• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.120-126
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with Pediococcus acidilactici (P. acidilactici) ZPA017 as a probiotic on reproductive performance, fecal microbial flora and serum indices in sows during late gestation and lactation. Methods: A total of 94 sows (Large White×Yorkshire, average 4.50 parities) were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: control diet and the diet supplemented with P. acidilactici ZPA017 (2.40×10⁹ colony-forming unit/kg of diets). The study started at d 90 of gestation and conducted until d 28 of lactation. Results: Compared to sows fed the control diet, supplementation of P. acidilactici ZPA017 increased the number of weaning piglets, weaning weight of litter and piglets, survival rate of piglets at weaning (p<0.05), and decreased diarrhea rate of piglets in lactation (p<0.05). Dietary P. acidilactici ZPA017 increased fecal Lactobacillus populations (p = 0.030) and reduced fecal Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus populations (p<0.05) of sows at weaning. Moreover, the supplementation of P. acidilactici ZPA017 increased serum concentrations of immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin A and total protein (p<0.05), while decreased serum haptoglobin concentration and alanine aminotransferase activity (p<0.05) of sows at weaning. Conclusion: Administration of P. acidilactici ZPA017 in diets during late gestation and lactation had positive effects on the reproductive performance, intestinal microflora balance and immunity of sows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.533-537
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• 2004

The experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that supplementing diets of lactating first parity sows with a mixture of carbohydrases (CS) improves lactation performance and second parity reproductive performance. The CS used in this study contained 7 units/g of $\alpha$-1,6-galactosidase, 22 units/g of $\beta$-1,4-mannanase, $\beta$-1,4-mannosidase and trace amounts of other enzymes. Twenty primiparous sows (Newsham Hybrid) were allotted to either the control group (no CS supplement) or the CS group (0.1% CS supplement) and fed the experimental diets during 21 d lactation period. Sows and nursing pigs were weighed at birth and weekly until weaning. Days of weaning-to-estrus were recorded. Sows had free access to feed and water. Feed intake of sows was measured daily. During the second parity gestation and lactation, all the sows were fed the same gestation and lactation diets and their reproductive performance was measured. During the second parity, there were 14 sows (7 sows per group) remained productive. For the first lactation, maternal body weight loss of the CS group was smaller (p<0.05) than that of the control group. There was no difference in litter weight gain between two groups. Voluntary feed intake of sows did not differ between the two groups. Days of weaning-to-estrus of the CS group were smaller (p<0.05) than those of the control group. In the second parity, there was no difference in the reproductive performance between the two groups. In conclusion, supplementing CS in the diet of lactating sows during the first parity decreased body weight loss and days of weaning-to-estrus of sows. However, these effects of the CS supplementation in the first parity were not successfully carried over to the second parity.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.204-210
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• 1982

Comparative study of the biomass productioin and the cyclings of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was carried out on the east and the northwest facing slope in the montane grassland of Mt. Soback. The maximum productin during the growing season in the east and the northwest slope were 1, 150g/m2.yr, and 755g/m2.yr. in the August, respectively. The positive correlation was appearent between biomass production and A-layer depth of the soil and the correlation coefficient (r=.964) was very significant at 1% level. In the above ground materials, the nutrients contents were high at the early of the growing season but decreased gradually. In roots, however, there are no significant trend throughout the growing season. Total amounts of minerals uptaken by plants during the growing season in the east and the northwest site were 18.20 and 10.66g/m2.yr for N, 0.06 and 0.03g/m2.yr for P, 0.23 and 0.11g/m2.yr for K, respectively. the minerals returned to the soil by litter decomposition and roots decay in the east and the northwest site were 16.19 and 9.62g/m2.yr for N, 0.046 and 0.021g/m2.yr for P, 0.211 and 0.099g/m2.yr for K, respectively. The turnover the rate (absorbed/returned) of the nutrients in the east and the northwest site were 1.13 and 1.14 for N, 1.30 and 1.43 for P, 1.09 and 1.11 for K, and the absorption rates of minerals were 0.39 and 0.29% for N, 3.16 and 1.88% for P, 0.91 and 0.57% for K, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2021

