• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1429-1432
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• 2000

Three groups of 7, 8 and 8 barrows (22 weeks age; 35 kg body weight), reared on grower diets were fed ad libitum on three isonitrogenous finisher diets containing 50, 71 and 92% wheat bran by replacing maize grain till the attainment of about 74 kg slaughter weight. Growth pattern, average daily gain, feed intake, feed/gain ratio and carcass traits were similar in all the groups. The digestibility of DM, OM, CF, NFE total carbohydrate and energy (DE) decreased (p<0.01) with the increased level of wheat bran in the diet. However, CP digestibility was comparable among all the diet and the digestibility of EE was significantly (p<0.01) higher in grainless diet ($FD_3$). It appears that maize grain may be completely replaced with wheat bran in the diet of crossbred pigs without any adverse effect on their performance with respect to feed intake, body weight gain and carcass characteristics.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.516-524
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• 2014

This study was performed to examine the feasibility of using the low plane of nutrition (LPN) as a means of improving the meat quality of crossbred finishing pigs with a medium weight gain potential. Twenty-four barrows and 24 gilts weighing approximately 48 kg were placed on LPN [a finisher (2.86 Mcal ME/kg and 0.67% lysine) for 91 d] or on a high plane of nutrition [HPN; a commercial grower for 38 d and a finisher (3.35 Mcal ME/kg and 0.9% lysine) for 46 d]. Five barrows and five gilts per treatment weighing approximately 125 kg were slaughtered after the indicated days on the respective diets, followed by physicochemical analysis and sensory evaluation on their muscles. Overall average daily gain was 12.6% less in the LPN group vs. the HPN group (p<0.05). The redness ($a^*$) of fresh longissimus muscle (LM) from the loin as well as from Boston butt was greater in the LPN group vs. HPN whereas the shear force for fresh LM from these primals and semimembranosus muscle was lower in the former. In sensory evaluation for cooked LM, no treatment effect was detected in any of the quality traits examined, except for a lower color score in the LPN vs. HPN group. Results suggest that meat quality of the finishing pigs can be improved to some extent by using LPN. However, the present pigs, whose backfat thickness was 24 mm at 125 kg, are thought not to be lean enough to be fattened over 120 kg.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.102-105
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• 2002

Seventy-two crossbred pigs weighing an average of 41.5 kg were assigned on the basis of sex, weight and litter to one of four dietary treatments in a factorial (4 treatments${\times}$2 sexes) arrangement. The control diet was based on barley and soybean meal while the experimental treatments consisted of diets in which a portion of the dietary protein was supplied by 20% of a 50:50 blend of extruded ($130^{\circ}C$ for 20 to 25 sec) peas and full-fat canola seed, 20% of a 50:50 blend of unextruded peas and full-fat canola seed or a diet containing 10% peas, 6% canola meal and 4% canola oil (to equal the level of canola oil provided by 10% whole canola seed). Digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein and gross energy were significantly higher (p<0.05) for the control diet than for the other three diets. Extrusion produced no beneficial effects (p>0.05) on nutrient digestibility and there were no differences in digestibility between the diet based on intact canola seed compared with the diet containing canola meal and oil. Choice of protein supplement had no significant effects on gain, feed intake or feed conversion during the grower or finisher phases and over the entire experimental period. Extrusion of the pea-canola blend produced no beneficial effects on pig performance as the performance of pigs fed either the extruded or unextruded blend of peas and canola seed was similar. In addition, the performance of pigs fed diets containing intact canola seed was similar to that of pigs fed canola meal and oil. Castrates gained faster and consumed more feed than gilts (p<0.05). However, their feed conversion was poorer than that of the gilts during the finisher period. There were no significant differences in carcass traits between pigs fed the control and any of the experimental treatments. Extrusion had no effect on carcass traits and the carcasses of pigs fed canola meal and oil did not differ from those of pigs fed whole canola seed. Castrates had a significantly lower dressing percentage, lower estimated lean yield but greater loin fat depth than gilts (p<0.05). The results of this experiment indicate that peas in combination with canola seed or canola meal are an acceptable alternative to soybean meal as a protein supplement for use in growing-finishing swine diets. Extrusion did not appear to have any beneficial effects on the nutritional value of the canola seed-pea blend as nutrient digestibility, growth performance and carcass traits were similar for pigs fed the unextruded blend of peas and canola seed compared with the extruded product. Since the process adds to the cost of the raw products, its use is unlikely to be economical.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1311-1319
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• 2009

