• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제14권7호
• /
• pp.1019-1023
• /
• 2001

An on-farm trial was conducted in temperature-controlled lactation rooms at a commercial pig farm to investigate the efficacy of broadcasting sow suckling grunts from day 4 of lactation, on increasing piglet growth to weaning. In the Broadcast treatment, sows and litters were exposed to a 3-min broadcast from loud-speakers every 42 min. The Control treatment was not exposed to the broadcast. All sows and litters had similar husbandry and piglets were provided with creep feed on the floor twice daily. In each of the three replicates in time, the Broadcast and Control treatments were allocated to different lactation rooms at random and there were 12 sows and litters per treatment per replicate. A total of four identical lactation rooms were available for the trial, each containing 28 conventional sow and litter crates with piglet heater in the creep area. A non-trial room separated the two treatment rooms in each replicate to minimise the chance that the broadcast grunt stimulation was audible to the Control treatment litters. Five "normal and average-looking" piglets from the trial litters were weighed twice, 7 d apart. The cohort of five piglets was identified by ear-tags and formed the experimental unit for the statistical analysis. The average (${\pm}SD$) age of piglets at initial weighing was 7.7(${\pm}2.22$) days. For each litter, mean piglet live weight at day 14 of lactation was estimated by linear regression of the two weights recorded seven days apart, when on average, the Broadcast treatment had been exposed to the stimulation for 10 days. Piglets in the Broadcast treatment were heavier (p<0.01) at day 14 of lactation compared to Control treatment (4.24 and 3.92 kg, respectively) and tended to have a greater average daily weight gain over the 7-d period (245 and 228 g/day, respectively; p<0.08). The results suggest piglet growth was improved by about 8% in response to the regular, timed broadcast of sow suckling grunts in the lactation shed. The independent contributions of milk and creep feed to the improved growth remain to be determined.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제24권7호
• /
• pp.905-911
• /
• 2011

Polymorphisms of BMP15 gene exon 2 and its relationship with prolificacy of goats were detected by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing methods in Chinese two local goat breeds. The results showed that the product amplified by the primers displayed polymorphisms. Three genotypes (AA, BB and AB) were detected in Funiu white goats, and their frequency was 0.071, 0.715, 0.214, respectively. Two genotypes (AB and BB) were detected in Taihang black goats, and their frequency was 0.342 and 0.658, respectively. Sequencing revealed that four mutations (456T${\rightarrow}$G, 466C${\rightarrow}$G, 510C${\rightarrow}$T, 511T${\rightarrow}$C) occurred in genotype BB of Funiu white goat, which resulted in amino acid substitution of V155G and S171P. No mutation was detected in Taihang black goat. The Funiu white goat with genotype BB had 0.91 or 0.82 kids, more than those with AB or AA, respectively. The difference of the least squares means for litter size between BB and AB was not significant (p>0.05) in Taihang black goat. It is concluded that the BMP15 gene may be a major gene which affects the prolificacy in Funiu white goats. This study could provide basic molecular data on the reproductive characteristics of local breeds of Henan province in China, and a scientific basis for the conservation and utilization of those two goat breeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제33권5호
• /
• pp.722-731
• /
• 2020

Objective: Two experiments were conducted using 28 healthy multiparous sows to evaluate the oxidative stress status and reproductive performance of sows during gestation and lactation under different thermal environments. Methods: Fourteen multiparous sows were used in Exp. 1 under a high thermal environment, and the other 14 multiparous sows were used in Exp. 2 under a moderate thermal environment. In both experiments, reproductive performances of sows were recorded. Plasma samples were collected on d 35, 60, 90, and 109 of gestation, and d 1 and 18 of lactation for malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, immunoglobulin g (IgG), and IgM analysis. Results: For sows in Exp. 1, plasma malondialdehyde concentration on d 109 of gestation tended to be greater (p<0.05) than it on d 18 of lactation. Plasma concentration of protein carbonyl on d 109 of gestation was the greatest (p<0.05) compared with all the other days. Plasma concentrations of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine on d 109 of gestation was greater (p<0.05) than d 18 of lactation in Exp. 1. For sows in Exp. 2, there was no difference of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl concentration during gestation and lactation. In both Exp. 1 and 2, litter size and litter weight were found to be negatively correlated with oxidative stress indicators. Conclusion: Sows under a high thermal environment had increased oxidative stress during late gestation indicating that increased oxidative damage to lipid, protein, and DNA could be one of the contributing factors for reduced reproductive performance of sows in this environment. This study indicates the importance of providing a moderate thermal environment to gestating and lactating sows to minimize the increase of oxidative stress during late gestation which can impair reproductive outcomes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제19권5호
• /
• pp.632-637
• /
• 2006

