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Ayam KUB dalam pengembangannya masih terdapat beberapa kendala, terutama biaya pakan yang relatif mahal. Salah satu solusi dalam mengatasi masalah tersebut adalah dengan memanfaatkan limbah pertanian setempat, antara lain pemanfaatan limbah sagu yang diolah menjadi sapuring (sagu parut kering). Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggantian sebagian ransum komersial dengan sapuring terhadap perfroma ayam KUB yang meliputi konsumsi ransum, pertambahan bobot badan mingguan, bobot akhir, dan bobot karkas ayam KUB. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan April sampai dengan Juni 2021. Ternak yang digunakan adalah 40 ekor DOC ayam KUB. Pada tahap awal ayam diberikan ransum komersial starter sampai umur 3 minggu, kemudian ransum komersial ditambah sapuring untuk ayam KUB sampai umur 6 minggu. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan, perlakuan terdiri dari P0 = 100% ransum komersial (kontrol), P1 = 95% ransum komersial + 5% sapuring, P2 = 90% ransum komersial + 10% sapuring dan P3 = 85% ransum komersial + 15% sapuring. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggantian sebagian ransum komersial dengan sapuring tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap konsumsi ransum, pertambahan bobot badan mingguan, bobot akhir, dan bobot karkas ayam KUB. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa penggantian sebagian ransum komersial sampai pada level 15% dapat mempertahankan performa ayam KUB yang meliputi konsumsi ransum, pertambahan bobot badan mingguan, bobot akhir, dan bobot karkas.

Daun Jambu mete (Anacardium occidentale Linn) merupakan salah satu tumbuhan yang berpotensi menjadi ramuan herbal disebabkan beberapa senyawa yang penting diantaranya mengandung asam anakardiol, asam elagat, flavonoid, kardol, tanin-galat, senyawa fenol, dan metil kardol. Adapun tujuan penelitian ini yakni untuk mengetahui pengaruh pencampuran ekstrak daun jambu mete (EDJM) di dalam air minum terhadap karakteristik karkas ayam broiler meliputi bobot badan akhir, bobot karkas, persentase bobot karkas, bobot lemak abdominal dan persentase bobot lemak abdominal. Total jumlah ayam broiler yang digunakan adalah 80 ekor yang dilakukan pengacakan dengan 5 perlakuan dan 4 ulangan serta setiap ulangan terdiri dari 4 ekor ayam. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan perlakuan yang meliputi P0 (0% EDJM/L air minum), P1 (5% EDJM/L air minum), P2 (90% air minum + 10% EDJM), P3 (85% air minum + 15% EDJM) dan P4 (80% air minum + 20% EDJM). Parameter yang diukur adalah bobot badan akhir, bobot karkas, persentase karkas, bobot lemak abdominal dan persentase lemak abdominal. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa bobot lemak abdominal dan persentase lemak abdominal secara signifikan (P,05) terhadap bobot badan akhir, bobot karkas dan persentase karkas. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa karakteristik karkas ayam broiler khususnya dalam bobot lemak abdominal dan persentase lemak abdominal dapat menurun dengan pemberian EDJM dalam air minum sampai level 20%.

The use of packaging wafer is one way to protect feed from various factors that can cause a decrease in the quality of the stored feed. Storage aims to maintain and preserve stored commodities by avoiding, eliminating various factors that can reduce the quality and quantity of the commodity. This study uses a completely randomized factorial design (5 x 3) with 3 replications. Factor A is the type of packaging consisting of A0 = without packaging, A1 = packaging bags of rice, A2 = packaging bags of plastic, A3 = packaging bags of papers, A4 = packaging bags of sacks. Factor B is the storage time B0 = 0 days B1 = 14 days B2 = 28 days. The parameters were the texture, color, aroma, water absorption, density. The results showed that there was an interaction between different types of packaging and storage duration of the texture, color, aroma and density of the complete wafer skin of fermented cocoa pods with different types of packaging and storage time. The type of rice sack packaging with 14 days storage time produces the best physical wafer quality compared to other treatment combinations seen from the texture of water absorption and density

