• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.295-309
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• 2024

To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with a fermented mixture of bean dregs and wheat bran (FBW) on sow performance. FBW was given to sows during late gestation and lactation; in total, 24 sows were randomly assigned to 4 groups (control diet; 3% FBW diet; 6% FBW diet; 9% FBW diet, n = 6). The weight ratio of bean dregs (wet) to wheat bran was 4:6. Sows were fed different diets from 85 d of gestation until weaning. The results showed that supplementation with FBW increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) during lactation (p < 0.05). FBW supplementation also increased litter weight and milk yield (p < 0.05). The contents of Escherichia coli in the feces of the treatment groups were significantly reduced by FBW supplementation (p < 0.01). FBW supplementation significantly improved the fecal morphology (p < 0.05), alleviating sows' constipation. In conclusion, FBW could increase the ADFI, improve lactation and piglet litter weight in sows and reduce the pathogenic bacterial content in sow feces and constipation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2019

A goal for swine farming is the improvement in the number of live-born and weaned piglets per sow. Hence, the effect of parities should consider the correlation between the component traits of reproductive performance, weaning, and duration. Sows were housed in farrowing pens (W 2.2 ${\times}$ D 1.8 ${\times}$ H 1.2 m) on a partially slatted plastic floor. Twenty sows used in this study were between the first and sixth parity in gilts (P1), parity 2-5 (P3), and parity 6-9 (P6). Data collection by parity was classified into three categories: (1) reproduction performance (gestation length, total number of piglets born, number of piglets live born, number of piglets stillborn, total piglet birth weight; (2) weaning traits (weaning period, number of piglets weaning, total piglets weaning weight); (3) duration traits (farrowing duration, placenta expulsion duration, time from last piglet to first placenta, average birth interval, and tail wagging behavior). Gestation length was higher in P6 than P1 and P3 of different parity sows. The maximum value in P1 and P3 was 117 days, but the median value in P6 was 117 days (p < 0.05). The total number of piglets born (p = 0.113), number of piglets live born (p = 0.118), number of still piglets born (p = 0.151), and total piglet birth weight (p = 0.117) were not affected by parity. The number of live piglets was higher than the other parities by an average of $15.6{\pm}2.1$ in P1. The duration of farrowing was the lowest at 22.2 min in P6, but the maximum value was 42.2 min more than other parities (p = 0.355). Weaning traits of sows also did not differ significantly (p > 0.05), but the weaning period from P1 was lower than that of the other parities (p = 0.170). The number of piglets weaned was 10 heads on average in P1, P3, and P6 (p < 0.05). However, the mean values of the total piglet weaning weight (p = 0.377) of P6 (62.0 10.4 kg) were higher than those of P1 (54.9 10.2 kg) and P3 (58.4 13.6 kg). The placenta expulsion duration was higher in P6 than that in P1 and P3 (p = 0.447). The time from the last piglet to first placenta was be lower in P3 than that of the other parities (p = 0.206). The average birth interval was higher in P3 than that of the other parities (p = 0.156). Tail wagging (count) behavior was higher in P6 than in the other parities (p = 0.065). The data showed that the reproduction performance, total piglets born, and weight were higher in the gilts group, and higher in the weaning trait than that in the P6 group. This study examined the relationship between reproductive performance, birth interval and tail motion according to sow parity. Regarding duration, farrowing duration was lower in P6 than that in the other parities, but placenta expulsion and tail wagging were higher in P6 than in the other parities. Therefore, it is possible that the results from these sows could be used as basic data for effective farm management.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.881-887