Oviduct-specific glycoprotein 1 (OVGP1) is implicated in playing a role in fertilization and early embryo development. In this study, we have obtained the sequence of intron 9 of OVGP1 gene in swine. Comparative sequencing of Meishan (a native Chinese breed) and Large White pig breeds revealed an A/T substitution at position 943. A PCR-EcoRI-RFLP assay was developed to detect this mutation. Polymorphism analysis in Qingping animals showed that pigs with BB genotype had lower number of piglets born alive (NBA) in multiple parities than pigs with AA (p<0.05) and AB genotype (p<0.01). In Large $White{\times}Meishan$ ($LW{\times}M$) $F_2$ offspring, the weight of both ovaries (OW) of the BB genotype was significantly lighter than that of AB (p = 0.05) and AA (p<0.01) genotypes. Analysis of the data also revealed that the mutation locus affected these two traits mostly by additive effects. These studies indicated that the polymorphism was associated with NBA and OW in two distinct populations and further investigations in more purebreds or crossbreds are needed to confirm these results.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제22권11호
• /
• pp.1495-1503
• /
• 2009

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with BCAA (branched-chain amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine) on improving the growth of rats in a malnutritional IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Retardation) model, which was established by feeding restriction. In the experimental treatment, rats were fed purified diets supplemented with BCAA (mixed) during the whole gestation period, while arginine and alanine supplementation were set as the positive and negative control group, respectively. The results showed that, compared to the effect of alanine, BCAA reversed IUGR by increasing the fetus weights by 18.4% and placental weights by 18.0% while fetal numbers were statistically increased. Analysis of gene and protein expression revealed that BCAA treatment increased embryonic liver IGF-I expression; the uterus expressed higher levels of estrogen receptor-$\alpha$ (ER-$\alpha$) and progesterone receptor (PR), and the placenta expressed higher levels of IGF-II. Amino acid analysis of dam plasma revealed that BCAA supplementation effectively enhanced the plasma BCAA levels caused by the feed restriction. BCAA also enhanced the embryonic liver gluconeogenesis by augmenting the expression of two key enzymes, namely fructose-1,6-biphosphatase (FBP) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). In conclusion, supplementation of BCAA increased litter size, embryonic weight and litter embryonic weight by improving the dam uterus and placental functions as well as increasing gluconeogenesis in the embryonic liver, which further provided energy to enhance the embryonic growth.

• 아시안잔디학회지
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 1997

This study was performed to find out the mineral cycles of manganese and zinc in dynamic grassland ecosystems in a steady state condition at the northwest side on Mt. Kwanak. The experimental results may be summarized on the communities of a Zoysia japonica and a Miscanthus sincnsis as follows. As compared with some properties of the surface soils among two semi-natural grasslands, manganese and zinc was greater quantity in a Miscanthus sincnsis than in a Zoysia japonica on Mt. Kwana For the case of steady procluction and release, the ratio of annual mineral production to the amount accumulated on the top of mineral soil in a steady state provides the estimates of release constant k. The release constants of Mn and Zn of the litter were 0.19 and 0. 14 in the Zoysia japon- ica grassland, and were 0.44 and 0.41 in a Miscanthus sincnsis grassland, respectively. The halftimes of Mn and Zn required for the release or accumulation of the litter on the grassland were 3. 65 and 4.95 years in the Zoysia japonica, and were 1.57 and 1.69 years in the Miscanthus sincnsis, respectively. The amounts of annual cycles for Mn and Zn in the grassland ecosystem under the steady-state conditions were 58.60 and 21.46 mg /$m^2$ in a Zoysia japonica, and were 372.12 and 321.49 ing /m$^2$ in a Miscanthus sincnsis grassland. Key words: Zoysia japonica. Miscanthus sincnsis, Mt. Kwanak, Manganese, Zinc, Mineral cycles.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제15권9호
• /
• pp.1232-1236
• /
• 2002

Direct and service sire genetic parameters for total number of pigs born (TNB), number of pigs born alive (NBA), total pig weight at birth (TWB), and average pig birth weight (ABW) were estimated by DF-REML under a multiple trait animal model. Data on 3,078 litters of the Yorkshire from Jan, 1975 to Dec, 1998 at National Livestock Research Institute were obtained. The animal model included fixed contemporary group effects and random additive direct, service sire, and residual effects. Additive genetic relationships among animals were included. A separate relationship matrix for service sires and their sire was also included. Additive direct heritability estimates for TNB, NBA, TWB, and ABW were 0.19, 0.18, 0.25 and 0.39, respectively. Service sire heritability estimates for TNB, NBA, TWB, and ABW were 0.02, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.01, respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of TNB with NBA estimated in this study were 0.81 and 0.81, respectively, and the genetic and phenotypic correlations of TNB with TWB estimated were 0.82 and 0.76, respectively. Results indicate that service sires account for 1 to 2% of the total variation for TNB, NBA, TWB, and ABW. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the service sire effect is primarily genetic or environmental.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제14권8호
• /
• pp.1157-1163
• /
• 2001

