• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.353-364
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• 2022

The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of increasing the slaughter weight (SW) of non-lean finishing pigs to improve their meat quality. A total of 36 (Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc gilts and barrows were slaughtered at 115 (Av), 125 (Hi), or 135 (XHi) kg, followed by physicochemical analyses and sensory evaluation on their longissimus dorsi (LD) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles. Backfat thickness was greater (p < 0.05) for the XHi (31.2 mm) and Hi (29.3 mm) groups than for Av (25.0 mm). Dressing percentage and yield of the belly per whole carcass were also slightly greater for XHi and Hi vs. Av. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content of SM was greater for XHi (2.64%) than for Av (1.83%) and Hi (2.04%) and also was correlated with SW (r = 0.55). The pH value, lightness, redness, drip loss, shear force, and moisture and protein contents of LD and SM, as well as IMF content of LD, were unaffected by SW. Percentages of 14:0, 16:0, and total saturated fatty acids (FA) were less for Hi and XHi vs. Av in SM, those of total unsaturated FA, 18:2, 20:4, and n-6 being opposite; FA composition of LM was not influenced by SW except for a reduced 18:0 percentage for XHi vs. Av. The sensory score was less for XHi vs. Av for odor in fresh LD and SM, and less for Hi and XHi vs. Av for aroma in fresh LM; scores for color, drip loss, marbling, and acceptability were unaffected by SW. As for cooked muscles, none of the scores for color, aroma, flavor, juiciness, tenderness, and acceptability was affected by SW, except for a greater LD color score for Hi and XHi vs. Av. Collectively, the results suggested that the increased yield of the carcass and belly due to increased SW is outbalanced negatively by excessive backfat deposition in production efficiency, whereas the SW increase exerts little influence on overall sensory quality of fresh or cooked meat. Production of non-lean market pigs overweighing 115 kg therefore will be uneconomical unless consumers pay a substantial premium for the over-fattened pork.

• ANNALS OF ANIMAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.165-171
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of gender on meat quality traits and sensory characteristics of pork loin. A total of 90 pork carcasses (180 days old, 45 barrows and 45 gilts, each gender group was consisted of fifteen 1+, 1 and 2 carcass grades) were selected and loin cuts were excised to investigate meat quality, electronic tongue measures and sensory panel test. There were significant differences in drip loss (1.66% vs 1.21%), released water (12.19% vs 10.68%) and cooking loss (23.67% vs 21.04%) between loins from barrow and gilt (p<0.05). However, no significant differences in meat color (CIE L^* a^* b^*) and shear force were observed between gender groups (p>0.05). Umami and richness values of barrow were significantly higher than those of gilt, while barrow had significantly lower sourness value compared to gilt(p<0.05). On the sensory evaluation, barrow scored higher in flavor, juiciness and tenderness both, and as a result, barrow (5.51 points) also scored significantly higher than gilt (4.86 points). These results suggest that the umami intensity and sensory taste of barrow loin are superior to gilt loin due to its high water-holding capacity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.1308-1322
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• 2023

Minerals is required small amounts among various nutrients, but it has a significant impact on sow longevity and reproduction performance. This study was carried out to see the beneficial effects of marine-derived Ca-Mg complex on the reproductive performance of sows during four-parity periods. Seventy-two gilts ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc), with an average body weight of 181 kg, were randomly allocated to three groups; CON (basal diet), 0.3LC (CON - MgO - 0.3% limestone + 0.4% Ca-Mg complex), and 0.7LC (CON - MgO - 0.7% limestone + 0.4% Ca-Mg complex). During parity 3 and 4, the expression level of SCD gene was lower in the umbilical cord of piglets born to 0.3LC and 0.7LC sows compared with the CON sows. During parity 2, 3 and 4, SLC2A2 and FABP4 gene expressions were higher in the umbilical cord of piglets born to 0.7LC sows and the placenta of sows from 0.3LC groups, respectively. Ca-Mg complex increased (p < 0.05) Ca and Mg concentrations in sows and their piglets' serum as well as in colostrum regardless of parities. The serum vitamin D concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in their first parity, whereas serum prolactin and estrogen concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) during the fourth and third parity, respectively. The growth hormone concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in the piglets born to sows during the first and second parity. The fat and immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in colostrum were higher (p < 0.05) during the third and fourth parity, respectively. A reduction (p < 0.05) in salivary cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine concentrations was observed in 0.3LC and 0.7LC sow groups compared with CON after farrowing regardless of parity, however before farrowing, a reduction in norepinephrine was observed. Before farrowing, the epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) during the first and second parity. After farrowing, the concentration of these hormones was higher during the second parity. Taken together, sows' parity and dietary Ca-Mg complex supplementation influenced serum metabolites, colostrum nutrients, stress hormones as well as the gene expressions related to lipid and glucose metabolism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.593-600
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• 2006

