• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.459-470
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• 2007

Domestically, finishing pigs are marketed at 110 kg on an average. However, it is thought to be feasible to increase the market weight to 120kg or greater without decreasing the carcass quality, because most domestic pigs for pork production have descended from lean-type lineages. The present study was undertaken to investigate the growth efficiency and profitability of ‘high’-market wt pigs and the physicochemical characteristics and consumers' acceptability of the high-wt carcass. A total of 96 (Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc-crossbred gilts and barrows were fed a finisher diet ad laibtum in 16 pens beginning from 90-kg BW, after which the animals were slaughtered at 110kg (control) or ‘high’ market wt (135 and 125kg in gilts & barrows, respectively) and their carcasses were analyzed. Average daily gain and gain:feed did not differ between the two sex or market wt groups, whereas average daily feed intake was greater in the barrow and high market wt groups than in the gilt and 110-kg market wt groups, respectively(P<0.01). Backfat thickness of the high-market wt gilts and barrows corrected for 135 and 125-kg live wt, which were 23.7 and 22.5 mm, respectively, were greater (P<0.01) than their corresponding 110-kg counterparts(19.7 & 21.1 mm). Percentages of the trimmed primal cuts per total trimmed lean (w/w), except for that of loin, differed statistically (P<0.05) between two sex or market wt groups, but their numerical differences were rather small. Crude protein content of the loin was greater in the high vs. 110-kg market group (P<0.01), but crude fat and moisture contents and other physicochemical characteristics including the color of this primal cut were not different between the two sexes or market weights. Aroma, marbling and overall acceptability scores were greater in the high vs. 110-kg market wt group in sensory evaluation for fresh loin (P<0.01); however, overall acceptabilities for cooked loin, belly and ham were not different between the two market wt groups. Marginal profits of the 135- and 125-kg high-market wt gilt and barrow relative to their corresponding 110-kg ones were approximately -35,000 and 3,500 wons per head under the current carcass grading standard and price. However, if it had not been for the upper wt limits for the A- and B-grade carcasses, marginal profits of the high market wt gilt and barrow would have amounted to 22,000 and 11,000 wons per head, respectively. In summary, 120～125-kg market pigs are likely to meet the consumers' preference better than the 110-kg ones and also bring a profit equal to or slightly greater than that of the latter even under the current carcass grading standard. Moreover, if only the upper wt limits of the A- & B-grade carcasses were removed or increased to accommodate the high-wt carcass, the optimum market weights for the gilt and barrow would fall upon their target weights of the present study, i.e. 135 and 125 kg, respectively.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.284-289
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of copper and zinc supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and meat and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 72 $(Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc)$ pigs (58.47 kg initial BW) were assigned to 6 treatments in a $2{\times}3$ factorial design $(Zn\;levels{\times}Cu\;levels)$. The sources of zinc and copper were Zn-methionine chelate and Cu-methionine chelate, respectively. Zinc levels used were 80 and 120 ppm and copper levels used were 10, 30 and 60 ppm. Throughout the entire experimental period, the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were not significantly affected by Cu or Zn levels, or their relative levels. The G:F ratio was significantly affected by the relative levels of Cu and Zn (p<0.05), specifically at 30 ppm Cu and 120 ppm Zn. Dry matter digestibility was significantly affected by the levels of Cu (p<0.02), Zn (p<0.01) and the relative levels of each (p<0.04), in particular at 30 ppm Cu and 120 ppm Zn. Nitrogen digestibility was significantly affected by Zn levels (p<0.01) and the combination of 30 ppm Cu and 120 ppm Zn (p<0.03). The $L^*-value$, shear force, cooking loss and pH were not significantly affected by Cu levels, Zn levels or their combination. The $a^*- (p<0.04)\;and\;b^*- values (p<0.01)$ were significantly affected by Zn levels at 80 ppm. The Water hoding capacity was significantly affected by Cu and Zn in combination (p<0.01) at 10 ppm Cu and 120ppm Zn. The carcass weight, backfat thickness and carcass grade were not significantly affected by Cu levels, Zn levels or their relative levels. The carcass percentage was significantly affected by the combination (p<0.04) of 30ppm Cu and 120ppm Zn. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of Cu and Zn at 30 and 120 ppm, respectively, is effective for feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and carcass percentage, while at the levels of Cu at 10 ppm and Zn at 120 ppm have effects on WHC.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.197-203
