds fed dietary treatment E-75-ALA and E-50-ALA had higher villus height than those fed the other dietary treatments at day 21. Dietary treatments E-75-ALA and E-50-ALA reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in drumsticks compared with other dietary treatments, but only treatment E-75-ALA decreased TBARS in breast meat at day 35. Liquid form of antioxidant compounds such as E-75-ALA can improve growth performance, histology of terminal ileum, and meat quality traits in broiler chickens under moderate tropical condition for 35 days.

For the last several decades, antimicrobial compounds have been used to promote piglet growth at weaning through the prevention of subclinical and clinical disease. There are, however, increasing concerns in relation to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains and the potential of these and associated resistance genes to impact on human health. As a consequence, European Union (EU) banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in swine and livestock production on 1 January 2006. Furthermore, minerals such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are not feasible alternatives/replacements to antibiotics because their excretion is a possible threat to the environment. Consequently, there is a need to develop feeding programs to serve as a means for controlling problems associated with the weaning transition without using antimicrobial compounds. This review, therefore, is focused on some of nutritional strategies that are known to improve structure and function of gastrointestinal tract and (or) promote post-weaning growth with special emphasis on probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, trace minerals and dietary protein source and level.

Previous experiments have shown that feeding a reduced protein diet within the first 2 weeks post-weaning reduces gastrointestinal protein fermentation and clinical expression of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). However, growth of young pigs receiving a reduced protein diet without crystalline essential amino acids (CEAA) supplementation is depressed after weaning. It has been argued that the short-term performance reduction caused by feeding a reduced protein diet would be compensated and the lifetime performance of pigs would not be affected. An experiment was therefore conducted to examine PWD and lifetime growth of pigs after feeding a reduced protein diet without and with CEAA supplementation for 2 weeks after weaning. Two hundred individually housed pigs weaned at 21 d of age (Large White×Landrace, castrate:female ratio of 1:1, mean±SEM body weight of 5.5±0.05kg) were stratified to one of four dietary treatments (n=50): High protein+antimicrobial compound diet (HP+AMC, 230g crude protein (CP) with 2.5g lincospectin and 3g zinc oxide per kg feed), High protein diet (HP, 230gCP/kg), Reduced protein+amino acid supplemented diet (RP+AA, 185gCP/kg with added CEAA up to HP level), and Reduced protein diet (RP, 185g CP/kg without CEAA supplementation). Pigs were fed the experimental diet for 2 weeks and then all pigs were fed the same series of commercial diets until slaughter. All pigs were experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli (6 and 10mL of 1.9×109cfu/mL, serotype O149:K91:K88) at 72, and 96h after weaning. Infection increased plasma haptoglobin levels (P 0.05). Carcass characteristics were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments. The results indicate that although feeding a RP diet without CEAA supplementation decreased performance after weaning, it did not influence lifetime performance or carcass characteristics and reduced the clinical expression of PWD.

This study evaluated possible nutritional and physiological mechanisms to explain why feeding a diet of decreased protein content reduces PWD. A total of 48 male pigs weaned at 21 d (initial BW 6.9 ± 0.11 kg; mean ± SEM) was used in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with the respective factors being: (1) PL (HP 239 g/kg vs. LP 190 g/kg CP); (2) presence or absence of an ETEC challenge; and (3) duration of feeding after weaning until euthanasia (D; 7 d vs. 14 d). No dietary antimicrobial compounds were used, and diet LP contained crystalline AA including isoleucine and valine to achieve an ideal AA pattern. Pigs were offered the experimental diets on an ad libitum basis. Feeding a LP diet decreased total N intake, ileal N flow, PUN and NH3-N contents at the ileum and all sites in the large intestine (P 0.05) the AID of N and AA at either d 7 or d 14, except for serine which was lower in pigs fed the LP diet (P 0.05). Pigs fed diet LP had decreased pH in the jejunum and ileum (P

The interactive effects of dietary protein level, zinc oxide (ZnO) supplementation and experimental infection with enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) on the incidence of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and indices of protein fermentation were examined. Ninety-six, individually housed 21-day-old pigs were used in a split plot experiment, with the whole plot being challenge or no challenge with ETEC and the dietary treatments used as subplots and arranged in a completely randomised 2 × 2 factorial design, with the factors being (i) 2 dietary protein levels [251 g/kg (high) vs. 192 g/kg (low) crude protein] and (ii) addition or no addition of 2500 ppm ZnO. Between days 1 and 14 after weaning, ETEC infection increased faecal consistency (FC; looser faeces) but only in pigs fed the high protein diet (P 0.05) between the independent variables for PWD, PUN and faecal NH3-N. The results indicate that feeding a low protein diet supplemented with amino acids or adding ZnO to either low or high protein diets could be used as dietary strategies to reduce PWD in piglets.

