• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.519-524
• /
• 2017

The present study investigated the impacts of mating age of gilts (A1, < 230 days; A2, 230 - 249 days and A3, $250{\leq}days$) on reproductive performance and litter size of sows at farrowing to weaning. A total of 102 crossbred gilts ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$; average days old, 90 days) were purchased from a commercial breeding company. After identification of third estrus, the gilts were artificially inseminated using semen of Duroc boars. Pregnant pigs were allotted to one of three groups including A1, A2, and A3. Experimental diets and water were fed ad libitum during each experimental period which included the first, second, and third parities. Backfat thickness (BFT) of sows was higher in A3 at farrowing in the first parity than in others. At weaning time in the second parity, sows in A3 group showed a numerically higher BFT than those in A1. There was no effect of mating age on the total number of piglets born and total weaned piglets. There was a tendency to decrease the wean-to estrus-interval in the first parity as age increased at mating. Results obtained in the present study indicate that the first mating age does not affect the subsequent parites' reproductive performance; however, weaned to estrus interval tended to decrease in A2 at the first parity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2003

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of the dietary Cu sources on the performance of the weanling pigs. Forty-eight, 24 in each sex, 4 weeks old pigs were assigned to four treatments; control, methionine-Cu chelate, chitosan-Cu chelate or yeast-Cu chelate. Control diet contained 136ppm Cu to which additional 100ppm Cu in different chelated form was added to the respective treatment. Individual pig weight and feed intake of each pen were recorded weekly for 5 weeks. Average daily feed intakes(ADFI), average daily gains(ADG) and ADFI/ADG were not significantly different among treatments. Nutrient availability was not also significantly affected by treatments. Serum triglyceride concentration of chitosan-Cu treatment was significantly lower than those of methionine-Cu and yeast-Cu treatments but was not significantly different from that of the control. Serum cholesterol concentration of yeast-Cu was significantly lower than those of the control and methionine-Cu but was not significantly different from that of chitosan-Cu treatment. Serum HDL-cholesterol concentration was not significantly affected by treatments. Serum IgG concentrations of all copper treatments were significantly lower than that of the control. It was concluded that Cu-chelates supplemented to the basal diet (136ppm Cu) by the level of 100ppm Cu did not significantly affect growth performance of weaning pigs. However, serum parameters of cholesterol, cholesterol and IgG were significantly affected by the treatments.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.211-219
• /
• 2016

For determining the prevalence of major enteric pathogens, clinical examination and etiological diagnosis were carried out on 75 Korean pig farms. Enteric disease-suspected signs were observed in 90.7% of the farms and the incidence and severity were higher in younger age groups of the pigs. Five of seven pathogens were detected in 375 fecal samples collected from the 75 farms, and the farm-level prevalence of porcine rotavirus group A (PoRVA), pathogenic Escherichia (E.) coli, Lawsonia (L.) intracelluraris, Salmonella spp., and Brachyspira (B.) hyodysenteriae was 54.7%, 54.7%, 16.0%, 10.7% and 2.7%, respectively. PoRVA was extensively infected in suckling and weaning pig groups. The prevalence of pathogenic E. coli was highest in suckling period, and after the period, it exhibited a tendency to decrease. Salmonella spp. and L. intracelluraris were detected in all feeding groups of pigs in a ratio of 1.3~6.7%. B. hyodysenteriae was detected in 1.3~2.7% of growing and fattening pig groups but not detected in suckling and weaning pig groups. At least one or more pathogens were detected in 30.1% of 375 fecal samples. Among these, 25.0% or 5.1% of cases were single or mixed infection. Enteric disease signs of the pigs were significantly co-related with the detection of PoRVA, pathogenic E. coli or Salmonella spp. (P<0.01) but not with L. intracelluraris or B. hyodysenteriae (P>0.05). Conclusively, it will be expected that these data obtained in this study are very useful for subsequent studies and prevention strategies for swine enteric disease in Korean pig farms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.7
• /
• pp.1011-1014
• /
• 2008

A total of 335 sows at a commercial operation (Hitch Pork Producers Inc, Guymon, OK) was used to determine dietary effects of yeast culture supplementation ($XPC^{TM}$, Diamond V Mills) on litter performance. Sows were grouped by parity (parity 1 to 12). Pigs within a group were then allotted to treatments. Treatments consisted of: CON (no added yeast culture) and YC (12 and 15 g/d XPC during gestation and lactation, respectively). Sows were housed individually and fed their assigned gestation and lactation diets from d 35 of gestation to d 21 of lactation. Sows were fed 2.0 kg/d during gestation and ad libitum during lactation. Voluntary feed intake was measured daily during lactation. At farrowing, numbers of pigs born total and alive were measured. Weights of litters were measured at birth and weaning on d 21 of lactation. Litter weight gain of the YC treatment was 6.9% greater (p<0.01) than that of the CON. However, voluntary feed intake of sows and litter size did not differ between treatments. This study indicates that dietary yeast culture supplementation benefits sow productivity by improving litter weight gain. At present, it is not confirmed if improved litter weight gain was due to milk production, which remains to be investigated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.179-182
• /
• 2004