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of seleium (Se) and vitamin E supplementation on meat quality and shelf-life in finishing pigs. A total of eighty ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc$) pigs (74.74 initial BW) were randomly allocated into five treatments with four replications and fed for six weeks. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet), 2) ISE2 (basal diet+0.2 ppm inorganic Se+100 ppm vitamin E), 3) ISE4 (basal diet+0.4 ppm inorganic Se+100 ppm vitamin E), 4) OSE2 (basal diet+0.2 ppm organic Se+100 ppm vitamin E) and 5) OSE4 (basal diet+0.4 ppm organic Se+100 ppm vitamin E). Cooking loss was decreased in treatment of ISE4 as compared with treatment of CON (p<0.05). Crude fat (%) of OSE2 was higher than those of others (p<0.05). Redness ($a^*$- value) of M. longissimus dorsi was increased in treatment of OSE2 as compared with other treatments after 100 of storage (p<0.05). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was decreased in treatment of OSE4 compared with treatments of CON and ISE2 after 10d of storage (p<0.05). In conclusion, Se and vitamin E combination did not significantly affect cooking loss,$a^*$- value and TBARS except for cases.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to establish comparison of ventilation efficiency in an enclosed and conventional growing-finishing pig house. The experimental pigs were in winter and summer. The main results of the experiment are as follows : Then the air from planar slot inlet the pig house flow out through the sidewall outlet operated by exhaust fan(Gl). The second structure has an air input through the circular duct inlet are plated side the juncture of the entering wall and the air into the pig house flow out through the chimney and pit outlet are operated by exhaust fan(G2). Through the air into relay fan the pig house flow out through the curtains in sidewall(G3). Similarly, air comes in through the circular duct inlet are placed the air into the pig house flow out through the curtains in sidewall (G4). Air flow rate on the floor level which is the low part of pen and the living area of pigs in the G2 and G4 system during winter was measured at 0.2 to 0.3 m/s at the 0.5 to 0.6 m/s at the maximum ventilation efficiency. As for the results of detrimental gas(ammonia) concentration ratio analysis, while G2 and G4 system sustained of summer 13.3 $\~$ 16.6 ppm, winter 14.0 $\~$ 14.6 ppm level, Gl and G3 system sustained of summer 14.6 $\~$ 20.3 ppm, winter 20.3 $\~$ 25.0 ppm, and the latter one is lower than that of the G1 and G3 system.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2009

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of slaughter weight (SW) of finishing pigs fed a low-energy diet on growth efficiency and carcass quality and thereby to assess the optimal SW. (Yorkshire $\times$ Landrace) $\times$ Duroc-crossbred gilts and barrows were fed a diet containing 3,060 kcal DE/kg from 80-kg BW and slaughtered at 110, 125, or 135 kg, after which the belly, the most preferred cut in Korea, as well as the least preferred cuts ham and loin were subjected to physicochemical and sensory analyses. Both ADG and ADFI were greater (P<0.05) in the group slaughtered at 125 or 135 kg than in the 110-kg-SW group, whereas the opposite was true for gain:feed (P<0.01). Backfat thickness (BFT), which increased with increasing SW (P<0.01 and P<0.05), was greater in barrows than in gilts (P<0.01); BFT of barrows at 125 kg (24.6 mm) was comparable to that of gilts at 135 kg (24.2 mm). Physicochemical characteristics of the belly, ham and loin were minimally affected, if not affected, by SW; of note, however, the redness of the ham increased between 110- and 125-kg SW (P<0.05). In sensory evaluation of the belly, the fat:lean balance, which is a most important quality trait in this cut, was best (P<0.05) at 125 kg of SW, but the overall acceptability of this cut was not changed by SW. In the ham and loin, the marbling score increased (P<0.01) between 110- and 125-kg SW, whereas color, aroma, off-flavor, and drip were unaffected by SW. In addition, the acceptability of the loin increased (P<0.05) between 110- and 125-kg SW. In cooked meats, none of color, aroma, off-flavor, juiciness, tenderness, taste, and acceptability was changed by SW, except for an increase (P<0.05) in darkness of loin color between 110- and 125-kg SW. In conclusion, the optimal SW for the present subpopulation on the present low-energy diet lie in between 125 and 135 kg for gilts and at 125 kg for barrows.