Peter Wen-Shyg Chiou

Bioavailability of iron from amino acid complex in weanling pigs

The objective of the study was to evaluate the iron bioavailability of iron amino acid complex, Availa-Fe 1 compound, as compared to the iron from feed grade ferrous sulfate in weanling piglets. Seventy-two 30-day-old three-way cross piglets, with an average live-weight of 6.41 kg, were randomly allocated into 12 groups of six dietary treatments and two replicates. The control diet (C) included 100 mg kg ˇ1 iron from ferrous sulfate heptahydrate into a basal corn‐soybean‐whey diet. The other dietary treatment groups were supplemented an additional 30, 60, 90, or 120 mg kg ˇ1 of iron from Availa-Fe 1 into the control diet. An additional diet supplemented with 120 mg kg ˇ1 of iron from ferrous sulfate heptahydrate into the control diet was used as a positive control. The piglets fed Availa-Fe 1 as an iron source did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in live-weight gains or feed-conversion ratio. The monitored parameters that responded to increases in the level of Availa-Fe 1 supplementation, included pack cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, plasma iron and total iron binding capacity in the blood, hemosiderin and ferritin iron in the liver and spleen. Skin redness with an ‘a’ value in color measurement increased significantly as the level of Availa-Fe 1 supplement increased (p<0.05). The total iron content, heme-iron concentration in the muscle and skin color responded to increases in the level of Availa-Fe 1 supplementation. The bioavailability of iron from Availa-Fe 1 is significantly better compared to ferrous sulfate

Effect of different components of dietary fiber on the intestinal morphology of domestic rabbits

A trial was conducted to study the effect of dietary fiber components (cellulose, pectin, lignin and alfalfa) on the performance and the intestinal structure of domestic rabbits. Different fiber components influenced villus height and muscle layer thickness of the jejunum and colon, and affected the crypt depth of the duodenum and ileum. A scanning electron microscope photograph showed a significant damage of the villi surface in the duodenum and jejunum by lignin supplementation; it also showed a significant damage in the cecal mucosa by cellulose, pectin and alfalfa supplementation.

Effects of β-glucanase supplementation of barley diets on growth performance of broilers

Abstract A trial was performed to examine the effects of levels of barley substitution and supplementation with β-glucanase in a corn–soybean diet on growth performance and intestinal characteristics of broiler chickens. The experiment involved five levels of barley substituted for corn (0, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 g/kg) and two levels of β-glucanase supplement (with 0.5 g/kg and without) in a factorial arrangement with two replicates. Four hundred day-old commercial strain Harber broiler chickens were randomly allocated into twenty groups of ten dietary treatments for a six-week feeding trial, growing (0–3 week) and finishing period (4–6 week). Unless supplemented with β-glucanase, broilers receiving the diet with more than 250 g/kg of the barley substitute gained slower during the growth period. Conversely, supplementing β-glucanase did not improve total weight gain (0–6 weeks) with a diet of 500 g/kg barley substitution. As the level of barley substitution increased, feed intake in the growing period decreased significantly and viscosity of the intestinal contents increased. However, such an increase did not significantly influence feed conversion (P>0.05). Supplementation with β-glucanase on diet up to 250 g/kg of barley substitute not only enhanced body weight gains of growing broilers, but also improved the live-weight of six-week-old broilers (P

Effects of ambient temperature and methionine supplementation of a low protein diet on the performance of laying hens

The effects of ambient temperature and the supplementation of methionine to a low protein diet on egg production, egg quality, blood constituents and nitrogen excretion of laying hens were studied. The objective was to derive an environmental friendly feed formulation for warm climate. Seventy-two 29-week-old commercial White Leghorn hens of Babcock ISA white strain were used in this trial. The design is a completely randomized design with a 2x3 factors arrangement of treatments. Two constant ambient temperatures were 24±1°C and 34±1°C with 85% relative humidity. The three dietary treatments were 170 g kg - crude protein, 140 g kg - crude protein and 140 g kg -1 crude protein supplemented with methionine 1.4 g kg -1 . Hens were allotted into six groups according to egg production and body weight. Birds were raised in individual wire cages for the experimental feeding period of five weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, one replicate of laying hens (four birds) from each treatment were selected for a four-day metabolic study for the daily collection of the excreta. The blood samples were withdrawn from the wing vein for analysis of hematocrit, blood glucose, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and uric acid. Experimental results indicate that increases in ambient temperature significantly depress feed intake, egg production, egg weight and live weight of laying hens. High ambient temperature also caused inferior egg quality, including shell weight, shell thickness, shell breaking strength and specific gravity. Ambient temperature also changes the egg components with heavier egg albumin and yolk in the low-temperature group. Increasing ambient temperature also caused an increase in pH value in the plasma. This increase revealed a trend of depressed glucose (P<0.05) in the plasma of the laying hens. The dietary treatments, however, did not significantly influence feed intakes. Except egg weight, laying hens that were fed with the low protein (140 g kg -1 ) with methionine supplemented diet produced similar numbers of egg and feed conversion as the layers fed with the high protein diet. The low protein with methionine supplemented diet produced significantly lighter eggs than the high dietary protein diet under the high ambient temperature, but produced heavier egg under the low ambient temperature. The concentration of uric acid in the plasma and nitrogen in the excreta of the high protein group was significantly higher than the other two low protein dietary groups (P<0.05).

