Chaiyapoom Bunchasak

Long-term feeding effects of dietary protein levels on egg production, immunocompetence and plasma amino acids of laying hens in subtropical condition.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of protein levels on production performance, immune response, liver triglyceride and plasma amino acids profile of laying hens during 21-48 weeks of age. Two groups of commercial hens (Babcock B-308) were fed with diets with different crude protein levels (14% and 18% CP). The high protein diet (18% CP) significantly increased production performance, essential amino acid intake, spleen weight (% of body weight), ND-titre (haemagglutination-inhibition test), serum albumin (g/dl), serum alpha-globulin and plasma essential amino acids (except histidine) and decreased liver triglyceride (mg/g liver) in relation to the low protein diet (14% CP). In long-term effect, therefore, this study suggested that adequate dietary condition of amino acids, particularly methionine and branch-chain amino acids is necessary for sustaining normal immunocompetence and achieving maximum production performance.

Effect of total sulfur amino acids in corn–cassava–soybean diets on growth performance, carcass yield and blood chemical profile of male broiler chickens from 1 to 42 days of age

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of total sulfur amino acid (TSAA) in diets on growth performance, carcass yield and blood chemical profile of commercial male broiler chickens from 1 to 42 days of age. Six graded levels of TSAA were fed during the starter (1–21 days of age) and the grower (22–42 days of age) periods at 61, 84, 100, 105, 110 and 115% of commercial recommendation. The experiment was a completely randomised design. In all, 1050 commercial male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were divided into six treatments, and each treatment consisted of seven replicates of 25 chicks each. Bodyweight gains of chicks that received TSAA at 100% of commercial concentrations were significantly greater than those that received the recommended National Research Council concentrations (84% of commercial levels, P < 0.05). The best feed-conversion ratio and feed cost per gain were found at the commercial recommendation level. Nonetheless, broilers that were fed TSAA at concentrations higher than the commercial recommendation levels did not exhibit positive effects on growth performance. With respect to carcass yield, the breast meat yield was increased by increasing TSAA in the diets (P < 0.05), particularly when supplied at commercial recommendation levels, whereas the eviscerated carcass and liver weights were not significantly affected. There was no significant effect of increasing TSAA in the diets on serum triglyceride, uric acid, total protein, albumin and globulin. In conclusion, broilers fed diets supplemented with TSAA at commercial concentrations gave the best growth performance, carcass yields and economic return.

Effects of adding liquid DL-methionine hydroxy analogue-free acid to drinking water on growth performance and small intestinal morphology of nursery pigs

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding liquid DL-methionine hydroxy analogue free acid (LMA) to drinking water on growth performance, small intestinal morphology and volatile fatty acids in the caecum of nursery pigs. Twenty-four crossbred pigs (Large White x Landrace, BW approximately 18 kg) were divided into three groups with four replications of two piglets each. The piglets received drinking water without (control), with 0.05 or 0.10% LMA. The results indicated that adding LMA at 0.10% to drinking water significantly increased their weight gain, average daily feed intake (p < 0.05) and tended to improve the feed conversion ratio. Adding LMA to drinking water significantly increased their water intake and significantly reduced the pH of drinking water (p < 0.01), thus total plate count (p < 0.01) and Escherichia coli in drinking water was reduced (p < 0.05), while the total number of bacteria in the caecum was not significantly affected. Liquid DL-methionine hydroxy analogue free acid supplementation in drinking water tended to decrease pH in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, colon and rectum. Furthermore, adding LMA at 0.10% significantly increased villous height in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05), and the villous height:crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01) was higher, whereas acetic acid concentration in the caecum was significantly lower than in the control group. It could be concluded that adding LMA to drinking water improved growth performance of the nursery pigs because of high water quality and high nutrient utilization caused by an improvement of small intestinal morphology (not from nutritional effect of methionine source).

