• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2015

A non-traditional forage-based protocol was employed to evaluate replacement heifer growth, fertility, and economics between small frame (SF, 3.50; n = 50) and large frame (LF, 5.56; n = 50) heifers using three increasing gain growth phases. Preceding an 85 d growing-breeding period (Phase 3; P3) the heifers were managed as a common group for Phases 1 and 2 (P1 and P2). During P1, heifers grazed common fields of unharvested corn and corn residue (total digestible nutrients [TDN] 56%) with supplemental hay. For P2, heifers grazed early spring crested wheatgrass pasture (CWG; TDN 62%) that was followed by the final P3 drylot growing and breeding period (TDN 68%). Small frame heifers were lighter at the end of P1 in May and at the start of P3 breeding in August (p = 0.0002). Percent of mature body weight (BW) at the end of P1 (209 d) was 48.7% and 46.8%, respectively, for the SF and LF heifers and the percent pubertal was lower for SF than for LF heifers (18.0% vs 40.0%; p = 0.02). At breeding initiation (P3), the percentage of mature BW was 57.8 and 57.2 and the percentage pubertal was 90.0 and 96.0 (p = 0.07) for the SF and LF heifers, respectively; a 5-fold increase for SF heifers. Breeding cycle pregnancy on days 21, 42, and 63, and total percent pregnant did not differ (p>0.10). In drylot, SF heifer dry matter intake (DMI) was 20.1% less (p = 0.001) and feed cost/d was 20.3% lower (p = 0.001), but feed cost/kg of gain did not differ between SF and LF heifers (p = 0.41). Economically important live animal measurements for muscling were measured in May and at the end of the study in October. SF heifers had greater L. dorsi muscle area per unit of BW than LF heifers (p = 0.03). Small frame heifer value was lower at weaning (p = 0.005) and the non-pregnant ending heifer value was lower for SF heifers than for the LF heifers (p = 0.005). However, the total development cost was lower for SF heifers (p = 0.001) and the net cost per pregnant heifer, after accounting for the sale of non-pregnant heifers, was lower for SF heifers (p = 0.004). These data suggest that high breeding efficiency can be attained among March-April born SF and LF virgin heifers when transitioned to a more favorable May-June calving period through the strategic use of grazed and harvested forages resulting in a lower net cost per pregnant SF heifer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1222-1228
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• 2016

The objective of this research was to estimate genetic parameters and trends for length of productive life (LPL), lifetime number of piglets born alive (LBA), lifetime number of piglets weaned (LPW), lifetime litter birth weight (LBW), and lifetime litter weaning weight (LWW) in a commercial swine farm in Northern Thailand. Data were gathered during a 24-year period from July 1989 to August 2013. A total of 3,109 phenotypic records from 2,271 Landrace (L) and 838 Yorkshire sows (Y) were analyzed. Variance and covariance components, heritabilities and correlations were estimated using an Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood (AIREML) procedure. The 5-trait animal model contained the fixed effects of first farrowing year-season, breed group, and age at first farrowing. Random effects were sow and residual. Estimates of heritabilities were medium for all five traits ($0.17{\pm}0.04$ for LPL and LBA to $0.20{\pm}0.04$ for LPW). Genetic correlations among these traits were high, positive, and favorable (p<0.05), ranging from $0.93{\pm}0.02$ (LPL-LWW) to $0.99{\pm}0.02$ (LPL-LPW). Sow genetic trends were non-significant for LPL and all lifetime production traits. Sire genetic trends were negative and significant for LPL ($-2.54{\pm}0.65d/yr$; p = 0.0007), LBA ($-0.12{\pm}0.04piglets/yr$; p = 0.0073), LPW ($-0.14{\pm}0.04piglets/yr$; p = 0.0037), LBW ($-0.13{\pm}0.06kg/yr$; p = 0.0487), and LWW ($-0.69{\pm}0.31kg/yr$; p = 0.0365). Dam genetic trends were positive, small and significant for all traits ($1.04{\pm}0.42d/yr$ for LPL, p = 0.0217; $0.16{\pm}0.03piglets/yr$ for LBA, p<0.0001; $0.12{\pm}0.03piglets/yr$ for LPW, p = 0.0002; $0.29{\pm}0.04kg/yr$ for LBW, p<0.0001 and $1.23{\pm}0.19kg/yr$ for LWW, p<0.0001). Thus, the selection program in this commercial herd managed to improve both LPL and lifetime productive traits in sires and dams. It was ineffective to improve LPL and lifetime productive traits in sows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1132-1137
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• 2012

Objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of partial substitution of barley grain with bread by-product (BB) on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs. Forty Awassi ewes rearing single lambs were randomly allotted into four experimental diets containing various levels of BB. The experimental diets contained 0 (BB0), 10 (BB10), 15 (BB15), and 20% (BB20) of BB on dietary dry matter (DM). The study lasted for eight weeks, in which the first week was used as an adaptation period and seven weeks of data collection. Ewes and their lambs were penned individually where they were fed their lactating diets ad libitum. Ewes and lambs body weights were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. However, milk production and composition were evaluated biweekly. Feeding BB had no effect (p>0.05) on dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) intakes. However, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was the lowest (p<0.05) for the BB20 and BB15 diets followed to BB10 diet (i.e., 640, 677, 772 g/d, respectively) while the highest NDF intake was for the BB0 diet (i.e., 825 g/d). Similarly, NDF intake decreased linearly (p<0.001) as the BB content increased. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake was highest (p<0.05) for the BB0 and BB10 diets (425 and 416 g/d, respectively) followed by the BB15 and BB20 diets (359 and 342 g/d, respectively). Moreover, a linear (p<0.001), quadratic (p = 0.04), and cubic (p = 0.04) effects were observed in ADF intake among diets. Nutrient digestibility was similar among different diets. Bread by-product had no effect (p>0.05) on ewes body weight change and on lamb performance (i.e., weaning body weight and average daily gain). Similarly, no differences (p>0.05) were observed either in milk production or composition by the BB substitution. Inclusion of BB reduced feed cost by 9, 14, and 18% for the BB10, BB15, and BB20 diets, respectively. No differences were observed in milk efficiency (DM intake: milk production; p>0.05) among diets. However, cost of milk production ($US/kg milk) was the lowest (p<0.05) in the diet containing BB20. Results of the present study indicate that feeding bread by-product up to 20% of the diet DM had no effect on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs and reduced feed cost.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1308-1315
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• 2001

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different methods of feeding and processing of diets on performance, morphological changes in the small intestine and nutrient digestibility of young pigs. A total of 120 pigs (Youkshire${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Duroc; initial body weight of $5.83{\pm}0.67kg$) were randomly allotted into six treatments in a $2{\times}3$ factorial design. Treatments were 1) dry feeding with a mash diet (DM), 2) dry feeding with a pelleted diet (DP), 3) dry feeding with an expanded crumble diet (DEC), 4) wet feeding with a mash diet (WM), 5) wet feeding with a pelleted diet (WP), 6) wet feeding with an expanded crumble diet (WEC). Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were not significantly (p>0.05) different among treatments. However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved when pigs fed a pelleted diet or an expanded crumble diet. Pigs fed an expanded crumble diet showed 9.2% and 17.3% improvement in ADG and FCR compared with those fed a mash diet. The morphological changes in the small intestine were examined at the termination (4 weeks after weaning) of the experiment. Differences in morphological changes of gastrointestinal tract were not significant among treatments. Though villus height was not significantly affected by feeding method or feed processing, the villus height of weaned pigs tended to be preserved by wet feeding. The use of a pelleted diet also helped to prevent the shortening of villus height. Pigs fed a WP diet maintained the highest villus height at all parts of the small intestine. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in nutrient digestibility among treatments. However, nutrient digestibility for pigs fed a pelleted diet had a higher than that of pigs fed mash diets. Especially, pigs fed a WP diet digested 5.3% more P each day than those fed a DM diet. Compared with the mash diet, the expanded crumble diet decreased feed cost per kg weight gain by 15%. The net profit per pig was 79% higher in the expanded crumble diet pigs than in mash diet pigs. In conclusion, this study suggests that feeding processed diets to piglets can be more beneficial in terms of FCR and production cost.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1206-1212
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• 2000

This study was conducted to know whether Gamiyookmijihwangtang(GY) which is Yookmijihwang added with Liriopis tuber, Anemarrhenae rhizoma and Phellodendri cortex can remedy the overt diabetes in diabetes-prone BB(BBDP) rats. The rats were given GY through the mother from the fetal stage until birth. After birth they received GY through breast feeding until 20 days old. From 21 days old which is the beginning of the weaning period 60 BB rats(30 males and 30 females) were divided into 2 experimental groups(BBDP and BBDP-GY) and placed individually in metabolic cages. BBDP was the control group which didn't receive any GY and BBDP-GY received 16 mL/㎏ B.W./day of GY until 120 days old. The antidiabetic effects of GY were characterized by the clinical features such as polyurea, polydipsia, hyperglycaemia and the rapid loss of body weight. Body weight, water consumption, urine volume and blood glucose level showed no signs of impending diabetes but after onset there were big changes in those parameters. The onset of diabetes was delayed and the incidence of diabetes was also much decreased with GY but after onset there were no beneficial effects from it.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.743-757
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• 1993

