• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1187-1193
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• 2015

This study determined the effects of dietary restriction on growth and the expression of lipid metabolism and growth hormone signaling genes in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of Korean cattle. Thirty-one Korean cattle steers (average age 10.5 months) were allocated to normal (N; n = 16) or dietary restriction (DR; n = 15) groups. The feeding trial consisted of two stages: for the 8-month growing period, the DR group was fed 80% of the food intake of the normal diet, and for the 6-month growth-finishing period, the DR group was fed a DR total mixed ration with 78.4% of the crude protein and 64% of the net energy for gain of the normal diet. The LM was biopsied 5 months (period 1 [P1] at 15.5 months of age) and 14 months (period 2 [P2] at 24.5 months of age) after the start of feeding. The mRNA levels were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Body weight, daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency were lower in the DR group compared with the normal group at both P1 and P2. At P1, the lipogenic fatty acid synthase (FASN) mRNA levels were lower (p<0.05) in the DR group compared with the normal group. The DR group tended (p = 0.06) to have higher of levels of growth hormone receptor (GHR) mRNA than the normal group. At P2, the DR group tended to have lower (p = 0.06) androgen receptor (AR) mRNA levels than the normal group. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that dietary restriction partially decreases the transcription of lipogenic FASN and growth hormone signaling AR genes, but increases transcription of the GHR gene. These changes in gene transcription might affect body fat accumulation and the growth of the animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1150-1157
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• 2004

This experiment was conducted to investigate effects of phase feeding and sugar beet pulp (SBP) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen excretion, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 128 pigs were allotted at 53.9 kg BW to 8 replicates in a 2$\times$2 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. The first factor was phase feeding (2 or 3 phase feeding) and SBP (SBP: 0% or 10%) was the second factor. Ten percent SBP supplement groups showed lower average daily feed intake (ADFI) than 0% SBP supplement groups (p<0.05). However, there were no significant difference in average daily gain (ADG) and feed:gain ratio among treatments during overall experimental period. Nutrient digestibility was not affected by phase feeding or SBP supplementation. Urinary nitrogen excretion in 10% SBP supplement group was lower than that in 0% SBP supplement group (p<0.05) and total nitrogen excretion was lower in SBP supplement group than in the group without SBP. Urinary and total nitrogen were numerically decreased in three phase feeding compared to two phase feeding. The BUN concentration in three phase feeding groups was lower than two phase feeding groups at 47 and 63 day (p<0.05). Consequently, results of this experiment demonstrated that three phase feeding was more acceptable than two phase feeding for finishing pigs. And sugar beet pulp could be supplemented in finishing pig diet for decreasing urinary nitrogen excretion without retardation in growth performance of pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1294-1298
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• 2005

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects on growth performance, meat quality parameters and fatty acids of meat by restricted diet amount on finishing Berkshires. A total of 180 pigs (Berkshire, initially 52 kg BW) at 100 days of age were allotted in arrangement in a completely randomized design (10 pigs per pen), blocked arrangement of treatments with 3 replications. The variables were market ages (180, 200 and 220 days) and in which was also included sex (gilts and barrow). All the pigs were restrictively fed so that day could be marked at 103 kg. Pork quality was evaluated from 4 pigs of each treatment. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were decreased (p<0.05) with age increase. The ratio of feed to gain was increased (p<0.05) at 200 and 220 days compared to that of 180 days. Moisture and crude protein of longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) at 180 days were increased (p<0.05) compared to 200 and 220 days. Crude fat was increased (p<0.05) by age and crude ash was lower (p<0.05) at 180 days than at 220 days. Red to green meat color scale (CIE a$^{*}$) increased (p<0.05) at 200 and 220 days more than at 180 days. Regarding fatty acid composition in meat, saturated fatty acids (SFA) was increased more (p<0.05) at 220 days than at 180 and 200 days. The results indicate that even with a restricted diet of low nutrient supplement, there was an improvement in Berkshire meat quality parameters.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1263-1272
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• 1999

