• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different housing systems on the performances of sows and their piglets during gestation. A total of 90 sows (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) were employed into 3 experimental farms to give 3 treatments, stall housing, group housing in either slatted floor or litter floor. Individual sow was used as an experimental unit. Group housed sows were fed with electronic sow feeder during gestation. Performance measures were taken on sows and piglets. Back-fat thickness and body condition score of sows were not affected by housing systems for pregnant sows. There was no difference of estrus interval of pregnant sows between housing systems. The lower number of still-birth was observed in group housing type. The number of wounded sows in slatted floor was remarkably increased compared with sows in litter floor. This study showed that the housing systems could fairly impact sow and piglet performances.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.417-426
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate seasonal effects on production performance of lactation sows reared in two different environments in South Korea. A total of 76 sows ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) from the Dankook University experimental farm and 120 sows ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) from a commercial farm were collected. In the current study, reduced (p < 0.01) feed intake and energy intake during lactation were observed in warm season compared with cool season in both farms. Sows in cool season had higher backfat thickness at weaning but lower back fat loss (p < 0.01) than those in warm season. The weaning to estrus interval was lower (p < 0.01) in cool season than in warm season. Piglets weaned in warm season had lower (p < 0.01) body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and average daily gain (ADG) at weaning than did those weaned in cool season on the Dankook University farm, whereas the reduction effect was only observed during 0 - 21 d on the commercial farm (p < 0.01). Moreover, piglets weaned in cool season had higher BW, BWG, and ADG (p < 0.05) on both farms. In conclusion, our results indicate that warm season had very negative effects on feed intake and production performance of lactating sows and piglets.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2021

Salmon oil (SO) could be used as a great source of ω-3 fatty acids in pig diet. The purpose of the study was to investigate the SO effect on production performance of sows and their offspring. 48 lactating sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) from Dankook University experimental farm were used in this study. Sows were conceived using either guided natural mating or by artificial insemination. Pregnancy diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography on day 25 after mating. Sows and their offspring were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments. Treatments included: 1), control (CON); 2), control + SO 0.5% (CS). The inclusion of SO did not affect (p > 0.05) the litter size throughout the experiment. No difference (p > 0.05) was observed on the average daily feed intake (ADFI), chest circumference, estrus interval and sow backfat thickness between CON and SO treatments. Dietary SO supplemented diet reduced (p < 0.05) body weight loss during lactation compared with control treatment. Pigs fed SO supplemented diet did not affect (p > 0.05) the fecal scores during lactation compared with those fed control treatments. Sows fed SO supplemented diet led to a higher (p < 0.05) initial weight, weaning weight and average daily gain of piglets than those fed control diets. No difference (p > 0.05) was observed on piglet survival and fecal scores throughout the experiment. Inclusion of SO could reduce the body weight loss of sows and improves piglet growth during lactation, indicating SO has beneficial effects for pigs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

