• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.461-474
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• 2022

Objective: This experiment investigated the effects of supplementing vitamin D₃-fortified sow and progeny diets with 25(OH)D₃ on growth performance, carcass characteristics, immunity, and pork meat quality. Methods: The present study involved the assessment of supplementing the diet of sows and their progeny with or without 25 (OH)D₃ in a 2×2 factorial arrangement on the performance and production characteristics of wean-finish pigs. Forty-eight multiparous sows were assigned to a basal diet containing 2000 IU/kg vitamin D₃ and supplemented without (CON) or with (TRT) 50 ㎍/kg 25 (OH)D₃. At weaning, a total of 80 pigs each from CON and TRT sows were allocated to weaning and growing-finishing basal diets fortified with 2,500 and 1,750 IU/kg vitamin D₃ respectively and supplemented without or with 50 ㎍/kg 25(OH)D₃. Results: Sows fed 25(OH)D₃-supplemented diets improved pre-weaning growth rate of nursing piglets. A significant sow and pig weaning diet effect was observed for growth rate and feed efficiency (p<0.05) during days 1 to 42 post-weaning. Pigs consuming 25(OH)D₃-supplemented diets gained weight faster (p = 0.016), ate more (p = 0.044) and tended to convert feed to gain more efficiently (p = 0.088) than those fed CON diet between days 98 and 140 post-weaning. Supplemental 25(OH)D₃ improved water holding capacity and reduced drip loss of pork meat, increased serum 25(OH)D₃ level, produced higher interleukin-1 and lower interleukin-6 concentrations in blood circulation, downregulated myostatin (MSTN) and upregulated myogenic differentiation (MYOD) and myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) gene expressions (p<0.05). Conclusion: Supplementing vitamin D₃-fortified sow and wean-finish pig diets with 50 ㎍/kg 25(OH)D₃ significantly improved production performance suggesting their current dietary vitamin D₃ levels are insufficient. In fulfilling the total need for vitamin D, it is strongly recommended to add 50 ㎍/kg 25(OH)D₃ "on top" to practical vitamin D₃-fortified sow and wean-finish pig diets deployed under commercial conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1435-1439
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of creep feed with different energy densities on litter performance. A total of 30 sows (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire) and their litters were randomly assigned with 1, 2, or 3+parities into 1 of 3 treatments (10 sows). Dietary treatments were: i) CON (no creep feed), ii) LE (creep feed (DE 4,000 kcal/kg) from 5 d of age until weaning (21 d)), and iii) HE (creep feed (DE 5,000 kcal/kg) from 5 d of age until weaning). Each piglet was weighed at d 5, 10, 15, 21 (weaning), and d 7 postweaning to determine ADG. Creep feeding reduced concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol compared with those in CON group (p<0.05). Creep feeding reduced (p<0.05) the weaning-to-oestrus interval in sows. Piglets in the HE groups evidenced greater ADG (p = 0.024) and ADFI (p = 0.001) post-weaning than those in CON treatments. Creep feeding decreased (p<0.05) the suckling time of piglet in this study. In conclusion, creep feeding increased growth and feed intake of pigs after weaning. It can decrease the oestrus interval of sows. There was no difference between providing a high energy or a low energy creep fed diet to the piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1656-1660
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fermented fruits (FF) on the growth performance, Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus counts in faeces of the post-weaning piglets. A total of twenty-four 4 weeks old Landrace${\times}$ Large White${\times}$Duroc with initial body weight of 6 kg were used in this study. The piglets were housed individually in metabolic cage and randomly assigned to four groups with six piglets per group. The piglets were fed on basal diet without antibiotic (AF), basal diets with antibiotic (Ab), basal diet with 10% (w/w) fermented fruit (10% FF) and basal diet with 20% (w/w) fermented fruit (20% FF). Faecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of each piglet and cultured for Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus counts. In the growth performance, the piglets of Ab and 10%FF had significantly higher (p<0.05) average daily gain than those of 20%FF. However, no differences (p>0.05) were observed between AF, Ab and 10%FF. Studies showed that the use of fermented fruits (FF) could significantly (p<0.05) reduce Enterobacteriaceae population in piglets' faeces compared to the use of normal feed (AF) and antibiotic (Ab). However, the Lactobacillus population in the faeces was increased in those piglets fed with diets added with FF.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1484-1490
