• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1469-1477
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• 2014

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of magnesium sulfate ($MgSO_4$) during late gestation and lactation on sow and litter performance, fecal moisture, blood biochemistry parameters, immunoglobulin levels and milk composition in sows. Forty-eight sows ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$, 4th to 5th parity) were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatments supplemented with 0, 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg $MgSO_4$ (n = 12). The experiment started on day 90 of gestation and continued through day 21 of lactation. Blood samples were collected on day 107 of gestation, day 0 (farrowing) and 21 (weaning) of lactation for the analyses of the blood biochemistry parameters and immunoglobulin levels. The colostrum and milk samples were obtained on day 0 and 14 of lactation, respectively. Fecal samples were collected from the sows on day 107 of gestation as well as day 7 and 20 of lactation to determine fecal moisture content. The results showed that the survival percentage of piglets and the litter weight at weaning were decreased linearly (p<0.05) and other parameters of the sow or litter performance were not influenced (p>0.05) by $MgSO_4$ supplementation. The fecal moisture content of the sows were increased (p<0.05) linearly as dietary $MgSO_4$ increased on day 7 and 20 of lactation. Supplementation with $MgSO_4$ increased the plasma magnesium (Mg) level linearly (p<0.05) and had a trend to increase total protein level (p>0.05 and p<0.10). However, an increase in the dietary $MgSO_4$ level resulted in a linear decrease in the colostrum fat content (p<0.05). Dietary $MgSO_4$ supplementation enhanced the immunoglobulin G (IgG) level (linear, p<0.05) in plasma on day of farrowing and immunoglobulin A (IgA) level in colostrum (quadratic, p<0.05) and milk (linear, p<0.05) of the sows. These results indicated that supplementation with $MgSO_4$ during late gestation and lactation may have the potential to prevent sow constipation, but may also result in some negative effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.749-754
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• 2017

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of farrowing month (FM), parity and sex on the growth performance of Berkshire swine raised in alternative production systems. Methods: A total of 40 farrowing records from 27 sows and 1,258 body weight (BW) records from 274 piglets collected over a two-year period were used for the analysis. The BWs were recorded at birth, weaning (28 d), 56, 84, 112, and 140 days. Any BW not recorded on schedule was recalculated to conform the days of age among corresponding BW records, using growth curves drawn with polynomial functions whose power was determined by the number of existing observations for each individual. Results: The mean parity (${\pm}$standard deviation) of the sows was $3.42{\pm}2.14$. The sows that farrowed in June had the lowest number of total born with an average of $6.25{\pm}2.22$ piglets per sow. However, the lowest average number of piglets weaned at day 28 was found in sows that farrowed in May, as well as the highest number recorded for the stillborn piglets with an average of 2.67 piglets per sow. Moreover, the smallest increase in weight from birth to weaning occurred in piglets that were farrowed in May, which also corresponds with the average daily gain (ADG) of 0.29 kg and the last recorded weight measurement on day 140 of $41.69{\pm}1.45kg$. Contrastingly, the highest growth rate was found among pigs farrowed in June, with the largest increase in weight of 7.55 kg from birth to weaning, the highest ADG of 0.51 kg from birth to 140 day of age and the highest BW of $74.70{\pm}1.86kg$ recorded on day 140. Conclusion: Pigs farrowed in June also had the least number of piglets that died between birth and weaning. The zone of thermal comfort found in sows reared in indoor confinement systems did not improve the reproductive performance of the sows reared in an outdoor, alternative production system, while the growth performance of the piglets was improved when the ambient temperature was consistently hot or consistently cold.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of liquid boar semen on reproductive performance in swine artificial insemination. Many factors, which were breeds, time of insemination, breeding season, sperm per dose etc, have been tried to improve reproductive efficiency. Boars were raised at Swine Artificial Insemination Center in National Livestock Research Institute, Sunghwan, Chungnam, Korea. This experiment was carried out from 1995 to 2000. There were no differences in the fertility results compared with 3 breeds (Landrace, Yorkshire and Duroc), frequencies of artificial insemination (double and triple) per estrus cycle and different seasons by using liquid boar semen. There were no significant differences in conception rate, farrowing rate and litter size using 4 trials of 3.0, 2.5, 2.0 and $1.5{\times}10^9/80ml$ in liquid boar semen with 70% of motile sperm cells. We confirmed that the sperm number per dose of $1.5{\times}10^9/80ml$ could be used for commercial artificial insemination.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.833-843
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• 2021

