• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.284-289
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of copper and zinc supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and meat and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 72 $(Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc)$ pigs (58.47 kg initial BW) were assigned to 6 treatments in a $2{\times}3$ factorial design $(Zn\;levels{\times}Cu\;levels)$. The sources of zinc and copper were Zn-methionine chelate and Cu-methionine chelate, respectively. Zinc levels used were 80 and 120 ppm and copper levels used were 10, 30 and 60 ppm. Throughout the entire experimental period, the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were not significantly affected by Cu or Zn levels, or their relative levels. The G:F ratio was significantly affected by the relative levels of Cu and Zn (p<0.05), specifically at 30 ppm Cu and 120 ppm Zn. Dry matter digestibility was significantly affected by the levels of Cu (p<0.02), Zn (p<0.01) and the relative levels of each (p<0.04), in particular at 30 ppm Cu and 120 ppm Zn. Nitrogen digestibility was significantly affected by Zn levels (p<0.01) and the combination of 30 ppm Cu and 120 ppm Zn (p<0.03). The $L^*-value$, shear force, cooking loss and pH were not significantly affected by Cu levels, Zn levels or their combination. The $a^*- (p<0.04)\;and\;b^*- values (p<0.01)$ were significantly affected by Zn levels at 80 ppm. The Water hoding capacity was significantly affected by Cu and Zn in combination (p<0.01) at 10 ppm Cu and 120ppm Zn. The carcass weight, backfat thickness and carcass grade were not significantly affected by Cu levels, Zn levels or their relative levels. The carcass percentage was significantly affected by the combination (p<0.04) of 30ppm Cu and 120ppm Zn. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of Cu and Zn at 30 and 120 ppm, respectively, is effective for feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and carcass percentage, while at the levels of Cu at 10 ppm and Zn at 120 ppm have effects on WHC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1450-1459
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• 2001

These experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different feeding and processing methods of diets on performance, morphological changes in the small intestine and nutrient digestibility of growing-finishing pigs. One-hundred fifty growing pigs ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace{\times}Duroc$; initial body weight of $23.33{\pm}0.75kg$) and one-hundred twenty finishing pigs ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace{\times}Duroc$; initial body weight of $59.22{\pm}0.56kg$) were used in Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, respectively. Pigs were grouped on the basis of body weight and gender, and randomly allotted into 6 different treatments with 5 replications in each treatment in a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement. Treatments were 1) dry feeding with a mash diet (DM), 2) dry feeding with a pelleted diet (DP), 3) dry feeding with an expanded crumble diet (DEC), 4) dry/wet feeding with a mash diet (WM), 5) dry/wet feeding with a pelleted diet (WP), and 6) dry/wet feeding with an expanded crumble diet (WEC). In Exp. 1 (growing phase), there was no significant difference in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) among treatments during the entire experimental period, but feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly (p<0.05) improved in pigs fed pelleted diets regardless of feeding method. FCR was best in pigs fed a DP diet and worst in pigs fed a WM diet. Pigs fed a pelleted diet showed a 6.2% or 4.0% improvement in FCR compared with those fed a mash diet or an expanded crumble diet. Water disappearance was not significantly affected by dry/wet feeding or feed processing. Significant differences in villus height were not found among treatments, but villus height tended to be improved by dry/wet feeding. Dry/wet feeding or feed processing did not affect crypt depth. Digestibilities of calcium and phosphorus were significantly (p<0.05) improved in pigs fed an expanded crumble diet compared with pigs fed mash diets. Especially, pigs fed a WEC diet digested 8.1% more P than those fed a DM diet. Feed cost per kg weight gain (FCG) tended to be increased by dry/wet feeding rather than dry feeding. In Exp. 2 (finishing phase), ADG and ADFI were not significantly different among treatments, but a significant difference in FCR was found among feed processing forms. The best FCR was obtained in pigs fed a pelleted diet. Pigs fed a DP diet showed a 11.3% improvement compared with those fed a DEC diet. Water disappearance was significantly (p=0.0408) decreased by feeding the mash diet. However, water disappearance was not affected by dry/wet feeding during the finishing period. The villus height and crypt depth were not significantly different among