Effect of source of methionine in broken rice-soybean diet on production performance, blood chemistry, and fermentation characteristics in weaned pigs

This study was conducted to compare the effect of source of methionine (Met) in broken rice- soybean diet on performance, blood biochemistry, and fermentation characteristics in weaned pigs. Forty-eight male crossbreed pigs (BW 11 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly allocated to three groups with four replications in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were: (1) basal diet without methionine (Control; total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) 0.60%); (2) basal diet supplemented with dl-methionine (DLM) (TSAA 0.76%); and (3) basal diet supplemented with dl-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (LMA) (TSAA 0.76%). Supple - mentation with DLM and LMA improved growth performance of piglets and decreased blood urea nitrogen and increased serum albumin ( P < 0.01). The population of Lactobacillus spp. in the caecum was decreased by both DLM and LMA supplementation ( P < 0.05). Succinic acid concentration in the caecum of pigs fed the DLM diet was greater than that of LMA group ( P < 0.05). It can be concluded that LMA can be used as a good source of Met (88% bioefficacy, weight/weight) in broken rice-soybean diet, although the serum albumin and fermentation characteristics (succinic acid) in the gastrointestinal tract were different.

Methionine supplementation of low-protein diet and subsequent feeding of low-energy diet on the performance and blood chemical profile of broiler chickens

The effects were investigated of supplementing methionine (Met) in a low-crude protein diet (Low-CP+Met) during Days 11–24 post-hatch and subsequent feeding with a low-metabolisable energy diet (Low-ME; –0.31 MJ/kg) during Days 25–42 on the productive performance and blood chemistry profile of broiler chickens. The 1600 broiler chicks were divided into four groups and fed as follows: (1) Control diet; (2) Low-CP (Met deficiency) diet during Days 11–24, then re-feeding with conventional diet; (3) Low-CP+Met diet during days 11–24, then re-feeding with conventional diet; and (4) Low-CP+Met+Low-ME diet (Low-CP+Met diet during Days 11–24, then re-feeding with Low-ME diet). During Days 11–24, the growth performance of the Control group was better than the other groups (P < 0.01), although the Low-CP+Met diet improved bodyweight, feed conversion ratio and improved the protein conversion ratio compare to the Low-CP group (P < 0.01). During the re-feeding phase (Days 25–42), reducing the dietary energy resulted in better growth performance and a better protein conversion ratio and energy conversion ratio than in the Control group (P < 0.05). Triglyceride, very low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and total cholesterol in serum were higher, and non-esterified fatty acid was lower in the Control group than those of the Low-CP+Met+Low-ME group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, reducing dietary protein with balanced amino acids during the grower period and subsequent feeding with a low-energy diet promoted productive performance, improved protein utilisation and reduced fat accumulation via increasing lipolysis and/or disruption of the triglyceride transportation in broiler chickens.

Effects of Supplemental Liquid DL-methionine Hydroxy Analog Free Acid in Diet on Growth Performance and Gastrointestinal Functions of Piglets

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of liquid DL-methionine hydroxy analog free acid (DL-MHA) on growth performance and gastrointestinal conditions of piglets. One hundred and eighty crossbred barrow piglets (Large White×Landrace, body weight: 12.48±0.33 kg) were divided into three groups with ten replications of six piglets each. Piglets received DL-MHA in diet at a concentration of 0 (control group), 0.15%, or 0.24%. The results indicated that increasing the standardized ileal digestible (SID) of sulfur amino acids (SAA) to lysine (SID SAA:Lys) ratio by supplementation of DL-MHA tended to increase (quadratic; p<0.10) weight gain and ADG, and showed slightly greater (linear; p<0.10) gain:feed ratio. The pH in the diet and cecum linearly decreased (p<0.01), whereas pH in colon had a quadratic response (p<0.01) with increasing supplementation of DL-MHA. By greater supplementation of DL-MHA, the population of Lactobacillus spp. in rectum was likely to increase (quadratic; p<0.10), but Escherichia coli population in the diet was reduced (quadratic; p<0.05). Acetic acid concentration and total short-chain fatty acids in cecum linearly increased (p<0.05), whereas valeric acid in cecum quadratically increased (p<0.05) with increasing DL-MHA levels. Moreover, the villous height of the jejunum quadratically increased (p<0.01) as the supplementation of DL-MHA was increased. It is concluded that the addition of DL-MHA in diet improved the growth performance and the morphology of gastrointestinal tract of piglets.