Cashew leaves (Anacardium occidentale Linn) is a plant that can be used as a natural antibiotic because it contains flavonoids, tannins, anacardiol acid, elagic acid, phenol compounds, cardol, and methyl cardol. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of giving several levels of consumption of cashew leaf extract in drinking water on the performance of broilers including ration consumption, drinking water consumption, body weight gain, and ration conversion. This study used 80 doc broilers which were divided randomly based on a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments given were P0 (0% cashew leaf extract as a control), P1 (5% cashew leaf extract in 1 L of water), P2 (10% cashew leaf extract in 1 L of water), P3 (15% cashew leaf extract in 1 L of water) and P4 (20% cashew leaf extract in 1 L of water). The variables observed were ration consumption, drinking water consumption, body weight gain and broiler ratio conversion. The results showed that inclusion of cashew leaf extract up to 20% in drinking water had a significant effect (p

Keong mas (Pomacea canaliculata L.) merupakan bahan pakan alternatif bagi unggas yang memiliki kandungan protein tinggi yang hampir sama dengan tepung ikan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggantian tepung ikan dengan tepung keong mas (TKM) didalam ransum basal terhadap plasma metabolit yang meliputi total kolesterol (TCHO), trigliserida (TG), glukosa (GLU), dan total protein (TP) pada ayam broiler fase starter. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah eksperimen dengan Rancangan Acak Lengkap menggunakan 60 ekor DOC dengan 4 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan, masing-masing perlakuan dipelihara selama 21 hari. Perlakuan dalam penelitian ini adalah penggantian tepung ikan dengan TKM dengan level 0, 3, 6, dan 9%. Parameter yang diukur adalah TCHO, TG, GLU dan TP. Hasil penelitian ini diperoleh bahwa penggantian tepung ikan dengan TKM pada level 9% berpengaruh nyata (P0,05) meningkatkan TCHO, GLU dan TP ayam broiler, namun tidak berbeda nyata (P0,05) terhadap TG. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah penggantian tepung ikan dengan TKM di dalam ransum basal dapat mengubah kadar plasma metabolit yang meliputi TCHO, GLU, dan TP pada ayam broiler fase starter. Selanjutnya, level TKM yang digunakan untuk menggantikan tepung ikan tidak boleh melebihi 6% khususnya untuk mencapai level terbaik TCHO di dalam plasma ayam broiler fase starter. (Effect of fish meal substitution with golden snail meal (Pomacea canaliculata L.) in basal ration with on plasma metabolites in broiler starter period) ABSTRACT. Gold snail is an alternative feed with high protein content and almost similar to protein content of fish meal. This study aims to determine the effect of substitution of fish meal with golden snail meal (GSM) in basal ration on plasma metabolites including total cholesterol (TCHO), triglyceride (TG), glucose (GLU) and total protein (TP) in starter broiler chickens. The research design in this study was a Completely Randomized Design, using 60 DOCS of broiler chickens (Cobb) with four treatments and five replications with each treatment consisted of 3 broilers chickens. The chickens were kept from DOC until 21 days old. The treatment in this study was the substitution of fish meal with GSM at levels 0, 3, 6 and 9% in basal ration in broiler chickens. The observed parameter in this study were TCHO, TG, GLU and TP. The results of this study showed that the substitution of fish meal with GSM in basal ration up to level 9% significantly (P0.05) increased TCHO, GLU and TP but did not affect TG in broiler chickens. The conclusion of this study that the substitution of fish meal with GSM in basal ration altered plasma metabolites including TCHO, GLU and TP in broiler starter period. Moreover, the maximum level of GSM substitution for fishmeal should not exceed 6% especially to achieve the best level of TCHO in plasma broiler chicken starter period.

