• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a subsequent infection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome(PRRS) virus to pigs with A. pleuropneumonia in pigs. Twenty three 7-weeks-old commercial pigs were infected with PRRS virus and/or A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 intratracheally. Feed conversion, clincal signs, gross and histopathological lesions and immunohistochemical findings were examined. 1. Feed conversion ratio in dual-infected pigs with PRRS virus and A. pleuropneumoniae were higher than that of single- infected pigs with PRRS virus or A. pleuropneumoniae. 2. Dual-infected pigs with PRRS virus followed by A. pleuropneumoniae showed more severe clinical signs and gross, histopathological and immunohistochemical pulmonary lesions. The results indicated that dual infections with PRRS virus and A. pleuropneumoniae caused more severe respiratory lesions and growth retardation in pigs than single infection with PRRS virus or A. pleuropneumoniae.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1139-1144
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• 2004

In Exp. 1, a total of 36 pigs (6.55$\pm$0.10 kg average initial body weight and 21 d average age) were used in a 14 d growth study to determine the effects of replacing spray-dried plasma protein (SDPP) with spray-dried egg protein containing specific egg yolk antibody (SDEP) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weaned pigs. The pigs were blocked by weight and assigned to treatments based on sex. There were three pigs per pen and four pens per treatment. Dietary treatments were 0, 3, or 6% SDEP and contained 6, 3, or 0% SDPP, respectively. Through the entire experimental period, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain/feed tended to decrease as the concentration of SDEP increased in the diets. However, there were no significant differences among the treatments (p>0.05). As the addition of SDEP in the diets increased, apparent digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) were decreased without significant (p>0.05). For Exp. 2, 36 pigs (2.63$\pm$0.04 kg average initial body weight and 10 d average age) were used in a 14 d growth study to determine the effects of antibiotic replacement with SDEP on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in early-weaned pigs. The pigs were blocked by weight and assigned to treatments based on sex. There were three pigs per pen and four pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included 1) ANTIBIOTIC (corn-dried whey-soybean meal based diet+0.08% antibiotics, 4 mg of tiamuline hydrogen fumarate; 10 mg of sulfadimidine per kg of complete diet), 2) SDEP0.1 (corndried whey-SBM based diet+0.1% SDEP), and 3) SDEP0.2 (corn-dried whey-SBM based diet+0.2% SDEP). ADG and gain/feed of pigs fed the SDEP0.2 diet were higher than for pigs fed the ANTIBIOTIC diet without significant (p>0.05). Pigs fed the diet with SDEP0.2 tended to have increased apparent digestibilities of DM and N compared to pigs fed the ANTIBIOTIC diet without significant (p>0.05). In conclusion, the dietary SDEP seemed to be partial replacing the SDPP portion of high nutrient dense diet for weaned pigs. Also, dietary SDEP seemed to be approximately 0.2% or more when the pigs fed the antibiotic-free diet for early-weaned pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.267-274
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• 2009

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the feeding value of wood vinegar in weanling pigs. In Experiment 1, weanling pigs (n = 224; Landrace ${\times}$Yorkshire ${\times}$Duroc, 21${\pm}$3 d-old, initial BW 6.12${\pm}$0.10 kg) were assigned to four dietary treatments. Different levels of wood vinegar were added to the diets as dietary treatments (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%). Each treatment comprised 4 replicates with 14 piglets in each. Experimental feeding was conducted for 28 d in two phases (phase I, d 0 to 14 and phase II, d 15 to 28). Feeding of wood vinegar linearly (p<0.05) improved the phase I, phase II and overall ADG and increased (linear, p<0.05) the overall and phase II ADFI. Linear improvements in the apparent fecal digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.013), gross energy (p = 0.019) and crude protein (p = 0.033) were observed as the level of wood vinegar was increased in the diet of pigs. Experiment 2 was conducted to compare dietary wood vinegar with commonly used growth promoters, organic acid (mixture of 21% phosphoric acid, 3.25% propionic acid, 2.8% formic acid, 10% calcium formate and 5% calcium propionate) and antibiotic (aparamycin). A total of 288 weanling piglets (Landrace ${\times}$Yorkshire ${\times}$Duroc, 22${\pm}$2 d-old, initial BW 6.62${\pm}$0.31 kg) were assigned to four treatments with four replicates (18 piglets/pen) for 28 days and fed in 2 phases: phase I, d 0 to 14 and phase II, d 15 to 28. The dietary treatments were control (corn-soybean meal basal diet without antibiotics) and diets containing 0.2% antibiotic, 0.2% organic acid and 0.2% wood vinegar. Pigs fed antibiotic showed higher (p<0.001) ADG and better feed efficiency followed by pigs fed wood vinegar and organic acid diets while those fed the control diet had lowest ADG and poorest feed efficiency. The overall and phase I ADFI was highest (p<0.001) in pigs fed wood vinegar and lowest in pigs fed the control diet. Apparent fecal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and crude protein was significantly higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed the antibiotic diet when compared with pigs fed the control but comparable among pigs fed antibiotic, organic acid and wood vinegar diets. Higher populations of Lactobacillus (p = 0.004) were noted in the ileum of pigs fed the wood vinegar diet, while the population of coliforms in the ileum and cecum was higher (p<0.001) in pigs fed the control diet when compared with pigs fed antibiotic, organic acid or wood vinegar diets. These results indicated that wood vinegar could improve the performance of weanling pigs by improving the nutrient digestibility and reducing harmful intestinal coliforms; moreover performance of pigs fed wood vinegar was superior to those fed organic acid.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.97-101
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• 2006