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation with transgenic Bacillus subtilis secreting chitinase on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics and carcass traits in finishing pigs. A total of sixty-four pigs ($50.82{\pm}0.82kg$, average initial body weight) were assessed over a period of 84 days. Dietary treatments included: 1) CON (basal diet without antibiotics), 2) AD (basal diet + 0.1% Virginiamycin), 3) CD0.5 (basal diet + 0.5% transgenic B. subtilis), 4) CD1.0 (basal diet + 1.0% transgenic B. subtilis). Each dietary treatment had 4 replicates of 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. In terms of growth performance, the ADG (average daily gain) and gain/feed ratio were significantly increased with the CD1.0 diet compared to the AD diet during weeks 0-4 (p<0.05). During weeks 4-8, the ADG was significantly increased with the AD diet compared to the CON and CD0.5 diets (p<0.05). The ADFI was also significantly increased with the AD diet compared to the other diets (p<0.05). During weeks $8{\sim}12$, the ADFI was significantly increased with the CON diet compared to the other diets (p<0.05), and the gain/feed ratio was significantly increased with the CD0.5 and CD1.0 diets compared to the AD diet (p<0.05). Over the entire 84 day test period, the ADFI was significantly increased with the AD diet compared to the CD0.5 and CD1.0 diets (p<0.05). The gain/feed ratio was significantly increased with the CD0.5 and CD1.0 diets compared to the CON diet (p<0.05). In terms of meat color, the L value was significantly increased with the CD0.5 diet compared to the CON and AD diets (p<0.05), and the a value was significantly increased with the CON diet compared to the other diets (p<0.05). In terms of sensory evaluation, meat color was significantly improved with the CON, CD0.5 and CD1.0 diets compared to the AD diet (p<0.05). Marbling was significantly increased with the CON diet compared to the other diets (p<0.05). Firmness was significantly increased with the CD0.5 diet compared to the AD diet (p<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with transformed B. subtilis secreting chitinase improved gain/feed ratios and influenced meat color. Thus, we suggest that transformed B. subtilis secreting chitinase can partially substitute for antibiotics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 1990

A number of correlation and regression analyses were performed on data from apparent and true digestibility of amino acids at ileal and fecal level with finishing pigs, in order to investigate whether these amino acid digestibilities could be predicted with certainly degree on their fiber fractions content (chemical analysis). The data comprised 16 diets varying in 4 levels of crude fiber and from 4 fiber sources. The relationships between fiber fractions including crude fiber (CF), NDF, ADF lignin and cellulose contents on apparent and true digestibility of almost all amino acids in both ileal and fecal level were negative, except glutamine at fecal level. In apparent digestibility at ileal level, the correlations of fiber fractions were moderate (r of NDF = 0.53 to 0.63; ADF, 0.50 to 0.77; cellulose, 0.50 to 0.75), with an exception of CF content was relatively high (r of 0.58 to 0.81). The correlations to true digestibility of amino acids were weaker. In case of at fecal level, the higher correlation (negative) was found with NDF than CF content. Estimations of amino acids digestibility were performed using regression equation. The data showed that apparent digestibility of amino acids could be estimated for almost amino acids except arginine, threonine, valine and tyrosine at fecal level and phenylalaine, valine and glycine at ileal level. The best prediction at ileal and fecal level ($r^2=0.55-0.77$ and 0.52-0.76), respectively was obtained with NDF content. Prediction for true digestibility of amino acids, none of fiber fractions could be estimated for arginine, leucine and valine at all collection levels. At ileal level, CF could be used for most of amino acids except phenylalanine, glycine and praline; cellulose, only for lysine and methionine and NDF, only for proline. At fecal level, glutamine digestibility could be estimated only from CF and ADF content. The best predictor at ileal level was ADF content whereas at fecal level was NDF content. These results indicate that lignin content could not be used as predictor for all amino acids at both levels neither in apparent nor true digestibility.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.28.1-28.8
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• 2017

