To investigate the efficacy of alternatives to antibiotics, the present study was conducted to compare the effects of antibiotic, lactic acid, a blend of commercial essential oils (EOs) and EOs in combination with lactic acid on growth performance and the functional activity of the gut in broiler chickens. A total of 168 broiler chickens were given the basal diet supplemented with 10 ppm colistin (T1), 0.1% lactic acid (T2), 25 ppm EOs (T3), 25 ppm EOs+0.1% lactic acid (T4), 50 ppm EOs (T5) or 50 ppm EOs+0.1% lactic acid (T6) in the period 3 to 35 days of age. As a result, the broiler chickens assigned to T4 group throughout the experimental period had apparently (p<0.05) greater body weight and total gain than these assigned to T1, T2, T3 and T5 groups. However, there was no difference in growth performance among the birds fed the diets supplemented with antibiotic (T1), lactic acid (T2) and EOs (T3 and T5) alone. The weights of digestive organs and the number of lactobacilli and E. coli in the lower ileum were not affected by dietary treatments. Total trypsin activity was significantly (p<0.05) greater in T4 than T1, T2, T3 and T5 groups. Total and specific pancreatic αamylase activities were significantly (p<0.05) enhanced in the broiler chickens fed T4 diet compared with these fed T1, T2 and T3 diets. However, there were no differences in growth performance and digestive enzyme activities including pancreatic trypsin and α-amylase between T4 and T6 groups fed the diets supplemented with either low or high EOs levels in combination of lactic acid. In conclusion, a blend of commercial EOs combined with lactic acid showed significant increases in digestive enzyme activities of the pancreas and intestinal mucosa, leading to increase in growth performance.

Nutrient composition of individual feed ingredient in mixed feed is important for accurate formulation of animal feeds. However, each feed ingredient can be different depending on its origin. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the variability in nutrient compositions of corn, wheat, and barley grains from different origins. Cereal grains used in this study were from 5 countries for 432 corn samples, 5 countries for 65 wheat samples, and 3 countries for 60 barley samples. They were imported to Korea between 2006 and 2015. These grain samples were subjected to analysis for moisture, crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fiber (CF), ash, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and gross energy (GE). The concentrations of moisture, CP, EE, CF, ash, Ca, P, and GE of corn differed (P < 0.05) among countries. GE in corn samples ranged from 3836 kcal/kg (Ukraine) to 3995 kcal/kg (Brazil). There were also differences (P < 0.05) in moisture, CP, ash, and P of wheat and in moisture, CF, Ca, P, and GE in barley from different countries. GE values in wheat ranged from 3957 kcal/kg (Brazil) to 4058 kcal/kg (United States) and GE values in barley samples ranged from 3894 kcal/kg (India) to 4059 kcal/kg (Australia). The most different nutrient depending on origins was Ca. The coefficient of variation was 65.7 % for corn, 57.4 % for wheat, and 28.8 % for barley. In conclusion, nutrients and energy contents in corn, wheat, and barley from various origins investigated in the present study were different. Therefore, it is important to consider these variations when formulating animal feeds.

-The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of molasses as a substitute for corn in diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, fecal noxious gas emission, and meat quality in finishing pigs. A total of 120 [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 54.21±2.62 kg were used in this experiment. Pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 dietary treatments on the basis of BW and sex (10 replicate pens per treatment with four pigs per pen: two gilts and two barrows in each pen). The experiment was divided into two phases: 0-5 weeks and 6-10 weeks. Dietary treatments were as follows: control, basal diet; control + 2.5% cane molasses; and control + 5% cane molasses. No significant differences were observed in terms of growth performance, nutrient digestibility, red blood cells, and white blood cells in blood characteristics, fecal noxious gas emission, and meat quality in this study. However, blood lymphocytes were higher with control + 2.5% cane molasses than with control at the end of the 10th week. Molasses can be considered an alternative for corn at the level of 2.5% without any negative influence in finishing pigs.

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le plasma, mais n'augmentait pas la largeur de l'6piphyse ulnaire distale. Les vertbbres et les c6tes de b0tes trait6es d la rpST jusqu'au poids vif de 100,3 kg avaient une plus forte teneur en eau (P < 0,01) et, une moindre teneur (P < 0,05) en cendres de I'os (m.s.) et une moindre densit6 de la m.s. (P < 0,01) et des cendres (P < 0,001) que chez les porcs t6moins.L'arr0t des injections de rpST au poids de 63 kg supprimait les effets de la rpST sur les propri6t6s des os, sauf la densit6 des cendres. Par rapport aux animaux t6moins, I'administration ininterrompue de rpST jusqu'au poids vif de 100,3 kg produisait des notations plus 61ev6es (P < 0,05) pour la fr6quence des l6sions des condyles hum6raux et abaissait les concentrations moyennes d'acide uronique (P < 0,05) et d'hydroxyproline (P < 0,05) dans le cartilage des condyles distaux de I'hum6rus et du f6mur, mais n'avait pas d'effet significatif sur le rapport acide uronique/hydroxyproline. L'arr€t des traitements d la rpST d 63 kg r6duisait I'effet de la rpST sur I'int6grit6 des cartilages, de m6me que sur les concentrations en acide uronique et en hydroxyproline des cartilages articulaires. L'emploi prolong6 de rpST abaissait le m6tabolisme chondrocytaire, ce qui peut indirectement r6duire la r6sistance )r la compression et la tension des cartilages et accroitre leur sensibilit6 aux stress m6caniques et, par voie de cons6quence, )r I'ost6ochondrose.