This study was conducted on sows to evaluate the effect of flaxseed oil on the sows and their offspring's performance. Forty-eight (48) sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their offspring were assigned randomly to each treatment (Control and Control + flaxseed oil 0.5% [FX]). Body weight (BW), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and nutrient digestibility of the sows were estimated. Sow backfat thickness, days-to-estrus, and chest circumference were measured by different methods. In piglets, survival rate, the initial weight, weaning weight, and average daily gain (ADG) were calculated. Fecal scores of both the sows and piglets were recorded. Inclusion of FX did not influence (p > 0.05) the litter size, days-to-estrus, sow BW, ADFI and digestibility of nutrient throughout the experiment. Reduction in (p < 0.05) BW loss was observed with the FX supplementation in sows. Only the backfat thickness during the weaning period showed an increase (p < 0.05) by FX supplementation. Chest circumference was decreased (p < 0.05) in the FX group compared to the control. Sows fed the FX diet had a reduced (p < 0.05) fecal score only at weaning. Piglets' fecal score showed no significant differences for FX supplementation. However, the inclusion of FX brought about a higher (p < 0.05) birth weight, weaning weight, and average daily gain (ADG). In conclusion, our study suggests that FX has positive supplementary effects on a sow's body condition and its offspring's performance as a source of n-3 fatty acid.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.199-210
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• 2020

Footpad dermatitis (plantar surface footpad lesions) is an increasing problem in the global poultry industry, affecting foot quality, overall welfare, and production performance. The growing consumer demand for chicken feet in Asian markets has given poultry companies interest in reducing footpad dermatitis. The lesions are multiply associated with various factors affecting the moisture content of litter such as nutrition, drinker type and management, environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, ammonia levels, ventilation rate), and flock health. This review addresses footpad dermatitis characteristics, causes, and the assessment system to provide a guide for future research.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1649-1655
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• 2022

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine the genetic parameters for reproductive traits among Large White pigs, including the following traits: total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), litter birth weight (LBW), average birth weight (ABW), gestation length (GL), age at first service (AFS) and age at first farrowing (AFF). Methods: The dataset consisted of 19,036 reproductive records from 4,986 sows, and a multi-trait animal model was used to estimate genetic variance components of seven reproductive traits. Results: The heritability estimates for these reproductive traits ranged from 0.09 to 0.26, with the highest heritability for GL and AFF, and the lowest heritability for NBA. The repeatabilities for TNB, NBA, LWB, ABW, and GL were ranged from 0.16 to 0.34. Genetic and phenotypic correlations ranged from -0.41 to 0.99, and -0.34 to 0.98, respectively. In particular, the correlations between TNB, NBA and LBW, between AFS and AFF, exhibited a strong positive correlation. Furthermore, for TNB, NBA, LBW, ABW, and GL, genetic correlations of the same trait between different parities were moderately to strongly correlated (0.32 to 0.97), and the correlations of adjacent parities were higher than those of nonadjacent parities. Conclusion: All the results in the present study can be used as a basis for the genetic assessment of the target population. In the formulation of dam line selection index, AFS or AFF can be considered to combine with TNB in a multiple trait swine breeding value estimation system. Moreover, breeders are encouraged to increase the proportion of sows at parity 3-5 and reinforce the management of sows at parity 1 and parity ≥8.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1725-1732
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of selenium benefits on the physiological responses, litter performance, blood profiles and milk composition of lactating sows and tissue concentration of their progeny when mixed form of selenium was provided in a lactation diet. Methods: A total of 45 multiparous sows (Yorkshire×Landrace) with similar body weight, backfat thickness, and parity were assigned to one of three treatments with 15 sows per treatment in a completely randomized design. Organic and inorganic selenium were mixed and added to the diet at 0.15 ppm and 0.25 ppm, respectively. A non-Se-fortified corn-soybean meal basal diet served as a negative control. Treatments were as follows: i) Control: corn-soybean meal based diet, ii) ISOS15: control+ inorganic Se 0.15 ppm+organic Se 0.15 ppm, iii) ISOS25: control+inorganic Se 0.25 ppm+organic Se 0.25 ppm. Results: Serum selenium concentrations of sows and piglets were increased by the supplemental Se mixture at 7 days of lactation compared with the control (p<0.01, respectively). The kidney and muscle selenium concentrations of piglets were increased by the supplemental Se mixture at 21 days of lactation compared with the control (p = 0.03; p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Consequently, supplementation with mixed inorganic and organic selenium in a lactating diet could improve the selenium status of sows and piglets; no differences were observed among the mixing levels.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1451-1459
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• 2021