Certain amino acids are essential precursors of a variety of important biomolecules in addition to their major function as protein building blocks. ${\delta}$-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is synthesized from the condensed form of succinyl-CoA with glycine after decarboxylation catalyzed by ALA synthase. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of ALA supplementation on growth performance, behavioral characteristics and hematological/immune status in nursery pigs. A total of 144 pigs weaned at 21 d of age were allotted to three dietary treatments representing (-) control (w/o antibiotics; NC), (+) control (w/carbadox at 50 mg/kg; PC), and the treatment group with ALA supplementation (0.05%; TA). Each treatment had 6 pens (replicates) with 8 pigs per pen. Pigs were fed phase 1 (21.9% CP, 1.40% Lys) and 2 (20.6% CP, 1.15% Lys) experimental diets for 3 and 2 wks, respectively. Feed intake and weight gain were measured weekly during phase 1 and at the end of phase 2. At the end of phase 2, blood samples were taken and analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer. Skin color and activity of pigs (48 h) from all pens in each treatment were measured at the second week of phase 2. Growth performance was not affected (p>0.05) by the dietary supplementation of ALA during the 5 wk nursery period. Pigs in the TA (6.46) and PC (6.68) had a higher (p<0.05) number of red blood cells ($10^6cell/{\mu}L$) than pigs in the NC (6.15). Pigs in PC (12.16) had a higher (p<0.05) hemoglobin level (g/dL) than pigs in the NC group (11.29) and the TA group (11.47). Pigs in the TA and PC had darker (p<0.05) and less (p<0.05) yellow skin color than pigs in the NC. Pigs in the PC tended (p = 0.081) to be less active than pigs in the other groups. There were no differences in behavioral characteristics between the NC and the TA. The data suggest that ALA supplementation has no adverse effects on growth performance of nursery pigs. Moreover, ALA supplementation increased red blood cell counts which may be beneficial to pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.409-419
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• 2020

This study evaluated the effects of breed and gender in Duroc (D), Pietrain (P), and crossbred (DP) pigs. Loin samples were collected from D (n = 79), P (n = 42), and DP (n = 45) pigs. Intramuscular fat content was significantly lower in P (p < 0.001), and pH was lowest in DP pigs (p < 0.001). Gilts had higher intramuscular fat (IMF) and pH values than did castrated males (p < 0.05). Water-holding capacity was lower in DP pigs than that in D and P pigs (p < 0.001). Shear force in DP pigs was higher than that in D and P pigs (p < 0.001). Lightness and yellowness of meat in DP pigs was increased compared with coloring of P pig meat (p < 0.01). Meat from DP pigs was redder compared with meat from in D and P pigs, and it was higher in gilts than in castrates (p < 0.001). The C16:0 content was lower in P and DP pigs than in D pigs (p < 0.01). C18:2 content was higher in P and DP pigs than in D pigs (p < 0.001). Unsaturated and saturated fatty acids increased in P pigs compared with levels in D pigs (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that meat quality can be controlled by crossbreeding to increase or reduce selected properties. This study provides the basic data on the meat characteristics of F1 DP pigs. Thus, further study should be conducted to estimate the meat quality of various crossbreeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1035-1040
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• 2003

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of fat sources on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum traits and intestinal morphology in weaning pigs. A total of 128 weaning pigs (Landrace${\times}$Large White${\times}$Duroc, $21{\pm}2$ days of age, $5.82{\pm}0.13kg$ of average initial body weight) were allotted in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with four treatments: 1) corn oil, 2) soybean oil, 3) tallow and 4) fish oil. Each treatment had 8 replicates with 4 pigs per pen. During phase I period (d 0 to 14), pigs fed corn oil or soybean oil diet tended to show higher ADG and FCR than any other treatments although there was no significant difference. During phase II period (d 15 to 28), pigs fed corn oil diet showed better ADG and ADFI than pigs fed soybean oil, tallow or fish oil. For overall period, growth performance of weaning pigs was improved (p<0.05) when pigs were fed soybean oil or corn oil. Apparent digestibility of energy and fat was improved when pigs were fed corn oil diet (p<0.05). Supplementation of corn oil resulted in higher serum triglyceride concentration than the other treatments (p<0.05). However, there was a lower cholesterol concentration when corn oil was provided compared to tallow or fish oil. Pigs fed corn oil tended to have increased villus height compared with soybean oil, tallow or fish oil treatment (p<0.05). This experiment suggested that vegetable oils such as corn oil or soybean oil, were much better fat source for improving growth performance of weaning pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.164-169
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• 1997

