• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.395-402
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• 2020

A total of 60 growing pigs (25.50 ± 1.63 kg) were used in a 6-week trial to investigate the effects of diet supplementation with brewer's yeast (Saccharmyces cerevisiae) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal score of growing pigs. Pigs were randomly allocated to one of two dietary treatments [six replications (five pigs·pen^-1)] according to initial body weight. The dietary treatments included: 1) control, basal diet (CON); 2) basal diet supplemented with 1% brewer's yeast. Dietary supplementation with brewer's yeast showed significant improvement in body weight (BW) at weeks 4 and 6; the average daily gain (ADG) and gain : feed ratio (G/F) was higher during week 4 and overall compared with CON (p < 0.05). Brewer's yeast supplementation in the diet had no significant on the nutrient digestibility. There was no significant difference in the fecal score of CON and brewer's yeast supplementation in the diet. In conclusion, the results indicate that dietary supplementation with brewer's yeast can improve growth performance in growing pigs. The results showed that supplementation of brewer's yeast in the diet of growing pigs had a positive effect on the ADG in growing pigs, but no significant effect on nutrient digestibility and fecal score when supplemented with brewer's yeast in the diet of growing pigs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

This study evaluated the influence of enzyme mixture supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal score of growing pigs. A total of 72 pigs with an initial body weight of 20.23 ± 1.46 kg were randomly assigned to two treatments consisting of a basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% enzyme mixture. During a 19-day trial, no significant difference was observed in the body weight (BW) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the pigs. However, a gradual increase in the average daily gain (ADG) was observed during the period from day 14 to day 19 and the overall period in pigs fed a diet supplemented with the 0.5% enzyme mixture (p < 0.10) as compared to the pigs that were fed the control diet. From days 4 to 14 and in the overall experiment, a gradual increase in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.10) was observed with the inclusion of 0.5% enzyme mixture supplementation. The nutrient digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and energy were not affected by enzyme mixture supplementation. In addition, dietary supplementation with the enzyme mixture had no significant effects on the fecal score of growing pigs. In summary, supplementation with the enzyme mixture had beneficial effects on the ADG performance but failed to have a significant effect on growth performance (BW), nutrient digestibility, and fecal score.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.349-356
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• 2023

Garlic powder (GP) was supplemented in the diet to assess the growth efficiency, nutritional retention, and fecal score of growing pigs. In total, 80 growing pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) were arbitrarily allotted (22.04 ± 0.56 kg primary average body weight) to two different trial groups with eight repetitions (three males and two females) in each pen for the 42-day trial. The dietary treatment consisted of control (CON, basal diet), which included 0.2% GP (TRT1). Growing pigs fed the GP diet exhibited an increase (p < 0.05) in body weight on day 42 and a lower (p < 0.05) overall feed conversion ratio compared to the CON pigs; however, the average daily gain and feed intake showed no difference (p > 0.05). Additionally, nutrient utilization of dry matter was greater (p < 0.05) in the GP-supplemented diet group than in the CON group. The feeding methods did not adversely affect the nitrogen and energy utilization and the fecal score significantly (p > 0.05). In summary, growing pigs fed the GP diet showed increased growth and nutritional utilization, and no adverse impact on the fecal score; thus, it could be utilized as a stimulant for improved growth performance.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.229-237
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• 2019

The influence of dietary supplementation with a yeast culture on growth performance, fecal score and nutrient digestibility was evaluated in weaned pigs in a 6-week feeding trial. A total of 50 weaning pigs with an initial average body weight (BW) of $7.46{\pm}1.60kg$ were randomly allotted into 1 of 2 dietary treatments according to the initial BW. There were 5 replicate pens in each treatment with 5 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1) control, basal diet (CON) and 2) 0.10% yeast culture, basal diet supplemented with 0.1% yeast culture (YC). The average daily feed intake was significantly improved with the dietary supplementation of the yeast culture compared with the control during phases 1 and 3. Overall (0 to 6 weeks), dietary supplementation with the 0.1% yeast culture had a significant effect on the feed conversion ratio (FCR). There was no significant difference in the fecal score between the CON and YC dietary treatments. In addition, no difference in the apparent total tract digestibility was observed between the CON and YC dietary treatments. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation of 0.1% yeast only improved the feed intake of weaning pigs; however, yeast culture supplementation did not affect the average daily gain, feed efficiency, total tract digestibility of dry matter, and nitrogen and energy levels as well as the fecal scores.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