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary cashew nut testa (CNT) as an alternative feed ingredient to wheat bran on reproductive performance, litter performance, milk composition, and blood profiles of gestating sows. Methods: Forth multiparous sows ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$) were fed experimental diets starting at 35 days of pregnancy and an initial average body weight (BW) of $211.53{\pm}8.86kg$. Each sow was assigned to a treatment based on BW, backfat thickness (BF) and parity with 10 sows per treatment. Treatments were as follows: i) corn-soybean meal based diet with 6% of wheat bran (C0); ii) basal diet with 2% of CNT and 4% of wheat bran (C2); iii) basal diet with 4% of CNT and 2% of wheat bran (C4); and iv) basal diet with 6% of CNT (C6). Results: There were no statistically significant differences in BW and BF of gestating sows throughout the experimental period. However, changes in BF (p = 0.09) and the daily feed intake of sows (p = 0.09) tended to linearly increase during the lactation period. The weaning to estrus interval (WEI) showed a quadratic response to CNT treatment (p = 0.02), and the C2 diet showed the shortest WEI. Litter birth weight (p = 0.04) and piglet birth weight (p = 0.06) were linearly decreased with increase in CNT. Furthermore, there had no significant differences in piglet weight and litter weight in 21 day. Insulin concentration at day 70 of gestation was linearly reduced with increasing CNT level in diets (p = 0.03). Conclusion: When 6% CNT replaced wheat bran in gestating sow diets, there were no negative effects on sow performance, but litter birth weight and piglet birth weight were decreased when CNT level increased in gestating sow diets.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.340-351
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• 2019

Hot environments can affect feed intake and lactation, and the subsequent unavailability of important micronutrients to the newborn piglet can impair piglet growth, reduce the viability of newborn piglets and limit their subsequent performance. This work addresses the effects of hot environments (summer season) upon the reproductive performance of sows during gestation and lactation as well as on the serum levels of vitamins and the concentration of immunoglobulins in their litters in comparison with the winter season. Fourteen sows were evaluated over 100 ± 2 days of gestation in each season. The temperature and humidity index (THI) was used as an indirect measure of heat stress during gestation. The reproductive performance, milk yield, and body condition of the sows were recorded. The concentrations of vitamin E and vitamin A in piglets and in sow serum, colostrum, milk and feed were determined by HPLC; immunoglobulins were assessed by an ELISA. The THI index indicated that animals were subject to heat stress only in during the summer. Although the effect was not significant, there were a lower number of piglets at birth and at weaning and the milk yield in summer compared with winter. There was no difference (p > 0.05) in the body condition of sows between seasons. Season had an effect (p < 0.05) on the vitamin A concentration of postpartum sow serum (0.29 ㎍/mL in winter vs 0.21 ㎍/mL in summer) and on the vitamin E concentration before birth (2.00 ㎍/mL in winter vs 0.90 ㎍/mL in summer). Vitamin E in milk was higher (p < 0.05) in winter than in summer (2.23 vs 1.81 ㎍/mL). Serum levels of vitamins A and E in piglets at birth were lower (p < 0.05) in winter than in summer. The concentrations of immunoglobulins (IgG and IgA) in colostrum and milk were similar between seasons (p > 0.05), but the IgA in piglet serum was higher in winter than in summer (p < 0.05). High temperatures produced heat stress in sows, which affected certain aspects of production that can be translated into economic losses for this sector.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.1104-1110
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• 1999

We condicted two experiments to evaluate the interaction among fumaric acid (FA), protected acids (PA), or no additional acid (NO) and two different levels of acid buffering capacity (BC) in diets for 14-d-old weaned pigs. BC was varied substituting mono-calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate for dicalcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. In the high BC diet plus PA, FA was also added. In Exp. 1, 48 gilts were raised for 31 days on the six diets, evaluating growth performance and fecal digestibility. In Exp. 2, 42 gilts were raised. With each diet three subjects were sacrificed after 19 days and four after 38 days. In addition, six subjects were sacrificed at weaning. Growth and carcass performance, ileal digestibility, bacterial populations and pH in the gut were assessed. The piglet performance and stomach, ileal and cecal pH, and empty body composition were not affected by the diets. Empty body composition other than ash content was affected by piglet age (p<0.01). The BC did not influence digestibility. The dietary inclusion of PA improved fecal digestibility of protein (p<0.05) compared to the addition of FA and NO. Ileal digestibility slightly increased with both acid