The effects of carnitine in diets with or without added fat (5% lard or soybean oil) were evaluated in 72 Large White ${\times}$ Landrace ${\times}$ Duroc pigs weaned at 35 days of age. Pigs were fed a 1.30% lysine corn-soybean basal diet+15% dried whey+4% fish meal with carnitine at 0 or 50 mg/kg and either 0% added fat, 5% soybean oil or 5% lard for 6 weeks in a $2{\times}3$ factorial trial (6 treatments, 3 pens per treatment, 4 pigs per pen). Addition of carnitine increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the second two weeks of the six-week trial and overall, but had no significant effect on feed per gain (F/G). Lard alone depressed ADG (p<0.05) in the last two weeks of the trial and overall, but the ADG for pigs fed lard+carnitine was similar to the control. Lard reduced feed intake in the first two weeks of the trial (p<0.05). Carnitine reduced the percentage of pigs with poor (ADG<375 g/d) growth (15 vs 40%; p<0.05). The greater uniformity of growth was most evident in low-weaning-weight pigs in the second period (16 vs 62%, p<0.005). Addition of fat did not produce any positive effect on uniformity and had no interaction with carnitine on uniformity. Carnitine addition increased serum total carnitione and short-chain acyl-carnitine levels (p<0.05), but did not modify free carnitine levels. Serum carnitine levels were lower at weaning than at 14, 28, or 39 days after weaning (p<0.05). Carnitine increased serum protein levels on day 14 (p<0.05). Addition of fat in the form of soybean oil or lard did not improve piglet growth performance. Addition of 50 mg/kg of carnitine to the diet of weanling pigs enhanced postweaning performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2009

The study of candidate genes is an important tool to identify genes associated with economic traits. Three genes were selected to study the association between polymorphism and economic traits and breed of pigs. Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) takes part in growth metabolism and is one of the candidate genes known to be highly associated with economic traits in pigs. Heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is related to back fat thickness and intramuscular fat (IMF) content, and myogenin (MYOG) is associated with the amount of growth rate and lean yield in pigs. By PCR-RFLP analysis, the association between the genotypes of the three genes and the average daily gain, back fat thickness, feed conversion, body length and meat percent in 352 pigs (112 Duroc pigs, 132 Landrace pigs and 108 Yorkshire pigs) were analyzed. GHRH polymorphisms showed differences depending on breed (p<0.01) and were associated with meat percent. H-FABP polymorphisms also showed significant differences among breeds and sex (p<0.01), and were highly associated with average daily gain, feed conversion and back fat thickness (p<0.01) and even showed an association with meat percent (p<0.05). However, the MYOG gene showed no significant effect in this study. These results reconfirmed that GHRH and H-FABP are potential major genes or markers for economic traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2018

Objective: Piglet pre-weaning mortality is an important variable indicating the efficacy of farrowing management and animal well-being during lactation. The present study determined the association of newborn traits measured soon after birth with piglet pre-weaning mortality and growth. Methods: In total, 805 piglets born from 57 multiparous sows were investigated. Their blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose and rectal temperature at 24 h after birth (RT24h) were monitored. Birth order, sex, skin color, integrity of the umbilical cord, attempts to stand and birth intervention were monitored. Piglets were weighed at day 0, 7, and 21 to evaluate average daily gain (ADG). Results: Piglet pre-weaning mortality for lactation period was 12.6% and cumulative mortality during the first 7 days of age was 8.6%. A higher proportion of piglets with pale skin color died compared to piglets with normal skin color (26.7% vs 7.7%, p<0.001). A higher (p<0.001) proportion of piglets that attempted to stand after 5 min (38.5%) died compared to piglets that attempted to stand within 1 min (6.3%) after birth. Piglet body weight at birth ($BW_B$), blood glucose and the number of piglets born alive (BA) were correlated with ADG (p<0.05). Piglets with $BW_B$ <1.30 kg had higher (p<0.001) mortality rate than piglets with $BW_B{\geq}1.80 kg$ (19.0% vs 3.3%) and piglets with $BW_B$ 1.30 to 1.79 kg (4.0%). Piglet with RT24h <$37.0^{\circ}C$ had higher (p<0.001) mortality rate (86.2%) than piglets with RT24h >$38.5^{\circ}C$ (3.9%). Conclusion: Low $BW_B$ and low RT24h compromise piglet survival during the lactation period in the tropical conditions. Piglets in the litters with a high BA, low $BW_B$ and low blood glucose have reduced ADG.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2015

Cocoa pod is among the by-products of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantations. The aim of this study was to apply a number of treatments in order to improve nutritional quality of cocoa pod for feeding of ruminants. Cocoa pod was subjected to different treatments, i.e. C (cocoa pod without any treatment or control), CAm (cocoa pod+1.5% urea), CMo (cocoa pod+3% molasses), CRu (cocoa pod+3% rumen content) and CPh (cocoa pod+3% molasses+Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculum). Analysis of proximate and Van Soest's fiber fraction were performed on the respective treatments. The pods were then subjected to an in vitro digestibility evaluation by incubation in rumen fluid-buffer medium, employing a randomized complete block design (n = 3 replicates). Further, an in vivo evaluation of the pods (35% inclusion level in total mixed ration) was conducted by feeding to young Holstein steers (average body weight of $145{\pm}3.6kg$) with a $5{\times}5$ latin square design arrangement (n = 5 replicates). Each experimental period lasted for 30 d; the first 20 d was for feed adaptation, the next 3 d was for sampling of rumen liquid, and the last 7 d was for measurements of digestibility and N balance. Results revealed that lignin content was reduced significantly when cocoa pod was treated with urea, molasses, rumen content or P. chrysosporium (p<0.01) with the following order of effectiveness: CPh>CAm>CRu>CMo. Among all treatments, CAm and CPh treatments significantly improved the in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility (p<0.05) of cocoa pod. Average daily gain of steers receiving CAm or CPh treatment was significantly higher than that of control (p<0.01) with an increase of 105% and 92%, respectively. Such higher daily gain was concomitant with higher N retention and proportion of N retention to N intake in CAm and CPh treatments than those of control (p<0.05). It can be concluded from this study that treatment with either urea or P. chrysosporium is effective in improving the nutritive value of cocoa pod.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1314-1321
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• 2016