Biji alpukat (Persea americana Mill.) merupakan limbah yang mengandung nutrisi diantaranya protein kasar, energi metabolis yang dijadikan digunakan sebagai bahan pakan unggas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggunaan tepung biji alpukat (TBA) di dalam ransum terhadap performa ayam ras pedaging yang meliputi konsumsi ransum, pertambahan bobot badan, konversi ransum dan income over feed cost. Penelitian ini telah dilaksanakan pada bulan Maret sampai April 2019 di laboratorium UIN Agriculture Research and Development Station (UARDS) Fakultas Pertanian dan Peternakan UIN Suska Riau. Penelitian ini menggunakan 80 ekor DOC strain cobb yang diberi ransum basal dengan penambahan TBA yang dipelihara selama 5 minggu. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap dengan 4 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan. Perlakuan yang diberikan terdiri dari T0 (ransum basal dengan TBA 0%), T1 (ransum basal dengan TBA 5%), T2 (ransum basal dengan TBA 10%), dan T3 (ransum basal dengan TBA 15%). Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan tepung biji alpukat dalam ransum sampai 15% tidak berpengaruh nyata (P>0,05) terhadap konsumsi ransum namun berpengaruh sangat nyata (P

Moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera Lam) is one of the potential local feed ingredients of broiler rations due to its nutrient contents such as carbohydrate (57,01%), crude protein (30,30%), crude fat (2,74%) as well as a source of vitamin C, carotenoids and flavonoids. This study aimed to determine the effect of using different levels of Moringa oleifera Lam leaf meal (MOLM) in basal ration on plasma metabolites, including total cholesterol (TCHO), triglycerides (TG), glucose (GLU), and total protein (TP). The research design of this study was a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and five replications. The treatments were 4 levels of MOLM (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%), in basal ration. The parameters measured were TCHO, TG, Glu, and TP of in blood plasma. The results showed that inclusion of MOLM up to 15% of in basal ration very significantly (P0.05) on TCHO and TP. It is concluded that moringa leaf flour addition to the basal ration up to 15% could be used to decrease plasma metabolites especially TG and GLU in broiler chickens. Key words:Broilers; Moringa oleifera meal; total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and total protein Abstrak Daun kelor (Moringa oleifera Lam) merupakan salah satu bahan pakan lokal yang berpotensi dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan penyusun ransum ayam ras pedaging karena mengandung nutrisi yang tinggi diantaranya karbohidrat (57,01%), protein kasar (30,30%), lemak kasar (2,74%) dan sebagai sumber vitamin C, karotenoid serta flavonoid. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggunaan beberapa level tepung daun kelor dalam ransum basal terhadap plasma metabolit ayam ras pedaging yang meliputi total kolesterol (TCHO), trigliserida (TG), glukosa (Glu) dan total protein (TP). Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan empat perlakuan dan lima ulangan. Perlakuan yang diberikan terdiri dari 4 level tepung daun kelor di dalam ransum basal yakni 0%, 5%, 10% dan 15%. Parameter yang diukur meliputi TCHO, TG, Glu dan TP pada plasma darah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemanfaatan tepung daun kelor hingga 15% dalam ransum berpengaruh nyata (P0,05) terhadap TCHO dan TP. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah penggunaan tepung daun kelor dalam ransum basal hingga 15% dapat dimanfaatkan untuk menurunkan plasma metabolit khususnya TG dan Glu pada plasma darah ayam broiler. Kata kunci : Ayam ras pedaging; tepung daun kelor; plasma metabolit