The polymorphism of the locus FSHRB in intron6-Exon7 of FSHR gene was investigated by PCR-RFLPs in Erhualian, Large White and Landrace${\times}$Large White; The association of polymorphism and litter size was analyzed by using SAS. The results showed that 1) the polymorphism of the locus FSHRB was significantly associated with litter size; 2) the total born number (TBN) and number born alive (NBA) of the sows with BB genotype were increased (p<0.05) with additive effects of 1.02-1.42 and 1.04-1.27 pigs per litter, respectively; 3) among the sows with genotype AA, AB or BB, there was an insignificant difference in born weight and weaning weight. This gene may be an effective potential tool used in conjunction with traditional selection methods.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 2021

Salmon oil (SO) could be used as a great source of ω-3 fatty acids in pig diet. The purpose of the study was to investigate the SO effect on production performance of sows and their offspring. 48 lactating sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) from Dankook University experimental farm were used in this study. Sows were conceived using either guided natural mating or by artificial insemination. Pregnancy diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography on day 25 after mating. Sows and their offspring were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments. Treatments included: 1), control (CON); 2), control + SO 0.5% (CS). The inclusion of SO did not affect (p > 0.05) the litter size throughout the experiment. No difference (p > 0.05) was observed on the average daily feed intake (ADFI), chest circumference, estrus interval and sow backfat thickness between CON and SO treatments. Dietary SO supplemented diet reduced (p < 0.05) body weight loss during lactation compared with control treatment. Pigs fed SO supplemented diet did not affect (p > 0.05) the fecal scores during lactation compared with those fed control treatments. Sows fed SO supplemented diet led to a higher (p < 0.05) initial weight, weaning weight and average daily gain of piglets than those fed control diets. No difference (p > 0.05) was observed on piglet survival and fecal scores throughout the experiment. Inclusion of SO could reduce the body weight loss of sows and improves piglet growth during lactation, indicating SO has beneficial effects for pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.1985-1990
• /
• 2020

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of fat-soluble vitamin injection on plasma and tissue vitamin status in nursery pigs. Methods: A total of 16 pigs (initial body weight: 7.15±1.1 kg) were allotted to 2 treatments at d 7 post-weaning. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with no supplemental vitamin A and i.m. injected with 300,000 IU of retinyl palmitate, 900 IU of d-α-tocopherol and 30,000 IU of vitamin D₃ with control pigs having no vitamin injection. Blood (d 0, 3, 7, and 14 post-injection) and tissue samples (liver, brain, heart, lung, and muscle; d 7 and 14 post-injection) were collected from pigs. Retinyl palmitate, retinol, and α-tocopherol concentrations were analyzed in plasma and tissues, while plasma was assayed for 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD₃). Results: Plasma retinol and 25-OHD₃ concentrations increased by the vitamin injection from d 3 to 14 post-injection (p<0.05) whereas plasma retinyl palmitate was detected only in the vitamin treatment at d 3 and 7 post-injection (115.51 and 4.97 ㎍/mL, respectively). Liver retinol, retinyl palmitate, and retinol+retinyl palmitate concentrations increased by retinyl palmitate injection at d 7 and 14 post-injection (p<0.05) whereas those were not detected in the other tissues. The d-α-tocopherol injection increased α-tocopherol concentrations in plasma at d 3 and 7 post-injection (p<0.05) and in liver, heart (p<0.10), and muscle (p<0.05) at d 7 post-injection. Conclusion: Fat-soluble vitamin injection increased plasma status of α-tocopherol, retinol, retinyl palmitate and 25-OHD₃. As plasma levels decreased post-injection, vitamin A level in liver and vitamin E level in muscle, heart and liver increased. The α-tocopherol found in plasma after injection was distributed to various tissues but retinyl palmitate only to the liver.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.1470-1477
• /
• 2006