Background: Major amino acids in pig diets are Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp, but little is known about the requirements for the other essential amino acids, especially on odorous compounds and microbial characteristics in feces of growing-finishing pigs. To this end, different levels of amino acid composition added to diets to investigate the effects of amino acid composition on microbial characteristics and odorous compounds concentration. Methods: A total eight (n = 8) barrows (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire ${\times}$ Duroc) with an average bodyweight of $89.38{\pm}3.3kg$ were individually fed diets formulated by Korean Feeding Standards 2007 (old version) or 2012 (updated with ideal protein concept) in metabolism crates with two replication. After 15-day adaptation period, fresh faecal samples were collected directly from pigs every week for 4 weeks and analysed for total volatile fatty acids (VFA), phenols and indoles by using gas chromatography. The nitrogen was determined by Kjeldahl method. Bacterial communities were detected by using a 454 FLX titanium pyrosequencing system. Results: Level of VFA tended to be greater in 2012 than 2007 group. Among VFAs, 2012 group had greater (p < 0.05) level of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) than control.Concentration of odorous compounds in feces was also affected by amino acid composition in pig diet. Levels of ammonium and indoles tended to be higher in 2012 group when compared with 2007 group.Concentration of phenols, p-cresol, biochemical oxygen demand, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen, however, were lower (P < 0.05) in 2012 treatment group compare to 2007. The proportion of Firmicute phylum were decreased, while the Bacteriodetes phylum proportion increased and bacterial genera includingCoprococcus, Bacillus, and Bacteroides increased (p < 0.05) in 2012 compare to 2007 group. Conclusion: Results from our current study indicates that well balanced amino acid composition reduces odor by modulating the gut microbial community. Administration of pig diet formulated with the ideal protein concept may help improve gut fermentation as well as reduce the odor causing compounds in pig manure.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1118-1124
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• 2014

Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) is a common respiratory disease in nursery and grow-finishing pigs. A complex of viral and bacterial agents is known to be involved in the etiology of PRDC. The purpose of this study was to investigate common etiologic agents associated with PRDC in the field and compare detection methods for identifying these agents. To understand the mechanism of polymicrobial infection in PRDC, changes in the expression of cytokines were investigated. In 461 pig samples examined, most of the affected pigs ranged from 3 to 10 weeks old (73.4%), and 348 (75.4%) samples were confirmed as polymicrobial infection. Of the polymicrobial-infected cases, two (50.3%), three (32.2%), four (13.8%), five (3.2%), and six (0.5%) agents were detected. Two- or three-agent infections were the most common, with PRRSV/PCV-2 (44.6%) the most common two-agent infection. PRRSV/PCV-2/H. parasuis (11.0%) was the most common three-agent infection. Comparison of two detection methods (PCR and IHC) in the polymicrobial cases showed that 78.4% were PCV-2 positive with the PCR method, and 26.2% were PCV-2 positive with IHC. SIV was 7.8% by the PCR method and 3.7% positive by the IHC. This result indicates that the PCR method is more useful than IHC for detecting causative agents in PRDC. In the analysis of cytokines in the two- and three-agent infected samples, interleukin (IL)-$1{\alpha}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and INF-${\alpha}$ showed the same expression pattern. All cytokines were suppressed, except IL-6. These findings indicate that changes in cytokine expression could be used to understand the mechanism of polymicrobial infection in PRDC.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the effects of mugwort powder on meat compositions (proximate analysis, meat cholesterol, fatty and amino acid composition) and sensory characteristics in finishing pigs ($LY{\times}D$). Each $20{\times}3$ pigs (75 kg) were randomly allotted to three treatments. Mugwort powder was added for 0 (C), 0.5 (T1), 1.0 (T2), or 1.5% (T3) in basal diet, respectively for 50 days. Moisture, protein, ash, and cholesterol were not significantly different between the samples, however, the compositions of fat in T2 and T3 were significantly lower than the control (p<0.05). The amino acid composition did not differ significantly in the samples. The total sum of saturated fatty acid (SFA) and unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) did not differ significantly in the samples. The compositions of linoleic acid, linolenic acid, essential fatty acid (EFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) were lowest significantly in T3, however, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) were highest in T3 (p<0.05). The fatty acid compositions of arachidonic acid, EFA and PUFA were highest significantly in T2 (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the sensory characteristics of fresh and cooked meats in the samples.