• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1663-1673
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• 2021

Objective: Pork belly is considered as the most commercially important and preferable primal cut by consumers worldwide. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effects of fat levels on the meat quality characteristics of pork bellies. Methods: Seventy-eight growing-finishing pigs collected from different commercial pig farms were slaughtered and used in the present study. After slaughter 24 h, bellies were fabricated according to the Korean Pork Cutting Specification, and immediately sampled for analysis of their fat content. Based on the fat levels, the bellies were segregated into three different groups: low fat (LF, fat ≤20%, n = 15), medium fat (MF, fat 21% to 30%, n = 30), and high fat (HF, fat ≥31%, n = 33). The bellies were then analyzed for meat quality traits, fatty acids, flavor compounds and eating quality properties. Results: The HF group had lower moisture and cooking loss levels compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The LF group presented higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The LF group showed higher amounts of the Maillard reaction-derived flavor compounds (e.g., 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl, and 4-methylthiazole) associated with meaty and roasty flavors whereas, the HF group showed higher amounts of oleic acid- derived compounds (e.g., nonanal and octanal) associated with the fatty and oily flavors. Interestingly, significantly higher scores for all the eating quality attributes (flavor, juiciness, tenderness, and overall acceptance) were found in the HF group compared to those in the LF or MF group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The high-fat bellies (fat ≥31%) had a better technological quality and eating quality compared to the low-fat bellies (fat ≤20%). Thus, increasing the fat content may improve the technological quality and eating quality traits of pork bellies, however, this increase may also result in more trimmed loss due to excessively deposited body fat.

• 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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.755-760
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• 2021

Swine diarrhea is a livestock disease that causes huge economic losses to pig farms. In general, diarrhea occurs because of the proliferation of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli). The toxins produced by the proliferated E. coli cause edema in pigs. Although the proliferation of these coliforms can be prevented by using a vaccine, the vaccines containing chemically produced dead bacteria are not very effective, making it difficult to control the proliferation of E. coli. Therefore, there is a need to develop new, more effective vaccines. In this study, we prepared killed F4+ and F18ab+ E. coli, which induce diarrhea and edema in pigs, using the extracts of immune-induced silkworms containing antimicrobial peptides and examined their availability as a killed-bacteria vaccine. First, the antimicrobial activity analysis of the prepared immune-induced silkworm extract was conducted using the radial diffusion assay. The results showed high activity against both F4+ and F18ab+ E. coli. The production efficiency of E. coli dead cells was determined using the colony-counting method. The concentration of the E. coli dead cells was the highest (50 mg/ml) when treated at 4℃. In addition, the analysis of the prepared dead cells using a transmission electron microscope confirmed that E. coli leaked out of the cytoplasm and the cell membrane remained intact. Therefore, F4+ and F18ab+ E. coli produced using immune-induced silkworms extract are considered to be highly available as bacterial ghost vaccines that can help prevent swine diarrhea and the resulting edema.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.91-98
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to provide a design and operation technical guideline for meeting the appropriate design criteria to bio-gasification facilities treating organic wastes. 9 anaerobic digestion facilities which is normally operated during the field survey and 14 livestock manure farms were selected for precision investigation. the physicochemical analysis was performed on the moisture and organic contents, nutrients composition (carbohydrate, fat, protein), volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and nitrogen, etc. Volatile solids (VS) of organic wastes brought into the bio-gasification facilities were 2.81 % (animal manure only) and 5.92 % (animal manure+food waste), respectively. Total solids (TS) reults of samples from livestock farms were 5.6 % in piglets and 11~13 % in other kinds of breeding pigs. The actual methane yield based on nutrients contents was estimated to $0.36Sm^3CH_4/kgVS$ which is equivalent to 72 % of theoretical methane yield value. The optimum mixing ratio depending on the effect of the combined bio-gasification was obtained through the continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) which is operated at different mixing ratio of swine manure and food waste leachate. The range of swine manure and food waste leachate from 60:40 to 40:60 were adequate to the appropriate conditions of anaerobic digestion; less than 100 gTS/, more than alkalinity of 1 gCaCO3/L, C/N ratio 12.0~30.0, etc.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.271-278
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• 2020