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of soybean oil supplementation replacing tallow in pig diets at different stages of growth. One hundred and twenty crossbred (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc) pigs weighing 18 kg on average were selected. Pigs were randomly allotted to 12 pens of 10 pigs (5 pigs of each sex) each. Three pens were assigned to each of the four treatments: TA; tallow diet, TA-SO-80; switched from tallow to soybean oil diet at 80 kg average body weight, TA-SO-45; switched from tallow to soybean oil diet at 45 kg average body weight, and SO; soybean oil diet. Treatment SO was significantly lower in ADG than tallow diets (TA, TA-SO-80 and TA-SO-45) during the grower period (18 to 45 kg). However, treatment SO showed greatest compensation in ADFI and ADG during the finisher-2 period (after 80 kg body weight). ADFI and ADG and Gain/Feed for the total period were not significantly different among treatments. Loin area, back fat thickness, firmness and melting point of back fat were not significantly different. The levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein+very low density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in treatment SO than in treatments TA-SO-45, TA-SO-80 and TA. The level of serum triglyceride linearly increased as the length of the tallow feeding period increased. Serum immunoglobulin-G (IgG) level was significantly higher in the soybean oiltreatment than in other treatments. Major fatty acid composition of short rib muscle and back fat were significantly influenced by treatments. Contents of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (C18:3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) linearly increased as the soybean oil feeding period increased. In conclusion, soybean oil can be supplemented to the diet of pigs without significant effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics. The level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially $\omega-3$ fatty acids in the carcass was increased by soybean oil supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.879-885
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• 2013

Fifty-four, mixed-sex, halothane-carrier crossbred (Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) pigs with an average initial BW of $108.2{\pm}0.8$ kg were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments for 5 d before slaughter: i) a control corn-soybean meal finisher diet devoid of supplemental magnesium; ii) a diet supplemented with 1.5 g/kg of elemental Mg from magnesium acetate; and iii) a diet supplemented with 1.5 g/kg of elemental Mg from magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. Serum creatine kinase (CK), lactate and glucose were analyzed at slaughter. Muscles from longissimus (LM) were packaged and stored to simulate display storage for muscle lactate and glycogen determinations at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 d. Mg supplementation reduced (p<0.05) serum CK and lactate concentration, but had no effect (p>0.05) on serum glucose. Daily change of muscle lactate concentration linearly increased (p<0.01), while glucose concentration linearly decreased (p<0.05) as storage time increased in all treatments. However, dietary Mg acetate and Mg sulfate supplementation in pigs elevated (p<0.05) muscle glycogen and reduced (p<0.05) muscle lactate concentrations, especially during the first 2 d of display, compared with pigs fed the control diet. This study suggests that short-term feeding of magnesium acetate and magnesium sulfate to heterozygous carriers of the halothane gene has beneficial effects on stress response and pork quality by improving blood and muscle biochemical indexes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.861-867
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• 2005