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• 2004

Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes from the displacement-loop (D-loop) region (436 bp) were genotyped and sequenced in Japanese Black beef cattle raised in the same herd. Correlation coefficients between mitochondrial DNA haplotypes, maternal lineage, birth weight, preweaning average daily gain, weaning weight, post weaning average daily gain and yearling weight were computed. The objective was to study the relationship between maternal and postnatal growth traits and to investigate if postnatal growth of calves to yearling age could be accurately predicted from mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. Results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed 17 maternal lineages and four mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. There were strong, positive and highly significant (p<0.001) correlations among maternal traits ranging from 0.52 to 0.98. Similarly, among postnatal growth traits, most of the correlations were also strong, positive and highly significant (p<0.001); the highest correlation of 0.94 was between preweaning average daily gain and weaning weight. However, correlations between mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and postnatal growth traits were very low, mostly negative and non-significant (p>0.05) ranging from -0.05 to 0.1. Prediction of postnatal growth from mitochondrial DNA yielded very low $R^{2}$ values ranging from 0.002 to 0.019. It was concluded that mitochondrial DNA polymorphism has no significant association with postnatal growth from birth to yearling age, and by implication, nuclear rather than cytoplasmic DNA, accounts for most of the genetic variation observed in postnatal growth of Japanese Black cattle. Therefore, mitochondrial DNA genotyping at an early age has no bearing on the accurate prediction of the future growth performance of calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.252-261
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• 2008

Two experiments were conducted to compare the effects of feeding organic acids and antibiotic growth promoters in weaned pigs. In Exp. 1, 96 nursery pigs (Large White$\times$Landrace; initial weight $7.80{\pm}0.07kg$) were randomly allotted into one of four dietary treatments. Pigs in treatment 1 were fed a complex starter diet. Treatments 2 to 4 were the same as treatment 1 but supplemented with antibiotics (200 ppm chlortetracycline plus 60 ppm Lincospectin), 0.5% potassium diformate or 0.5% dry organic acid blend ACTIVATE Starter DA (ASD). During the 4-week post-weaning period, pigs fed ASD or antibiotics had better gain (p = 0.03) and feed efficiency (p = 0.04) than pigs fed the control diet. On d 14 post-weaning, pigs fed the control diet had the lowest fecal lactobacilli count among all dietary treatments (p = 0.02), whereas pigs fed ASD or antibiotics had a trend for lower fecal E. coli count compared to the control pigs (p = 0.08). Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) of pigs fed ASD did not differ from pigs fed the control diet (p>0.05) at d 14 after weaning. In Exp. 2, 24 weaned pigs (Large White$\times$Long White; initial weight $5.94{\pm}0.33kg$) were allotted into four groups and housed individually. Pigs were fed a control diet or diets supplemented with antibiotics (100 ppm colistin sulfate, 50 ppm Kitasamycin plus 60 ppm Olaquindox), 0.5% or 1% ASD. All pigs were orally challenged with E. coli $K88^+$ on d 5. During d 5 to 14 after challenge, pigs fed antibiotics, 0.5% or 1% ASD had better gain (p = 0.01) and feed efficiency (p = 0.03) than pigs fed the control diet. On d 14, compared to the control pigs, pigs fed 0.5% ASD had higher lactobacilli in the duodenum and pigs fed 1% ASD and antibiotics had a trend for higher lactobacilli in the ileum (p = 0.08). Pigs fed antibiotics, 0.5% or 1% ASD diets tended to have decreased ileal E. coli count compared to those fed the control diet (p = 0.08). Serum interleukin-6 and cortisol and digesta pH values were not affected by treatment or time. These results indicate that feeding ASD can improve the growth performance of weaning pigs, mainly via modulating intestinal microflora populations without affecting gastrointestinal pH or immune indices.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1301-1309