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is one of the major causative infectious agents of diarrhea in newborn and post-weaning pigs and leads to a large economic loss worldwide. However, there is limited information on the distribution and characterization of virulence genes in E. coli isolated from diarrheic piglets, which also applies to the current status of pig farms in Korea. To investigate the prevalence and characterization of virulence genes in E. coli related to diarrhea in piglets, the rectal swab samples of diarrheic piglets (aged 2 d to 6 w) were collected from 163 farms between 2013 and 2016. Five to 10 individual swab samples from the same farm were pooled and cultured on MacConkey agar plates, and E. coli were identified using the API 32E system. Three sets of multiplex PCRs were used to detect 13 E. coli virulence genes. As a result, a total of 172 E. coli isolates encoding one or more of the virulence genes were identified. Among them, the prevalence of individual virulence gene was as follows, (1) fimbrial adhesins (43.0%): F4 (16.9%), F5 (4.1%), F6 (1.7%), F18 (21.5%), and F41 (3.5%); (2) toxins (90.1%): LT (19.2%), STa (20.9%), STb (25.6%), Stx2e (15.1%), EAST1 (48.3%); and (3) non-fimbrial adhesin (19.6%): EAE (14.0%), AIDA-1 (11.6%) and PAA (8.7%), respectively. Taken together, various pathotypes and virotypes of E. coli were identified in diarrheic piglets. These results suggest a broad array of virulence genes is associated with coliform diarrhea in piglets in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.130-139
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• 2017

This study investigated the effect of heat stress on the performance and blood characteristics in commercial pig farms. A total of 180 growing pigs and 180 finishing pigs were assigned to two treatments consisting of thermal-neutral period(TNP) and high-temperature period(HTP) with three replications in floor pen, respectively. Feeding trials in the TNP and HTP were individually performed in autumn and summer seasons, respectively. Temperature-humidity index(THI) was calculated by temperature and humidity. Performance and physiological responses were identified per growth stages and feeding trial. Average temperature and THI were $16.8^{\circ}C$ and 61.4 at the TNP, and $25^{\circ}C$ and 74.3 at the HTP, respectively. Growing pigs in HTP exhibited lower BW, ADG and ADFI than in TNP(p<0.01). Similarly, finishing pigs showed lower growth parameters in HTP than in TNP(p<0.01). Lymphocytes and neutrophils of growing pigs were lower in HTP than in TNP(p<0.05). The serum T-PRO and NEFA in finishing pigs were higher in HTP than in TNP(p<0.05). In HTP, finishing pigs had higher cortisol levels than in TNP. Therefore, HTP can negatively influence growth performance and nutritional metabolism in pigs. Our results may provide useful information for developing feeding programs and diets to control heat stress for swine farms.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.459-470
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• 2007

Domestically, finishing pigs are marketed at 110 kg on an average. However, it is thought to be feasible to increase the market weight to 120kg or greater without decreasing the carcass quality, because most domestic pigs for pork production have descended from lean-type lineages. The present study was undertaken to investigate the growth efficiency and profitability of ‘high’-market wt pigs and the physicochemical characteristics and consumers' acceptability of the high-wt carcass. A total of 96 (Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc-crossbred gilts and barrows were fed a finisher diet ad laibtum in 16 pens beginning from 90-kg BW, after which the animals were slaughtered at 110kg (control) or ‘high’ market wt (135 and 125kg in gilts & barrows, respectively) and their carcasses were analyzed. Average daily gain and gain:feed did not differ between the two sex or market wt groups, whereas average daily feed intake was greater in the barrow and high market wt groups than in the gilt and 110-kg market wt groups, respectively(P<0.01). Backfat thickness of the high-market wt gilts and barrows corrected for 135 and 125-kg live wt, which were 23.7 and 22.5 mm, respectively, were greater (P<0.01) than their corresponding 110-kg counterparts(19.7 & 21.1 mm). Percentages of the trimmed primal cuts per total trimmed lean (w/w), except for that of loin, differed statistically (P<0.05) between two sex or market wt groups, but their numerical differences were rather small. Crude protein content of the loin was greater in the high vs. 110-kg market group (P<0.01), but crude fat and moisture contents and other physicochemical characteristics including the color of this primal cut were not different between the two sexes or market weights. Aroma, marbling and overall acceptability scores were greater in the high vs. 110-kg market wt group in sensory evaluation for fresh loin (P<0.01); however, overall acceptabilities for cooked loin, belly and ham were not different between the two market wt groups. Marginal profits of the 135- and 125-kg high-market wt gilt and barrow relative to their corresponding 110-kg ones were approximately -35,000 and 3,500 wons per head under the current carcass grading standard and price. However, if it had not been for the upper wt limits for the A- and B-grade carcasses, marginal profits of the high market wt gilt and barrow would have amounted to 22,000 and 11,000 wons per head, respectively. In summary, 120～125-kg market pigs are likely to meet the consumers' preference better than the 110-kg ones and also bring a profit equal to or slightly greater than that of the latter even under the current carcass grading standard. Moreover, if only the upper wt limits of the A- & B-grade carcasses were removed or increased to accommodate the high-wt carcass, the optimum market weights for the gilt and barrow would fall upon their target weights of the present study, i.e. 135 and 125 kg, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2000

