• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1634-1640
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to compare pork characteristics and to determine consumer acceptability of pork chops from antibiotic free Yorkshire crossbreds sired by Berkshire (BY), Large Black (LBY), Tamworth (TY) or Yorkshire (YY) boars and reared in hoop houses. The experiments were conducted at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&TSU) Farm in Greensboro, NC and the Cherry Research Station Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Alternative Swine Unit in Goldsboro, NC (source of antibiotic free Yorkshire sows used at both places). Twenty-four sows were artificially inseminated at each location in each of three trials. Litters were weaned at 4 wks old, and reared within deep-bedded outdoor hoop houses. To compare pork characteristics, 104 randomly selected animals were harvested at a USDA-inspected abattoir at approximately 200 d of age. Variables measured included pH, color score, $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, marbling score, drip loss, hot carcass weight, backfat thickness (BF), loin muscle area (LMA), and slice shear force. Sensory panel tests were also conducted at two time periods. The data was analyzed with GLM in SAS 9.01 including location, trial, and sire breed as fixed effects. Backfat thickness, LMA, color score and $a^*$ were different among breeding groups (p<0.05). The LBY pigs had thicker backfat and smaller LMA than the other breed types. The TY and YY had less backfat than all other breed groups. Color score was lower for YY than BY and LBY but intermediate for TY. The $a^*$ was lower for TY than other breeds except LBY which was intermediate. For one sensory panel test, YY pork was more preferred overall as well as for juiciness and texture compared to BY and LBY (p<0.05), but no impact of breed type was noted for the other test, with values similar for BY, LBY, TY and YY pork. This information may help small farmers make decisions about breed types to use for outdoor production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1351-1356
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to compare body weight, ADG, and feed:gain ratio of antibiotic-free pigs from Yorkshire dams and sired by Yorkshire (YY), Berkshire (BY), Large Black (LBY) or Tamworth (TY) boars. All the crossbred pigs in each of three trials were raised as one group from weaning to finishing in the same deep-bedded hoop, providing a comfortable environment for the animals which allowed rooting and other natural behaviors. Birth, weaning and litter weights were measured and recorded. From approximately 50 kg to market weight (125 kg), feed intake and body weights were recorded manually (body weight) or using a FIRE (Feed Intake Recording Equipment, Osborne Industries Inc. Osborne, Kansas) system with eight individual feeding stations. Feed intake data for 106 finishing pigs between 140 and 210 d of age and the resulting weights and feed conversion ratios were analyzed by breed type. Least square means for body weights (birth, weaning and to 240 d) were estimated with Proc Mixed in SAS 9.2 for fixed effects such as crossbreed and days of age within the sire breed. The differences within fixed effects were compared using least significant differences with DIFF option. Individual birth weights and weaning weights were influenced by sire breed (p<0.05). For birth weight, BY pigs were the lightest, TY and YY pigs were the heaviest but similar to each other and LBY pigs were intermediate. For weaning weights, BY and LBY pigs were heavier than TY and YY pigs. However, litter birth and weaning weights were not influenced by sire breed, and average daily gain was also not significantly different among breed types. Tamworth sired pigs had lower overall body weight gain, and feed conversion was lower in TY and YY groups than BY and LBY groups (p<0.05), however, number of observations was somewhat limited for feed conversion and for Tamworth pigs. Overall, no convincing differences among breed types were noted for this study, but growth performance in the outdoor environment was satisfactory.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.374-378
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• 2004

One hundred and twenty crossbred pigs [(Duroc$\times$Yorkshire)$\times$Landrace] were used to determine the effects of plant extract (PE) supplementation on performance and blood characteristics in weaned pigs fed a corn-dried whey-SBM based diet. Treatments were 1) NC (antibiotic free basal diet), 2) PC (NC diet+100 ppm apramycin and 100 ppm oxytetracycline), 3) PE 0.1 (NC diet+0.1% plant extract), 4) PE 0.2 (NC diet+0.2% plant extract) and 5) PE+AB (PC diet+0.1% plant extract). Through the entire experimental period, ADG of pigs fed PC (300 vs. 281 g/d), PE 0.2 (310 vs. 281 g/d) and PE+AB (306 vs. 281 g/d) diets was higher than that of pigs fed NC diet (p<0.05). However, no differences were found among the treatments for ADFI and gain/feed. At day 2 after the onset of the experiment, fecal consistency score of pigs fed PC, PE 0.1, PE 0.2 and PE+AB diets was lower than that of pigs fed NC diet. There were no significant differences in red blood cell, white blood cell, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes concentrations of blood among the treatments. In conclusion, PE can be used to replace antibiotics in diets for weaned pigs without negative affects on performance. Optimal PE levels seemed to be 0.2% and the results obtained point out to a synergic effect of the combination of PE and antibiotic on performance in weaned pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.537-542
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• 2003