Effects of roxarsone on performance, toxicity, tissue accumulation and residue of eggs and excreta in laying hens

In this study, we examined the effects of a high dosage of roxarsone in the diet on the performance, liver function, and its residue in liver, eggs and excreta of laying hens. Seventy-five 32-week-old layers were selected and randomly allocated into five dietary treatments with three replications for each treatment. Feeding periods were 4 weeks with an additional week for withdrawal. The experimental diets included 0, 11, 22, 44 or 88 mg kg-1 arsenic from roxarsone, respectively. Dietary arsenic above 44 mg kg-1 significantly decreased the egg production and feed intake of the layer (P < 0·05). Layers ceased to produce eggs after two weeks of feeding the 88 mg kg-1 arsenic supplement diet. Where the enzyme activities in the serum, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) significantly increased. Also, the liver weight did not only significantly decrease (P < 0·05), but was also damaged on histological examination. Moreover, arsenic residues in the liver, eggs and the excreta significantly increased as dietary arsenic level was increased (P < 0·05). The serum enzyme activities of AST, LDH, CK returns to normal after a week of the drug withdrawal. Arsenic residues in liver, egg and excreta also significantly declined in the withdrawal period (P < 0·05). Furthermore, the hepatic cells were vacuolised from layers treated with 88 mg kg-1 of arsenic.

The morphological changes of intestinal mucosa in growing rabbits

The study aimed to increase understanding of digestive function from the development of the digestive tract from suckling to maturity in rabbits. The relative weights of the digestive tract (in relation to body weight) in different segments increase linearly during the rapid growth period between 2 and 8 weeks of age; thereafter intestinal weight gain is slower. An underdeveloped mucosal histology was observed in the hindgut of suckling rabbits at 2 weeks compared with 4 weeks of age. From SEM micrographs, the small intestinal mucosal villi look more slender and finger-like in the suckling period, thereafter becoming broader or tongue-like or plate-shaped in mature rabbits. The micrographs showed a compact arrangement in the underdeveloped hindgut mucosa at 2 weeks, but after weaning as hindgut fermentation becomes significant the mucosa increased in surface area.

Studies on the protein degradabilities of feedstuffs in Taiwan

Abstract The protein degradabilities of feedstuffs, roughages and by-products that are commonly used in ruminant rations, were measured by the in situ nylon bag method. Four dry dairy cows were fistulated in the rumen for the in situ nylon bag studies. Twenty-eight different feedstuff samples were placed in 4.5 × 6.5 cm nylon bags, and were then incubated in the rumen for different periods of time (0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h). Under 8% of rumen solid outflow rate, the percentages of the calculated protein degradability were: corn gluten meal, 8.8; feather meal, 29.1; soya pomace, 79.1; brewers grain, 37.1; distillers grain, 53.9; meat and bone meal, 51.9; wheat bran, 76.8; corn, 34.6, respectively. The size of nylon bag was changed to 10 × 20 cm, and the method of bag suspension was also changed, whilst the incubation period was extended two additional periods of 48 and 72 h in the second trial. The results of the protein degradabilities in 8% ruminal outflow rate were as follows: pangola hay. 38.6; soya pomace, 83.3; corn silage, 75.6; rice bran, 52.5; napier grass, 34.7; distillers grain, 60.1; brewers grain, 54.9; alfalfa hay, 71.8; fish meal, 37.5; soybean meal, 68.0; beancurd pomace, 61.7, respectively. All the degradabilities mentioned were uncorrected for influx microbial nitrogen. From the smaller standard deviation of the crude protein disappearance rate in the large nylon bags (trial 2), it recommended the size of the nylon bags is 10 × 20 cm instead of 4.5 × 6.5 cm.

