The response time to cimaterol (CIM), a beta-adrenergic agonist, by broiler chickens for carcass characteristics, muscle composition, muscle fiber size, catheptic enzyme activity, and tenderness was determined. Two trials were conducted in which chickens were fed a control diet (CON) containing 0 ppm of CIM or a diet containing 1 ppm of CIM. Trial 1 consisted of 55, 31-d-old broiler chickens in...

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) cause lethal infection in chickens. Severe cases of HPAIV infections have been also reported in mammals, including humans. In both mammals and birds, the relationship between host cytokine response to the infection with HPAIVs and lethal outcome has not been well understood. In the present study, the highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses A/...

We analyzed five H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) isolated from different birds in 2012 in China. Based on whole-genome sequences, we divided the viruses into four genotypes. The DKE26, GSE43, and DKE53 viruses belonged to Genotypes 1-3, respectively. The CKE93 and CKE96 viruses were classified into Genotype 4. Genotypes 1-3 correspond to the viruses containing the HA gene of clade 2.3.2, an...

Two candidate formalin-inactivated vaccines, made from high-growth reassortant viruses with the HA and NA genes from avian viruses in a background of genes derived from A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8), were prepared against H5N1 and H9N2 subtypes (designated as H5N1/PR8 and H9N2/PR8, respectively). These viruses bear the genotypes, antigenicity, and attenuation in mouse models that are desirable in ca...

Four Thai synthetic chicken lines (Kaen Thong, Khai Mook Esarn, Soi Nin, and Soi Pet) originated from Thai native and exotic commercial chickens were evaluated for their growth and carcass traits with the purpose of developing a Thai broiler breeding program. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) gene is known to play an important role in growth, proliferation and differentiation. Consequently, ...

The present study was designed to examine the anatomical parameters of the cardiopulmonary system, the function of venous blood gas parameters and the development of ascites incidence in two genetic line chickens. Three hundred forty day-old chickens from two pure broiler breeder lines, which were different in their growth rate and susceptibility to ascites syndrome were obtained. The relative ...

Background: Ca is the most important minerals in the body that plays a key rols in the physiological activities, anzymatic reaction and the regulation of myocardial contraction and relax-ation. Ca deficiency causes the heart failure and decrease cardiac contractility. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of long-term dietary calcium deficiency on the heart function of layer hens based on the el...

Domestic chickens have long been important to human societies for food, religion, entertainment, and decorative uses, yet the origins and phylogeography of chickens through Asia remain uncertain. In this study, the complete mitochondrial (mtDNA) D-loop sequences were analyzed for a total of 27 individuals of Cambodia (n=13), Myanmar (n=6), Bangladesh (n=3) Red junglefowls (RJFs) and Laos native...

For economic and environmental reasons, chickens with superior feed efficiency (FE) are preferred in the broiler chicken industry. High FE (HFE) chickens typically have reduced abdominal fat, the major adipose tissue in chickens. In addition to its function of energy storage, adipose tissue is a metabolically active organ that also possesses endocrine and immune regulatory functions. It plays a...

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging chickens is a good indicator of the prevalence of T. gondii oocysts in the soil because chickens feed from the ground. The prevalence of T. gondii in 77 free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) from Colombia, South America was determined. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT), and found in 32 (44.4%) of 7...