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the use of nurse sows and post-weaning nutrition strategies for low wean weight (WW) pigs on lifetime growth and efficiency. Methods: Animals (n = 270) were assigned to one of five treatments at 28 d. Low WW pigs (<6 kg) were either weaned and offered a special dietary regime recommended for low WW pigs (WEAN) or placed on a nurse sow (NURSE) and weaned at 49 d. Normal WW pigs (9 kg) (NORM) were also weaned at 28 d. After weaning, NORM and NURSE pigs were offered either a 'high' (4 kg/pig of starter 1 diet followed by 8 kg/pig of starter 2 diet) or 'low' (8 kg/pig of starter 2 diet) starter diet allowance in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. A typical grower diet was then offered, followed by a typical finisher diet until 147 d of age. Results: NORM pigs where heavier throughout their life compared to NURSE pigs (91.4 kg vs 76.2 kg at 147 d; p<0.001). WEAN pigs were heavier at 70 d compared to NURSE pigs (23.9 kg vs 21.0 kg; p<0.001), but there was no significant difference at 147 d between NURSE and WEAN treatments. NURSE pigs had reduced feed intake throughout the finishing period (1.6 kg/d; p<0.001) compared to WEAN (2.0 kg/d) and NORM (1.9 kg/d) pigs. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of NURSE (2.20) was lower than NORM and WEAN during the finishing period (2.40 and 2.79, respectively). Conclusion: Extended (up to 49 d) nursing for low WW pigs resulted in improved FCR during the finishing period, but no overall improvement in growth rate compared to low WW pigs weaned at 28 d and offered a specialised starter regime. Normal WW pigs where significantly heavier than low WW pigs throughout the study.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.434-443
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• 2022

Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the impact of boron supplementation on nutrient digestibility, inflammatory responses, blood metabolites and diarrhea index, and their relevance to growth performance in weaned pigs housed in good and poor sanitary environments for 14 days after weaning. Methods: A total of 108 male pigs (Duroc×[Yorkshire×Landrace]) weaned at 21 days of age were used in a randomized complete block design with 2×3 factorial arrangement. Pigs were assigned to three boron treatments (0, 5, and 10 mg/kg) under two environments (good and poor sanitary) to give six replicates per treatment (3 pigs per replicate). On 0, 7, and 14 days, one pig per replicate was euthanized to collect, ileum tissue samples, and rectal fecal samples. Results: Boron supplementation quadratically influenced (p<0.001) feed intake and weight gain in pigs housed in good sanitary conditions from 1 to 14 days post-weaning where pigs offered 5 mg/kg boron optimized weight gain and feed intake. There is a quadratic interaction (p = 0.019) on feed intake for 1 to 14 days post-weaning where 5 mg/kg boron increased feed intake in good sanitary conditions. Pigs housed in the poor sanitary environment decreased (p<0.001) villus height and crypt depth in ileum at days 7 and 14. On day 7 and 14, crude protein digestibility was quadratically influenced (p<0.05) by boron supplementation. Boron supplementation linearly increased (p<0.05) plasma calcium and cholesterol levels whilst linearly (p = 0.005) reducing plasma triglyceride concentrations. Diarrhea index was quadratically influenced (p<0.05) by boron supplementations regardless of sanitary conditions where 5 mg/kg boron inclusion achieved the lowest diarrhea index. Conclusion: Pigs offered 5 mg/kg of boron increased weight gain which may be deduced by improved dry matter, crude protein, and energy digestibility regardless of the sanitary conditions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.173-186
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• 2000

This experiment was carried out to investigate the tendency of incident diseases in pre- and post- weaning piglets which ages were 1 to 7 weeks old by laboratory diagnosis and in order to minimize death in preweaning piglets and of stunted growth in postweaning piglets. The result of this experiment used as the basic data for the preventive programs in pre- and post- weaning piglets and were as follows: 23 different diseases diagnosed in 331 cases were studied in relation to age, season, and etiology. The most prevelent diseases of pre- and post- weaning piglet were Colibacillosis(79 case, 23.9%) and the major diseases were Salmonellosis(44 cases, 13.3%), Anemia(37 cases, 11.2%). Unknown viral disease(20 case, 6.1%), Rota