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh penambahan Indigofera pada silase kelapa sawit pada bahan kering (BK), protein kasar (PK), serat kasar (SK), ekstrak eter (EE), Bahan ekstrak tanpa nitrogen (BETN. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Laboratorium Agrostologi, Industri Pakan dan Ilmu Tanah dan di Laboratorium Ilmu lmu Nutrisi, Fakultas Pertanian dan Peternakan, Universitas Islam Negeri Suska Riau Riau dari bulan Oktober sampai November 2014. Desain penelitian yang digunakan adalah rancangan acak lengkap yang terdiri dari lima perlakuan dan empat ulangan, yaitu A: 100% daun kelapa sawit + tetes tebu + 5%, B: biomassa Indigofera + 5% molase 100%, C: 100% kelapa sawit + biomassa 20% Indigofera + 5% molase, D: 100% kelapa sawit + biomassa 40% Indigofera + tetes tebu + 5% dan E: 100% kelapa sawit + biomassa 60% Indigofera + tetes tebu + 5%. Periode fermentasi dilakukan selama 21 hari. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penambahan Indigofera meningkatkan kandungan silase kelapa sawit, ditunjukkan dengan meningkatnya kandungan protein kasar dan BETN. Selain itu kandungan SK lebih rendah dari pada kontrol. Kami menyimpulkan bahwa persentase terbaik dari Indigofera dalam silase kelapa sawit untuk meningkatkan kualitasnya adalah 40%. Kata kunci: daun kelapa sawit, fermentasi, Indigofera, nilai gizi, silase

L-Aspartate (L-Asp), D-aspartate (D-Asp) or their chemical conjugates plays important physiological roles in regulating food intake, plasma metabolites and thermoregulation in animals. However, there are very few studies available in layers and no reports have been found in broilers. Broilers are very important commercial birds for meat production, so effects of L- or D-Asp in broilers would provide new physiological insight of this strain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral administration of L- or D-Asp on feed intake, rectal temperature and some plasma metabolites in broiler chicks. Broiler chicks (5 days old) were orally administered with different doses (0, 3.75, 7.5 and 15 mmol/kg body weight) of L- or D-Asp. At 120 min after administration of L- or D-Asp, the blood was immediately collected through the jugular vein. The rectal temperature of chicks was measured at 30, 60 and 120 min after administration using a digital thermometer with an accuracy of ±0.1°C, by inserting the thermistor probe in the rectum to a depth of 2 cm. A repeated-measures two-way ANOVA was applied for the analysis of feed intake and rectal temperature. Plasma metabolites were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and regression equations. The study showed that oral administration of both L- and D-Asp did not alter feed intake. However, D-Asp, but not L-Asp, dose-dependently decreased the rectal temperature in chicks. It was also found that D-Asp increased plasma glucose and decreased triacylglycerol concentrations. The changes in plasma metabolites further indicate that D-Asp treatment modulates the energy metabolism in broiler chicks. In conclusion, D-Asp may be a beneficial nutrient not only for layers but also for broilers, since orally administered D-Asp lowered rectal temperature without reducing feed intake.

P Americana Mill contains some phytochemicals such as phenols, saponins, and flavonoids which have beneficial effect on meat quality of broiler chicken. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of inclusion of avocado seed flour (ASF) in basal diet on meat quality of broiler chickens. A total of 80 broiler chicks of Cobb- strain were randomly assigned with following treatments: T0 (basal ration without ASF as the control), T1 (inclusion of 5% ASF in l diet), T2 (inclusion of 10% ASF in diet) and T3 (inclusion of 15% ASF in diet) and were kept for 5 weeks. The parameters measured were meat pH, cooking loses after slaughtering and water holding capacity. The completely randomized design was used in this experiment with 4 treatments and 5 replicates. The result showed that the inclusion of ASF significantly (P0.01) water holding capacity. It is concluded that the best level inclusion of ASF in broiler diet in order to improve the physical quality of broiler’s meat is 15%.

