The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of supplementing different levels of protein and energy sources on blood biochemical profiles of Brahman crossbred cattle

Background and Aim: The high salinity of drinking water has been a significant problem of the Mekong Rivers Delta. Animals drinking high salinity water altered feed and water intake (WI), urinary electrolytes excretion, and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of high salinity in drinking water on drinking and eating behaviors and kidney function in crossbred goats. Materials and Methods: The experiment was completely randomized with two treatments: freshwater (0%, seawater [SW0]) and water high in salinity (1.5%, SW1.5) from diluted SW, with five replicates (five animals per treatment). This experiment lasted 3 weeks: the 1st week for the pre-treatment period and the 2nd-3rd weeks for the post-treatment. Dry matter intake (DMI) and WI were recorded every day, while urine volume (UV) was determined from day 8 to day 21. Blood and urinary samples were collected on days 6, 14, and 21 of the study for electrolytes and creatinine analysis. Results: The results demonstrated that both DMI and WI were affected by SW1.5 (p<0.05). Goats drinking from SW1.5 had lower DMI during D19–21, and the ratio of DMI/WI was significantly different during D16–21 (p<0.05). Interestingly, the UV from SW1.5 was higher than that from SW0 during D13–21 (p0.05), the weight gain observed in the SW1.5 group tended to decrease (p=0.056) at the 2nd week. The concentration of electrolytes in blood did not differ between the groups (p>0.05). In contrast, the concentration and excretion of Na+ and Cl- in urine increased in SW1.5 goats at D14 (p0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that crossbred male goats can tolerate 1.5% saline water from diluted SW for 2 weeks. The high salinity in water influences drinking and eating behavior in growing goats. However, the adaptive mechanism by increasing urine output and reducing the reabsorption of Na+ and Cl- in the kidney is the key function and works faster than behavioral responses. The kidney apparently drives drinking behavior during high salinity water consumption.

Background and Aim: Probiotic species have been proven to be beneficial on broiler performance; however, most studies have focused on industrial chickens with fast growth, whereas little information concerning the use of these species on native chickens is available. This study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) on the mortality, growth rate, and carcass characteristics in native Noi chickens challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium. Materials and Methods: We divided 420 1-day-old Noi chicks into seven different treatment groups (n = 60): negative control (no S. Typhimurium, no probiotics or antibiotics); positive control (PC, S. Typhimurium infection, no probiotics or antibiotics); and S. Typhimurium infection and supplementation with LP, BS, LP + BS, enrofloxacin, and commercial probiotics, respectively. Treatment was for 96 days, and the chicks were orally challenged with S. Typhimurium at 22 days old. Results: No deaths occurred during the 4 weeks post-infection in the negative control, LP, or LP+BS groups. The PC group had the highest mortality rate (20%). Re-isolation of S. Typhimurium from the liver, spleen, and heart showed reduced bacterial counts at 1 week post-infection in the LP, BS, and LP + BS groups. The lowest body weight gain was observed in the PC group (949 g/bird), and chicks in the LP group gained 1148 g/bird. An improved feed conversion ratio was noted in the groups receiving probiotic supplementation (3.42–3.50 kg feed/kg gain). There was little evidence that probiotics affected carcass percentage and related parameters, such as breast, thigh and drumstick, and wings. Conclusion: Lactobacillus plantarum or BS dietary supplementation to native Noi broilers resulted in a lower mortality rate and improved body weight gain but did not affect carcass characteristics.

Aim: This study was conducted to identify the diversity of feather color and to determine the relationship between plumage color and egg yield as well as eggshell patterns and internal egg quality traits of Japanese quails. Materials and Methods: For investigating phenotypic diversity, a total of 600 quails from five breeding farms were evaluated to record head feather, shank, and plumage color. An on-station experiment was also conducted on 360 laying quails to examine the relationship between plumage color and egg production and egg weight during 24 weeks of laying. Eggs collected during this period were also used for identifying eggshell patterns and examining their relationship with internal egg quality characteristics. Results: Plumage color was primarily wild-type, with the highest proportion being 56.3% (p<0.001). Brown color was also found at a relatively high proportion in the population (16.7%), followed by black color (11.3%). The egg production and laying rate of quails with wild-type and brown plumage colors also significantly (p=0.001) differed from those of quails with other plumage types. Egg weight was also higher in these quail groups, especially than that of quails with yellow plumage color. Four patterns of eggshell were identified, among which spotted and dark eggshells were predominant (45.2% and 43.1%, respectively); however, patterns did not affect internal egg quality characteristics. Conclusion: Plumage color was primarily wild-type in both male and female quails. Egg yield over a 24-week laying period was superior in quails with wild-type and brown plumage colors, whereas a relationship between eggshell patterns and egg quality traits could not be established.

Background and Aim: Climate change challenges with incremental sea level cause saltwater intrusion, which has affected the quality of freshwater and groundwater in coastal provinces, particularly the Mekong River Delta provinces of Vietnam. Interestingly, Bach Thao goats are predominant in this area and well adapted to saline water under tropical conditions. Therefore, this study investigated the salt tolerance threshold of Bach Thao goats drinking diluted seawater (DSW). Materials and Methods: The experiment was performed using seven Bach Thao male goats (20.60 ± 1.12 kg) and divided into two phases. In Phase 1 (control, C), all goats were provided fresh water (FW) for 7 days from two identical buckets, and daily water intake (WI) was recorded from both buckets. In Phase 2 (preference test, PT), each goat was provided FW from the first bucket and DSW from the second bucket or vice versa. The concentration of DSW for the preference test was 0.5%-2.0%. Results: Body weight and dry matter intake showed no differences according to DSW consumption; however, WI was significantly lower during Phase 2 (p < 0.05), which was due to the lower WI with 1.5% and 2% of DSW (p < 0.05). Goats showed a similar preference for fluid intake between FW and DSW at 0.0%–1.0% levels and began avoiding DSW at 1.5% and rejected at 2.0% of DSW. Goats consuming 1.5% of DSW showed increased respiration rate from 13:00 to 19:00 h and rectal temperature at 13:00 h (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Goats can tolerate up to 1.0% of DSW. Shifting to FW activated aversive drinking to 1.5% and 2.0% of DSW. This behavioral response was prominent at 0.5% DSW. Moreover, goats that drank 1.5% of DSW had decreased thermoregulation. Keywords: body weight, climate change, freshwater, salt tolerance.