The effects of breed and sex on individual growth performance and feeding behaviour were studied between 45 and 90 kg BW in two replicates of forty group-housed pigs. The first and the second replicates were carried out during the warm season (i.e. between February and April 2003) and during the hot season (i.e. between August and October 2003), respectively. During the warm season, ambient temperature and relative humidity averaged $25.3^{\circ}C$ and 86.0%. The corresponding values for the hot season were $27.9^{\circ}C$ and 83.6%. The pigs were grouped in pens of 10 animals on the basis of breed (Creole or Large White) and sex (gilt or castrated male) and given ad libitum access to a grower diet (9.0 MJ/kg net energy and 158 g/kg crude protein) via feed intake recording equipment (Acema 48). An ear-tag transponder was inserted into each pig and this allowed the time, duration, and size of individual visits to be recorded. The growth performance and feeding pattern were significantly affected by breed, sex, and season. The Creole pigs (CR) had a lower average daily gain (ADG) (642 vs. 861 g/d, p<0.01) and carcass lean content ($LC_{90kg}$) (35.4 vs. 54.5%; p<0.01) and a higher backfat thickness at 90 kg BW ($BT_{90kg}$) (23.4 vs. 10.4 mm; p<0.01) than Large White pigs (LW) whereas the average daily feed intake (ADFI) was not affected by breed (2.34 vs. 2.22 kg/d, respectively for CR and LW pigs; p>0.10). Consequently, the food:gain ratio was higher in CR than in LW (3.65 vs. 2.58; p<0.01). CR had less frequent meals but ate more feed per meal than LW (5.9 vs. 8.8 meals/d and 431 vs. 279 g/meal; p<0.01). The rate of feed intake was lower (27.6 vs. 33.9 g/min; p<0.01) and the ingestion time per day and per meal were higher in CR than in LW (87.1 vs. 69.7 min/d and 15.8 vs. 8.4 min/meal; p<0.01). The ADFI and BT90 kg were higher (2.38 vs. 2.17 kg/d and 18.1 vs. 15.9 mm; p<0.05) and LC90 kg was lower (43.5 vs. 46.4%; p<0.01) in castrated males (CM) than in gilts (G) whereas ADG was not affected by sex (p = 0.12). The difference in lean content between CM and G was greater in CR than in LW. The ADFI and ADG were reduced during the hot season (2.18 vs.2.38 kg/d and 726 vs. 777 g/d, respectively; p<0.05) whereas feed conversion and carcass lean content were not affected by season (p>0.05). Average feeding time per meal and meal size decreased during the hot season (10.9 vs. 13.2 min/meal and 316 vs. 396 g/meal; p<0.01) whereas the rate of feed intake was not affected by season (p = 0.83). On average, 0.69 of total feed intake was consumed during the diurnal period. However, this partition of feed intake was significantly affected by breed, sex, and season. In conclusion, the breed, sex and season significantly affect performance and feeding pattern in growing pigs raised in a tropical climate. Moreover, the results obtained in the present study suggest that differences observed in BW composition between CR and LW are associated with difference in feeding behaviour, in particular, the short-term regulation of feed intake.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2005

The effect of different particle sizes of scoria inclusion in weanling-growing-finishing diets on growth performance and carcass quality was investigated in this study. Treatments were the control (basal diet), and 3 scoria treatments with different partical sizes (500, 1,000, 1,700 ${\mu}m$, respectively) in which $3\%$ of basal diet was replaced by scoria. This study was carried out for 143 days using 84 pigs. Each treatment has 3 replicates (4 gilts and 3 barrows per pen). 1. During nursery period, all scoria treatment levels showed poor Average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency compared to the control. During growing period, The ADG and feed efficiency of pigs fed the $1,000\;{\mu}m$ swine treatment tended to improve. For the whole growth period (d 0-143), $1,000\;{\mu}m$ scoria treatment showed significantly higher (P<0.05) ADG and feed efficiency than the $1,700\;{\mu}m$ scoria treatment. 2. Carcass weight was higher in all of scoria treatment levels Either the control (P<0.05), while backfat thickness was unaffected among treatments. Carcass Grade A or B grade appearance was more evident in all of scoria treatments compared to the control. 3. Hunter L value was numerically higher in the control while there was no significant differences among the control, $1,000\;{\mu}m$ scoria and $1,700\;{\mu}m$. Hunter a value was highest (P<0.05) in $1,000\;{\mu}m$ scoria, while Hunter b values were not influenced by the scoria treatment levels. 4. The different scoria treatment levels reduced N and P excretion. For growing period, $1,000\;{\mu}m$ scoria was most efficient in reducing N excretion, while during the finishing period, $1,700\;{\mu}m$ scoria was the best. The P excretion was affected by scoria particle size during growing-finishing periods rather than weanling period. The above findings indicated that the inclusion of different scoria partical sizes in nursery diet resulted to adverse effects on growth performance in contrast to the growing finishing diets wherein the growth performance and carcass quality were not affected. Finally, scoria regardless of particle size proved to be effective in reducing N and P excretion and can be considered an environment friendly mineral source for growing-finishing hog diets.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.523-530
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• 2002

