• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1630-1636
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• 2013

An investigation was carried out to assess the carcass characteristics and meat quality aspects of immunocastrated male pigs of medium genetic potential for lean meat deposition in carcass (53 to 55%). When the crossbred Large White x Landrace pigs (n = 45) were 70 days old, they were distributed in a totally randomized design in three treatments (castrated males, females and immunocastrated males) with three replicates of five animals. The pigs were slaughtered when they were 140 days old. Carcass temperature and pH were recorded twice, at 45 min and 24 h after slaughter. The carcasses were evaluated for hot and cold carcass yield, commercial cuts yield, length and depth, back fat thickness, loin eye area and lean meat percentage. The Longissimus dorsi muscle was extracted for analysis of color ($L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$), exudate loss, cooking loss and centesimal and sensorial analysis of the meat. There were no significant differences for the evaluated parameters between castrated males, immunocastrated males and females, except for backfat thickness between the 7th and 8th thoracic vertebra and the point P2 (lower for immunocastrated males) and carcass temperature at 45 min post slaughter (higher in immunocastrated males), however, this did not interfer with the rate of pH decrease post mortem and the meat quality. The results from this research did not indicate a benefit of immunocastration on carcass characteristics of pigs of medium genetic potential for lean meat deposition in carcass, when compared to surgical castration.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1065-1076
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary mulberry leaves on the growth, production performance, gut microbiota, and immunological parameters of poultry and livestock. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were systematically analyzed to identify pertinent studies up to December 2022. The effects of mulberry leaf diet was assessed using the weighted mean difference, and the 95% confidence interval was calculated using a random-effects model. Results: In total, 18 studies that sampled 2,335 poultry and livestock were selected for analysis. Mulberry leaves improved the average daily gain and reduced the feed/meat ratio in finishing pigs, and the average daily gain and average daily feed intake in chicken. In production performance, mulberry leaves lowered the half carcass weight, slaughter rate, and loin eye area in pigs, and the slaughter rate in chickens. Regarding meat quality in pigs, mulberry leaves reduced the cooked meat percentage, shear force, crude protein, and crude ash, and increased the 24 h pH and water content. In chickens, it increased the drip loss, shear force, 45 min and 24 h pH, crude protein, and crude ash. Mulberry leaves also affect the abundances of gut microbiota, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Megamonas, Escherichia-Shigella, Butyricicoccus, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Escherichia coli in poultry and livestock. Mulberry leaves at different doses were associated with changes in antioxidant capacity in chickens, and immune organ indexes in pigs. With respect to egg quality, mulberry leaves at different doses improved the shell strength, yolk color, eggshell thickness, and eggshell weight. However, moderate doses diminished the egg yolk ratio and the egg yolk moisture content. Conclusion: In general, dietary mulberry leaves improved the growth, production performance, and immunological parameters in poultry and livestock, although the effects varied at different doses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1296-1303
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• 2000

A series of four experiments was conducted to compare nutritional values of decorticated sunflower meals against soybean meal, in diets for pigs from weaning (Exp. 1 and 2) to finishing (Exp. 3 and 4). All experimental diets were prepared compensating for the energy content by using vegetable oil and the lysine content was matched using synthetic L-Lysine HCl. Twenty-one day old pigs were fed either corn-soybean meal based diet (CSBM) or corn- twice-decorticated sunflower meal based diet (CDSM) for four weeks (Exp. 1). There was no difference in performances between treatment groups. In Exp. 2, corn-non-decorticated sunflower meal based diet (CNSM) was added to the existing two treatments. Twenty-one day old pigs were fed three experimental diets for four weeks. Pigs fed CNSM had a lower weight gain and feed intake than other treatments (p<0.05). There was no difference between pigs fed CSBM and CDSM (Exp. 2). Growth performance of growing pigs was also greater (p<0.05) in pigs fed corn starch-twice- decorticated sunflower meal based diet (CSDSM) than pigs fed corn starch-non-decorticated sunflower meal based diet (CSNSM) during the eight week feeding trial (Exp. 3). There was no difference between pig fed corn starch-soybean meal based diet (CSSBM) and CSDSM (Exp. 3). In Exp. 4, growing pigs were fed three experimental diets (CSBM, CDSM, and barley-twice- decorticated sunflower meal based diet; BDSM) until the slaughter. There was no difference in growth performance of pigs during growing and finishing periods among treatments. However, pigs fed CSBM had a higher carcass dressing percentage (p<0.05) than pigs fed CDSM and BDSM. Pigs fed BDSM diet had a lower fat tissue percentage than other groups (p<0.05). The twice-decorticated sunflower meal can be used as a substitute for soybean meal in pig diets. The performances of piglets and growing-finishing pigs were not affected when soybean meal was replaced by twice-decorticated sunflower meal. This substitution needs the contribution of synthetic lysine and vegetable oil as sources of complementary nutrients to match the nutrient profile.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.760-764
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• 1999