First-litter gilts were used to determine how different dietary treatments during gestation affect the reproductive performance of gilts and immunity development of their piglets. Twenty-two crossbred $Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$ gilts were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments, Following conception, the gilts were fed experimental diets until farrowing occurred. The diet for treatment I was low protein diet (8% CP), treatment 2 had an additional supplement of 0.14% threonine that was added to the low protein diet, and treatment 3 was a control diet containing 12% CP. During gestation, net body weight gain of sows in treatment group 2 was higher than in treatment group 1 (p=0,075), However, during lactation there was no difference between all treatments groups on body weight loss and their live piglets at birth. Although milk IgG between treatments did not differ, treatment groups 2 and 3 were slightly higher than treatment group I was, Plasma IgG concentrations in piglets were however equal within all treatment groups at birth and at 7 days of age, at 21 days of age, it was higher in treatment group I than it was in the other two groups (p<0.01), Threonine supplementation to a low protein diet during gestation slightly increases milk IgG of sows, It is beneficial for piglets to acquire more passive immunity, but a suppressive effect was also noted on the endogenous IgG synthesis in piglets. A gestation diet of 8% CP for gilts can stimulate immuno-system of her piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제13권9호
• /
• pp.1228-1234
• /
• 2000

The reported study was conducted on range managed Malpura ewes that were non-breeding empty, were at an advanced stage of pregnancy, and were in early lactation, under a protocol of free grazing with concentrate supplementation at 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50% of their body weight to assess their plane of nutrition and nutrient intake. The biomass yield of pasture plots was 1689, 1820 and 2912 kg/ha in pregnancy, lactation and empty phases, respectively. In addition to natural shrubs and forbs, Cenchrus ciliaris (36.4%) and dead litter (31.6%) were the major component of pasture vegetation during pregnancy. The dead litter disappeared during the lactation and empty phase with a concomitant increase in distribution of Cenchrus ciliaris to 73.0 and 87.2% respectively. The daily dry matter consumption from supplemental concentrate and free grazing was 70.1, 57.3 and 63.5 g/kg $W^{0.75}/d$ with concentrate to roughage ratio of 40:60, 47:53 and 33:67 in pregnancy, lactation and empty phases respectively. Digestibility of DM and OM were similar in the three phases while CP digestibility was higher (p<0.0l) during lactation than other two phases. Digestibility of NDF, ADF and cellulose were higher (p<0.0l) in empty than pregnancy and lactation, while hemicellulose digestibility was similar in lactation and empty and lower in pregnancy phase. The ewes in ~hases of pregnancy, lactation and empty consumed 7.1, 7.7 and 6.1 g DCP and 197.2, 214.6 and 232.5 kcal DE/kg $W^{0.75}/d$ respectively. It is concluded that ewes maintained on semi-arid Cenchrus dominated pasture with concentrate supplementation during pregnancy, lactation and empty phases consumed 45.2, 45.1 and 35.2 g DCP/Mcal ME respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2006

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters between first and later parities as different traits in reproductive traits of pigs using multiple trait animal model procedures. Data related to reproductive traits from a total of 2,371 individuals maintained at a farm were taken from the pedigree file. Sires and dams were consisted of Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire breeds, respectively. The first and later parity records were considered as different traits. Traits included in analyses were total pigs born (TB1), number of pigs born alive (NBA1), number of pigs weaned (NW1), and litter weaning weight (LWT1) in the first parity, and total pigs born (TB2), number of pigs born alive (NBA2), number of pigs weaned (NW2), litter weaning weight (LWT2) and interval between farrowing events (FTF) in later parities. Heritability estimates of TB1, NBA1, NW1 and LWT1 in the first parity were 0.27, 0.25, 0.16 and 0.20, respectively. For TB2, NBA2, NW2, LWT2 and FTF in later parities, heritabilities were estimated as 0.15, 0.15, 0.08, 0.11 and 0.07, respectively. Genetic correlations between sow reproductive traits in the first parity and in the second and later parity were estimated to be 0.89, 0.77, 0.58 and 0.66, respectively, between TB1 and TB2, NBA1 and NBA2, NW1 and NW2, and LWT1 and LWT2. While phenotypic correlations between TB1 and TB2, NBA1 and NBA2, NW1 and NW2, and LWT1 and LWT2 were estimated as 0.18, 0.15, 0.06 and 0.10, respectively. Genetic correlations between reproductive traits of first and later parities were not high indicating that reproductive traits for sows should be analyzed while considering the parities as different traits.