Repeatabilities and Correlations among Average Daily Gain, Backfat Thickness and Lean Percent in Swine The repeatability, correlation and rank correlation coefficients among average daily gain, backfat thickness and lean percent were estimated on the basis of records tested from August 1999 to February 2000 with 695 pigs of Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire boars and gilts tested at 2nd Korea Swine Test Station located in Ha-dong, Kyeongnam Province. The effect of the sex, breed and month of measured were estimated by the least square method. The repeatabilities were estimated from the component of variance among repeated measurements of the trait for the same animal. The results obtained are summarized as follow ; 1. The means of the major economic traits studied were 142.1 days, 173.7 days and 182.5 days for age at 1st, 2nd and 3rd measure, 57.9%, 56.2% and 55.2% for lean percent at 1st, 2nd and 3rd measure, 1.33cm, 1.61cm and 1.63cm for backfat thickness at 1st, 2nd and 3rd measure, 946.6g, 879.2g and 879.4g for average daily gain at 1st, 2nd and 3rd measure, respectively. 2. The correlation coefficients between the backfat thicknesses measured at 1st and 2nd, at 2nd and 3rd, at 1st and 3rd were 0.424, 0.700 and 1.424, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the lean percent measured at 1st and 2nd, at 2nd and 3rd, at 1st and 3rd were 0.493, 0.619 and 0.471, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the average daily gain measured at 1st and 2nd, at 2nd and 3rd, at 1st and 3rd were 0.716, 0.861 and 0.601, respectively. 3. The rank correlation coefficients between backfat thickness measured at 1st and 2nd, at 2nd and 3rd, at 1st and 3rd were 0.438, 0.693 and 0.441, respectively. The rank correlation coefficients between lean percent measured at 1st and 2nd, at 2nd and 3rd, at 1st and 3rd were 0.508, 0.593 and 0.478, respectively. The rank correlation coefficients between average daily gain measured at 1st and 2nd, at 2nd and 3rd, at 1st and 3rd were 0.704, 0.834 and 0.571, respectively. 4. The estimated repeatabilities of the traits studied were 0.428 for the lean percent, 0.374 for the backfat thickness and 0.673 for the average daily gain, respectively.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.8
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• pp.45-50
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• 1990

This study was carried out ot investigate the effects of fetal calf serum (FCS) and gonadotropins supplemented to the medium on maturation and fertilization in vitro of porcine follcular oocytes. Ovaries were obtained from gilts at local slaughter-house. Oocyte-cumulus complexes were recovered by puncturing the ovarian follicles(3~5 mm in diameter). The complexes from individual ovaries were pooled in a $0.4m{\ell}$ droplet of medium covered with paraffin oil, then washed twice in fresh droplet and cultured for 36hrs in culture media according to experimental conditions. Boar epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated by preincubation for 4hrs in m-KRB medium and the preincubated spermatozoa were insemenated in the fertilization medium containing the cultured oocytes. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. The maturation rates of oocytes cultured in m-KRB and m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS were 82 and 37%, respectively. When PMSG, hCG. and PMSGt hcG($10Iu/m{\ell}$) were added to the media supplemented to 10% FCS, the maturation rates were 66, 58 and 68%, respectively. 2. Expansion of cumulus cells was not occured in m-KRB and m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS. However, when PMSG, hCG and PMSG+hCG($10Iu/m{\ell}$) were added to m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS, the expansion rates of cumulus cell layers were 92, 13 and 91%, respectively. 3. When oocytes were mltured in m-KRB, the rates of penetration and formation of male pronucle: were 93 and 7%, respectively. By adding FCS and gonadotropin to m-KRB, the penetration and formation of male pronuclei were 100 80%, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1320-1328
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• 2013