Twenty-four individually housed male pigs (6.6 ± 0.24 kg) were used in a pilot study to validate two trivalent metal markers, one in the feed and the other dosed orally to piglets, for the estimation of voluntary feed intake. Pigs were randomly assigned to one of three oral dosing treatments using 15 mg lanthanum oxide/day as the internal marker: once daily, twice daily, or 3 times daily. Piglets were offered a diet containing 1 g/kg of yttrium as the external marker. After a 7-day adaptation period, total faecal collection was made for the next 3 days. The first faecal sample voided after 1000 h was considered as the 'grab sample', to allow comparison of the technique with total collection. Intake of diets was recorded daily, and compared to feed intake using the ratio of the markers in the faeces. Daily samples were analysed for marker concentrations and a mean of the three-day data was used for regression analysis. Total collection data demonstrated that the accuracy of the estimation using the trivalent metals depended on the frequency of oral marker administration, as the estimation principle relies on the continual flow of a known amount of marker in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Nevertheless and using total collection, dosing the oral marker 3 times a day estimated individual feed intake with reasonable accuracy (R2 = 0.85). In contrast, the 'grab sampling' technique reduced the accuracy of estimation (R2 = 0.74), indicating that continual flow of the oral marker in the GIT is required for such a method. In conclusion, there is some potential in using trivalent metal markers to quantitatively estimate the feed intake of an individual pig, however the level of accuracy requires improvement.

This study evaluated the effect of feeding low protein (LP) diets for 7 or 14 d after weaning or a high protein (HP) diet for 14 d after weaning on postweaning diarrhea (PWD), indices of protein fermentation, and production in pigs infected or not infected per os with an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli. A total of 72 female pigs weaned at aged 21 d with initial BW of 5.9 +/- 0.12 kg were used in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The factors were 3 feeding regimens associated with different combinations of feeding duration and diet CP level: (i) HP diet (256 g of CP/kg) fed for 14 d after weaning, (ii) LP diet (175 g of CP/kg) fed for 7 d after weaning, and (iii) LP diet fed for 14 d after weaning; and infection or noninfection with an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli (10(7) cfu/mL, serotype O149:K91:K88) at 72, 96, and 120 h after weaning. The LP diets were fortified with crystalline Ile and Val to achieve an ideal AA pattern. A second-stage diet (213 g of CP/kg) was fed to pigs at the conclusion of each feeding regimen, and the study finished 4 wk after weaning. None of the diets contained antimicrobials. Feeding the LP diets decreased (P < 0.001) plasma urea nitrogen, fecal ammonia nitrogen concentrations, and the incidence of PWD, but increased (P = 0.001) fecal DM content compared with pigs fed HP in the 2-wk period after weaning. Infection increased shedding of beta-hemolytic E. coli (P < 0.001), the incidence of PWD (P < 0.001), and fecal ammonia nitrogen concentrations (P < 0.01), but did not interact with feeding regimen, after weaning. Pigs challenged with E. coli grew more slowly (P < 0.001) and had decreased G:F (P < 0.01) compared with nonchallenged pigs in the 4-wk period after weaning. Feeding an LP diet for 7 or 14 d after weaning markedly reduced the incidence of PWD after infection with beta-hemolytic E. coli. Infection was associated with decreased indices of protein fermentation in the distal gastrointestinal tract but did not compromise the growth of weaner pigs in the 4-wk period after weaning.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of lupin particle size on amino acid (AA) and energy digestibility and fermentation characteristics in pigs. Expt 1 examined the effects of lupin variety (cv. Tanjil and Mandelup) and lupin particle size (746, 888, 1099 and 1136 μm) on the total-tract apparent digestibility of dietary components in 63·5 (sd 7·28) kg pigs. While variety had no effect on total-tract apparent digestibility, decreasing particle size of lupins linearly increased total-tract apparent digestibility of crude protein of diets containing 350 g lupins per kg (P sd 2·9) kg pigs. Pigs were fed the respective diets ad libitum for the first 2 weeks and fed at three times maintenance energy level in the third week. Pigs were euthanised under sedation at 46·7 (sd 4·21) kg to collect digesta samples along the intestinal tract. Decreasing particle size increased apparent ileal and total-tract digestible N (P P APB), while branched-chain fatty acids (sum of valeric, caproic, isobutyric and isovaleric acids) were linearly increased (P

This study evaluated the effects of feeding pigs low protein (LP) diets for different lengths of time after weaning on indices of protein fermentation, the incidence of postweaning diarrhoea (PWD), growth performance, and total-tract apparent digestibility. Sixty weaner pigs weighing 6.1 +/- 0.13 kg (mean +/- SEM) were used in a completely randomised design having five treatments: (i) a high protein diet (HP, 243 g/kg CP) fed for 14 d after weaning (HP14); (ii) a low protein diet (LP, 173 g CP/kg) fed for 5 d after weaning (LP5); (iii) LP diet fed for 7 d after weaning (LP7); (iv) LP diet fed for 10 d after weaning (LP10), and (v) LP diet fed for 14 d after weaning (LP14). All diets were supplemented with lysine, methionine, tryptophan and threonine, with all LP diets additionally fortified with crystalline isoleucine and valine to conform to a proposed ideal amino acid (AA) pattern. A second-stage diet (215 g CP/kg) was fed to pigs at the conclusion of each treatment. None of the diets contained antimicrobial compounds. Feeding a LP diet, regardless of duration of feeding, decreased plasma urea nitrogen (p0.001) and faecal ammonia-nitrogen (p0.001) contents. Feeding a LP diet, irrespective of feeding duration, decreased the incidence of PWD at day 8 after weaning (p = 0.044), and pigs fed diets LP7, LP010 and LP14 had firmer faeces (p = 0.030, p = 0.047 and p = 0.007, respectively) between days 10 and 12 after weaning. Treatments LP5, LP7, LP10 and LP14 did not reduce (p0.05) growth performance up to 106 days after weaning compared to pigs fed the HP diet. Total-tract apparent digestibility of dry matter, energy and crude protein were similar (p0.05) between treatments. Our data suggest that feeding a LP diet, supplemented with AA to conform to an ideal AA pattern, for 7-10 days after weaning can reduce PWD in pigs fed antibiotic-free diets without compromising production.