One hundred and sixty crossbred pigs ($6.62{\pm}0.36kg$) weaned at day $18{\pm}1$ were used to investigate the effects of lactitol and tributyrin on performance, small intestinal morphology and enzyme activity. The pigs were assigned to one of five dietary groups (4 pens/diet with 8 pigs/pen) and were fed the negative control diet or the negative control diet supplemented with 10 g/kg glutamine (as a positive control), or 3 g/kg lactitol (${\beta}$-D-galactopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}4$)-D-sorbitol), or 5 g/kg tributyrin (butanoic acid 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester), or 3 g/kg lactitol+5 g/kg tributyrin. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly during the 4-week study. On day 7, four pigs per dietary treatment were sacrificed to examine small intestinal morphology and enzyme activity. The results showed that: (1) Compared with the negative control diet, the positive control diet improved weight gain and feed efficiency during weeks 1-2 and over the entire study (p<0.05), and also decreased duodenal and ileal crypt depth (p<0.05), but did not alter intestinal enzyme activity (p>0.05). Lactitol improved feed efficiency during weeks 3-4 and over the entire study (p<0.05), but did not improve weight gain and feed intake, intestinal morphology or enzyme activity (p>0.05). Tributyrin improved weight gain and reduced feed/gain during weeks 3-4 and over the entire study. Tributyrin significantly decreased crypt depth in the duodenum and ileum, and increased duodenal lactase and ileal maltase activity (p<0.05). Lactitol+tributyrin increased weight gain during weeks 3-4 and over the entire study, and improved feed efficiency during weeks 1-2 and 3-4 and over the entire study (p<0.05). Lactitol+tributyrin increased the jejunal villus height, and decreased the duodenal and ileal crypt depth (p<0.05). Lactitol+tributyrin also increased jejunal lactase and sucrase activity (p<0.05). (2) Compared with the positive control, tributyrin improved weight gain and reduced feed/gain during weeks 3-4 (p<0.05), decreased the ileal crypt depth, and improved the duodenal lactase and sucrase activity (p<0.05). Lactitol+ tributyrin improved weight gain during weeks 3-4, improved feed efficiency during weeks 3-4 and over the entire study, increased the ileal villus height, and increased jejunal lactase, sucrase and maltase activity (p<0.05). These results showed that tributyrin improved performance, intestinal morphology and enzyme activity, while the effect of lactitol was very limited. These results also showed that, compared with glutamine, tributyrin was more effective in improving intestinal morphology and enzyme activity, and tributyrin exerted a superior effect in improving performance as weaning progressed. These observations suggest that, as a chemical for repairing intestinal atrophy, glutamine and tributyrin should be used in the first and second periods of the starter phase, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.392-399
• /
• 2020

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of feed supplementation with Hermetia illucens (HI) on the fecal score, blood profiles, immune response, and small intestinal morphology in weaned pigs. A total of 24 weaned pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc; 5.86±0.13 kg) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments and 6 replicates on the basis of initial body weight. The experiment was accomplished over 0-14 days. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with 0, 1, 2, and 3% HI. A linear response to increasing dietary HI was observed for the number of monocytes (p<0.01) and eosinophils (p<0.05), whereas red blood cells tended to decrease with increasing HI levels. Plasma TNF-α levels were also determined to linearly decrease with HI supplementation (p=0.07). Moreover, a linearly decreasing tendency (p=0.06) was observed in the fecal score with increasing dietary levels of HI. Weaned pigs fed diets supplemented with increasing dietary concentrations of HI showed linearly improved (p<0.05) duodenal villus height during the study period. Taken together, these results indicate the beneficial effects of HI on diarrhea reduction, immune response, and small intestinal morphology in weaned pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.10
• /
• pp.1386-1398
• /
• 2010

Soybean contains a high concentration of carbohydrates that consist mainly of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and oligosaccharides. The NSP can be divided into insoluble NSP (mainly cellulose) and soluble NSP (composed mainly of pectic polymers, which are partially soluble in water). Monogastric animals do not have the enzymes to hydrolyze these carbohydrates, and thus their digestion occurs by means of bacterial fermentation. The fermentation of soybean carbohydrates produces short chain fatty acids that can be used as an energy source by animals. The utilization efficiency of the carbohydrates is related to the chemical structure, the level of inclusion in the diet, species and age of the animal. In poultry, soluble NSP can increase digesta viscosity, reduce the digestibility of nutrients and depress growth performance. In growing pigs, these effects, in particular the effect on gut viscosity, are often not so obvious. However, in weaning piglets, it is reported that soy oligosaccharides and soluble NSP can cause detrimental effects on intestinal health. In monogastrics, consideration must be given to the anti-nutritive effect of the NSP on nutrient digestion and absorption on one hand, as well as the potential benefits or detriments of intestinal fermentation products to the host. This mirrors the needs for i) increasing efficiency of utilization of fibrous materials in monogastrics, and ii) the maintenance and improvement of animal health in antibiotic-free production systems, on the other hand. For example, ethanol/water extraction removes the low molecular weight carbohydrate fractions, such as the oligosaccharides and part of the soluble pectins, leaving behind the insoluble fraction of the NSP, which is devoid of anti-nutritive activities. The resultant product is a high quality soy protein concentrate. This paper presents the composition and chemical structures of carbohydrates present in soybeans and discusses their nutritive and anti-nutritive effects on digestion and absorption of nutrients in pigs and poultry.