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the ME value, standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) of fish meal, and the effects of single cell protein (Prosin and Protide) replacing fish meal in diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned piglets. In Exp. 1, twenty-four barrows with initial BW of $30.8{\times}2.6kg$ were allotted to one of four dietary treatments. Diet 1 contained corn as the only energy source. The other three diets replaced 20% of the corn in diet 1 with one of the three protein feeds (fish meal, Prosin and Protide), and the DE and ME contents were determined by difference. In Exp. 2, eight barrows (initial BW of $25.6{\pm}3.2kg$) were fitted with ileal T-cannulas and allotted to a replicated $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Three cornstarch-based diets were formulated using each of the protein feeds as the sole source of AA. A nitrogen-free diet was also formulated to measure endogenous losses of AA. In Exp. 3, one hundred and eighty piglets (initial BW of $7.95{\pm}1.59kg$) weaned at $28{\times}2d$ were blocked by weight and assigned to one of five treatments for a 28-d growth performance study, each treatment was fed to six pens with six pigs (three barrows and three gilts) per pen. The five treatments consisted of the control group (CON), which was a corn-soybean meal diet containing 5% fish meal, and the other four treatments, which replaced a set amount of fish meal with either Prosin (2.5% or 5%) or Protide (2.5% or 5%). The diets were formulated to provide same nutrient levels. The results showed that on a DM basis, both of the DE and ME contents were lower in Prosin and Protide than that of fish meal (p<0.05). The SID of CP and all essential AA were greater in fish meal than in Prosin and Protide (p<0.05). The pigs fed CON diet had greater weight gain and lower feed conversion rate (FCR) than pigs fed 5% Prosin and 5% Protide diets (p<0.05). The digestibility of CP was greater in pigs fed CON, 2.5% Prosin and 2.5% Protide diets than the pigs fed 5% Prosin and 5% Protide diets (p<0.05). Villus height in jejunum and ileum, and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum were higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed CON, 2.5% Prosin and 2.5% Protide diets compared with the 5% Prosin and 5% Protide diets. Pigs fed CON diet had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum than the pigs fed 5% Prosin and 5% Protide diets (p<0.05). In conclusion, although Prosin and Protide contained lower ME content and SID of AA than fish meal, Prosin and Protide replacing 50% of fish meal in diet with identical nutrient levels could obtain similar performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for reproductive and productive traits and to apply their estimates to selection strategies in a swine population. Reproductive and productive traits considered in this study were number of born alive piglet (NBA), number of weaned piglet (NW), loin eye area (LEA), days to 90 kg (D90KG), back fat thickness (BF), and lean meat content (LEAN). Data were collected from 9,886 litters on 2,447 sows for reproductive traits and 10,181 gilts and boars for productive traits from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2008 in a swine GGP farm. The statistical model to estimate genetic parameters for considering traits was a multiple traits animal model with including animal and maternal additive effects and litter effects on reproductive traits and animal additive effects on productive traits as random as well as some of fixed effects. For estimating (co) variance components of several random effects, restricted maximum likelihood methodology was used on this assumed model. The estimated heritabilities by animal additive effects and maternal effects were 0.07 and 0.02 for NBA and 0.03 and 0.02 for NW, respectively. Genetic correlation estimate for direct genetic effects between NBA and NW was 0.14. Heritability estimates for direct genetic effects were 0.19, 0.39, 0.36, and 0.43 for LEA, D90KG, BF and LEAN, respectively. The genetic correlation of LEA with LEAN was 0.35. Productive traits were antagonistically correlated with reproductive traits. From these results it is concluded that, if selection is done for strong positive effects of reproductive traits, then this would decline productive performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2003

The present study was undertaken to find relationships of plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II concentrations to litter size and lactation performance. Sixty pure-bred Landrace and Yorkshire pigs having similar farrowing weeks which had been selected from a large number of pregnant gilts and sows were divided into low- (<${\mu}$－0.5SD) and high-litter size (>${\mu}$+0.5 SD) lines under a 2 (breed)${\times}$2 (line) factorial arrange of treatments. After adjusting the litter size to nine piglets per sow at farrowing, total litter weight was measured at three weeks postpartum at weaning as an index of milk yield. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein at day (d)-90 pregnancy (Px) and at d-15 postpartum. The litter size or the number of piglets born during the present experiment and the average litter size during the entire parities up to the present one were greater in the high-line than in the low-line by 3.7 and 2.4 piglets, respectively (P<0.01); effect of the breed on litter size was not significant. Plasma IGF-II concentration at d-90 Px was greater in the high-line than in the low-line. Litter size and d-90 Px IGF-I concentration were negatively correlated in Landrace (r=－0.46; P<0.05) and tended to be negatively correlated in Yorkshire (r=－0.31; P=0.09), which resulted in a significant negative correlation between these two variables in total animals (r=－0.35; P<0.01). Litter weight at weaning was not different between the two breeds or lines. Relationships between the litter weight and IGF concentration were not consistent across the breed ${\times}$ physiological stage combinations. Results suggest that d-90 Px IGF concentrations may be indicative of the litter size at impending farrowing.