treatments. However, crypt depth tended to be decreased by dry/wet feeding at the mid part of the small intestine. Fat digestibility was improved by dry feeding rather than dry/wet feeding, and was improved by 4.8% by feeding pellet diets compared with expanded crumble diets. Except for carcass grade, carcass characteristics were not significantly (p<0.05) different among treatments. Carcass grade was the best in pigs fed a WP diet. Feed cost per kg weight gain (FCG) was significantly decreased in pigs fed a pelleted diet compared with those fed an expanded crumble diet, and tended to be decreased by dry/wet feeding. In conclusion, these studies suggest that feeding the pelleted diet to growing-finishing pigs can be beneficial in terms of FCR and production cost. Dry/wet feeding can be helpful for the maintenance of villus height, but may not be reflected in improved growth performance or reduction of production costs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.537-546
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of chlortetracycline (CTC,110ppm), copper sulfate(Cu, 125ppm) and two levels of probiotics(Prob I, 0.04%, Prob II, 0.1%), Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and manure characteristics in growing pigs. A total of 50 pigs that averaged 20.78$\pm$0.35kg BW and 50$\pm$2.3d age were allocated in a randomized block design with two pigs per pen and 5 pens per treatment. Pigs and feeders were weighed 10-days interval for the 40-d trials to determine ADG, ADFI and feed:gain ratio(F:G). Average daily gain, feed intake, feed/gain and nutrient digestibility were not improved(P>0.10) by the supplementation of CTC, Cu and two levels of probiotics. There were significant(P<0.05) Cu effects on digestibility of crude protein, and probiotics effects on digestibilities on organic matter, crude protein and energy between first 20 days and subsequent 20 days. Fecal concentrations of copper were highly increased(P<0.001) by the copper supplementation. Total bacteria and coliform counts were not altered by the supplementation of CTC, Cu and two levels of probiotics. Ammonia emission from slurry, measured during first 3 weeks, was reduced (P<0.001) in pigs fed diet with 125 ppm copper from copper sulfate. Results indicate that CTC, Cu and Probiotics supplementation had a little or not positive effect on grower pig performance under sound environmental conditions. Further studies may be warranted to investigate the effects of dietary copper-either reduced or in combination with dietary ammonia control agents-on the ammonia emission characteristics of swine manure.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.375-382
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary herbal plant mixture on growth performance, blood immunological parameters, fecal VFA and NH3-N concentrations in growing pigs. The dietary treatments were 1) NC (negative control; antibiotics-free diet), 2) PC (positive control; NC diet added 0.16% antibiotic), 3) NCK0.2 (NC diet added 0.2% herbal plant mixture (koppuul??)) and 4) PCK0.1 (PC diet added 0.1% herbal plant mixture (koppuul??)). Eighty crossbred (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) pigs (16.35±0.05kg average initial body weight) were used for 42 days. The pigs were assigned to the treatments according to body weight and each treatment had 5 replicates of 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. During the whole experimental period, PCK0.1 and PC treatments had significantly higher ADG than NC treatment (P<0.05). Gain/feed of pigs fed PC diet was higher than that of pigs fed NC diet (P<0.05). For blood immunological parameters investigations, white blood cells (WBC) counts and IgG level increased in the pigs fed PC, NCK0.2 and PCK0.1 diets compared to pigs fed NC diet. In addition, higher (P<0.05) serum lymphocyte concentration was found in PCK0.1 treatment compared to NC treatment. NH3-N concentration in pigs fed NCK0.2% diet was lower than that in pigs fed PC and NC diets. There were no significant differences in DM and N digestibilities among the treatments. In conclusion, the results suggested that the dietary additions of herbal plant mixture or antibiotics increase ADG, the concentrations of WBC counts and IgG, lymphocyte, while decrease NH3-N concentration in feces.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.783-788