Objective: Current study was conducted to determine the effect of postpartum prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) administration on colostrum and milk yield, colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and piglet growth performance. Methods: In total, 36 sows were included in the experiment. The sows were classified into two groups: i) control (n = 11) and ii) PGF2α (n = 25). Sows in the PGF2α group received 10 mg of PGF2α within an hour after farrowing. The body weight of piglets was measured at 0 and 24 h after birth to estimate colostrum consumption. Colostrum was collected at 1 and 24 h after farrowing to determine IgG concentrations. For milk yield study, the remaining sows in the PGF2α group (n = 23) were divided into two subgroups: i) single PGF2α (n = 12) and ii) multiple PGF2α (n = 11). In the multiple PGF2α, the sows received repeated doses of PGF2α at seven and 14 days postpartum. The piglets' body weight was measured at 0, 1, 5, and 20 days of age. The milk yield of the sows was calculated. Results: Colostrum yield of sows averaged 5.62±2.25 kg. Sows treated with PGF2α postpartum had a higher colostrum yield than control (7.01 and 5.12 kg, p<0.05). The concentration of IgG in colostrum at 24 h in the PGF2α group was higher than the control (31.6 and 17.4 g/L, p<0.05). For primiparous sows, milk yield was highest in the sows treated with multiple doses of PGF2α during lactation and lowest in control sows (10.25 and 7.61 kg, p<0.05). Colostrum intake was higher in the treatment than the control groups (+56.7 g, p<0.05). Primiparous sows treated with multiple doses of PGF2α had a higher litter weight than controls (p<0.01). Conclusion: Postpartum treatment with PGF2α improved colostrum yield and IgG in multiparous sows and increased colostrum intake of piglets. Multiple administration of PGF2α improved the milk yield and increased litter weight of piglets in primiparous sows.

• ANNALS OF ANIMAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.158-165
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• 2018

The present study was undertaken to investigate the reproductive performance of the female breeding pigs after artificial insemination (AI) using the frozen boar semen imported from Canada, thereby finding insights into improving the efficiency of AI using the frozen semen (FSAI). Analyzed in the present study were the records of a total of 626 FSAI in a great grandparent (GGP) farm beginning from May through November of the year of 2016 (Farm A) and 2,024 FSAI beginning from 2015 through 2017 from a second GGP farm (Farm B). Both the total number of piglets born (TNB) and the number born alive (NBA) were greater during May than during September within FSAI (p<0.05) in Farm A (p<0.01 for the effect of the month). In Farm B, no difference was detected between the years in any of the farrowing rate, TNB, and NBA. When the records from Farm A and Farm B were pooled, the farrowing rate was greater for Farm A vs. Farm B (p<0.01), with no difference between the two farms in TNB and NBA. Moreover, TNB and NBA were less for FSAI than for AI using the liquid semen (LSAI; $10.9{\pm}0.3$ vs. $13.4{\pm}0.1$ and $10.0{\pm}0.3$ vs. $12.0{\pm}0.1$ piglets, respectively, for FSAI vs. LSAI in TNB and NBA, respectively; p<0.01). In conclusion, these results suggest that the reproduction efficiency for FSAI, which is lower than that for LSAI, could be improved by selecting an optimal period of the year for the use of the former.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.1293-1303
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• 2023

Objective: Inflammation and pain management in postpartum hyperprolific sows is currently an important animal welfare issue in the swine industry. The present study investigates effects of ketoprofen treatment on the incidence of post-parturient disorders, feed intake, colostrum yield, piglet colostrum intake, colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and piglet mortality rate during the first 3 days of postnatal life. Methods: In total, 61 Danish Landrace×Yorkshire crossbred sows and their offspring (n = 833) were included in the experiment. The sows were randomly distributed into two groups: i) control (n = 31), sows were treated with tolfenamic acid 2 mg per kg for 2 days postpartum; ii) ketoprofen (n = 30), sows were treated with ketoprofen 3 mg per kg for 2 days postpartum. The farrowing process of the sows was monitored for 24 h daily, and data associated with farrowing were collected. Piglet colostrum intake, sow colostrum yield and colostrum IgG were determined. Results: During the first 3 days postpartum, the incidence of sows that had fever did not differ between control and ketoprofen groups (51.6% and 56.7%, respectively, p = 0.692). Piglet colostrum intake did not differ between control and ketoprofen groups (p = 0.736). However, the proportions of piglets that had inadequate colostrum intake were 71.3%, 22.6%, and 5.4% in those with birth weights of <1.0 kg, 1.0 to 1.29 kg, and ≥1.30 kg, respectively (p<0.001). The piglet mortality rate did not differ between control and ketoprofen groups (p = 0.808). Conclusion: Administration of ketoprofen in postpartum sows for 2 days can control the evidence of post-parturient disorders in sows as effectively as the use of tolfenamic acid. No deleterious effect of ketoprofen was detected on sow colostrum yield, piglet colostrum intake and piglet mortality. Therefore, ketoprofen can be recommended as an alternative anti-inflammatory drug used in postpartum sows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.697-700
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• 2001

