• 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 Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1067-1078
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• 2003

This study was designed to determine the effect of gestation housing and parity on the farrowing performance and behaviour of sows during pregnancy, farrowing and lactation periods. Total 18 Duroc sows were randomly assigned after 4 weeks of gestation to either an individual gestation stall or a groups of three with pen gestation system for three parities(1st, 2nd${\sim}$3rd, and 4th${\sim}$5th). Approximately 7 days before predicted farrowing date, sows were transferred to farrowing crates where they remained until 21 days post-partum. Behaviour was recorded on day 60 and 90 of pregnancy for 24 hours, on day of farrowing for farrowing duration and on day 10 of lactation for 2.5 hours in the farrowing crate. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows: On 60 and 90 day of pregnancy, all sows in both groups made attempts for ventral lying more than for other postures. Sows in the group gestation pen spent more time on walking than those in individual gestation stall(p<0.01); however, the group housed sows were spent less time on drinking than the individually housed sows(p<0.01). There was no significant difference between gestation housings in the occurrence of stereotypy of pregnant sows. On day 60 of pregnancy, sows in the individual gestation stall showed the highest frequency of vacuum chewing and head weaving. However, floor licking and bar licking behaviours were highest in day 90 pregnant sows individually housed. The sows individually housed during the gestation period spent more time on sitting and eating on the day of farrowing in the farrowing crate than the sows group housed. On day 10 of lactation in the farrowing crate, the group housed sows during the gestation period made significantly more attempts for ventral lying than sows individually housed. In conclusion, the occurrence of stereotypy of sows during the gestation and lactation did not differ between gestation housings and farrowing performance of sows during the gestation period was not affected by gestation housing. Thus, the group housing for pregnant sows is a feasible means to improve welfare of sows and to increase the normal behaviour of sows.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

This study was conducted to analyze the effects of sow breeding environment on the reproduction in the first litter in a large-sized hog farm, located in Dangjin-gun, Chungnam from July 1st, 2007 to June 30th, 2008 and provide basic information to improve the sow productivity in a family farming sows. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The gestation periods were proved to be similar without significant differences between indoor and outdoor breeding grounds, The average of farrowing rate was 91.91%, and 92.54% farrowing rate of out-door ground breeding sows was slightly greater than 91.57% of group-housed sows, but there was no significance between two groups. 2. The average of total litter size and the number of born alive per litter were 9.81 and 9.02, respectively. The number of total number was 0.98 and the number of born alive per litter was 1.18 in the outdoor-ground breeding sows, which was significantly greater than group-housed sows(p<0.001). 3. The number(rate) of piglets stillborn was 0.22(2.10%) from the outdoor-ground breeding sows was significantly greater, compared with 0.33(3.53%) from group-housed sows(p<0.01). The number of piglets culled was 0.23(2.27%) and 0.26(2.77%), in the out-door ground breeding sows and in group-housed sows, respectively and it was not significantly similar between two groups. And, the number of mummies was 0.21(2.1%) and 0.28(2.29%), in the out-door ground breeding sows and in group-housed sows, respectively, which showed no significance. 4. The weaning number in the playground breeding sows was 9.48 and it was significantly greater than that in the group-housed sows(p<0.001). The average of weaned age was observed to be 22.91 days. The weaned age in the out-door ground breeding sows was 22.39 days, and it was significantly smaller than that in group-housed sows(p<0.001). The breeding rate for the weaning of pigs was satisfactory as 96.82%, but there was no significant difference between two groups.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.160-168
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• 2021

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of different cooling systems on the performance and hair cortisol of sows under heat stress. During a 21-day experiment, a total of 40 multiparous sows (Landrace×Yorkshire; 242.84±2.89 kg) were allotted to 4 treatments, each with 10 replicates (1 sow per pen). The experimental treatments were CP (Cooling pad), AC (Air conditioner), SC (Snout cooling), and MS (Mist spray). We observed an increase in the average daily feed intake during lactation (p<0.05) in the CP and AC treatment groups. AC treatment had the highest (p<0.05) and SC treatment had the lowest (p<0.05) piglet weight at weaning. During lactation, sows administered SC and MS treatments had higher (p<0.05) hair cortisol accumulation, as compared with the AC and CP treatments. Hair cortisol accumulation in piglets during lactation was highest with MS treatment (p<0.05), and lowest after CP treatment (p<0.05). MS treatment had the highest (p<0.05), and AC treatment had the lowest (p<0.05) respiratory rate and rectal temperature during lactation. In conclusion, our results indicate that a cooling pad and air conditioning cooling system increases the productivity of a sow, as compared to snout cooling and mist spray cooling systems.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of HACCP system implementation on the budget for medicine use, antibiotic utilization, and productivity of swine farms in Korea. Data were collected form thirty swine farms before and after implementation of HACCP system. Parturition rate, total number of piglets, number of initial weaning piglets, number of weaning piglets, survival rate of piglets after weaning, date of weaning piglets, piglet per sow per year, and market piglet per sow per year tended to be higher after HACCP system implementation. In contrast, price for medicine used per month, number of antibiotic used, the farm number of feeds containing antibiotics in each, growing stages added at the feed company, and the farm number of feeds containing antibiotics in each growing stages added at the swine farm were lower after HACCP system implementation. Due to increase in the feed cost recently, production cost for shipment in HACCP system implemented swine farms had increased in this study. In conclusion, our results indicated that the implementation of HACCP system might be effective in reducing medical expenses and improving the productivity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of HACCP implementation on the medicine use, antibiotic utilization in each feeding stage and productivity of large scale swine farms (over 5,000 pigs) in Korea. Data were collected from ten swine farms before and after implementation of a HACCP system. Total number of piglets, number of initial weaning piglets, number of weaning piglets, survival rate of piglets, date of weaning piglets, number of piglets per sow per year and price for medicine used per month on HACCP implemented swine farms had a tendency to increase without any significant difference. However, parturition rate, market pig per sow per year, number of antibiotic used and farm number of feeds containing antibiotics at fattening stage added at the swine farm were significantly increased after HACCP implementation (p<0.05). Due to increase in the feed cost recently, production cost for shipment in HACCP system implemented swine farms had increased in this study. In conclusion, our results indicated that the implementation of HACCP system might have many effects including reduction of medical expenses and improvement of productivity of the pig farms.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2010

The principal objective of this study was to investigate the cooling effects of geothermal heat pump system (GHPS) in farrowing house. A total of 96 sows were allocated to 2 pig housings (GHPS and conventional housing) with 48 for four weeks in summer season. During the experimental period of four weeks, the highest outside temperature observed was approximately $34.1^{\circ}C$, GHPS decrease indoor temperature of pig housing up to $30.9^{\circ}C$, but conventional pig housing was similar to outside temperature. Dust concentrations (maximum 61.4%) of particulate matter less than $10{\mu}m$ (PM 10) in GHPS-housing were lower than the conventional housing. GHPS showed no signigicant difference in carbon dioxide emission, whereas the ammonia gas concentration was significantly decreased in GHPS-housing compared to that of conventional housing. Sows in GHPS-housing showed significantly lower respiratory rate than those of the control group. GHPS did not affect hormone level, litter size and birth weight, but weaning weight of piglets was influenced by GHPS. Feed consumption of sows was significantly increased in GHPS-housing compared to the conventional hosing. These results suggest that GHPS decrease dust concentration, ammonia gas emission and indoor temperature of pig housing and may affect performance in sows and weaned piglets.