Objective: The objectives of the study were to evaluate reproductive performance and selection response through genetic trend of community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) of Bonga sheep. Methods: Reproduction traits data were collected between 2012 and 2018 from Bonga sheep CBBPs. Phenotypic performance was analyzed using the general linear model procedures of Statistical Analysis System. Genetic parameters were estimated by univariate animal model for age at first lambing (AFL) and repeatability models for lambing interval (LI), litter size (LS), and annual reproductive rate (ARR) traits using restricted maximum likelihood method of WOMBAT. For correlations bivariate animal model was used. Best model was chosen based on likelihood ratio test. The genetic trends were estimated by the weighted regression of the average breeding value of the animals on the year of birth/lambing. Results: The overall least squares mean±standard error of AFL, LI, LS, and ARR were 375±12.5, 284±9.9, 1.45±0.010, and 2.31±0.050, respectively. Direct heritability estimates for AFL, LI, LS, and ARR were 0.07±0.190, 0.06±0.120, 0.18±0.070, and 0.25±0.203, respectively. The low heritability for both AFL and LI showed that these traits respond little to selection programs but rather highly depend on animal management options. The annual genetic gains were -0.0281 days, -0.016 days, -0.0002 lambs and 0.0003 lambs for AFL, LI, LS, and ARR, respectively. Conclusion: Implications of the result to future improvement programs were improving management of animals, conservation of prolific flocks and out scaling the CBBP to get better results.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.567-576
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• 2022

Objective: An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast (EconomasE^®) on the growth performance, visceral organ weight, meat quality, and oxidative stability of broiler chickens. Methods: Nine hundred sixty, day-old male broiler chickens (Cobb, 43.97±0.55 g) were divided into three dietary treatments and allocated into 12 deep litter pens in a completely randomized design giving 4 replicate cages for each treatment. Three dietary treatments were: i) control (CON, basal diet with sufficient nutrient), ii) vitamin E (VitE, basal diet supplemented with 100 IU VitE), and iii) Algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast (EcoE, basal diet supplemented with 0.2% algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast: EconomasE^®). Maize soybean meal based basal diets were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrition requirement for broiler chickens. Chickens were fed ad-libitum experimental diets during the 42 days experiment period. On days 21 and 42, body weight and feed intake were measured to calculate the feed conversion ratio of the chickens. Intestine and visceral organs were measured together with meat quality and oxidative stability on days 14 and 42. Results: Chickens fed with EcoE showed improved (p<0.05) growth performance, meat quality, and higher (p<0.05) oxidative stability compared to the chicken fed on CON. Moreover, broiler chickens fed with EcoE showed similar (p<0.05) growth performance with better (p<0.05) meat quality and higher oxidative stability compared to the broiler chickens fed VitE (p<0.05). Conclusion: The algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast can be supplemented into commercial broiler diets as a substitution of VitE while maintaining growth performance with enhancing meat quality and oxidative stability of the broiler chickens.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.891-898
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of crude oligosaccharide extract from coconut milk meal (CMM) and spent tea leaves (ST) on the performance and gut development of broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 240 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks (ROSS 308) were raised on litter-floored pens and had ad libitum access to water for 42 days. The experiment was conducted on chicks fed with basal diet (CON), commercial mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), crude oligosaccharide extract from CMM, and crude oligosaccharide extract from ST. The experimental diets were supplemented with 2 and 1 g/kg oligosaccharides during the starter and grower periods, respectively. Results: The body weight gain (BWG) of birds in the MOS group was higher than that of birds in the other groups (p<0.05) in the starter period. However, during the grower period, ST significantly improved the BWG compared to the MOS (p<0.05). MOS, CMM, and ST showed no influence on the carcass and visceral organ weight and the weight and length of intestine (p>0.05). The digestibility of gross energy was greater (p<0.05) in the CMM group than in the CON group during the grower period. Morphological changes were absent in the dietary treatments (p>0.05). Conclusion: The improvements in the growth performance were partly driven by nutrient digestibility of such oligosaccharides having prebiotic properties. This result can indicate that supplementing broiler diets with crude oligosaccharides from CMM and ST had no negative effect on the growth performance and gut development of broilers.