viral infection(19 case, 5.8%), Porcine reproductive & respiratory syndrome(PRRS; 15 case 4.5%), Transmissible gastroenteritis(TGE; 12 case, 3.6%). The gastrointestinal disease, such as Colibacillosis, Salmonellosis, Swine dysentery, Clostridial infection, Rotaviral infection, TGE, Porcine epidemic diarrhea(PED) and Ballantidiosis occured pro- dominently in the period of pre- and post- weaning, which were 178 cases(53.8%) and not related to occurrence according to age and season. The respiratory diseases were Atrophic rhinitis(AR), Swine enzootic pneumonia, Pneumonic pasteurellosis, Pleuropneumonia, Branchopneumonia, PRRS and which were 48 cases(14.5%) and higher prevalent in spring and summer. The viral diseases was 73 cases(22.1%) that occurred in the period of 5 weeks piglet and prevalent mainly in spring. The bacterial diseases were 188 cases(56.8%) that were not related to occurrence according to age and season. Salmonellosis was prevalent in 3 to 5 weeks piglet and mainly occurred in summer. Viral septicemia and rotaviral infection occurred after 5 weeks piglets intensively and 3 to 5 weeks, respectively. And the both occurred without relation with season. PRRS occurred after 4 weeks piglet and prevalent in summer. TGE occurred 1 to 7 days old piglets and prevalent in spring and winter. Hematologic values of anemia was decrease in number of Red Blood Cell, concentration of Hemoglobin and Hematocrit. Amikacin, cephalothin, colistin, norfloxacin were effective to E coli, and amikacin, cephalothin, nortloxacin, neomycin were effective to Salmonellra spp. but clindamycin, erythromycin, penicillin, sulfonamides were resistant to E coli and Salmonella spp.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1075-1079
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• 2005

The main objective of this study is to examine genetic changes in growth rate and carcass composition traits in group housed, ad libitum fed pigs, from lines of Large White divergently selected over four years for high and low post-weaning daily gain on a fixed but restricted ration. Genetic parameters for production and carcass traits were also estimated by using average information-restricted maximum likelihood applied to a multivariate individual animal model. All analyses were carried out on 1,728 records of group housed ad libitum fed pigs, and include a full pedigree of 5,324 animals. Estimates of heritability (standard errors in parentheses) were 0.11 (0.04) for lifetime daily liveweight gain (LDG), 0.13 (0.04) for daily carcass weight gain (CDG) and 0.28 (0.06) for carcass backfat (CFT). Genetic correlations between LDG and CDG were highly positive and between LDG and CFT negative, suggesting that selection for lifetime daily gain under commercial conditions of group housing with ad libitum feeding would result in favourable improvement in carcass traits. CFT showed negative genetic correlations with CDG. Correlated genetic responses evaluated as estimated breeding values (EBVs) were obtained from a multivariate animal model-best linear unbiased prediction analysis. After four years of divergent selection for 6 week post-weaning growth rate on restricted feeding, pigs performance tested on ad libitum feeding in groups exhibited changes in EBVs of 6.77 and -9.93 (g/d) for LDG, 4.25 and -7.08 (g/d) for CDG, and -1.42 and 1.55 (mm) for CFT, in the high and low lines, respectively. It is concluded that selection for growth rate on restricted feeding would significantly improve genetic performance and carcass composition of their descendants when group housed and ad libitum fed as is a common commercial practice.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.239-244
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate effects of weaning age on growth perforance, feed intake, disease occurrence and maternal reproductive efficiency in Hanwoo. Sixty experimental calves were allocated into two groups, early weaned (n=29, calf age 90 d, EW) and normally weaned (n=31, calf age 120 d, NW). Body weights and average daily gains during nursing and post-weaning periods were similar between two groups (p>0.05). Weaning age had no effect on calf starter, grass hay, dry matter, crude protein and TDN intakes of calves (p>0.05). Maternal calving interval in EW was shortened by 23 days compared to NW (p>0.05). Any difference in occurrence of disease was not observed between groups. Present results indicate that early weaning age has no negative effects on growth performance, feed intake or on disease occurrence in Hanwoo calves. And it has positive influence on maternal calving interval.