Sixty [(Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Landrace] pigs (7.63$\pm$0.41kg average body weight and 25-d average age) were used in a 20-d growth assay to determine the effect of dietary recombinant human lactoferricin culture (RHLC) supplementation on growth performance, digestibility and plasma IgG concentration in weaning pigs. Dietary treatments included 1) Negative control (NC : without antibiotic), 2) Positive control (PC : NC diet + 0.1% chlortetracycline), 3) RHLC0.3 (NC diet + 0.3% RHLC), 4) RHLC0.5 (NC diet + 0.5% RHLC). No differences were found among treatments in average daily gain (P>0.05). ADFI of pigs fed RHLC0.3 diet was higher than that of pigs fed PC diet (P<0.05). However, pigs fed RHLC0.5 diet had improved gain/feed compared to pigs fed PC diet. Pigs fed PC and RHLC diets showed significantly increased dry matter digestibility compared to pigs fed NC diet (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in plasma IgG concentrations (P>0.05). The supplementation of RHLC in starter pig diets appears to be an alternative to antibiotics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.607-613
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• 2010

The influence of dietary supplementation with blended essential oil on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and fecal characteristics was evaluated in 125 crossed ((Duroc ${\times}$Yorkshire) ${\times}$Landrace) pigs (6.21${\pm}$0.20 kg initial body weight and 21 d average age). The pigs were allotted to the following treatments: i) NC (antibiotic free diet), ii) PC (NC diet+44 ppm tylosin), iii) T1 (NC diet+0.1% essential oil), iv) T2 (NC diet+0.1% essential oil (with 0.3% Benzoic acid)) and v) T3 (NC+22 ppm tylosin and 0.05% essential oil). Average daily gain (ADG) was improved in the T2 group on d 14 (p<0.05). In addition, nutrient digestibility was partially affected (both positively and negatively) by the treatments. Furthermore, the immune system was stimulated and the fecal pH and fecal noxious gases were improved in pigs that received the diets supplemented with essential oil (p<0.05). The appearance and score of diarrhea also tended to be lower in pigs that were subjected to the essential oil treatments. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that supplementation of the diet with blended essential oils could replace treatment with antibiotics to improve growth performance and fecal characteristics.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.375-382
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary herbal plant mixture on growth performance, blood immunological parameters, fecal VFA and NH3-N concentrations in growing pigs. The dietary treatments were 1) NC (negative control; antibiotics-free diet), 2) PC (positive control; NC diet added 0.16% antibiotic), 3) NCK0.2 (NC diet added 0.2% herbal plant mixture (koppuul??)) and 4) PCK0.1 (PC diet added 0.1% herbal plant mixture (koppuul??)). Eighty crossbred (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) pigs (16.35±0.05kg average initial body weight) were used for 42 days. The pigs were assigned to the treatments according to body weight and each treatment had 5 replicates of 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. During the whole experimental period, PCK0.1 and PC treatments had significantly higher ADG than NC treatment (P<0.05). Gain/feed of pigs fed PC diet was higher than that of pigs fed NC diet (P<0.05). For blood immunological parameters investigations, white blood cells (WBC) counts and IgG level increased in the pigs fed PC, NCK0.2 and PCK0.1 diets compared to pigs fed NC diet. In addition, higher (P<0.05) serum lymphocyte concentration was found in PCK0.1 treatment compared to NC treatment. NH3-N concentration in pigs fed NCK0.2% diet was lower than that in pigs fed PC and NC diets. There were no significant differences in DM and N digestibilities among the treatments. In conclusion, the results suggested that the dietary additions of herbal plant mixture or antibiotics increase ADG, the concentrations of WBC counts and IgG, lymphocyte, while decrease NH3-N concentration in feces.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.485-498
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary rare earth on growth performance, blood immune- related cell population, meat quality and fecal odor emitting gases in finishing pigs. The total of sixty four (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) pigs(65.42±1.16kg in average initial body weight) were used for feeding trial during 10 weeks of experimental period. Dietary treatments included 1) NC(antibiotic free diet), 2) PC (NC diet+6 weeks 44ppm of tylosin/ 4 weeks 22ppm of tylosin) 3) RE1 (NC diet + 100ppm of RE), 4) RE2 (NC diet+200ppm of RE). There were four dietary treatments with four replicate pens per treatment and four pigs per pen. During the overall periods, there were no significant differences in ADG(Average daily gain), ADFI (Average daily feed intake) and gain/feed ratio among treatments(P>0.05). Dry matter and nitrogen digestibility were higher in RE2 treatment group than other groups(P<0.05). Also, energy digestibility was higher in RE2 treatment group than PC and RE1 treatment groups(P<0.05). At the 6th week WBC(white blood cell) was significantly increased(P<0.05) in RE1 treatment group than NC and RE2 treatment groups. L* value of M. logissimus dorsi muscle color was significantly increased(P<0.05) in rare earth supplemented groups compared to NC treatment group(P<0.05). However, a* value was lower in RE1 treatment group than PC treatment group (P<0.05). In fatty acid composition of Intramuscular fat, total MUFA was significantly higher in RE2 treatment group than other groups(P<0.05). Also, total UFA was significantly increased in RE2 treatment group compared with NC and PC treatment groups(P<0.05). In fatty acid composition of back fats, total SFA of rare earth supplemented groups were lower than in PC treatment group(P<0.05). UFA:SFA ratio was significantly higher in rare earth supplemented groups than PC treatment group(P<0.05). In fecal odor emission, NH3 was significantly decreased(P<0.05) in rare earth supplemented groups compared to NC and PC treatment groups. In conclusion, the results of the experiment was affected by rare earth supplementation on digestibilities, meat quality, fatty acid and fecal odor emission gases in finishing pigs.