Tujuan untuk mengetahui kualitas nutrisi pellet yang disimpan dengan bahan kulit ari biji kedelai yang difermentasi menggunakan EM4. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 5 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan. Peubah yang diamati adalah kualitas nutrisi pellet meliputi (kadar air, protein kasar, lemak kasar, serat kasar, abu dan bahan ekstrak tanpa nitrogen). Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Ilmu Nurisi dan Kimia Fakultas Pertanian dan Peternakan Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau dan Laboratorium Hasil Perikanan Universitas Riau. Hasil penelitian ini adalah semakin lama waktu simpan dapat mempertahankan kualitas nutrisi dilihat dari protein kasar, lemak kasar dan BETN dan tidak berpengaruh nyata (P>0.05) terhadap kadar air, serat kasar, dan abu yang dihasilkan. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa lama penyimpanan 8 minggu merupakan perlakuan terbaik dalam meningkatkan kualitas nutrisi pellet dilihat dari kandungan protein kasar sebesar 20,70%.

Water lettuce meal (Pistia stratiotes) is the weed that has potential as animal feed due to it contain high crude protein and energy metabolism. The aims of this study wasto determine the weight and length of digestive organs including proventriculus, ventriculus, small intestine in broiler chicken given of water lettuce meal (WLM) in ratios. The research design of this study was a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of T0 (commercial feed without WLM), T1 (ration with 0% WLM), T2 (ration with 5% WLM), T3 (ration with 10% WLM) and T4 (ration with 15% WLM). The experimental animal used were broiler DOC until the age of 35 days old were kept in 20 cages and each cage consisted of 3 broiler chickens. The parameters measured were proventriculusweight, ventriculus weight, small intestine weight and length of the small intestine. The results showed that there was no significant effects among treatments on all parameters. The conclusions of the study that the use of indicate that WLM could be used as feed up to 15% in ration without affecting their the proventriculus weight, ventrikulus weight, small intestine weight and length small intestineinbroiler chickens.

1. An experiment was conducted to analyse the changes in free amino acid concentrations in the blood, brain and muscle of chicks in response to 15 or 30 min exposure to high ambient temperature (HT).2. Food intake and body weight were not affected, while rectal temperature was significantly increased by short-term HT exposure.3. Several free amino acid concentrations increased in the blood, brain and muscle even with short-term HT, whereas levels of a few amino acids declined significantly. As well as the nonessential amino acids, essential amino acids also significantly increased with exposure to HT.4. 3-Methylhistidine, a marker of proteolysis, significantly declined in the muscle of HT chicks, implying a reduction of protein breakdown under HT.5. These results indicate that alteration of protein metabolism may occur in chicks even with short-term heat exposure.

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of L- and D-aspartate (L- and D-Asp) has been shown to have a sedative effect with and without a hypnotic effect, respectively, in neonatal chicks experiencing isolation stress. However, the mechanisms of the different stress-attenuating functions of L- and D-Asp have not yet been fully clarified. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of the N- methyl- D -aspartate (NMDA) receptor in order to reveal the receptor-mediated function of L- and D-Asp. To reveal whether L-and D-Asp act through the NMDA receptor, (+)–MK-801, which is an antagonist of NMDA receptors, was used in the current study. In experiment 1, the chicks were injected i.c.v. with either saline, (+)–MK-801, L-Asp or L-Asp plus (+)–MK-801. The sedative and hypnotic effects induced by L-Asp were blocked by co-administration with (+)–MK-801. In experiment 2, the chicks were injected i.c.v. with either saline, (+)–MK-801, D-Asp or D-Asp plus (+)–MK-801. Importantly, the sedative effects induced by D-Asp were shifted to hypnotic effects by co-administration with (+)–MK-801. Taken together, L-Asp could induce sedative and hypnotic effects for stress behaviors through the NMDA receptor, but the attenuation of stress behaviors by D-Asp might be via simultaneous involvement of other receptors besides the NMDA receptor in this process. These differences may explain the different functional mechanisms of L- and D-Asp in the central nervous system.