A prolonged farrowing interval is common on small farms in Nepal and may be attributable to the absence of boar contact at the time of weaning. To examine whether synthetic boar pheromone spray might be of value to aid the stimulation and detection of estrus, 30 village farms, each with a single sow, were recruited into a field study. All sows entered the study on final weaning from their first lactation at 56 days post partum. For 13 treatment sows, a boar pheromone spray (SOA, Intervet, Boxmeer, The Netherlands) was applied each day after weaning whilst 17 other sows did not receive any stimulus (negative control). When estrous was detected by the farmer, sows were taken to the nearest boar for service. There was a significantly shorter weaning to re-mating interval for treatment sows (42.9 V 82.2 day, p<0.05), with a significantly higher proportion of treatment sows rebred by day 60 after weaning (p=0.024, Fishers Test). It is concluded that use of boar pheromones can improve reproductive efficiency of sows kept under Nepalese village conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.768-774
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• 2016

The present study investigated the impact of parity 1 gilt body weight during late gestation (d 109) on subsequent reproductive performance of sows and performance of suckling pigs. A total of 2,404 farrowing records over 6 parities were divided into six groups on the basis of body weight (190, 200, 210, 220, 230, and 240 kg) at d 109 of gestation of 585 gilts. Significant effects (p<0.05) of body weight on sow retention rate was noticed, with the 210 kg group having the lowest culling rate and highest total number of piglets born alive over the 6 parities. With increase of body weight, a linear increase (p<0.05) in losses of body weight and backfat during the lactation period of parity 1 and a linear decrease (p<0.05) in backfat loss for parities 4 and 6 were found. Compared with light sows, heavy sows had higher (p<0.05) litter weight at birth for parities 1 and 2 and at weaning in parity 1. Sow weaning-to-estrus interval of sows was not influenced (p>0.05) by body weight. In conclusion, maintaining optimal body weight during gestation would be beneficial to sows and suckling piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1011-1014
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• 2008

A total of 335 sows at a commercial operation (Hitch Pork Producers Inc, Guymon, OK) was used to determine dietary effects of yeast culture supplementation ($XPC^{TM}$, Diamond V Mills) on litter performance. Sows were grouped by parity (parity 1 to 12). Pigs within a group were then allotted to treatments. Treatments consisted of: CON (no added yeast culture) and YC (12 and 15 g/d XPC during gestation and lactation, respectively). Sows were housed individually and fed their assigned gestation and lactation diets from d 35 of gestation to d 21 of lactation. Sows were fed 2.0 kg/d during gestation and ad libitum during lactation. Voluntary feed intake was measured daily during lactation. At farrowing, numbers of pigs born total and alive were measured. Weights of litters were measured at birth and weaning on d 21 of lactation. Litter weight gain of the YC treatment was 6.9% greater (p<0.01) than that of the CON. However, voluntary feed intake of sows and litter size did not differ between treatments. This study indicates that dietary yeast culture supplementation benefits sow productivity by improving litter weight gain. At present, it is not confirmed if improved litter weight gain was due to milk production, which remains to be investigated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2017

Objective: This study was to determine the relationship between estimated breeding value and phenotype information after farrowing when juvenile selection was made in candidate pigs without phenotype information. Methods: After collecting phenotypic and genomic information for the total number of piglets born by Landrace pigs, selection accuracy between genomic breeding value estimates using genomic information and breeding value estimates of best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) using conventional pedigree information were compared. Results: Genetic standard deviation (${\sigma}_a$) for the total number of piglets born was 0.91. Since the total number of piglets born for candidate pigs was unknown, the accuracy of the breeding value estimated from pedigree information was 0.080. When genomic information was used, the accuracy of the breeding value was 0.216. Assuming that the replacement rate of sows per year is 100% and generation interval is 1 year, genetic gain per year is 0.346 head when genomic information is used. It is 0.128 when BLUP is used. Conclusion: Genetic gain estimated from single step best linear unbiased prediction (ssBLUP) method is by 2.7 times higher than that the one estimated from BLUP method, i.e., 270% more improvement in efficiency.