• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.757-761
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to assess the effects of organic and inorganic copper on performance in growing pigs. A total of 100 pigs, average age 63 d and initial body weight 21.46${\pm}$1.13 kg, were assigned to five treatment groups. Dietary treatments included i) CON (basal diet, 0 ppm Cu), ii) T1 (basal diet with 67 ppm Cu as cupric sulfate, $CuSO_4$), iii) T2 (basal diet with 134 ppm Cu as $CuSO_4$), iv) T3 (basal diet with 67 ppm Cu as cupric methionate, CuMet) and v) T4 (basal diet with 134 ppm Cu as CuMet). Throughout the entire experimental period, ADG (average daily gain), ADFI (average daily feed intake) and G/F (gain: feed) ratios showed no significant differences. The dry matter digestibility was improved in the T1, T2, T3, and T4 treatments (p<0.05), as compared with CON. Nitrogen digestibility was improved in the T3 treatment group as compared with CON (p<0.05). As compared with the T1 treatment group, fecal pH values were improved in the CON, T3, and T4 treatment groups (p<0.05). Fecal Cu concentrations were significantly lower in the CON, T3, and T4 treatment groups than in T1 and T2 (p<0.05). The incidence of diarrhea was reduced when the pigs were fed on the T2, T3, and T4 diets as compared with CON. In conclusion, diets supplemented with 67 or 134 ppm Cu as CuMet may prove effective in improving nutrient digestibility and fecal pH value in growing pigs, and fecal Cu concentrations may be reduced by CuMet supplementation.

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

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.322-332
• /
• 2023

Objective: We determined the impact of maintaining pasture-based dairy cows and calves together over 100 days on cow milk production, cow and calf behavior, and calf liveweight and carcass quality. Methods: Six Holstein-Friesian cows and their male calves were monitored for 106±8.6 days. Cows were temporarily separated twice a day for milking with calves remaining in the paddock. Cow and calf behaviors were recorded via scan sampling at 6 different timepoints, for the first 7 days and twice a week thereafter. Calves were weighed weekly and immediately processed for meat quality and rumen development analysis at 106±8.6 days. Daily cow milk yields were collected from enrollment until 109±8.6 days (3 days post-weaning). Results: The average daily gain of calves was 1.4±0.73 kg/d, with an average carcass dressing percentage of 59%. Calves had the greatest frequency of observed close proximity to cow and suckling in the first two weeks and decreased with experiment duration. During separation for milking, cow vocalizations and attempts to return to their calf decreased over time. Reticulorumen weight was on target for calf age, but as a proportion of total stomach weight was lower than industry averages of calves the same age due to the larger abomasum. Cows produced an average of 12±7.6 kg of milk yield per day over the 3-days before the calves were weaned and increased to mean of 31±8.3 kg/d the 3 days after weaning, indicating a consumption of close to 20 kg per calf per day. Conclusion: The impact of a pasture-based cow-calf rearing system on cow and calf behavior and the potential for high levels of calf liveweight gain when provided ad-libitum milk and feed were determined. Further research is required to determine the practicality of replicating such systems with large herds and impact on reared calves post-weaning.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.776-784
• /
• 2023

