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

Effect of storaged fishmeal on layer performance

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of stored fishmeal on layer performances. Experiment 1 determined the chemical composition and rancidity (TBA-number) in 16 samples of 4 grades of fishmeal (prime quality, grade 1, 2 and 3) during 3 months warehouse storage. In experiment 2 various qualities of fishmeal were compared. Three hundred laying hens (12 wk of age) were divided into 6 groups with 5 replications and randomly fed an experimental diet until 18 wk of age as following. Conventional fishmeal and soybean meal were used as protein source in groups 1 and 2, respectively. While groups 3, 4 and 5 used stored fishmeal (prime quality, grade 1 and 2, respectively) which had been kept for 4 months at 3.5% of diets. In group 6, stored fishmeal grade 2 was used as 6% of the diet. The results showed that there were no significant differences in nutrients composition among 4 grades of fishmeal during storage time. TBA-number had a tendency to increase with time. There were relationships between some compositions in fishmeal ie. protein with ether extract, protein with ash and ash with ether extract. Using of stored fishmeal (3 grades) for prelaying diets had no effect on growth performances when compared with the control groups. After changing all experimental diets to commercial laying diet in laying period (18-41 weeks), there was no significant difference in egg production, composition and quality in each experimental group

Effect of early feed restriction on compensatory growth and carcass characteristics of Betong chicks

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of early feed restriction on compensatory growth, production performance and carcass characteristics of Betong chickens. Completely randomized design was used comprising 4 treatments, each treatment with 4 replications (10 birds/replicate). The control group was fed ad libitum, while the other groups were fed a restricted diet for 20%, 40% and 60% of the control group during the chick’s age of 1-3 weeks, then fed ad libitumly to 16 weeks of age. At 3 weeks of age, birds fed ad libitum had higher body weights, feed intakes (P<0.05) and feed conversion ratios (P<0.01) than this restricted birds. After refeeding phase, body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and percentage of carcass traits as well as digestive organs of birds were not significantly different among the experimental groups. This indicated that the restriction of feed up to 60% of the control group during the first 3 weeks of birds’ age had no effect on final performance and carcass characteristics of Betong chickens because of the compensatory growth and feed intake during the refeeding phase. Such restriction could save 206-263 g feed per chick

Effect of methionine levels on production performance, triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid in laying hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of methionine (Met) on egg production, liver triglyceride and blood free fatty acid (non-esterified fatty acid; NEFA) in laying hens aged 21 to 32 weeks old by using completely randomized design. Low-protein diet (14% CP) containing Met at 0.28 (unsupplemented group), 0.30, 0.38 or 0.44% of diet were used. The results showed that egg production and egg mass tended to increase, while feed and energy efficiency were significantly improved when Met levels increased (p<0.05).Liver weight and liver triglyceride were significantly increased by the Met supplementation, but there was no evidence of fatty liver syndrome. In addition, NEFA was slightly decreased but body weight tended to increase due to adding Met, although statistical differences were not seen. In conclusion, the improvement of egg production caused by an increase of Met levels may be closely related with the changing proportion of lipogenesis and lipolysis due to an improving amino acid balance