The most effective way to control post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) in piglets remains the use of prophylactic and for therapeutic levels of antibiotics. However, increasing concerns about the transfer of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to humans via the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in animals have led to the ban in the European Union of all AGPs in pig diets from 1 January 2006. Consequently, it is important to develop ways of controlling the weaning transition in piglets without the use of antibiotic feed additives. The scope of this review is an examination of the adaptation of the gastrointestinal tract to weaning and the mechanisms of PWD. Furthermore, the addition of organic acids, prebiotics and probiotics as feed additives as well as dietary carbohydrate and protein modulation to minimize PWD will be discussed. Based on the available literature, organic acids can increase post-weaning performance significantly even though it is not possible at times to recognize the most effective dosage, acid or combination of acids. In some cases, prebiotics can increase the numbers of possible beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. in the gastrointestinal tract; however, there is little evidence of this then improving performance and health. The data defining the benefits of probiotics are equivocal; however, at least some probiotics seem to be able to improve performance of nursery pigs. Lowering dietary protein content for a short period post-weaning will probably reduce PWD and improve intestinal health of the piglets but performance is compromised if essential amino acid levels and/or ratios are reduced below requirement.

This article describes the orthodontic treatment of a 31-year-old Korean female patient with gummy smile and crowding. The patient showed excessive gingival display in both the anterior and posterior areas and a large difference in gingival heights between the anterior and posterior teeth in the maxilla. To correct the gummy smile, we elected to intrude the entire maxillary dentition instead of focusing only on the maxillary anterior teeth. Alignment and leveling were performed, and a midpalatal absolute anchorage system as well as a modified lingual arch was designed to achieve posterosuperior movement of the entire upper dentition. The active treatment period was 18 months. The gummy smile and crowding were corrected, and the results were stable at 21 months post-treatment.

The interactive effects of dietary protein level, zinc oxide (ZnO) supplementation and infection with an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli (ETEC) on performance responses and gastrointestinal tract characteristics were examined. Ninety-six individually housed, 21-day-old pigs (1 : 1 gender ratio) with initial bodyweight (BW) of 7.2 ± 0.69 kg, were used in a split plot experiment, with the whole plot being challenge or no challenge with ETEC and the dietary treatments used as subplots and arranged in a completely randomised 2 × 2 factorial design, with the factors being (i) two dietary protein levels (251 versus 192 g/kg crude protein) and (ii) addition or no addition of 2.5 g/kg ZnO. No antibiotic was added to the diet. The ETEC infection decreased average daily gain (P < 0.001) and increased feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01). Protein level had no effect on performance of pigs while ZnO supplementation increased (P < 0.001) average daily gain and average daily feed intake and hence decreased feed conversion ratio (P < 0.001). There were no 2- or 3-way interactions for growth performance indices (P > 0.05). Feeding a lower protein diet did not influence (P > 0.05) faecal volatile fatty acid concentrations. In non-infected pigs, feeding a lower protein diet caused a lower pH in the jejunum and ileum compared with pigs fed a higher protein diet (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). However, feeding ZnO-supplemented diets increased (P < 0.05) the pH in the stomach and caecum compared with feeding diets without ZnO supplementation. Protein level did not alter (P > 0.05) empty BW but dietary supplementation with ZnO increased empty BW (P < 0.05). Neither protein level nor ZnO supplementation modified small intestinal morphology, although a tendency for an interaction (P < 0.1) was detected for jejunal villous height between protein level and ZnO supplementation. The results indicate that feeding ZnO-supplemented diets improved pig performance, and feeding a lower protein diet without ZnO supplementation did not compromise performance nor modify measures of gastrointestinal tract structure and function compared with pigs fed a diet higher in protein after weaning.

The infestation status of head louse among children attending primary schools and kindergartens in Chinju-shi, Kyongsangnam-do, Korea, was investigated between June and July 1999. Out of 2,288 children examined, 3.9% of boys (48/1,242) and 23.5% of girls (246/1,046) were infested with nits or adult/nymphs of lice. The effectiveness of lindane shampoo (1% gamma benzene hexachloride solution) was evaluated after one or two time applications to all the children infested. The negative conversion rate of pediculosis was 93.5%. Effective control measures are needed to control and prevent such ectoparasite infestation amongst children.