Objective: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the inclusion of dietary nontoxic sulfur (NTS) on growth performance, immune response, sulfur amino acid composition and meat characteristics in growing-finishing pigs. Methods: A total of 140 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc) with an average body weight of 34.73±0.66 kg were used for the 12-week feeding trial. Experimental pigs were allotted to one of 5 treatments in 4 replicates of 7 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. The experimental treatments were as follows (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% NTS levels): i) Control, corn soybean meal (SBM)-based diet; ii) NTS 0.1, basal diet + NTS 0.1%; iii) NTS 0.2, basal diet + NTS 0.2%; iv) NTS 0.4, basal diet + NTS 0.4%. Results: Body weight increased linearly as dietary NTS levels increased up to 0.2% (linear; p = 0.04) in the early finishing phase (9 weeks). During the whole experimental period, body weight and average daily gain linearly increased as the dietary NTS level increased in the diet (linear; both p = 0.01), but quadratic responses in body weight and average daily gain were observed with the addition of NTS 0.4% (quadratic, both p = 0.01). In the late finishing period, the IgG concentration increased linearly (linear; p = 0.01) as the dietary NTS level increased up to 4%. In the finishing period, a linear response was observed as a dietary NTS level was added (linear; p = 0.03), and supplementation with 0.2% NTS resulted in a higher methionine content than the other treatments (quadratic; p = 0.01). NST 0.2% had a lower value of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (quadratic; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Consequently, supplementation with dietary NTS up to 0.2% could improve growth performance, amino acid composition in hair and meat antioxidation capacity.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.10
• /
• pp.1584-1595
• /
• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a low-protein diet on growth performance, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and odor emissions in growing-finishing pigs. Methods: A total of 126 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc) with an average body weight (BW) of 38.56±0.53 kg were used for a 14-week feeding trial. Experimental pigs were allotted to one of 6 treatments in 3 replicates of 7 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were fed each treatment diet with different levels of crude protein (CP). Phase 1 (early growing): 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%; phase 2 (late growing): 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%; phase 3 (early finishing): 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%; phase 4 (late finishing): 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%. All experimental diets in each phase were contained the same concentration of lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), threonine (Thr), and tryptophan (Trp). Results: Over the entire experimental period, there was no significant difference in BW, average daily feed intake, and gain-to-feed ratio among all treatments (p>0.05), but a quadratic effect (p = 0.04) was observed in average daily gain (ADG) during the late finishing phase with higher ADG in Group D. Blood urea nitrogen concentration linearly increased with an increase in dietary CP levels (p<0.01). Regarding nutrient digestibility, excreted nitrogen in urine and feces and nitrogen retention linearly increased as the CP level increased (p<0.01). A linear effect was observed with increasing CP levels in amines, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide in odor emissions (p<0.01). No significant effects were observed in the measurements of carcass traits and meat characteristics (p>0.05). Conclusion: In phase feeding, reducing the CP level to 14% in early-growing pigs, 13% in late-growing pigs, 12% in early-finishing pigs, and 11% in late-finishing pigs is recommended.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.66 no.1
• /
• pp.103-114
• /
• 2024

This study was done to investigate the effects of the incorporation of Achyranthes japonica extracts (AJE) in diet on the production parameters of growing pigs. Exp 1: Total, 105 crossbred pigs (average body weight: 24.47 ± 2.46 kg) were used in a 6-week feeding trial. Pigs (seven replicates, five pigs per pen) were allotted randomly to three treatments. Dietary treatments: CON (basal diet); basal diet with 0.025% AJE, and basal diet + 0.050% AJE). Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial count, and fecal noxious gas were assessed in this study. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) were not affected by the addition of up to 0.05% AJE. In the case of apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and digestible energy (DE) were not changed in 3rd and 6th weeks of the feeding trial through the addition of AJE up to 0.05% in the growing pig diet. In microbial count, Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli count at 3rd and 6th week was similar in all the treatment diets. The inclusion of AJE at levels up to 0.05% in growing pig diet had no effect on the production of NH3, H2S, acetic acid, and CO₂ in the feces. After ending the Exp 1, a total of nine pigs were divided into three treatment groups. Treatment diets were included, TRT1, basal diet + powder quercetin 30 g; TRT2, basal diet + powder quercetin 150 g; TRT3, basal diet + powder quercetin 300g. Rate of absorption in blood was increased with the higher dose of quercetin. The results suggested incorporation of AJE up to 0.05% has no significant effect on ADG, ADFI, and G:F, as well as DM, N, and DE digestibility, fecal microbial count, and fecal noxious gas emission in growing pigs, even though no negative effect was found.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.639-646
• /
• 2022

The present experiment was conducted to assess the effect of Buttiauxella-derived phytase in finishing pigs fed corn/soybean meal diets with an increase in the calcium (Ca)/total phosphorus (P) (Ca/tP) ratio and a reduction in net energy on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility on the finishing pigs. A total of 90 crossbred ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) finishing pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 56.94 ± 2.43 kg were used for an 11-week feeding trial. The pigs were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments (six replication/treatment and five pigs/pen) in a randomized complete block design according to their BW and gender. Dietary treatments consisted of supplementation of phytase (0.05, 0.07, and 0.1% in the control, Trt1 and Trt 2 diets, respectively) maintaining the Ca/tP ratio (1.67 : 1, 1.84 : 1, and 2.19 : 1 in control, Trt1 and Trt 2 diets, respectively) and reducing the net energy by 1% in Trt1 and Trt2 diets compared with the control diet. The results showed that dietary supplementation with phytase in the energy-reduced diet had a similar (p > 0.05) effect on the BW, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain/feed ratio of the finishing pigs. Also, there were no effects (p > 0.05) of treatment matrixes on the nutrient digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen calcium, phosphorus, and gross energy. In conclusion, the increase of phytase and Ca/tP ratio and the reduction of net energy in the corn/soybean meal diet resulted in comparable growth performance and nutrient digestibility of finishing pigs relative to pigs fed the control diet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.361-365
• /
• 2005

