• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.11.1-11.9
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the performance of lactating sows and piglets as well as the immunity of piglets suckling from sows fed CLA. Eighteen multiparous Duroc sows with an average body weight (BW) of $232.0{\pm}6.38kg$ were randomly selected and assigned to two dietary treatments (n = 9 for each treatment), control (no CLA addition) and 1% CLA supplementation. For the control diet, CLA was replaced with soybean oil. Experimental diets were fed to sows during a 28-day lactation period. Litter size for each sow was standardized to nine piglets by cross-fostering within 24 hours after birth. Sow milk and blood samples were taken from sows and piglets after 21 and 27 days of lactation, respectively. Loss of BW was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in sows fed control diet compared to sows fed CLA diet. Piglet weights at weaning and weight gain during suckling were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in sows fed CLA compared to sows fed control diet. Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and urea nitrogen concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in sows fed CLA than in sows fed soybean oil. IgG concentrations of the groups supplemented with CLA increased by 49% in sow serum (p < 0.0001), 23% in milk (p < 0.05), and 35% in piglet serum (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. Sows fed CLA showed an increase of 10% in milk yield compared with sows fed soybean oil (p < 0.05), even though there was no difference in daily feed intake between the treatments. Milk fat content was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in sows fed CLA than in sows fed soybean oil. Solid-not-fat yield was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in sows supplemented with CLA than in sows fed control diet and also protein-to-fat ratio in milk was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in sows fed CLA compared with the control group. The results show that CLA supplementation to sows increased milk yield without losing BW during lactation, whereas soybean oil supplementation resulted in severe BW loss.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.812-819
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• 2013

Forty two Malpura lambs (21 d old) were divided into three groups of 14 each consisting of 8 females and 6 males. Lambs were allowed to suckle their respective dams twice daily up to weaning (13 wks) and offered free choice concentrate and roughage in a cafeteria system. The lambs in control group were fed conventional concentrate mixture, in RBO group concentrate mixture fortified with 4% industrial grade rice bran oil and in Ca-soap rice bran oil (as in RBO group) was supplemented in the form of calcium soap. The concentrate intake decreased($p{\leq}0.05$) in RBO group as a result total dry matter, crude protein and metabolizable energy intake decreased compared to control whereas Ca-soap prepared from the same rice bran oil stimulated the concentrate intake leading to higher total dry matter, crude protein and energy intakes. The digestibility of dry matter ($p{\leq}0.05$), organic matter ($p{\leq}0.05$) and crude protein ($p{\leq}0.05$) was higher in RBO group followed by Ca-soap and control whereas no effect was observed for ether extract digestibility. Higher cholesterol ($p{\leq}0.05$) content was recorded in serum of oil supplemented groups (RBO and Ca-soap) while no effect was recorded for other blood parameters. Rice bran oil as such adversely affected and reduced the body weight gain ($p{\leq}0.001$) of lambs in comparison to control whereas the Ca-soap of rice bran oil improved body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency in lambs. Fat supplementation decreased total volatile fatty acids ($p{\leq}0.05$) and individual volatile fatty acid concentration which increased at 4 h post feeding. Fat supplementation also reduced ($p{\leq}0.05$) total protozoa count. Ca-soap of rice bran oil improved pre slaughter weight ($p{\leq}0.05$) and hot carcass weight ($p{\leq}0.05$). It is concluded from the study that rice bran oil in the form of calcium soap at 40 g/kg of concentrate improved growth, feed conversion efficiency and carcass quality as compared to rice bran oil as such and control groups.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.401-418
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• 2010

This experiment was selected a $\beta$-glucan producing mushroom strain and developed industrial media, and used to $\beta$-glucan as an alternative for antibiotics in weaned pigs. Yields of mycelial biomass and extracellular $\beta$-glucan from Youngji (Ganoderma lucidum) mushroom was 8.52g/L and 4.49g/L respectively. Also, we prepared optimum formula for mushroom cultivations. A total of 144 pigs ($8.6{\pm}0.9$ kg average body weight, weaned $20{\pm}3$ days of age) were allotted to 4 different treatment groups and replicated 4 times with 8 pigs per replicate in randomized complete block design. Treatments were T1) NC (negative control, basal diet), T2) PC (positive control, basal diet+0.255% antibiotics), T3) NC+0.2% $\beta$-glucan and T4) PC+0.2% $\beta$-glucan. The T2 and T4 treatments were significantly higher in feed efficiency by antibiotics group (p<0.05), however, there was no significant differences in terms of average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) during phase I (0~14 days). In phase II (15~28 days), Pigs fed with antibiotics and $\beta$-glucan (T4) had greater ADG than other treatments (p<0.05), while no differences were observed in ADFI and feed efficiency. During the whole experiment period, the ADG of T4 treatment was higher than other treatments. Pigs fed with $\beta$-glucan (T3 and T4) had greater diarrhea score and moisture content than other treatments (p<0.05). Pigs fed with $\beta$-glucan (T3 and T4) had greater moisture content than other treatments (p<0.05). However, there was no significant differences in diarrhea score and mortality of weaned pigs. There was marginal reductions in feed cost measured feed cost per weight gain used in antibiotics and $\beta$-glucan added diet during phase I. In the second phase, the treatment supplemented with antibiotics had a significantly lower feed cost per weight gain compared to the other treatments. The results from these experiments suggests that $\beta$-glucan is likely able to improve the growth performance, and reduce feed cost although they do not have similar effects like antibiotics in weaning pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2003