additions (p<0.10), the groups receiving PA showing the higher values. Piglets fed diets with low BC had lower Lactobacillus and E. coli counts in the ileum (p=0.07) and higher Lactobacillus in the colon (p=0.08). Acidified diets tended to reduce E. coli counts in the ileum (p=0.10) and increased Lactobacillus in the colon (p=0.09). The addition in the diet of PA increased Lactobacillus in the ileum compared to the sole addition of free fumaric acid (p=0.07). The addition of protected acids, combined with free fumaric acid in the case of high BC diets, increased protein digestibility and Lactobacillus counts and reduced E.coli counts. Only some changes in the concentration of bacterial population can be expected with a diet of low BC.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different farrowing space, narrow and wide, on the sow performances and piglet growth performances. The $1.5m^2$ of narrow farrowing space was determined as the size of farrowing crate. The $3.0m^2$ of wide space for farrowing sow was the same of farrowing pen to allow the behavior freedom of sow. Baby piglets in the wide farrowing space was protected from crushing of sow by installation of safety bar. The pregnant sows used in this study were stall-housed during gestation and moved to each farrowing spaces on 8 d before parturition. Feed intake, backfat thickness and body condition score of sow were not affected by both farrowing spaces. However, the changes in backfat thickness and body condition score between farrowing and weaning in wide farrowing space were lower (p<0.05) than in narrow farrowing space. The return to estrus of sow was remarkably decreased in wide farrowing space compared to sows in narrow farrowing space. The lower number of stillbirth and higher mortality of piglets were observed in wide farrowing space. From the results, although wide farrowing space could be practically acceptable in terms of sow performances, possible cause of mortality of piglets should be scrutinized through observation of piglet and sow behaviors.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2010

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of Fe-soy proteinate chelate (Fe-SP) on sows milk, piglet blood parameters and performance. A total of 15 sows of 3 wk before parturition and pigs after births to 3 wk were assigned to three dietary treatments: control (sow-basal diet, piglets with Fe injection); Fe-SP 100 (Fe 100 ppm as Fe-SP in sow and piglet diet); Fe-SP 200 (Fe 200 ppm as Fe-SP in sow and piglet diet). Each treatment had 5 replicates (sows) of six piglets per sow randomly selected from the same offspring. For this experiment, Fe-SP was manufactured. There were no significant differences among treatments in number of pigs born in total or alive per litter, birth weight, number of pigs weaned per litter and weaning weight. However, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio significantly (p<0.05) decreased as the supplementation level of Fe-SP increased. There were no significant differences among treatments in Fe content at 3 wk before parturition in sow blood. However, Fe content at 2 wk before parturition in sow blood significantly (p<0.05) increased as the supplementation of Fe-SP. While there were no significant differences among treatments in Fe content at 1 wk before parturition in sow blood, it tended to increase as the supplementation level of Fe-SP increased. There were no significant differences among treatments in Fe content of sow milk. However, it tended to increase as the supplementation level of Fe-SP increased. Iron content in the blood of piglets was significantly (p<0.05) higher in control (Fe injected) than Fe-SP 100 and Fe-SP 200 treatments at $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ wk but it was significantly higher in Fe-SP 200 than others in $3^{rd}$ wk. Zinc content in the blood also significantly (p<0.05) increased as the Fe-SP supplementation level increased in $3^{rd}$ wk. In conclusion, Fe-SP supplementation significantly affected Fe content in the blood of piglets. Iron injection was more effective at $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ wk, while Fe-SP 200 supplementation was effective at $3^{rd}$ wk in improving blood Fe level in piglets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1654-1659
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• 2007