A totoal of 219 pigs, 109 necropsy-pigs at the diagnostic laboratory of Cheju National University and 110 slaughter-pigs in Cheju, were evaluated for the prevalence of tissue antigen and serum antibody for spontaneus porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome(PRRS). Tissues from 219 pigs examined for PRRS viral antigen by immmunohistochemistry included lung(cranio-ventral lobes and dorso-caudal lobes), tonsil, tracheobronchial lymph node, mesenteric lymph node, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, testis, ovary, brain, and spinal cord. Sera from 180 pigs were tested for the presence of antibody to PRRS virus by the indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA). In the examination of serum antibody and tissue antigen for PRRS virus, serum antibody titers were considered as positive in 10%(18/180) of animals tested and PRRS viral antigen was detected in tissues of 4%(9/219) of the pigs. PRRS virus tissue antigen was most commonly detected by immunohistochemistry in the cranio-ventral lobe and tonsil. We also confirmed the distribution of tissue antigen and prevalence of serum antibody to PRRS virus in Cheju. The detection of viral antigen by immunohistochemistry in tonsils and cranio-ventral lobes proved to be a very useful method for PRRS diagnosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1796-1802
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• 2017

Objective: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the optimal space allowance on growth performance, blood profile and pork quality of growing-finishing pigs. Methods: A total of ninety crossbred pigs [$(Yorkshire{\times}Landrace){\times}Duroc$, $30.25{\pm}1.13kg$] were allocated into three treatments (0.96: four pigs/pen, $0.96m^2/pig$; 0.80: five pigs/pen, $0.80m^2/pig$; 0.69: six pigs/pen, $0.69m^2/pig$) in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were housed in balanced sex and had free access to feed in all phases for 14 weeks (growing phase I, growing phase II, finishing phase I, and finishing phase II). Results: There was no statistical difference in growing phase, but a linear decrease was observed on average daily gain (ADG, p<0.01), average daily feed intake (ADFI, p<0.01), and body weight (BW, p<0.01) with decreasing space allowance in late finishing phase. On the other hand, a quadratic effect was observed on gain to feed ratio in early finishing phase (p<0.03). Consequently, overall ADG, ADFI, and final BW linearly declined in response to decreased space allowance (p<0.01). The pH of pork had no significant difference in 1 hour after slaughter, whereas there was a linear decrease in 24 h after slaughter with decreasing space allowance. Floor area allowance did not affect pork colors, but shear force linearly increased as floor space decreased (p<0.01). There was a linear increase in serum cortisol concentration on 14 week (p<0.05) with decreased space allocation. Serum IgG was linearly ameliorated as space allowance increased on 10 week (p<0.05) and 14 week (p<0.01). Conclusion: Data from current study indicated that stress derived from reduced space allowance deteriorates the immune system as well as growth performance of pigs, resulting in poor pork quality. Recommended adequate space allowance in a grow-to-finish production system is more than $0.80m^2/pig$ for maximizing growth performance and production efficiency.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.1323-1340
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• 2023

There are several factors that affect the welfare and meat quality of pigs during pre-slaughter transport. Among various factors, the effects of weather conditions and loading density were studied. A total of 3,726 finishing pigs were allotted to one of nine groups arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial design according to the weather conditions (low temperature [LT], under 10℃; normal temperature [NT], 10℃-24℃; high temperature [HT], upper 24℃), and loading density (low density [LD], upper 0.43 m²/100 kg; normal density [ND], 0.37-0.43 m²/100 kg; high density [HD], under 0.37 m²/100 kg). Each treatment group follow as: LTLD, LTND, LTHD, NTLD, NTND, NTHD, HTLD, HTND, HTHD. In terms of carcass composition, pigs had the highest carcass weight and backfat thickness at LT. Comparing the HD transport to the ND transport, the meat quality indicated a lower pH and more drip loss. The incidence rate of pale, soft, exudative (PSE) pork was high in the order of the HD, LD, and the ND transport (20%, 9%, and 2%, respectively). The HT transport showed the lowest pH and greatest L^* value under the given weather conditions. Pigs transported under the HTHD and LTLD conditions had the greatest rates of PSE pork (40% and 20%, respectively). Pigs exposed to HD transport had the shortest laying time and the highest overplap behavior. The LDLT transport pigs had a shorter laying time than the LDNT and LDHT transport pigs. In conclusion, too high or too low density transport is generally not excellent for meat quality or animal welfare, however it is preferable to transport at a slightly low density at high temperature and at a slightly high density at low temperature.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2005

Results of meat quality, physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid and amino acid composition of the Korean Native Black Pig(70 and 90 kg of slaughter weight; KNBP) versus Landrace(110kg of slaughter) are as below. Compared with Landrace, the KNBP exhibited a greater lean meat yield, with no difference in backfat thickness between Landrace and KNBP. There were no difference in chemical composition between Landrace and KNBP, but pH, and cooking loss in the KNBP were superior value than those of the Landrace. These results, KNBP were affected in sensory property and cooking yield. Amino acid content of KNBP and Landrace were significant differences between Landrace and KNBP. Except for the methionine, essential amino acid contents of KNBP had significantly higher than those of Landrace. In the change of fatty acid composition, the Landrace had significantly higher percentages of palmitic(l6: 0), stearic(18: 0) and linolenic(18: 3) acids than that of KNBP, but linoleic acid(l8: 2) was decreased.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.543-550
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• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of deletion of vitamin and trace mineral premixes on growth, feed efficiency, backfat thickness, hemoglobin content, muscle vitamin E content, and fecal, serum and muscle trace mineral contents in finishing pigs raised under two different housing conditions. In Exp. 1, three pens (or experimental units) of five pigs each (average weight $\pm$ s.e., 70 $\pm$ 0.5 kg) were assigned to a control diet (with vitamin and trace mineral premixes) or diets with 50 or 100% of the premixes deleted. Pigs were fed to market weight under sub-optimal housing conditions with sawdust-covered concrete floor and no electrical ventilation. In Exp. 2, three pens of four pigs each (average weight $\pm$ s.e., 56 $\pm$ 1.1 kg) were assigned to a control (with vitamin and trace mineral premixes), Diet-P (100% of the premixes deleted) or Diet-P+E (Diet-P plus 100 mg $\alpha$-tocopherol acetate/kg diet fed for the last 2 wk before slaughter). Pigs were fed to market weight under optimal housing conditions with 70%-slatted concrete floor, electrical ventilation and temperature control. No significant differences were found in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain/feed among treatments in both experiments, but in Exp. 2 done with younger pigs, ADG and ADFI tended to be higher in the control group than in pigs fed diet without premixes. Hemoglobin content, hematocrit and red blood cell count were not influenced by the deletion of premixes. Backfat thickness was not different among treatments. Fecal Mn (twofold) and Zn (threefold) contents were higher in the control than in pigs fed diets without the premixes. Serum trace mineral contents were not influenced by diets. $\alpha$-Tocopherol content in gluteus maxima was decreased (P< 0.01) by deleting the dietary premixes, but increased to the level higher than the control by adding 100 mg $\alpha$-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet fed for the last 2 wk before slaughter. Results indicate that: 1) supplementary vitamins and trace minerals may not be necessary for optimum growth in finishing pigs, and 2) deletion of the dietary premixes reduces muscle vitamin E content, but the reduced content can be reversed by adding $\alpha$- tocopherol to diets fed for the last 2 wk before slaughter. The deletion may help to alleviate the environmental load of certain minerals from manure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 1996

To evaluate the feeding effect of oriental medicine on the functional properties of pork, male pigs(Sus scrofa var. domesticus L.) were fed commercial basic diets containing 1.0%, 3.0% and 7.0% of oriental medicine complex from 30 or 45 days before slaughter. The growth pattern and physical conditions of pigs during the feeding period were checked, and after slaughter, the taste of pork and biological characteristics of serum were analyzed. Body weight gain was significantly increased in case of 45 day feeding groups of 3.0 and 7.0% compared with control group (p<0.05), whereas food intakes were slightly decreased in these groups. Triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were effectively decreased in the same feeding groups compared with control group (p<0.01~0.001). Three percent feeding group not only effectively decreased the LDL-cholesterol levels, but also sig-nificantly decreased the atherogenic index in 30 days(p<0.001). Malondialdehyde levels and hy-droxyl radical formations were effectively inhibited in all oriental medicine feeding groups. Superoxide dismutase activities were effectively increased only in 3.0% feeding groups, HDL-cholesterol levels almost did not change in 3.0% and 7.0% feeding groups in 30 days. External and sensory evaluations make satisfactory results in all oriectal medicines feeding groups. According to the experimental results, the growth pattern and physical nomditions of the pigs fed oriental medicine without feeding any antibiotics were relatively superior to those of control group. The authors suggest that, if more than 3.0% of oriental medicine were fed to the pigs from more then 30 days before slaughter the pork is reatively better than those of general pork not only for the modulating the chronic degenerative diseases, but also for its qualities and tastes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2018

Pasteurella multocida is an opportunistic organism that plays a significant role in porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). In the current study, we provide nationwide information of P. multocida isolates from pneumonic lungs of slaughter pigs by determining their prevalence, subspecies, biovars, capsular types, virulence-associated genes, and minimum inhibitory concentrations. P. multocida was the second most frequently confirmed (19.2%) bacterial pathogen and most of the isolates (88.9%) showed simultaneous infection with other respiratory pathogens, especially Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (63.3%, P<0.001) and porcine circovirus type 2 (53.3%, P=0.0205). Of 42 isolates investigated, 41 (97.6%) were identified as P. multocida subspecies multocida, and only one isolate was identified as subspecies septica (biovar 5). All the isolates were capsular type A and the most prevalent biovar was biovar 3 (40.5%), followed by biovar 2 (31.0%). Comparing virulence-associated genes and biovars, all biovar 2 isolates exhibited $hgbB^-pfhA^+$ (P<0.001); all biovar 3 (P=0.0002) and biovar 13 (P=0.0063) isolates presented $hgbB^+pfhA^-$. Additionally, all biovar 2 (P=0.0037) isolates and most of biovar 3 (P=0.0265) isolates harbored tadD. P. multocida showed the highest resistance levels to oxytetracycline (73.8%), followed by florfenicol (11.9%). Continuous monitoring is required for surveillance of the antimicrobial resistance and new emerging strains of P. multocida in slaughter lines.