A total of twenty-four multiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their litters were used in this 21-day experimental trial. Based on their body weight, sows were randomly allocated into one of three treatments with eight replicates. The dietary betaine supplementation contained three levels: (i) CON (Basal diet + 0% Bet), (ii) Bet 0.05% (CON + 0.05% Betaine), and (iii) Bet 0.15% (CON + 0.15% Betaine). The supplementation of betaine had no effect (p > 0.05) on body weight and feed intake of lactating sow. Moreover, no significant response was observed on backfat thickness, body condition score, and weaning of the estrus interval with the dietary supplementation of betaine. In addition, the litter weaning weight, litter weight gain, average litter daily gain, and survivability rate at birth showed no significant difference with the dietary betaine supplementation of the sow diet. Fecal scores of the lactating sows and suckling piglets were not affected (p > 0.05) with the dietary betaine supplementation compared with the control diet during the experimental periods. The findings of this study showed that betaine supplementation does not boost growth performance, feed intake, body conditions, and fecal score in lactating sows and suckling piglets fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.441-450
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• 2022

This study explored the effects of milk flavor (MF) supplementation on growth efficiency, nutrient absorption, fecal score, and blood profiles in weaning piglets. A total of 80 (21 days old) crossbred ([Yorkshire × Duroc] × Landrace) healthy weaned piglets with an initial body weight (BW) of 7.05 ± 1.22 kg were randomly allotted to one of two nutritive treatments with 8 repetitions and five pigs (2 female and 3 male) per pen. The experiment was divided into 2 phases (d 0 - 21, and d 21 - 42), and the dietary treatments consisted of TRT1, basal diet, TRT2 and basal diet + 1.0 g·kg^-1 MF. At days 21 - 42 and the overall period, the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) increased (p < 0.05) by receiving the MF added feed. However, MF inclusion did not impact (p > 0.05) the feed efficiency (G : F) throughout the entire experiment. Piglets consuming the MF supplemented diet showed that the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) and energy (E) did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) between the treatments. All through the experiment, the fecal score and blood profile of the piglets fed the flavor diet also remained unaffected (p > 0.05). In conclusion, MF addition to the diet of the piglets increased their body weight and had no adverse effects on nutrient utilization, fecal score, and blood profile. Thus, MF addition could improve the performance outcomes of weaning piglets.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.653-661
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• 2023

Phytase enhances phosphorus availability in pig diets by breaking down phytic acid, which is challenging for animals to digest. This study aimed to assess the impact of dietary phytase supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal score of growing pigs. Sixty-four growing pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc, average body weight 21.20 ± 0.18 kg) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. The dietary treatments were CON, basal diet, and PHY, basal diet + 0.0025% phytase. Results indicated a tendency for increased average daily gain in the phytase-supplemented diet group (p < 0.10) compared to the control diet group. The average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected by the addition of 0.0025% phytase. Furthermore, dry matter digestibility, nitrogen content, and digestible energy were not influenced (p > 0.05) by phytase supplementation. Fecal score remained similar (p > 0.05) in growing pigs fed phytase-supplemented and control diets. These findings suggest that supplementing the diet of growing pigs with 0.0025% phytase may lead to improved average daily gain without adverse effects on nutrient digestibility and fecal score. This implies the potential to enhance growth performance without compromising overall health or digestion in pigs. Further investigations into the optimal levels of phytase supplementation for growing pigs are recommended.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.435-440
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• 2011