Aims L-Aspartate (L-Asp) and D-aspartate (D-Asp) are physiologically important amino acids in mammals and birds. However, the functions of these amino acids have not yet been fully understood. In this study, we therefore examined the effects of L-Asp and D-Asp in terms of regulating body temperature, plasma metabolites and catecholamines in chicks. Main methods Chicks were first orally administered with different doses (0, 3.75, 7.5 and 15 mmol/kg body weight) of L- or D-Asp to monitor the effects of these amino acids on rectal temperature during 120 min of the experimental period. Key findings Oral administration of D-Asp, but not of L-Asp, linearly decreased the rectal temperature in chicks. Importantly, orally administered D-Asp led to a significant reduction in body temperature in chicks even under high ambient temperature (HT) conditions. However, centrally administered D-Asp did not significantly influence the body temperature in chicks. As for plasma metabolites and catecholamines, orally administered D-Asp led to decreased triacylglycerol and uric acid concentrations and increased glucose and chlorine concentrations but did not alter plasma catecholamines. Significance These results suggest that oral administration of D-Asp may play a potent role in reducing body temperature under both normal and HT conditions. The alteration of plasma metabolites further indicates that D-Asp may contribute to the regulation of metabolic activity in chicks.

High ambient temperatures (HT) reduce food intake and body weight in young chickens, and HT can cause increased expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides. The mechanisms by which HT act, and the effects of HT on cellular homeostasis in the brain, are however not well understood. In the current study lipid peroxidation and amino acid metabolism were measured in the brains of 14 d old chicks exposed to HT (35 °C for 24- or 48-h) or to control thermoneutral temperature (CT; 30 °C). Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in the brain to determine the degree of oxidative damage. HT increased body temperature and reduced food intake and body weight gain. HT also increased diencephalic oxidative damage after 48 h, and altered some free amino acid concentrations in the diencephalon. Diencephalic MDA concentrations were increased by HT and time, with the effect of HT more prominent with increasing time. HT altered cystathionine, serine, tyrosine and isoleucine concentrations. Cystathionine was lower in HT birds compared with CT birds at 24 h, whilst serine, tyrosine and isoleucine were higher at 48 h in HT birds. An increase in oxidative damage and alterations in amino acid concentrations in the diencephalon may contribute to the physiological, behavioral and thermoregulatory responses of heat-exposed chicks.

1 Laboratory of Regulation in Metabolism and Behavior, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan 2 Microbial Genetic Division, Institute of Genetic Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan 3 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation, Kawasaki 210-0863, Japan * Present address: Laboratory of Nutritional Science for Animals, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan

An experiment involving 180 straight run one-day-Cobb broilers was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of L-leucine with different levels of crude protein (CP) on carcass composition and sensory characteristics of broiler grower-finisher chickens. Six experimental diets comprising two levels of crude protein (CP) i.e., 20 and 20% with three levels of L-leucine i.e. 0, 0.5 and 0.67%, were offered to birds from 21-42 d of age. The birds were randomly divided into 36 experimental pens, 5 chickens in each pen, and there were 6 replicates under each diet. L-leucine supplementation did not affect the bone and lean, whereas fat was decreased (p 0.05) in the lean, fat and bone among chickens fed two levels of CP. No significant differences between dietary treatments were observed on any sensory characteristics affected by dietary L-leucine and CP. From this study, it is obvious that supplementation of up to 0.5% L-leucine reduced fat. However, other characteristics were not affected by supplementation of L-leucine. Similarly, reduction of body composition and sensory characteristics were not apparent on a diet low in CP.

Problem statement: Supplementation of broiler diets with cristalline amino acids (i.e. lysine, ethionine and threonine) may support equal broiler growth and improve overall amino acids balance and enable a reduction in CP level of diets. Approach: A trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental L-leucine in diets containing recommended levels and low crude protein (20 and 18%, respectively) with constant metabolizable energy (3200 kcal kg-1) for broilers from 21-42 day of age. Six experimental diets were formulated with three levels of supplemental L-leucine, 0, 0.5 and 0.67% and two levels of crude protein. A total of 180 1 day-old Cobb broiler chickens were randomly divided into 36 experimental pens, 5 chickens in each pen, with each diet replicated 6 times. The dietary treatments were offered from 21-42 days of age. Feed intake, body weight gain and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were measured on a weekly basis. At the end of the feeding trial the birds were slaughtered and carcass analyses conducted. Results: Feed intake, weight gain and FCR were not affected by increasing levels of L-leucine supplementation. Weight gain was significantly reduced (p