Toxicity, tissue accumulation and residue in egg and excreta of copper in laying hens

To study the effects of a high dietary copper dosage on the performance, liver function, and copper residues in the liver, egg and excreta of the laying hen, seventy-five 28-week-old layers were selected and randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with three replications of five birds each for each treatment. The feeding period was 4 weeks followed by a 1 week withdrawal period. The experimental diets were supplemented with 0, 200, 400, 600 or 800 mg kg−1 copper. The response to copper in the diet in terms of feed intake and egg production fitted a quadratic model (P < 0.05), with 200 mg kg−1 giving a positive response and levels of 400 mg kg−1 and above giving a progressively negative response. Enzyme activities, i.e. aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) in the serum were significantly (P < 0.05) increased with 600 mg of dietary copper inclusion. Histological examination of livers revealed damage by high dosages (over 600 mg) of dietary copper. Copper residues in the liver and excreta were significantly (P < 0.05) increased as dietary copper increased. The copper content of egg reached a maximum at 400 mg kg−1 dietary copper. Serum enzyme activities of AST, LDH and CK returned to normal after the 1 week withdrawal period. Copper residues in the liver, egg and excreta also declined significantly (P < 0.05) during the withdrawal period.

Metabolizable energy of roughage in Taiwan

The fixed metabolizable energy (ME) values from the NRC do not represent the true ME values of the various feedstuff used in livestock rations. Therefore, a rapid and effective method for evaluating the ME value of forage crops is required for proper ration formulation to improve production efficiency. Dairy goat digestion trials were conducted as the in vivo reference using the method of Menke and Steingass (1988) [Menke, K.H., Steingass, H., 1988. Feed Sci. Technol. 28, 91-97] which derived the amount of gas produced from in vitro fermentation. This method was adapted in this study to evaluate the ME value. In the goat digestion trial, six dairy goats were used for each roughage sample in a total fecal collection trial to determine the digestible nutrients, including energy (DE) and total digestible nutrient (TDN). The in vivo ME value was calculated using the method of Shiemann et al. (1971) [Shiemann, R., Nehring, K., Hoffmann, L., Jentsch, W., Chudy, A., 1971. Energetische Futterbewertung und Energienormen. VEB Deutscher Land-wirtschaftsverlag, Berlin, p. 75. (in German)] (ME(1) (MJ/kg)=5.2DCP+34.2DEE+12.8DCF+15.9DNFE, g/g). The in vitro ME value was then estimated from the chemical composition of the feed and amount of gas produced (G(b)) from in vitro fermentation. The value calculated from both with (ME(3)) and without (ME(2)) the inclusion of nitrogen free extracts (NFE) in the prediction equation. (ME(2) (MJ/kg)=0.145G(b)+4.12CP+6.5CP(2)+20.6EE+1.54, g/g; ME(3) (MJ/kg)=0.118G(b)+8.75CP+19.21EE+3.38NFE+0.691, g/g). The 12 roughage samples consisted different growth stages of Napier grass Taishi No. 2: (day of harvest; 40, 50, 60 and 65), dwarf Napier grass Taishi No. 1: (Day 40 and 65) and Pangola grass (Day 45) hay (Day 70), corn silage, imported alfalfa hay, timothy hay and Bermuda hay. The correlation between the ME values calculated from in vivo and in vitro without NFE was lower than with NFE inclusion in the equation. A higher correlation between the ME values calculated from in vivo and in vitro without NFE inclusion than with NFE inclusion in the prediction equation was obtained when alfalfa and corn silage were not included. This indicated that the ME value of forage could be estimated rapidly using this in vitro gas method adapted from Menke and Steingass (1988) [Menke, K.H., Steingass, H., 1988. Feed Sci. Technol. 28, 91-97] for practical applications in ration formulation.

Effects of different sources of dietary fibre on growth performance and apparent digestibility in geese

Abstract Sixty 2-week-old female White Roman geese were used in the first experiment. In the second experiment, eighteen mature female geese were colostomized, placed in metabolism cages and used for a digestion study. The experimental diets for the six different treatments were supplemented with alfalfa meal, barley bran, rice hulls, or purified cellulose, lignin, or pectin, respectively as the major source of fibre. They were formulated into isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets with 90 g kg −1 of crude fibre. Geese fed the pectin supplemented diet showed significantly less gain in body weight, due to lower feed intake than the other treatment groups ( P P P −1 ). Digestibility of crude protein and gross energy were significantly lower in the diet with a lignin or a pectin supplement ( P