A total of twenty-four multiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their litters were used in this 21-day experimental trial. Based on their body weight, sows were randomly allocated into one of three treatments with eight replicates. The dietary betaine supplementation contained three levels: (i) CON (Basal diet + 0% Bet), (ii) Bet 0.05% (CON + 0.05% Betaine), and (iii) Bet 0.15% (CON + 0.15% Betaine). The supplementation of betaine had no effect (p > 0.05) on body weight and feed intake of lactating sow. Moreover, no significant response was observed on backfat thickness, body condition score, and weaning of the estrus interval with the dietary supplementation of betaine. In addition, the litter weaning weight, litter weight gain, average litter daily gain, and survivability rate at birth showed no significant difference with the dietary betaine supplementation of the sow diet. Fecal scores of the lactating sows and suckling piglets were not affected (p > 0.05) with the dietary betaine supplementation compared with the control diet during the experimental periods. The findings of this study showed that betaine supplementation does not boost growth performance, feed intake, body conditions, and fecal score in lactating sows and suckling piglets fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of various estrous behavior and ovulation time in dairy cows and heifers. In total, 73 ovulations and 61 estrous detection were observed in 89 Holstein cows. Various estrous behavior were observed during 72 hours from two days after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection and their relation with the time of ovulation(ultrasound examinations at 4-h intervals) was investigated. In estrous periods, the rate of sniffing, chin resting, mounting and standing heat was 81%, 78%, 78% and 56%, respectively in cows. In heifers, the rate of sniffing, chin resting, mounting and standing heat was 61%, 68%, 82% and 76%, respectively. Ovulation in cows and heifers occurred $25.58{\pm}7.94\;and\;25.55{\pm}5.72h$ after onset of estrus, and $13.42{\pm}7.14\;and\;7.48{\pm}7.41h$ after end of estrus, respectively. Interval between onset of estrus and ovulation time was significantly (p<0.05) shorter for standing heat ($17.33{\pm}5.83\;h$) than for mounting, sniffing and chin resting ($23.58{\pm}5.12\;h,\;24.25{\pm}6.09\;h,\;23.42{\pm}6.04\;h$) in cows but not significantly different in heifers. Interval between end of standing heat and ovulation time was significantly (p<0.05) shorter for heifer($6.38{\pm}4.80$) than for cows($13.05{\pm}4.53$). Our results show that characteristics of estrous behavior and ovulation in dairy heifers are different to that of cows.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the reproductive performance of average (less than 10,000 liters milk in 305 days) and high yielding (more than 10,000 liters milk in 305 days) Holstein cattle at commercial dairy herds (n=22). Data on milk progesterone (10 to 60 days postpartum), days to post-partum estrous, days to post-partum conception, service per conception and calving interval were recorded for two consecutive years. Post-partum milk progesterone concentration and days to reach peak milk progesterone concentration were similar in high and average yielding cows. High yielding cows took more days to show signs of first postpartum estrous than average yielding cows. Post-partum conception was 20 days earlier in average yielding cows than high yielding cows. Artificial insemination per conception was similar between average and high yielding cows. Calving interval was 26.9 days longer in high yielding cows compared to average yielding cows. In conclusion, better reproductive and feeding management may help improve the reproductive performance of high yielding dairy cattle in commercial dairy farms.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between various estrous behavior and ovulation time, and to determine which estrous behavior could predict ovulation time more accurately. In total, 37 ovulations and 28 estrous detection were observed in 51 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Various estrous behavior were observed during 72 h from two days after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection and their relation with the time of ovulation (ultrasound examinations at 4-h intervals) was investigated. In estrous periods, the rate of sniffing, chin resting, mounting, standing heat was 81%, 78%, 78% and 56%, respectively. Ovulation occurred $25.6{\pm}7.9h$ after onset of estrus (ranging between 7 and 37h) and $13.4{\pm}7.1h$ after end of estrus (ranging between 1 and 28h). Interval between onset of estrus and ovulation time was significantly (p<0.05) shorter for standing heat $(17.33{\pm}5.83h)$ than for mounting, sniffing and chin resting $(23.58{\pm}5.12h,\;24.25{\pm}6.09h,\;23.42{\pm}6.04h)$. In 88% of the animals that displayed mounting, ovulation occurred between $16{\sim}28h$ after onset of mounting. Onset of standing heat, sniffing and chin resting occurred between $10{\sim}22(81%)h,\;16{\sim}28(79%)h\;and\; 19{\sim}31(79%)h$ before ovulation respectively. Sniffing and chin resting were displayed during the non-estrous period and are therefore, not useful predictors of ovulation time. The standing heat and mounting can be a good predictor for time of ovulation but the disadvantage of using standing heat is that only a limited number of cows display standing heat. Thus, it is concluded that mounting behavior could be the best predictor for time of ovulation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2014