The present study was undertaken to find relationships of plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II concentrations to litter size and lactation performance. Sixty pure-bred Landrace and Yorkshire pigs having similar farrowing weeks which had been selected from a large number of pregnant gilts and sows were divided into low- (<${\mu}$－0.5SD) and high-litter size (>${\mu}$+0.5 SD) lines under a 2 (breed)${\times}$2 (line) factorial arrange of treatments. After adjusting the litter size to nine piglets per sow at farrowing, total litter weight was measured at three weeks postpartum at weaning as an index of milk yield. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein at day (d)-90 pregnancy (Px) and at d-15 postpartum. The litter size or the number of piglets born during the present experiment and the average litter size during the entire parities up to the present one were greater in the high-line than in the low-line by 3.7 and 2.4 piglets, respectively (P<0.01); effect of the breed on litter size was not significant. Plasma IGF-II concentration at d-90 Px was greater in the high-line than in the low-line. Litter size and d-90 Px IGF-I concentration were negatively correlated in Landrace (r=－0.46; P<0.05) and tended to be negatively correlated in Yorkshire (r=－0.31; P=0.09), which resulted in a significant negative correlation between these two variables in total animals (r=－0.35; P<0.01). Litter weight at weaning was not different between the two breeds or lines. Relationships between the litter weight and IGF concentration were not consistent across the breed ${\times}$ physiological stage combinations. Results suggest that d-90 Px IGF concentrations may be indicative of the litter size at impending farrowing.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.250-258
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding systems on feed intake, weight gain, and fawn performance (Cervus canadensis) and estimation of grazing intensity in Elk doe at pasture. A sixteen Elk doe about 236.2 kg were randomly assigned to two feeding treatments. The treatment consisted of a barn feeding system (BF) and grazing at pasture (GR), and pasture was mainly composed of tall fescue, orchard grass, and Kentucky bluegrass. The moisture content of pasture was 19.51~22.61%, which was similar during experimental periods. The crude protein content was significantly higher from June to July (p<0.05). The contents of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber ranged 53.65~60.18%, and 26.08~29.10%, respectively. There were no significant differences between feeding systems on supplementary feed intake, but the roughage and total dry matter intake showed significant differences between treatment groups (p<0.05), except for May. In August, roughage intake was dramatically decreased in the GR group due to summer environmental changes. On the other hand, the higher intake of roughage in September might be related to nutrient intake for mammals. There was no difference in body weight between treatment groups, but the fawn performance was significantly higher in the GR group (p<0.05). These results might be suggested that grazing elk doe might positively affect fawn growth. However, it is considered that BF might increase the deer weaning rate during the parturition period, since the lower weaning rate in the GR group compared to the BF group. The grazing intensity of Elk doe was increased from May to July and decreased in August, which was influenced by pasture productivity. The average grazing intensity of Elk doe was found to be 15 heads/ha, which might be controlled by supplementary feeding. Further studies needed that mixed sowing methods and fertilization management in old grazing pastures for improved pasture productivity.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2018

The eggs are incubated for 18 days through the generator and incubated in the developing incubator. During the developmental period, the weight loss of the fetus is correlated with the ventricular formation, and the proper ventricular formation is also associated with the healthy embryonic hatching and the egg hatching rate. However, in the incubator period of the domestic hatchery, it is a reality to acquire the resultant side by the Iranian standard weight measurement with the experience of the hatchery and the person concerned and the development period without the apparatus for measuring the present weight. As a result, prevalence of early mortality, hunger and illness during hatching are frequent. Monitoring the reduction of weaning weight is crucial to obtaining chick quality and hatching performance with weight changes within the development machine. Water loss is different depending on the size of eggs, egg shell, and elder group. We can expect to increase the hatching rate by measuring the weight change in real time and optimizing the ventilation change accordingly. There is a need to develop a real-time measurement system that can control 10 to 13% reduction of the total weight during hatching. The system through this study is a way to check the one - time directly when moving the existing egg, and it is impossible to control the measurement of the fetal water evaporation within the development period. Unlike systems that do not affect the hatching rate, four load cells are connected in parallel on the Arduino sketch board and the AT-command command is used to connect the mobile phone and computer in real time. The communication speed of Bluetooth was set to 15200 to match the communication speed of Arduino and Hyper-terminal program. The real - time monitoring system was designed to visually check the change of the weight of the fetus in the artificial incubator. In this way, we aimed to improve the hatching rate and health condition of the hatching eggs.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 1999