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the optimal CP level in growing goat kids. Forty male goats were divided into four treatment groups fed diets containing CP 12, 14, 16, and 18% of concentrate feed, and rice straw, respectively. Results are summarized as follows. Average daily gain’s(ADG) of groups fed diets with CP 14% and CP 18% were 84.0 and 83.0g/d each, which were higher than group fed diets with CP 12% grown at 69.2g of ADG(P<0.05). Daily feed intakes of concentrate and rice straw were 590g and 45g each and there was no difference found between treatments. The amounts of feed required for body weight gain(g) were similar in the range of 7.0-7.3 for groups fed diets with CP 14%, 16% or 18%. But the group fed diets with CP 12% required somewhat more feed for gain at 8.8g. Dressing percentage of groups fed diet with CP 12% was 61.7%, which was higher than groups fed diets with CP 14% or CP 18%(P<0.05) but similar to that fed diet with CP 16%. Meat percentage from goats fed diet with CP 16% was 51.7%, which were higher than goats fed diets with CP 12% or CP 14%(P<0.05). Fat deposition of CP 12% group was higher than the other groups(P<0.05). Percentage of bone weight averaged 17.0% without any difference among treatment groups. Shear force and cooking loss, which are physical properties of goat meats, were lower in CP 16% and CP 14% groups than the other two groups. Water holding capacity of goats meats from CP 16% was higher than those from CP 18% group(P<0.05). Results from panel test showed that juiciness of meats from CP 16% group was higher than those from CP 12% group(P<0.05). Meats from CP 16% also was tested to be more tender than meats from the other groups. Results from this work suggest that the optimum crude protein level in growing goat's concentrate is 14-16% and that increase above this level seems not to improve meat production.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.143-154
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• 2009

(Y $\times$ L) $\times$ D-crossbred gilts and barrows weighing $80.2\pm0.2$ kg were fed a "medium-energy" (ME) or "low-energy" (LE) diet (3.2 vs 3.0 M cal DE/kg) and slaughtered at 110, 125, or 138 kg, after which physicochemical and sensory quality traits of major primal cuts of resulting carcasses were analyzed, under a 2 (sex) $\times$ 2 (diet) $\times$ 3 (slaughter weight; SW) factorial arrangement of treatments. The ADG and ADFI were greater (P<0.01) in barrows than in gilts and also in 125- and 138-kg vs 110-kg SW. Moreover, ADG and gain:feed were greater in ME vs LE (P<0.01), whereas ADFI was greater in LE vs ME (P<0.01). Backfat thickness, which increased with increasing SW (P<0.01), was not affected by sex or diet. Carcass marbling score was greater (P<0.01) in gilts and LE than in barrows and ME, respectively. Carcass quality grade, which was superior in LE vs ME, was not affected by SW, whereas the yield grade decreased abruptly between 125- and 138-kg SW primarily due to the upper limit of carcass weight imposed on the A and B grades. Physicochemical characteristics including pH, drip loss, and variables pertaining to color of belly, ham, and loin were not affected significantly by any of the treatment factors, albeit statistically significant in some cases, in terms of quality criteria. In sensory evaluation, the acceptability of fresh belly was not influenced by any of the treatment factors. Marbling score of fresh ham was greater in LE vs ME (P<0.01) and tended to increase between 110- and 125-kg SW (P=0.10); in loin, the increase of this variable between the two SW was significant (P<0.01). Following cooking, LE was superior to ME in the acceptability in belly and ham, but the effect of SW was insignificant in any of the sensory quality traits evaluated in this study in any of the three major primal cuts. In conclusion, the present results suggest that SW can be increased to up to 138 kg without compromising carcass quality and that LE has some beneficial effects on quality of the whole carcass and the major primal cuts.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of enzyme complex on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and feed cost in growing pigs. Ninety-six pigs [(Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) ${\times}$ Duroc, $22.96{\pm}0.79$ kg average initial body weight] were used in 42d growth assay. Dietary treatments included:1) HC (high energy and nutrient density diet), 2) CON (control, basal diet), 3) CE1 (CON + 0.05% enzyme complex) and 4) CE2 (CON + 0.1% enzyme complex). Four pigs were allotted per pen with six replicate pens per treatment by completely randomized design. The ADG was higher in CE1 and CE2 treatments than CON treatment (P<0.05). The ADFI was linearly increased by CE treatments compared to HC treatment. The CE1 treatment had highest DM, N and GE digestibility (P<0.05). Digestibility of DM, N and GE were quadratic enhanced by enzyme complex level. No differences were found among treatments for creatinine and BUN. The enzyme complex treatments (CE1 and CE2) showed lower feed cost/body weight gain than HC treatment. In conclusion, enzyme complex can improve ADG and reduce feed cost/body weight gain when low energy diet was used. Furthermore adding 0.05% enzyme complex had highest nutrient digestibility.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of herb and bio ceramic complex supplementation on growth performance and meat quality characteristics in finishing pigs. Seventy-two crossbred (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire ${\times}$ Duroc) pigs (78.98kg average initial body weight) were used in a 45 days growth assay. Dietary treatments included 1) Control (basal diet). 