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of dietary Fe and Cu levels on Pb accumulation of Pb poisoned rats. 80 male Sprague weaning Dawley rate weighing 80-90g were divided into 8 groups(Pb groups: LFLCPb-low Fe, low Cu and Pb group, LFACPB-low Fe, adequate Cu and Pb group, AFLCPb-adequate Fe, low Cu and Pb group, AFACPb-adequate Fe, adequate Cu and Pb group, without Pb gorups: LFLC-low Fe, low Cu and without Pb grooup, LFAC-low Fe, adequate Cu and without Pb group, AFLC-adequate Fe, low Cu and without Pb group, AFAC-adequate Fe, adequate Cu and without Pb group) according to Pb administration (0, 500ppm in drinking water) and Fe and Cu levels(Fe :6ppm, 40ppm, Cu : 0.5ppm, 0.8ppm) for 12 weeks. The food intake, body weight, gain, and FER of Pb groups were significantly lower than those of without Pb groups(p<0.01, p<0.001, p<0.001). The weights of liver in Pb groups were significantly lower than that of adequate Fe and Cu group in without Pb group(AFAC) (p<0.001). The Cu contents of liver in Pb groups were significantly lower than that of AFAC (p<0.01). The liver Pb accumulation of LFLCPb was significantly higher than those of LFACPb, AFLCPb, AFACPb(p<0.05). The serum Pb content of LFLCPb was significantly higher than those of LFACPb, AFLCPb, AFACPb(p<0.05). The levels of Hb, and Hct, of 12 weeks in Pb poisoned rats were lower than those of 8 weeks, in other words, long term Pb poisoned rats were affected more serious on hematoopoiesis. The fecal excretions of Fe and Cu in Pb groups were significantly higher than those of without Pb groups(p<0.001, p<0.001). The urinary Fe and Cu excretions were significantly higher than those of AFAC(p<0.001, p<0.001). There were significant differences between Pb groups and without Pb groups according to dietary Fe and Cu levels. So, dietary levels of adequate Fe and Cu were effective to reduce Pb accumulation in rats. It were showed that the decrease of food intake, FER, body weight gain, serum level of Fe and Cu in Pb groups than those of without Pb groups. And the increase of liver Pb accumulation, serum Pb levels, fecal and urinary Fe and Cu excretions were showed in Pb groups than those of without Pb groups by long term lead poisoning. Otherwise, adequate Fe and Cu administrations in Pb groups have preventive effects on the Pb poisoned rats.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1675-1688
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• 2022

Objective: Pregnant Nelore heifers (n = 417) were used to evaluate the effects of supplementation with monensin-molasses multinutrient block (B) during pre and/or postpartum on reproductive and progeny performance. Methods: Heifers were allocated in four treatments: i) CC: heifers received control supplement (C) in loose meal form (0.06% of body weight [BW] offered daily before and after parturition; n = 108); ii) CB: received C before parturition and B (0.07% of BW offered weekly after parturition; n = 117); iii) BC: received B before and C after parturition (n = 103) and iv) BB: received B before and after parturition (n = 89). During pre and postpartum periods, concentration of metabolites/hormones and cow/calf performance was evaluated over time. Cows were synchronized twice for fixed timed artificial insemination (FTAI) using an estradiol/progesterone-based protocol. Data was analyzed by orthogonal contrasts (C). Results: B increased pregnancy at first FTAI (p = 0.04) and overall pregnancy rate (C1: CC vs BB+BC+CB; p = 0.05). Supplemented cows had greater body condition score (BCS) only at parturition (D0; p = 0.04) and at D40 (p = 0.02). B increased BW (p = 0.03), glucose concentrations (p = 0.01) and subcutaneous fat thickness (p = 0.03) only at D40. Concentrations of insulin were higher in supplemented cows (p = 0.008). Calves born by cows supplemented before and after parturition (C2: BB vs BC+CB) were heavier at 80 (p<0.001), 120 (p<0.001), 170 (p = 0.002) and 210 (p = 0.02) days old. Conclusion: Regardless of period of treatment, block supplementation increased pregnancy at first FTAI and overall pregnancy rate. Additionality, block supplementation during both pre and postpartum periods improved progeny weight until weaning. Block supplementation can be a tool to optimize fertility and calf performance in Nelore primiparous cows.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.667-678
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• 2003