Feeding values of soybean hulls (SH) were compared to those of wheat bran (WB) for swine diets by chemical compositions, a digestion trial, a preference test by self-selection, and two feeding trials. The SH and the WB appeared to have, on airdry basis, 11.1 vs. 15.4% CP, 32.5 vs. 8.7% crude fiber (CF), 36.8 vs. 10.7% ADF, 0.6 vs. 0.1% Ca, and 492 vs. 92 ppm Fe, respectively. Lysine and total sulfur-containing amino acids in the SH were 0.66 vs. 0.37%, respectively. Apparent digestibility values of the SH were 71% for dry matter, 50% for CP, and 74% for CF. Apparent digestible energy and MEn values of the SH were 2,420 and 2,370 kcal kg$^-1$, respectively, which were comparable to those of the WB, 2,420 and 2,275 kcal kg$^-1$ (NRC, 1998), respectively. The first feeding trial was conducted with 72 crossbred growing pigs with an average weight of 29.6 kg. The pigs when fed the diets containing 0, 6 and 10% SH by replacing the WB on a weight basis for 42 days did not show significant differences in body weight gain and feed/gain ratio among the treatments. The same trends were observed in the second trial with 60 crossbred finishing pigs with an average weight of 64.5 kg when fed the diets containing 12% SH or WB for 41 days. Back-fat thickness and adjusted loin eye muscle area of the finisher pigs were also not significantly different between the two groups. When allowed to self-select from two different feed troughs containing 10% SH or WB for two weeks, two groups of 80 pigs with 10 pigs per pen consumed the two diets exactly in equal proportion. In conclusion, the soybean hulls can be included up to 10 and 12% for growing or finishing pig diets, respectively, replacing the wheat bran on a weight basis without any adverse effects on palatability of diets and animal performances.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of palm kernel meal (PKM), an alternative to corn, on the quality of pork. A total of 72 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire ${\times}$ Landrace] ${\times}$ Duroc) were assigned into four dietary treatments (PKM level of 0, 4, 8, or 12%). After 12 wk, one pig of median weight in each pen was selected and slaughtered to analyze meat quality. The color, free radical scavenging activity, lipid oxidation, texture, composition of fatty acids, and sensory qualities of pork loin were evaluated post slaughter. When the levels of PKM in the diet increased, the $L^*$-value of pork loin decreased, whereas $a^*$-value and total saturated fatty acids increased. 2-Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values of pork loin were lower in groups treated with 8 and 12% PKM than in the control group at day 0; this difference, however, was not observed at day 3 and 7. The results of texture analysis showed that increasing the PKM ratio decreased hardness, chewiness, and springiness at day 7. The sensory test, however, indicated no differences between the control and treated groups. These findings show that finisher pigs could tolerate PKM as a replacement for corn; PKM did not negatively affect the quality of pork, indicating that it can be utilized as feed.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2010

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of phase feeding methods on growth performance, carcass characteristics, pork quality, and economical efficiency in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 120 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire ${\times}$ Landrace] ${\times}$ Duroc), average initial body weight 25.23 ${\pm}$ 2.66 kg, were allotted to 5 treatments by body weight and sex in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Each treatment had 6 replicates with 4 pigs per pen. The treatments were 1) A (fed late weaner feed during whole phase), 2) B (fed late weaner feed in growing phase and grower feed in finishing phase), 3) C (fed grower feed during whole phase), 4) D (fed grower feed in growing phase and early finisher feed in early and late finishing phase), 5) E (fed grower feed in growing phase, early finisher feed in early finishing phase and late finisher feed in late finishing phase). Commercial diets bought from private feed company were used for this experiment. During the early growing phase (6 wks), treatments A and B showed higher growth performance than that of other treatments (P<0.05). However, growth performance tended to be similar among treatments at 10 wks after feeding and there was no difference in time of market weight (13 wks). Moreover, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was lowered in treatment E than other treatments during whole experimental period (P<0.01). Carcass characteristics and pork quality were measured when body weight of pigs reached at 110.33 ${\pm}$ 2.1 kg. Days to market weight (110 kg), quality grade, pork color, and pork pH did not show any significant difference among treatments. These results suggested that phase feeding based upon growth stages of pigs showed no detrimental effects on growth performance and the pork quality. Moreover, feed cost was saved approximately 37% by phase feeding method without delaying of days to market weight compared to general conventional feeding method (B) of swine farm in Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1666-1672
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• 2003