Effects of adding methionine in low-protein diet and subsequently fed low-energy diet on productive performance, blood chemical profile, and lipid metabolism-related gene expression of broiler chickens

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing methionine (Met) in a low‐protein (Low‐CP) diet during d 11 to 24 and subsequently feeding with a low‐metabolizable energy diet (Low‐ME; ‐75 kcal/kg) or a normal ME diet during d 25 to 42 on the productive performance, blood chemical profile, and lipid metabolism‐related gene expression of broiler chickens. The 1,600 broiler chicks were divided into 5 groups as follows: 1) Normal CP, then Normal ME; 2) Low‐CP, then Normal ME; 3) Low‐CP, then Low‐ME; 4) Low‐CP+Met, then Normal ME; and 5) Low‐CP+Met, then Low‐ME. During d 11 to 24, the growth performance of the control group was better than those of the other groups (P < 0.01). In Low‐CP diets, the addition of Met resulted in an improvement in the growth performance, breast meat yield, protein conversion ratio, plasma total protein, and albumin (P < 0.01). Moreover, the supplementation significantly increased the plasma triglyceride content (P < 0.01). Feeding Low‐CP or Low‐CP+Met diets increased the abdominal fat content compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Feeding the Low‐CP+Met, then Normal ME (d 25 to 42) resulted in compensation in the feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein conversion ratio, and energy conversion ratio equal to or better than the control group (P < 0.01). The body weights of birds fed Low‐CP diets were still inferior to the control group (P < 0.01), except in the Low‐CP+Met group followed by the normal ME diet. Feeding with the Low‐ME diet tended to decrease the expression of the carnitine palmitoyl transferase I gene in the liver (P = 0.08). In conclusion, supplementing Met in the Low‐CP diet during the grower period and subsequently feeding with a control diet improved the feed and protein conversion ratios, reduced fat accumulation, and reduced the production cost of broiler chickens with regard to fat deposition compared to the control diet.

Comparative effects of corn-based diet and phase-fed cassava-based diet on growth rate, carcass characteristics and lipid profile of meat-type ducks

Objective This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of a corn- or cassava- based diet on the production of meat-type ducks. Methods Four hundred day-old ducks were used in this experiment. They were divided into five groups with each group replicated eight times. The ducks fed the corn-based diets served as the control group. The four other groups comprised different treatments, with each one given the cassava-based diet based on phase-feeding. Three treatments were fed the cassava-based diet from 16, 28, and 35 d; respectively up to 42 d of age and the other group was fed the cassava-based diet from 1 to 42 d of age. Results The results indicated that ducks on either the corn- or cassava-based diets were similar in growth during 1 to 9 d of age. However, toward 35 to 42 d, the cassava-diet produced a higher weight gain (p<0.05). The cassava-based diet was better than the corn-based diet at increasing the outer and inner breast weights at 28, 35, or 42 d (p<0.05). In contrast, the corn-based diet was better at increasing abdominal fat (p<0.05). The two diets did not differ in their effects on the serum triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and liver cholesterol. The corn-based diet, however, caused a highly significantly greater level of liver triglyceride (p<0.01). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that both the cassava- and corn- based diets are similar in their effect on meat-type ducks during the starter stage but toward the finisher stage, the cassava-based diet has a better influence on weight gain and carcass characteristics.

A dietary sodium gluconate supplement improves growth performance and prebiotic activity in the small intestine of nursery pigs grown under tropical conditions

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sodium gluconate (SG) supplementation in diets on growth performance, small intestinal morphology and short chain fatty acid concentration in the caecum of nursery pigs. One-hundred and forty-four piglets (bodyweight ~10.5 kg) were raised in conventional open housing and divided into four treatments with six replications. The pigs received diet supplemented without (control), or with SG at a level of 1000, 2500 or 5000 ppm for 6 weeks. The results indicated that increasing SG supplementation from 0 to 5000 ppm linearly improved final bodyweight, average daily gain, feed : gain ratio, caecal propionic acid and total short-chain fatty acid concentration (linear P < 0.05). Adding SG in diet tended to reduce Escherichia coli counts in the caecum (P = 0.09) and adding SG at 2500–5000 ppm significantly increased the villous height in the duodenum (linear, P < 0.01), whereas there were no increase in caecal acetic acid and lactic acid bacterial counts in the caecum and rectum, and E. coli counts in the rectum when compared with the control group. SG supplementation did not affect the pH values in gastrointestinal tract of nursery pigs. This study implied that SG supplementation improved growth rate and may be useful as a prebiotic to accomplish the maximum growth performances in nursery pigs.