The objectives of this study were to investigate the genetic characteristics of body weight by growth periods for Hanwoo. A total of 1,736 records were used for body weight. The data for body weights were collected from 1990 to 2000 in Daekwanryong branch, National Livestock Research Institute(NLRI). Estimates of (co)variance components were obtained by derivative-free Restricted Maximum Likelihood (DF-REML). The results are summarized as follows; The means for the weights were 25.60, 79.31, 98.91, 145.40, 283.26, 392.32, 545.65kg at birth, 3, 4, 6, 12, 18, 24month postpartum, respectively. The effects of calving year-season were significant for the milk yield of cow. Heritability estimates of direct genetic effects for birth weight were 0.54(all), 0.52(female), 0.36(male) in modelⅠ, 0.45(all), 0.41(female), 0.24(male) in modelⅡ, and heritabilities estimates of direct genetic effects for 4 month(weaning) weight were 0.47(all), 0.33(female), 0.28(male) in modelⅠ, 0.38(all), 0.21(female), 0.21(male) in modelⅡ. Heritability estimates for male and female data differed from those for combined data. The estimates became smaller for the body weights at 12 month or later(0.13～0.05). The heritabilities of average daily gain were smaller than those for body weights, but showed that the similar pattern to body weights.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1079-1088
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• 2003

This study was conducted to test the efficacy of the automatic liquid feeder(designated as NLRI) developed by National Livestock Research Institute, Korea for 7-day old early-weaning piglets. The other automatic liquid feeder imported from USA(designated as IALF) was used for a comparative purpose. A total of sixty piglets of 7 days of age were allotted to three treatments. The control group of 20 piglets was raised by their own sows until 21 days of age, while others were shifted to automatic liquid feeders of either NLRI or IALF on 7 days of age and reared during 14 days post-weaning. After then, all the piglets were fed nutritionally identical mash diets until 70 days of age. Compared with control group, body weight of piglets reared on automatic liquid feeders were lighter(P〈0.05) at 21 days of age [5.55kg (control) vs 4.97 (NLRI) and 4.98kg (IALF)], while heavier(P〈0.05) at 70 days of age(24.82kg vs 30.17 and 29.42kg). The results indicated that pigs reared on liquid feeding showed higher(P〈0.05) average daily gain than control pigs during the whole experimental period [346.7g (control) vs 425.8 (NLRI) and 416.1g (IALF)], while no difference was found in feed/gain (1.67 vs 1.78 and 1.84). There was no difference in growth performance and incidence of diarrhea between two automatic liquid feeders, NLRI and IALF. Compared with control group, intestinal villi tended to be shorter in liquid feeding group during the first week, but were recovered within two weeks. The results suggest that the automatic liquid feeder newly developed by National Livestock Research Institute, Korea can be successfully used for rearing young piglets weaned at very early age.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1150-1154
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• 2015

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of palm kernel expellers on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and changes in white blood cells (WBC) of lactating sows. A total of 14 sows ($200{\pm}12kg$ of average body weight [BW]; 2.5 of average parity) were used and moved from gestation room to farrowing room on d 109 of gestation. Sows were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The treatments were a diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON added with 20% of palm kernel expellers (PKE). Sows were fed the treatments for 28 days (weaning) after farrowing. Blood was collected from each sow and 4 randomly selected piglets from each sow before farrowing or on d 3, 7, or 14 of lactation. Sows were fed respective treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide from d 15 to 21 of lactation. Fecal samples were collected daily for the last 3 days after the 4-d adjustment period. Measurements were performances and WBC changes of sows and litter, nutrient digestibility of sows, and daily diarrhea of litter. Sows fed PKE had greater average daily feed intake (7.38 vs 7.10 kg/d; p<0.05) and lost less BW (-6.85 vs -8.54 kg; p<0.05) and backfat depth (-0.42 vs -0.71 mm; p<0.05) than those fed CON. However, there were no differences on digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy and weaning to estrus interval of sows fed either CON or PKE. Piglets from sows fed PKE gained more BW (203 vs 181 g/d; p = 0.08) and had less frequency of diarrhea (6.80 vs 8.56%; p = 0.07) than those from sows fed CON. On the other hand, no difference was found on preweaning mortality of piglets from sows fed either CON or PKE. Sows fed PKE had lower number of WBC (9.57 vs $11.82{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$; p = 0.09) before farrowing than those fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. Similarly, piglets from sows fed PKE had also lower number of WBC (7.86 vs $9.80{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$; p<0.05) on d 14 of lactation than those from sows fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. In conclusion, addition of 20% palm kernel expellers to lactation diet based on corn and soybean meal had no negative effects on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and WBC changes of lactating sows.