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of an alumninosilicate clay, marketed under the trade name Biotite V, to improve growing-finishing pig performance and to determine its effects on nutrient digestibility and excretion. Sixty crossbred pigs (22.3${\pm}2.7kg$, Camborough 15 Line female${\times}$Canabred sire) were assigned on the basis of sex, weight and litter to one of four dietary treatments in a $2{\times}4$ (two sexes and four treatments) factorial design experiment. The experimental diets were based on barley and soybean meal and contained 0, 0.25, 0.5 or 0.75% biotite during the growing period (22.3-60.5 kg) and 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5% biotite during the finishing period (60.5-110.3 kg). Each pig was allowed access to its own individual feeder for 30 min twice daily (07:00 and 15:00 h). Individual pig body weight, feed consumption and feed conversion were recorded weekly. The pigs were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir when they reached an average weight of 110.3 kg. Carcass weight was recorded and dressing percentage calculated. Carcass fat and lean measurements were obtained with a Destron PG 100 probe between the 3rd and 4th last ribs, 70 mm of the midline. Total tract digestibility coefficients for dry matter, energy, nitrogen and phosphorus were determined using three males and three females per treatment starting at an average weight of $52.2{\pm}3.8kg$. These pigs were housed under identical conditions as those used in the growing stage and were fed the same diets modified only by the addition of 0.5% chromic oxide as a digestibility marker. Over the entire experimental period (22.3-110.3 kg), daily gain was unaffected (p>0.05) by the inclusion of biotite in the diet. There was a cubic response for feed intake (p=0.06) and a quadratic response (p=0.07) for feed conversion due to biotite. Feeding biotite produced no significant (p>0.05) linear or quadratic effects on any of the carcass traits measured. Dry matter digestibility decreased linearly (p=0.02) with increasing levels of biotite in the diet. However, digestibility coefficients for energy, nitrogen and phosphorus were unaffected (p<0.05) by biotite inclusion. Lactobacilli and enterobacteria numbers were unaffected by inclusion of biotite while Salmonella was not detected in any of the fecal samples. The overall results of this experiment indicate that biotite inclusion did not reduce fecal excretion of nitrogen or phosphorus and failed to improve nutrient digestibility. Neither growth rate nor carcass quality was improved while a modest improvement in feed conversion was observed at lower levels of inclusion. Based on the results of this experiment, it would be difficult to justify the routine inclusion of biotite in diets fed to grower-finisher pigs. Whether or not a greater response would have been obtained with pigs of a lower health status is unknown.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.965-973
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• 2014

Three studies were conducted to investigate whether a chelated Cu can replace $CuSO_4$ as a growth promoter in pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of 240 piglets (Large White${\times}$Landrace, $7.36{\pm}0.10kg$) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatments with 8 replicates and 10 piglets per pen. Treatments included a NRC control ($CuSO_4$, 6 mg/kg), two Cu supplementations from either $CuSO_4$ or $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ at 170 mg/kg. Pigs fed $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ were 6.0% heavier than pigs fed either the NRC control or 170 mg/kg $CuSO_4$ (p = 0.03) at the end of the experiment. During the 42 days of experimental period, pigs fed $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ gained 9.0% more (p = 0.01), tended to eat more feed (p = 0.09), and had better feed efficiency (p = 0.06) than those fed $CuSO_4$. Compared with the 6 mg/kg $CuSO_4$ NRC control, liver Cu was increased 2.7 times with 170 mg/kg $CuSO_4$ supplementation, and was further increased with $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ (4.5 times, p<0.05). In Exp. 2, a total of 616 crossbred piglets (PIC, $5.01{\pm}0.25kg$) were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments with 7 replicates and 22 piglets per pen. Treatments included a NRC control (from $CuSO_4$), and three pharmaceutical levels of Cu (150 mg/kg) supplemented either from C$CuSO_4$, tri-basic copper chloride ($Cu_2[OH]_3C1$), or $Cu(HMTBa)_2$. Pigs fed $CuSO_4$ or $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ had better feed efficiency (p = 0.01) and tended to gain more (p = 0.08) compared with those fed the NRC control. Pigs fed $Cu_2[OH]_2C1$ were intermediate. Pigs fed $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ had the highest liver Cu, which was significantly higher than those fed ($Cu_2[OH]_3C1$) or the negative control (p = 0.01). In Exp. 3, a total of 1,048 pigs (PIC, $32.36{\pm}0.29kg$) were allotted to 6 treatments with 8 replicates per treatment and 20 to 22 pigs per pen. The treatments included a NRC control with 4 mg/kg Cu from $CuSO_4$, a positive control with 160 mg/kg Cu from $CuSO_4$, and incremental levels of $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ at 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg. During the overall experimental period of 100 days, no benefit from 160 mg/kg $CuSO_4$ was observed. Pigs fed $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ had increased ADG (linear and quadratic, $p{\leq}0.05$) and feed efficiency (linear and quadratic, $p{\leq}0.05$) up to 80 mg/kg and no further improvement was observed at 160 mg/kg for the whole experimental period. Pigs fed 80 mg/kg $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ weighed 1.8 kg more (p = 0.07) and were 2.3 kg heavier in carcass (p<0.01) compared with pigs fed 160 mg/kg $CuSO_4$. In addition, loin depth was increased with increased $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ supplementation with pigs fed 80 mg/kg $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ had the greatest loin depth (p<0.05). In summary, $Cu(HMTBa)_2$ can be used to replace high $CuSO_4$ as a growth promoter in nursery and grower-finisher pigs.