In this experiment, two inclusion levels (15 and 30% of diets, as-fed basis) of brown rice (BR) were tested against a control diet with 0% BR (51% wheat flour of diet). Six female Maltese (8~9 months age, initial mean body weight of $2.8{\pm}0.3$ kg) were assigned to treatments in replicated $3{\times}3$ Latin square design. Total tract digestibilities of DM, OM, acid hydrolyzed fat, CP and gross energy by dogs fed experimental diets responded quadratically (P<0.01 or <0.05) to BR inclusion levels. Similarly, quadratic responses (P<0.001, P=0.015) were observed for digestible energy and metabolizable energy values, respectively. Wet and dry fecal output also exhibited quadratic responses (P=0.006, P=0.014, respectively) but no differences were observed between control and BR 30% diets. Linear (P=0.008) effect was observed for fecal score in dogs fed BR, and fecal ammonia concentration increased linearly (P=0.001) in response to increasing BR inclusion levels. It seems that the increase in fecal ammonia concentration may be partially related to the decrease tendency (P=0.07) in short-chain fatty acid concentration. In this experiment, inclusion of BR in dog diet did not result in pronounced changes in the digestibility but in fecal score. Although inclusion of BR in diets showed profound positive effect on fecal score, it is confounded by the high inclusion level of poultry offal meal.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.642-653
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate effects of β-glucan with vitamin E supplementation on the growth performance, blood profiles, immune response, fecal microbiota, fecal score, and nutrient digestibility in weaning pigs. Methods: A total of 200 weaning pigs with an average body weight (BW) of 7.64±0.741 kg were allotted to five treatment groups and were divided based on sex and initial BW in four replicates with ten pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. The experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without 0.1% or 0.2% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E. The pigs were fed the diets for 6 weeks. A total of 15 barrows were used to evaluate the nutrient digestibility by the total collection method. The BW and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase. Blood samples were collected at the end of each phase, and fecal samples were collected at the end of the experiment. Results: The addition of β-glucan with vitamin E to weaning pig feed increased BW, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake. A significant decrease in yeast and mold and Proteobacteria and a tendency for Lactobacillus to increase compared to the control was shown when 0.1% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E were added. The fecal score in weaning pigs was lower in the treatments supplemented with 0.1% or 0.2% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E compared to the control. In addition, vitamin E was better supplied to weaning pigs by increasing the concentration of α-tocopherol in the blood of weaning pigs when 0.02% vitamin E was supplemented. However, there was no significant difference in either the immune response or nutrient digestibility. Conclusion: Inclusion of 0.1% β-Glucan with 0.02% vitamin E in a weaning pig's diet were beneficial to the growth performance of weaning pigs by improving intestinal microbiota and reducing the incidence of diarrhea.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.677-685
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• 2018

Weaning pigs often face post-weaning challenges such as diarrhea, low feed intake, and body weight (BW) loss which affects the health and economic value of weaning pigs. Interestingly, the use of yeast cultures (YCs) as feed supplements for pigs has increased markedly in recent years. This study evaluated the effects of yeast cultures (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the growth performance, fecal score, and nutrient digestibility of weaning pigs. A total of 50 crossed healthy weaning pigs [(Yorkshire ${\times}$ Landrace) ${\times}$ Duroc] with an average BW of $7.46{\pm}1.60kg$ (28 day of age) were used in a 6-week experiment. The experiment was divided into 3 phases (Phase 1, 1 - 2 weeks; Phase 2, 2 - 4 weeks; Phase 3, 4 - 6 weeks). Dietary treatments were as follows: 1) CON: basal diet and 2) CON + 0.50% YC. During phase 1, the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the weaning pigs fed YC supplementation diets compared with the weaning pigs fed the CON diet. During phase 3 as well as overall, the gain/feed ratio (G/F) was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the YC supplementation group compared with the pigs fed the CON diet. In conclusion, the supplementation of YCs in the diet positively affected the growth performance of weaning pigs during the first two weeks after weaning.