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary CP levels in gestation under equal lysine content on reproductive performance, blood metabolites and milk composition of gilts. A total of 25 gilts ($F_1$, Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) were allotted to 4 dietary treatments at breeding in a completely randomized design, and fed 1 of 4 experimental diets containing different CP levels (11%, 13%, 15%, or 17%) at 2.0 kg/d throughout the gestation. Body weight of gilts at 24 h postpartum tended to increase linearly (p = 0.09) as dietary CP level increased. In lactation, backfat thickness, ADFI, litter size and weaning to estrus interval (WEI) did not differ among dietary treatments. There were linear increases in litter and piglet weight at 21 d of lactation (p<0.05) and weight gain of litter (p<0.01) and piglet (p<0.05) throughout the lactation as dietary CP level increased. Plasma urea nitrogen levels of gilts in gestation and at 24 h postpartum were linearly elevated as dietary CP level increased (p<0.05). Free fatty acid (FFA) levels in plasma of gestating gilts increased as dietary CP level increased up to 15%, and then decreased with quadratic effects (15 d, p<0.01; 90 d, p<0.05), and a quadratic trend (70 d, p = 0.06). There were no differences in plasma FFA, glucose levels and milk composition in lactation. These results indicate that increasing dietary CP level under equal lysine content in gestation increases BW of gilts and litter performance but does not affect litter size and milk composition. Feeding over 13% CP diet for gestating gilts could be recommended to improve litter growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.568-572
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• 2006

The effect of dietary lysine supplementation on the performance of crossbred lactating sows (n = 49, total 92 litters) and suckling piglets during the warm and cool seasons was studied. Sows were randomly allocated to one of two experimental diets, which were fed throughout a 28-day lactation period. Two diets were formulated based on corn-soybean meal with 6% wheat bran, containing 15% crude protein, and with or without 0.25% lysine-HCl supplementation. No interaction was observed between season and dietary lysine supplementation. Dietary lysine supplementation significantly (p<0.05) increased weaning weight (7.11 vs. 6.46 kg) and daily gain (0.20 vs. 0.18 kg) of piglets. During the warm season lactating sows had significantly lower feed intake (3.78 vs. 6.11 kg, p<0.01), higher weight loss (19.81 vs. 9.73 kg, p<0.01) and backfat loss (0.23 vs. 0.06 cm, p<0.01), longer interval from weaning to estrus (9.32 vs. 6.21 days, p<0.05), lower litter weight gain (42.13 vs. 52.90 kg, p<0.01) and lower daily gain (0.17 vs. 0.21 kg, p<0.01) than lactating sows during the cool season. The results indicate that the influences of dietary treatment and season were independent. The 15.0% CP lactation diet with 0.25% lysine-HCl supplementation did not improve the performance of lactating sows and litter piglets, which was impaired by the warm season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2001

The effects of dietary protein and lysine levels on lactating multiparous sows and litter performance were studied. Sixty-two crossbred multiparous sows ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) were used. Thirty-three and twenty-nine sows were studied in their second parity and third parity respectively. The three dietary treatments were: (1) the control diet containing 15% CP and 0.75% lysine, (2) a diet containing 13% CP and 0.75% lysine (0.60% natural+0.15% synthetic), and (3) a diet containing 13% CP and 0.60% lysine. They were fed twice daily and allowed ad libitum access to food and water throughout a 28 day lactation from parturition until weaning. The results of this experiment showed that body weight and backfat losses of the sows from farrowing to weaning were significantly affected (p<0.01) by reducing dietary protein. Neither average daily feed intake nor weaning to estrus interval of sows were significantly different among treatments. Supplementing lower dietary protein with synthetic lysine could mitigate backfat losses, but could not prevent body weight losses in lactating multiparous sows. A corn-soybean meal diet containing 13% crude protein and 0.60% lysine did not significantly affect litter size and survival rate of weanling piglets compared with the 15% crude protein diet. There was a tendency towards decreased piglet weight at weaning (p<0.10) and reduced daily gain of piglets (p<0.11) when the multiparous sows were fed the 13% protein diet during lactation. We found a severe loss of body weight and backfat when reducing dietary protein for lactating multiparous sows.