4 Abstract: The experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of excess leucine, in broiler diets containing varying levels of energy. In a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, the effects of leucine levels and dietary energy on performance and carcass characteristics of Cobb broiler chickens from 3 to 6 weeks of age were tested. Dietary treatments consisted of two levels of leucine i.e. 0 and 0.5% with two of metabolizable energy (ME) i.e. 3200 and 3000 kcal/kg, respectively. Reducing dietary energy decreased weight gain up to 7.4% (P

In the present study, we first focused on the function of l-tryptophan (TRP) metabolites which are synthesized in different metabolic pathways, namely, the kynurenine (KYN) pathway and serotonin (5-HT) pathway during an acute isolation stress. When l-TRP metabolites were intracerebroventricularly injected on an equimolar basis (100 nmol), 5-HT induced a sedative effect in neonatal chicks. Additionally, plasma corticosterone, dopamine, 5-HT, and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations were increased in the diencephalon of the 5-HT treated group compared with other groups. Second, the two doses (400 or 800 nmol) of l- and d-TRP were compared under a corticotrophin-releasing hormone-augmented social isolation stress. When comparing the efficacy between l- and d-TRP against stress behavior, both amino acids had a similar effect and quickly suppressed distress vocalizations. Finally, d-amino acid levels in the diencephalon and telencephalon were measured but d-TRP was not found. These results indicate that l- and d-TRP induce the same effect in attenuating stress but the mode of action of TRP derivatives, namely 5-HT differs during an acute isolation stress in neonatal chick. The absence of d-TRP in the diencephalon further suggests that instead of being an endogenous factor it may play role as a pharmacological factor.

We hypothesized that the effects of L- and D-amino acids might be influenced when conjugated with fatty acid. Thus, the effects of oral administration of lauroyl-L-aspartate (Lau-L-Asp) as well as lauroyl-D-aspartate (Lau-D-Asp) were examined. In Experiment 1, oral administration of both Lau-L-Asp and Lau-D-Asp decreased food intake while L- or D-Asp did not influence food intake. Interestingly, only Lau-L-Asp decreased body temperature. Experiment 2 was conducted to determine whether non-conjugated mixture of L-Asp plus lauric acid has same effects under ad libitum feeding conditions. Lau-L-Asp decreased food intake and body temperature, but L-Asp plus lauric acid did not show any effect studied. In Experiment 3, we found that Lau-L-Asp declined food intake as well as time-dependently suppressed the body temperature in fasted chicks. However, L-Asp plus lauric acid did not show any effect. These results suggest that Lau-L-Asp may exert anorexigenic and hypothermic actions in chicks.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of leucine supplementation in grower-finisher diets containing varying levels of energy on the sensory characteristics and carcass composition of broiler chickens. In a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, eighty 21-day old Cobb broiler chicks were divided into 16 groups and fed diets supplemented with 0 or 0.5 % L-leucine and metabolizable energy (ME) concentration at either 3200 kcal/kg or 3000 kcal/kg, for three weeks. Feed intake, growth performance and feed conversion ration were determined on a weekly basis. At the end of the trial, the birds were slaughtered, carcass composition determined and meat samples taken for sensory evaluation. There was no interaction between level of L-leucine and ME on the sensory characteristics and carcass composition at 42 days. Dietary level of L-leucine and ME had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the live-weight, breast meat, lean, bone, fat and skin. Similarly, the flavour, tenderness, aroma, juiciness and overall acceptability scores of breast meat of broiler fed diets supplemented with leucine were also not significantly different. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential impact of excess leucine in diets with reduced levels of crude protein.