To improve the pig farm management and efficiency of swine industry by inducing the farrowing to day-time from night, In the first experiment, reproduction records of purebred and crossbred pigs were collected and analyzed to estimate the $\varepsilon$ ffec 잉 of factors affecting day and night farrowing. The general linear model was used to estimate the least square means of the factors affecting various reproductive characteristics. And also, chi-square tests were used to examine the independence of the reproductive traits and environmental factors using the SAS (1992). The comparisons between pure and crossbred pigs for total number born, percentage of number born alive, gestation length, time length for farrowing were determined. The results indicated that the gestation length of crossbred (115.11 d) was slightly longer than that of purebred (114.89 d, p＜0.05). For the seasonal effects on total number born, the largest was found in spring and no differences were found among summer, fall and winter. The average gestation length was 1 day longer in spring and winter than in summer and fall. The total number born and number born alive were smaller in first, second, and greater or equal to sixth parity than other parities. And also, the percentage of no. born alive was least in greater or equal to sixth parity. For the effect of mating methods, natural and artificial insemination, on total number born and number born alive, no differences between the two methods were found. However, the percentage of number born alive for natural mating was 98.06% and was higher than artificial insemination(93.75%). The time length for farrowing was I hour were found for the 6 hrs of farrowing time. In general situation of pig farms, day-time farrowing was 34.8% and night farrowing was 65.2%, indicating that night farrowing was almost double of the night farrowing.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2007

Data of 369 commercial pigs produced from YorkshrexLancrace (YL F1) sows crossed with either Duroc (D), Berkshire (B) or BerkshirexDuroc(BD F1) as a terminal sire were used for the comparison of carcass garde and real retail cut yield. The crosses were performed between May, 2004 and May, 2006 at three interrlated farms belonging to the Gyeongam pork brand. The average carcass weight, carcass backfat thickness, carcass rate, AB grade ratio, lean meat yield were 84.78±0.33kg, 20.72±0.237mm, 76.25±0.208%, 85.7% and 44.30±0.158%, respectively. The average weights of real retail cut were 10.32±0.062kg belly, 4.17±0.025kg boston butt, 3.88±0.022kg rib, 8.40±0.040kg picnic, 15.15±0.081kg ham, 6.44±0.043kg loin and 0.94±0.006kg tender loin. In comparisons of carcass traits among cross types, carcass weights and backfat thicknesses of YL(♀)×B(♂), YL(♀)×BD(♂) and YL(♀)×D(♂) were 85.73±0.516kg, 82.69±0.788kg and 84.79±0.603kg, respectively and 22.09±0.356mm, 20.33±0.543mm and 19.58±0.415mm, respectively. The YL(♀)×B(♂) cross showed the highest carcass weight and backfat thickness. The ratio of AB grade were 0.83±0.030% in YL(♀)×B(♂), 0.97±0.046% in YL(♀)×BD(♂) and 0.83±0.035% in YL(♀)×D(♂), and the YL(♀)×BD(♂) was higher than other two crosses. Weights of belly were 10.28±0.092kg in YL(♀)×B(♂), 10.59±0.133kg in YL(♀)×BD(♂) and 10.25±0.107kg in YL(♀)×D(♂). Consequently, the YL(♀)×BD(♂) cross showed the highest yield. In conclusion, there was no difference in carcass yield of commercial pigs derived from BD (F1) terminal sires with those from D terminal sires. However, weight of belly and AB grade ratio from BD (F1) terminal sires are higher than two others. Therefore, BD (F1) sire could be utilized as terminal one and contribute better profit for the pig industry.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2007

The kinds and quantity of antimicrobial agents used for cattle (animal industry) may be considerable, suggesting the possibility that pathogenic bacteria which cannot be extirpated by the existing antimicrobial agents could appear. Ten cattle, pig and chicken farms, respectively, were randomly selected from 5 provinces in Korea and the samples were collected from excrement, manure, underground water, farmers' hands and the neishboring environment. h total of 299 samples were examined and 197 of Escherichia coli, 13 of Campylobacter jejun/coli, 223 of Enterococcus faecium/faecalis and 42 of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were collected. All isolates were screened for antimicrobial resistance: 69.4% of E. coli (137/197 strains), 78.6% of S. aureus (33/42 strains), and 82.1% of E. faecium/faecalis (183/223 strains) were resistant to one antimicrobial agent and all of C. jejuni/coli Isolates showed the resistance to one antimicrobial agent. Meanwhile, the multiple resistance ratio for more than 4 lines of antimicrobial agent was 19.2% of E. coli (38/197 strains), 11.9% of S. aureus (5/42 strains), 15.4% of C. jejuni/coli (2/13 strains) and 6.2% of E. faecium/faecalis (14/223 strains). The antimicrobial resistance ratio of bacteria isolated from the cattle farm showed lower than that of bacteria isolated from the pig or chicken farm, which might be related to the quantify of antimicrobial agents consumed. And one strain of vancomycin resistant E..faecium (VREF) were isolated from the excrement of chicken and stream, respectively. Generally, the ratio of VREF collected in animal farm environments is lower than that of VREF collected in medical environment.