We examined total body irradiation (TBI)-induced effects by complete blood count (CBC) and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis (FACS) in the piglet following radiation irritation. A CBC included red blood cell count, white blood cell count, and platelet cell count. Four piglets were examined in this study and each piglet was divided by irradiation dose, two piglets with 4 Gy, two with 6 Gy, one with 8 Gy. All piglets showed leukopenia, thrombocytopenia after irradiation. In 6 and 8 Gy group, three piglets showed severe hemostatic disorder and gastrointestinal disorder suchas diarrhea and anorexia, and they died between 10 and 15 days after radiation irritation. In 4 Gy, two piglets showed no clinical sign after radiation injury, but persistent leukopenia was shown in blood examination. We suggest that a single TBI dose less than 6 Gy is adequate for conditioning piglet for bone marrow transplantation.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.264-274
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of β-glucan with vitamin E supplementation on the physiological response, litter performance, blood profiles, immune response, and milk composition of lactating sows. Methods: A total of 50 multiparous F₁ sows (Yorkshire×Landrace) with an average body weight (BW) of 233.6±4.30 kg and an average parity of 4.00±0.307 and their litters were used in this experiment. All sows were allotted to one of five treatments, taking into consideration BW, backfat thickness, and parity in a completely randomized design with 10 replicates. The experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without 0.1% or 0.2% β-glucan and 110 IU vitamin E/kg diet. Results: All treatments added with β-glucan or vitamin E were statistically higher in the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of lactating sows compared to those of the control (Diet, p<0.01). Additionally, the ADFI of lactating sows was significantly higher in the groups supplemented with 0.1% β-glucan compared to 0.2% β-glucan (BG, p<0.01). There was an increasing trend in piglet weight at weaning (BG, p = 0.07), litter weight at the 21st day of lactation (BG, p = 0.07) and litter weight gain (BG, p = 0.08) in groups supplemented with 0.1% β-glucan. The addition of 110 IU vitamin E/kg diet increased vitamin E concentration significantly in lactating sows (VE, p<0.01) and exhibited a trend for higher concentrations of vitamin E (VE, p = 0.09) in piglets. Adding 0.1% β-glucan compared to 0.2% β-glucan induced a decrease in the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α in lactating sows (BG, p = 0.06) and in piglets (BG, p = 0.09) on the 21st day of lactation. There were no significant differences in the milk composition of sows. Conclusion: Adding 0.1% β-glucan and 110 IU vitamin E/kg to a lactating sow's diet was beneficial to the growth performance of piglets by leading to an increase in the feed intake of sows and efficiently supplying vitamin E to both the sows and piglets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1948-1956
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of selenium (Se) source and level on the physiological response, reproductive performance, serum Se level, and milk composition in gestating sows. Methods: A total of 54 multiparous sows (Yorkshire×Landrace) with average body weight (BW), backfat thickness (BF), and parity were assigned to one of five treatments with 10 or 11 sows per treatment using a 2×2 factorial arrangement with one additional treatment in a completely randomized design. Inorganic or organic Se (IS or OS) sources were added to the diet at 0.30 ppm and 0.50 ppm Se. A non-Se-fortified corn-soybean meal basal diet served as a negative control. Treatments were as follows: i) Control: corn-soybean based diet, ii) IS30: control+inorganic Se 0.30 ppm, iii) IS50: control+inorganic Se 0.50 ppm, iv) OS30: control+ organic Se ppm, and v) OS50: control+organic Se 0.50 ppm. Results: At day 21 of lactation, piglet weight and weight gain in the OS treatments were higher than those in the IS treatments (p<0.05). Meanwhile, adding 0.5 ppm Se also resulted in the same significant differences in piglet BW and weight gain (p<0.05). Colostrum and milk Se concentrations increased (p<0.05) with Se level for both Se sources but were greater when sows were fed organic Se (p<0.05). Except for 24 hours postpartum, the Se concentrations were higher when sows were fed organic Se (p<0.05). Sow serum Se content was greater as Se levels increased from 0.3 ppm to 0.5 ppm at day 110 of gestation, 24 hours postpartum and day 21 of lactation (p<0.05). The pig serum Se concentration increased as the dietary Se level increased (p<0.05) and was higher when the sow dietary Se source was organic (p<0.05). Organic Se 0.5 ppm also had the highest serum Se level at two measured points (p<0.05). Conclusion: Consequently, supplementation with organic Se or 0.5 ppm Se in a gestating diet could improve piglet performance, the Se status of sows and piglets and milk composition, but organic Se at 0.5 ppm is optimal.