We conducted this 10-wk experiment to evaluate the effects of dietary phytoncide, Korean pine extract as phytogenic feed additive (PFA), on growth performance, blood characteristics, and meat quality in finishing pigs. A total of 160 pigs ([Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire]${\times}$Duroc, body weight (BW) = $58.2{\pm}1.0kg$) were randomly allocated into 1 of 4 treatments according to their BW and sex, 10 replicate pens per treatment with 4 pigs per pen were used (2 barrows and 2 gilts). Dietary treatments were: CON, control diet; PT2, CON+0.02% PFA; PT4, CON+0.04% PFA; PT6, CON+0.06% PFA. Overall, average daily gain (ADG) was higher in PT4 (p<0.05) than in PT6, average daily feed intake (ADFI) was lower in PT6 than in CON (p<0.05). Besides ADFI decreased linearly (p<0.05) with the increased level of phytoncide and gain:feed ratio in PT4 treatment was higher (p<0.05) than CON treatment. During 5 to 10 weeks and overall, quadratic (p<0.05) effect was observed in ADG among the treatments. At the end of this experiment, pigs fed with PT4 diet had a greater (p<0.05) red blood cell concentration compared to the pigs fed CON diet. Water holding capacity increased linearly (p<0.05) with the increased level of phytoncide supplementation. Moreover, firmness, redness, yellowness, and drip loss at day 3 decreased linearly (p<0.05) with the increase in the level of phytoncide supplementation. In conclusion, inclusion of phytoncide could enhance growth performance without any adverse effects on meat quality in finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1425-1428
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation of a probiotics complex on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, diarrhea score and microbial population in pigs weaned at 21 days of age. Treatments were 1) control A (0.2% antibiotics, Avilamycin), 2) control B (0.1 % $Ractocom^{(R)}$), 3) 0.1%, 4) 0.2% and 5) 0.3% probiotics complex; 80 pigs were used and each treatment had 4 replicates with 4 pigs per replicate (16 pigs per treatment). During phase I period (d 0 to 14), although there was no significant difference, pigs fed control B diet showed higher ADG (average daily gain) and better F/G (feed/gain) than any other treatments. During late experimental period (d 15 to 28), pigs fed diet supplemented with 0.2% probiotics complex showed slightly higher ADG. Overall (d 0 to 28) the diet that contained 0.2% probiotics complex gave slightly higher ADG and ADFI (average daily feed intake) than the other diets. In a metabolic trial using 20 piglets, nutrient digestibility showed the best results in pigs fed 0.2% probiotics complex diet, but not significantly different from other groups. Diarrhea score and microbial population status in intestine, colon and feces were not affected by dietary treatments. In conclusion, this study suggested that a newly developed probiotics complex can replace antibiotics in weaned pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.316-323
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• 2014

We previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for body weight and average daily gain in a common region between ADL0198 (chr 1: 171.7 Mb) and ABR0287 (chr 1: 173.4 Mb) on chicken chromosome 1 in an $F_2$ resource population produced by crossing low- and high-growth lines of the Hinai-dori breed. Motilin receptor (MLNR) is a candidate gene affecting growth traits in the region. In this study, we genotyped polymorphisms of the MLNR gene and investigated its association with growth traits in a Hinai-dori $F_2$ intercross population. All the exons of the MLNR gene in the parental population were subjected to PCR amplification, nucleotide sequenced and haplotypes identified. To distinguish resultant diplotype individuals in the $F_2$ population, a mismatch amplification mutation assay was performed. Three haplotypes (Haplotypes 1-3) were accordingly identified. Six genotypes produced by the combination of three haplotypes (Haplotype 1, 2, and 3) were examined in order to identify associations between MLNR haplotypes and growth traits. The data showed that Haplotype 1 was superior to Haplotype 2 and 3 in body weight at 10 and 14 weeks of age, average daily gain between 4 and 10 weeks, 10 and 14 weeks, and 0 and 14 weeks of age in female in $F_2$ females. It was concluded that MLNR is a useful marker of growth traits and could be used to develop strategies for improving growth traits in the Hinai-dori breed.