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feed processing and feeding methods on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 72 pigs (LYD, 22.24 kg BW) were employed for a 90-d feeding trial. Treatments were 1) mash dry feeding (MD), 2) mash wet feeding (MW), 3) pellet dry feeding (PD), and 4) extruded pellet dry feeding (EPD). Corn, soybean meal and wheat bran in the basal diets were extruded before mixing and pelleting for EPD diet production. Ileal or fecal digestibility and carcass traits including lean meat percentage and weights of stomach ulcer were also examined. During the growing period, pigs fed PD showed improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion (F/G) over those fed MD, whereas no significant differences in average daily feed intake (ADFI) were found among dietary treatments. Finisher pigs fed MD showed lover, but not significant, ADG and F/G than those fed MW, PD or EPD. For the overall period, pigs fed PD grew faster (p < 0.05) than those fed MD or EPD. Feed intake was different between the two feeding methods (MD vs MW), and between the two processed feeds (PD vs EPD). The digestibility of crude fat was higher (p < 0.05) in pigs fed EPD than in pigs fed mash feeds. NFE digestibility of EPD treatment was also higher (p < 0.05) than that of PD. Back fat (10th rib area) was thicker (p < 0.05) tn pigs fed MD than in pigs fed EPD. other carcass traits including incidence of esophagogastric ulcers were not different among treatments. In conclusion, pelleting appeared to bo the desirable processing methods and wet feeding could also be recommended for growing-finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.119-124
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• 2017

Objective: The death of animals during transport for slaughter is a major factor indicating the level of welfare in transported animals. The aim of this study was to assess mortality related to the commercial transport of finisher pigs for slaughter in the Czech Republic. Methods: The inspectors of the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic recorded the numbers of finisher pigs transported to processing plants in the Czech Republic for slaughter and the mortality in these pigs in relation to transport in the period from 2009 to 2014. Results: Our results show that the likelihood of death losses in transported pigs increases with increasing transport distance. The transport-related mortality ranged from 0.049% in pigs transported for distances below 50 km to 0.145% in pigs transported for distances exceeding 300 km. The impact of external air temperature on the transport-related mortality found in our study clearly shows that current transport practices fail to ensure the welfare of pigs transported under other than moderate weather. Particularly cold temperatures below $-2^{\circ}C$ were associated with increased death losses in winter transport. Conclusion: Despite a decreasing trend in the mortality of finisher pigs transported for slaughter in Europe, our study suggests that current transport conditions are not efficient at ensuring the welfare of pigs during transport for longer distances and the protection of pigs against the negative impact of extreme ambient temperatures. Further research should focus on developing practical guidelines to improve the welfare of pigs in transit accordingly.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1464-1472
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• 2011

Effects of a supplemental fermented agro by-products diet on growth performance, blood characteristics and carcass traits were investigated in fattening pigs. The fermented diet mainly contained 38.0% brewer's grain, 25.0% rice bran and 21.0% byproduct of king oyster mushrooms. The mixed ingredients were fermented at $40^{\circ}C$ for 7 days and fed to crossbred barrow pigs for 62 days. Ninety pigs were housed in 10 head per pen with three replicate pens per treatment. The pigs in the control group were fed with formula feed, while the pigs in T1 group were fed 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% fermented diet substituted with formula feed on 1 week interval. Pigs in T2 group were fed 30, 60 and 100% fermented diet substituted with formula feed on 1 week interval. The fermented diet significantly (p<0.05) decreased body weight gain and feed efficiency of pigs. The blood characteristics differed with diet types. Carcass grade was significantly better (p<0.05) in the pigs fed fermented diet than in the pigs fed control diet as well as ratio of high grade was higher in the fermented diet groups. Therefore, although a dietary of fermented diet decreased growth performance and feed efficiency, it improved the carcass grade in pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.461-465
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• 2007

Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERVs) are a major concern in relation to xenotransplantation. Previous research indicated that PERVs are present at about 50 copies in the pig genome and their chromosomal insertion sites are different among pig breeds. We examined nine Korean native pigs and seven Asian Wild Boars for the presence of a PERV-A at SSC 1q2.4 and a PERV-B at SSC 7p1.1-2 previously reported in a Large White pig. The PERV-B at locus 7p1.1-2 displayed insertional variability in Korean native pigs and Asian Wild Boars. Using the primers for the PERV-A at 1q2.4 from Large White pig, we only can amplify an unclassified 798 bp sequence, which showed insertional variability only in Korean native pigs. This study indicates that there are differences within and between Asian and European pigs in PERV insertions and suggests that selection could generate PERV-free lines of pigs more suitable for xenotransplantation.