For the EXP 1, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) supplementation on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in pigs. Sixty crossbred (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) pigs (48.15±0.15㎏ average initial body weight) were used in a 35 days growth assay. Dietary treatments included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) T1 (basal diet＋0.01% MSM) and 3) T2 (basal diet＋0.02% MSM). For overall period, average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed efficiency were not significantly different among the treatments (p＆gt;0.05). Digestibilies of DM, N, Ca and P were not significant defferences (p＆gt;0.05). For the EXP 2, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of MSM and antibiotic supplementation on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in pigs. One hundred crossbred (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) pigs (33.85±0.15㎏ average initial body weight) were used in a 42 days growth assay. Dietary treatments included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) T1 (basal diet＋0.05% neomycin sulfate, 0.055% oxytetracycline), 3) T2 (Con diet＋0.01% MSM) and T3 (T1＋0.01% MSM). For overall period, average daily gain and average daily feed intake of pigs fed T3, T2 diets were higher than those of CON diet (p＆lt;0.05). Average daily gain was not significantly different between T2 and T3. However, food efficiency of pigs fed CON was the highest among the treatments (p＆lt;0.05). Pigs fed T3 diet increased nutrient digestibility compared to other treatments (p＆lt;0.05). In conclusion, the results suggest that the dietary addition of MSM and antibiotics into diets for pigs affect growth performance and nutrient digestibility.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.38-42
• /
• 2009

We conducted two studies to determine the effect of gender, gonadectomy (GDX) on growth and plasma cholesterol levels in pigs. In experiment 1, five sham-operated and five GDX female Landrace pigs (26kg) were allowed to have free access to water and feed up to market weight (approximately 100kg). Body weight and feed consumption were recorded biweekly, and daily body weight gain, daily feed intake and feed efficiency (gain/feed) were calculated during the feeding period. In experiment 2, 10 male (26kg) and 10 female (26kg) Landrace pigs were used; five male and five female pigs were assigned to sham-operated or GDX. Pigs were allowed to have free access to water and a diet without added cholesterol (Table 1) until they were 6 months old (male 104 and female 98kg) and thereafter they were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (Table 1) containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.1% cholate for 10 days. GDX of female pigs increased average daily gain (P<0.05), compared with their sham-operated counterparts during the growing-finishing period, but had no effect (P>0.05) on feed efficiency. Plasma cholesterol levels in pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet for 10 days were much higher (P<0.05) in females than in males (161 vs 104mg/100mL plasma), and were increased by GDX only in male pigs. HDL-cholesterol/LDL+VLDL-cholesterol ratio appeared to be higher in males than in females, and was not influenced by GDX in either sex. Results suggested that the lower growth rate of female pigs than their male counterparts is attributable to the ovarian activity, and the lower plasma cholesterol level in male than in female pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet is due to the testicular activity.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.451-460
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of acetaminophen on feed intake and growth performance of Hanwoo steers in the summer. Eight steers participated in a twelve-week experiment. The steers were randomly assigned into one of two treatments: Control and acetaminophen supplementation. Commercial acetaminophen was top-dressed to a concentrate mix at a rate of 3 g/kg based on dry matter. Individual feed intake was measured daily during the entire period of the experiment, and the intake of forage and concentrate diet were measured separately. The body weight of the steers were measured every 4 weeks. During the experimental period, ambient temperatures were recorded using an automatic temperature and humidity recorder. Acetaminophen had no effect (p > 0.05) on body weight, average daily gain, dry matter intake (DMI) and feed conversion ratio. Numerically, total DMI and concentrate DMI in the acetaminophen treated group were 5.7% and 7.6% lower than those of the control group, respectively, and the daily gain was 9.7% higher. As a result, the feed conversion rate of the acetaminophen treated group improved by 17% compared to the control; however, it was not statistically significant (p = 0.237). The results of this study suggest that acetaminophen supplementation may reduce the feed conversion ratio of Hanwoo steers under high temperature stress. However, further studies are needed to confirm the optimal level of acetaminophen supplementation which has a significant effect on the intake and weight gain of Hanwoo steers in the summer.