This experiment was conducted to investigate how the lactation regulation such as restricted-lactation and early weaning during the suckling period influences on ovarian functions and change in serum levels of progesterone in primiparous rats. All the rats were raised in the individual cage from a few days before parturition through the suckling period. The normal lactation(NL) groups were controled 8 pups. The restricted-lactation(RL) and weaned(W) groups were subdivided into 5 subgroups as RL0, RL5, RL10, RL15 and RL20 as well as W0, W5, W10, W15, and W20 according to the day of onset of suckling. The number of pups were regulated from 8 to 4 on experimental strating day in RL gropus, and also perfectly weaned on the each on-set day in W groups. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. During the whole suckling period of 25 days the pups in RL group grew significantly(P＜005) faster than those in normal-lactation(NL) group. The pups in earlier RL group grew significantly(P＜0.05) faster than those in later RL rats, and there was no found any significant difference in body weight of pups between RL20 and NL group. The gestation period and litter size were found to be 21.53$\pm$0.04 days and 13.75$\pm$0.07, respectively. 2. The estrous cycle was not expressed in the NL group through the whole suckling period. An irregular estrous cycle was found around day 20 in RL0 group, and the regular estrous cycles were exhibited continuously from day 10 in the day 0 weaned rats. 3. In the rats of NL group the serum progesterone concentration increased from 33.16$\pm$2.64ng/$m\ell$ on day 0 to 122.5$\pm$53.68 ng/$m\ell$ on day 10, and then decreased slightly to 97.30$\pm$3.21 ng/$m\ell$ on day 20, but then decreased abruptly. However, the serum level of progesterone decreased greatly(P＜0.05) in 5 to 10 days following suckling restriction in the rats from which suckling began to be under restriction on day 0 or day 15. In the early weaning group the significant ( (P＜0.05) decrease in progesterone concentration was found similarly in 48 hours following weaning in all the rats weaned on day 0 through day 20. It was suggested that lactation stimulation is a very pivotal on the function of ovary.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2009

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of surfactin in combination with Bacillus subtilis BC1212 isolated from Korean soybean paste, on feed utilization and growth performance during 4 weeks in weaning piglets. Eighteen weaning piglets(Landrace$\times$Yorkshire$\times$Duroc; weighing $7.68{\pm}0.97\;kg$) were divided into control(n=9) and experimental groups(n=9). The treatments included a control group consisting of the basal diet with no additives(control) and an experimental group consisting of the basal diet supplemented with 1 g of surfactin C and $1.0{\times}10^9CFU$ of Bacillus subtilis BC1212/kg feed. Piglets fed Bacillus subtilis BC1212 increased in average daily weight gain and feed efficiency. In comparison with the control group, the fecal Bacillus subtilis were significantly increased and the fecal coliform bacteria were markedly reduced in the experimental group. In addition, Bacillus subtilis BC1212 had excellent acid and bile tolerance. The treatment of surfactin($50{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$) in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated swine peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) for 6 h showed a significant inhibitory effect on INF-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$ and NO secretion(p<0.05) in comparison with LPS treatment alone but not on IL-10 secretion, with levels of secreted IL-10 similar to those secreted by PBMCs stimulated with LPS alone. Supplementation with surfactin in combination with Bacillus subtilis BC1212 in diets improved the ecosystem of gastrointestinal tract by increasing probiotic population and enhanced the systemic immune response in weaned piglets.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the reproductive and growing performances in sow farms located in Chungnam. Data collected from a total of 15 sow farms divided into 3 farm groups for 1 year were analyzed. The results obtained were as follows; The average of sow at small and large farms were 114.25 and 487.88 heads, respectively. And then, the difference among 3 groups in sow farm was not found significantly in farrowing rate. The significant difference among 3 farm groups was significantly found(p<0.05) in total litter size. The litter size born alive at sucking in small sow farm and middle farms were 9.93, and 10.48 pigs. The difference between small and large farms in number of pigs at weaning were significantly shown 8.89, and 9.35 pigs(p<0.05), respectively. The difference among 3 sow farms for ages at weaning showed significantly (p<0.05). The cycles of farrowing rate per year in small, large and middle farms were 2.17, 2.23 and 2.32, respectively. The significant difference among 3 sow groups was found in farrowing rate(p<0.05). The growing rate up to weaning for middle farms was significantly the higher level(94.70%) than that for other farms(p<0.05). The differences among 3 farm groups for marketing weight were not significantly shown.