2) HBC (Herb and bioceramic complex) 0.1 (basal diet + 0.1％ Herb and bioceramic complex) and 3) HBC 0.2 (basal diet +0.2％ Herb and bioceramic complex). For overall period, ADG (Average Daily weight Gain), ADFI (Average Daily feed Intake) and ADG/ADFI increased in Control with no significant difference (p>0.05). Backfat thickness was not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). The total cholesterol, HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol, LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol, LDL + VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol, Triglyceride and Atherogenic index concentrations of serum in pigs fed HBC 0.2 diet were lower than those of pigs fed Control and HBC 0.1 diets without significant difference (p>0.05). L$\^$*/-, a$\^$*/-, and b$\^$*/- values of M. longissimus dorsi muscle were not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). The pH of pigs fed HBC 0.2 diet was significantly lower than that of pigs fed Control and HBC 0.1 diets (p<0.05). In conclusion, growth performance, cholesterol concentration in serum and meat quality were not affected by supplemental herb and bioceramic complex.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Zizyphus vulgaris supplementation on growth performance, blood cortisol and meat quality characteristics in finishing pigs. The total of thirty-six [Duroc${\times}$Yorkshir${\times}$Landrace] pigs ($91{\pm}2.11$ kg average initial body weight) were used in a 30-days assay. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) T1 (basal diet for 15 days and 0.1 % Zizyphus vulgaris for 15 days) and 3) T2 (0.1 % Zizyphus vulgaris for 30 days). The ADG (Average daily gain), ADFI (Average daily feed intake) and ADG/ADFI during the feeding period were not significantly differences among the treatments (p>0.05). Backfat thickness of pigs fed CON was higher than those of T1 and T2 (p<0.05). The appearance rate of A or B carcass grade was in T1 (74%) and T2 (84%) was significantly higher than that in CON (58%) (p<0.05). Pigs fed Zizyphus vulgaris 0.1 % for 30 days tended to decrease on blood cortisol compared with pigs fed CON and T1. But, there was not significantly difference among the treatments (p>0.05). The Hunter's L/sup */ (lightness) value of loin in the pork fed CON was higher than that of loin in the pork fed T1 and T2 (p<0.05). After 7 days, the L/sup */ value of loin in the pigs fed T2 was higher increased than that of pigs fed T1 and CON (p<0.05). However, a/sup */ and b/sup */ values were not affected by dietary Zizyphus vulgaris (p>0.05). There were not found remarkable differences in sensory properties (marbling, firmness and color) among the treatments. The results from the present study suggest that Zizyphus vulgaris could be a effective feed additive to improve meat quality of pigs. However, further research is needed to investigate effects of carcass characteristics.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.228-233
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• 2012

This study was conducted to determine the effects of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana bertoni) and charcoal supplementation on growth performance, immune response and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. A total of 420 pigs (LYD) were randomly allocated into 7 treatments with 3 replications. Dietary treatments were 1) T1 (basal diet), 2) T2 (basal diet+0.3% stevia), 3) T3 (basal diet+0.6% stevia), 4) T4 (basal diet+0.3% charcoal), 5) T5 (basal diet+0.6% charcoal), 6) T6 (basal diet+0.3% stevia+0.3% charcoal) and 7) T7 (basal diet+0.6% stevia+0.6% charcoal). During the experimental period, average daily gain (ADG) was higher in T2 and T6 groups than the other treatments (p<0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was higher in T6 group compared to the others (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in total cholesterol level and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activity of blood among treatments. In glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activity, T3, T5, T6 and T7 groups showed lower values (p<0.05) compared to T1. Insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration was higher in T2 and T6 groups than the others (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in immunoglobulin G, lymphocyte, eosinophil, basophil and atypical lymph levels among treatments. In neutrophil, T6 showed higher level compared to the others (p<0.05). In the carcass characteristics, T6 showed higher level of a carcass grade compared to the other treatments. However, carcass length did not show any significant difference among treatments. As a result, dietary supplementation of 0.3% stevia and 0.3% charcoal showed higher ADG, higher FCR and better immune response resulting in better growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs.