• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.7.1-7.7
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• 2014

The recognition that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) possess potent anti-inflammatory properties in human models has prompted studies investigating their efficacy for animal growth and immunity. This study examined the effect of feeding an n-3 PUFA-enriched diet on growth and immune response of weanling piglets. Newly weaned pigs (averaging $27{\pm}2$ days of age and $8.1{\pm}0.7kg$ of body weight) were assigned randomly to receive a control (3% vegetable oil, n = 20) or n-3 PUFA-supplemented (3% marine n-3 PUFA, n = 20) diet for 28 day after weaning. Female pigs consuming the n-3 PUFA-enriched diet were lighter at week 4 post-weaning than those fed the vegetable oil supplement. Weanling pigs gained more weight, consumed more feed and had better growth to feed ratios between days 14 and 28 than between days 0 and 14 post-weaning. Plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) decreased between days 0 ($87.2{\pm}17.0ng/mL$) and 14 ($68.3{\pm}21.1ng/mL$) after weaning and then increased again by day 28 ($155.2{\pm}20.9ng/mL$). In piglets consuming the vegetable oil-enriched diet, plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) increased from $37.6{\pm}14.5$ to $102.9{\pm}16.6pg/mL$ between days 0 and 14 post-weaning and remained high through day 28 ($99.0{\pm}17.2pg/mL$). The TNF-${\alpha}$ increase detected in the piglets fed vegetable oil was not observed in the piglets fed n-3 PUFA. Results indicate that weaning induces considerable immune stress in piglets and that this stress can be mitigated by dietary supplementation of n-3 PUFA.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2017

Fermented Rhus verniciflua (FRV) as feed additives act as excellent anti-diarrheal drugs as they increase the intestinal absorption rate therefore being indirectly associated with enhancing growth performance and increasing digestibility in livestock. A total of 80 weaned pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of $6.82{\pm}1.11kg$ were used to evaluate a diet supplemented with FRV meal in a 6 week feeding trial with two dietary treatments [CON - basal diet; TRT - CON + 0.2% FRV] on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood profiles, fecal microflora, and fecal score. Our results showed that the dietary supplementation of FRV improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain and gain : feed (G : F) ratio during days 15 - 42 and the overall experiment period and also increased the ATTD of dry matter (p < 0.05) at days 14 and 42. On the contrary, there was no effect (p > 0.05) on average daily feed intake, ATTD of nitrogen and energy, and blood profiles during the entire experiment. Moreover, dietary inclusion of FRV significantly increased fecal Lactobacillus (p < 0.05) counts and reduced the diarrhea during days 22 - 42. Thus, the results suggest that FRV can be used as a potential additive to improve growth performance and dry matter and to reduce diarrhea while having beneficial effects on fecal microflora in weanling pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.1014-1023
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of incorporating black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and its processed form as an alternative source of protein to fish meal (FM) on the digestibility of amino acids (AA) in weaned pigs. Four cannulated pigs with an initial bodyweight of 13.25 ± 0.25 kg and aged 30 days were subjected to a 4 × 4 Latin square design with three treatments, as well as a nitrogen-free treatment. The diets used for each treatment consisted of a FM diet, a diet containing BSF larvae meal (BSFM), and a diet containing extruded BSF (BSFE). The study was conducted over four stages, with a total duration of 28 days. The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of protein was higher in the FM treatment compared with the BSFM. Among essential AA, the AID of Arg, His, Leu, and Thr were higher in the FM compared with the BSFM and BSFE. A greater AID of Ile and Phe was observed in pigs in the FM treatment compared with the BSFM. The average AA digestibility did not show any difference between treatments. Among non-essential AA, the AID of Ala (p = 0.054) and Glu (p = 0.064) tended to be increased in the FM compared with the BSFM. Among essential AA, the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of Arg, His, Ile, and Leu were higher in the FM compared with the BSFM. Among non-essential AA, the SID of Cys (p = 0.074) tended to be increased in the FM compared with the BSFM. In conclusion, the processing and thermal conditioning techniques utilized for BSF larvae meal showed a tendency for increased AA digestibility. Therefore, when formulating a diet, it is important to take into account the difference in AA digestibility between FM and BSFM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.992-1001
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hot-melt extruded ZnO nano-particles (HME-ZnO) as an alternative for P-ZnO on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, Zn bioavailability, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal morphology of weanling pigs. Methods: A total of 450 piglets (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) were randomly allotted to five treatments based on initial body weight and sex. The experimental diets were fed in a meal form as phase 1 from d 0 to 14 and phase 2 from d 15 to 28. Treatments were the control diet without ZnO supplementation, the diet containing 2,500 ppm Zn as ZnO, and three diets containing 500, 1,000, or 2,500 ppm Zn as HME-ZnO. Results: The overall result showed a higher (p<0.01) average daily gain in weanling pigs fed ZnO-supplemented diets in comparison to the control diet. There was a decrease (p<0.01) in fecal score in the ZnO-supplemented diets. Dietary supplementation of ZnO improved (p<0.05) crude protein digestibility. The weanling pigs fed the P-ZnO diet had a lower (p<0.01) Zn digestibility in the feces than HME-ZnO supplemented treatments. Weanling pigs fed diets supplemented with ZnO had greater (p<0.05) Lactobacillus spp. populations and lower Clostridium spp. (p<0.05) and Coliforms (p<0.01) populations in the ileum. Weanling pigs fed diets supplemented with increasing concentrations of HME-ZnO linearly decreased Clostridium spp. (p<0.05) and Coliforms (p<0.01) in the ileum. Lower (p<0.05) Clostridium spp. and Coliforms counts in the colon were observed in pigs fed with ZnO-supplemented diets. Weanling pigs fed diets supplemented with ZnO showed a greater (p<0.01) villus height in the duodenum. Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of HME-ZnO and P-ZnO showed a potential to improve the digestibility of protein, intestinal Coliform and Clostridium, villus height in duodenum and ileum. Moreover, HME-ZnO showed a higher Zn digestibility compared with P-ZnO.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2002

A study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary probiotics or antibiotics on growth and pathological status in growing-finishing pigs. Ninety male pigs weaned at 24 days of age were divided into three groups of 30 pigs each on the basis of body weight and litter. Three groups of ten pigs(one pen) each were assigned to one of the following diets; a control diet or diets containing 0.1% probiotics or 0.1% antibiotics (1:1 mixture of kitasamycin and sulfamethazine). Average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency(G/F) and the pathological status were monitored. ADG, feed efficiency and carcass quality were not different (P>0.05) among the three treatments. But pork quality in pigs fed probiotics tended to be improved, compared to other treatments. The pigs fed probiotics had lower pathological lesion in intestinal monitoring than that of other treatments pigs. The chemical composition of slurry(BOD, COD, SS, T-N, T-P and ammonia) in the probiotics treatments tended to be decreased, compared to other treatments. Results of this study suggest that dietary probiotics improve pigs' housing environment, and decrease the contents of polluting materials in slurry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1729-1735
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• 2004

A total of 140 weaning pigs were used to determine the effects of digestive enzyme supplementation to corn-soybean meal diets on growth performance, physiological changes of small intestine, microorganisms and pH in the gastrointestinal tract. Two kinds of enzyme complex (A, B) were used in this experiment. Pigs were allotted in a completely random design (CRD) to five replicates with four pigs per pen. Diets and water were provided for ad libitum consumption. Treatments included 1) Control: without enzyme supplementation, 2) Enzyme A 0.05%, 3) Enzyme A 0.10%, 4) Enzyme A 0.15%, 5) Enzyme B 0.05%, 6) Enzyme B 0.10%, 7) Enzyme B 0.15% in the diets. A total of 24 crossbred barrows 25.78${\pm}$0.55 kg BW fitted with simple ileal T-cannulas were used to evaluate the effect the enzyme addition on the nutrient digstibility. Pigs were allotted 4 treatments (No enzyme, enzyme A 0.05%, enzyme A 0.1%, enzyme A 0.15%), 6 replicates according to a completely random design (CRD). Another digestibility trial was followed for enzyme complex B. Twenty pigs, average 31.92${\pm}$0.37 kg BW, fitted with simple ileal T-cannulas for digestibility trial. Neither enzyme A nor enzyme B affected on fecal or ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash (p>0.05). The apparent fecal digestibilities of all the nutrients were higher in total feces collection method than in indirect method. At the end of feeding trial, 21 pigs were slaughtered for examining the morphological changes of small intestine and the concentration of microorganisms in the ileum and the colon. Growth performance, intestinal morphology and pH of ileum and colon were not affected by the either enzyme complex supplementation (p>0.05). These results suggested that enzyme complex A and enzyme complex B were of no benefit to early-weaned pigs when corn-soybean meal based diet was provided.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2008

We compared the effects of supplementing $L-lysine{\cdot}SO_4$ to L-lysine HCl on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention in weaning pigs. A total of 96 crossbred pigs, weaned at $21{\pm}3$ days of age and with an average initial body weight (BW) $6.23{\pm}0.01kg$, were given one of 4 treatments, which translated into 6 replicates of 4 pigs in each pen. The animals were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments according to a randomized completely block design (RCBD) as follows: 1) control-no synthetic lysine, lysine deficient (0.80% total lysine); 2) L-C (= 0.2% L-lysine HCl); 3) K-L-S (= 0.332% $L-lysine{\cdot}SO_4$, A company); 4) C-L-S (= 0.332% $L-lysine{\cdot}SO_4$, B company). Diets were formulated with corn, soy bean meal, and corn gluten meal as the major ingredients, and all nutrients except the lysine met or exceeded NRC requirements (1998). The lysine content of supplemented synthetic lysine was the same in all treatment groups except the control. No clinical health problems associated with the dietary treatments were observed. During the entire experimental period, body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G:F ratio) increased (p<0.01) in pigs fed the experimental diets supplemented with L-lysine??HCl or $L-lysine{\cdot}SO_4$ produced by A company, irrespective of the two synthetic lysine sources. Although the supplementation of $L-lysine{\cdot}SO_4$ produced by B company tended to improve the ADG and G:F ratio, significant differences were not seen among all treatments and tended to be lower than the L-C (L-lysine HCl) and K-L-S ($L-lysine{\cdot}SO_4$ groups using the product from A company). The digestibility of crude protein (CP) was increased by the supplementation of synthetic lysine (p<0.05), irrespective of the L-lysine source (L-C, K-L-S, C-L-S). The results of this study showed that ADG, G:F ratio, and CP digestibility improved when $L-lysine{\cdot}SO_4$ or L-lysine HCl was supplemented into the weaning pigs' diet. There was a clear difference in efficacy between the two $lysine{\cdot}SO_4$ products based upon the growth performance of weaning pigs. Consequently, the bioavailability of $lysine{\cdot}SO_4$ products should be evaluated before supplementation of synthetic lysine in swine diets.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.232-235
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• 2011

Clostridium (C) difficile has been recognized as an important emerging pathogen in both humans and animals. The prevalence of C. difficile in rectal feces and frozen colons of 132 pigs with diarrhea from the Jeju Island was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect C. difficile toxin A and B genes. PCR findings revealed toxin A and B in 5 pigs (3.8%), including 2 suckling pigs, 2 weaned pigs and 1 growing pig. The result of PCR was closely matched histopathologic lesions of C. difficile in large intestines of pigs. Histopathologically, the cecum and colons of C. difficile toxin-positive pigs had severe submucosal and mesocolonic edema. Mucosal lesions ranged from random single cell necrosis and exfoliation to segmental, transmural necrosis of the cecum and colon. According to bacteriology, 4 C. difficile-positive pigs (80%) were co-infected with Salmonella typhimurium.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.1076-1085
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• 2021

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of spray-dried plasma (SDP) supplementation during late gestation and lactation on productive performance and immune responses of sows and their litters. Twelve sows (227.78 ± 2.16 kg average body weight; 2.0 average parity) were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: a basal diet (CON) and the basal diet supplemented with 1% SDP. Sows were fed experimental diets from d 30 before farrowing to weaning of their piglets. Blood samples were collected from sows on d 1, 3, and 7 of lactation and from two randomly selected nursing pigs per litter on d 3 and 7 after birth, and d 1, 3, and 7 after weaning. Productive performance and immune responses of sows and their piglets were measured. There was a trend of less body weight loss in sows supplemented with SDP (p < 0.10) during the lactation period and a trend of greater (p < 0.10) average daily gain in SDP piglets compared to those in the CON group. Sows in the SDP group tended to have lower (p < 0.10) serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and cortisol on d 3 and lower serum concentration of TNF-α on d 7 compared with sows in CON group. In comparison with CON piglets, piglets from SDP sows tended to have lower (p < 0.10) serum concentrations of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and cortisol on d 7 after birth, lower (p < 0.10) serum TNF-α and C-reactive protein on d 3 and 7 after weaning, and greater (p < 0.10) average daily gain after weaning. Moreover, weaned pigs from sows fed SDP had significantly lower (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of cortisol and TGF-β1 on d 3 and 7 postweaning, respectively, than CON piglets. In conclusion, SDP supplementation in sow diets from late gestation to weaning improved the productive performance of sows and their offspring; the beneficial effects of SDP may be mediated in part through modulation of immune responses of both sows and piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.1011-1016
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• 2005

In this study, 90 crossbred weaned pigs（Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Large White）weighing - 7.86${\pm}$0.06 kg each were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments. Control pigs were a fed corn-soybean meal diet with no additives. The two treatment groups were fed the basal diet supplemented either with 75 mg/kg Aureomycin or 0.4% fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in order to study the effects on performance, serological indices, and enteric morphology in addition to examining the content of volatile fatty acids in intestinal digesta. The results indicate that the diets containing FOS and antibiotics had a significant effect on feed conversion ratios (FCR) and diarrhea incidence, as well as increasing the concentrations of isobutyric and butyric acid and total VFAs in the caecum, and acetic acid, isovaleric acid, and total VFAs in feces. Supplementation with FOS also resulted in significantly longer mucosal villi height and a higher percentage of goblet cells compared with the control. No difference was found in crypt depth among the three treatments. While serum glucose levels were significantly higher following FOS supplement, differences in serum total protein, albumin, globulin, and urea nitrogen levels were not significant.