• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2017

Fermented Rhus verniciflua (FRV) as feed additives act as excellent anti-diarrheal drugs as they increase the intestinal absorption rate therefore being indirectly associated with enhancing growth performance and increasing digestibility in livestock. A total of 80 weaned pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of $6.82{\pm}1.11kg$ were used to evaluate a diet supplemented with FRV meal in a 6 week feeding trial with two dietary treatments [CON - basal diet; TRT - CON + 0.2% FRV] on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood profiles, fecal microflora, and fecal score. Our results showed that the dietary supplementation of FRV improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain and gain : feed (G : F) ratio during days 15 - 42 and the overall experiment period and also increased the ATTD of dry matter (p < 0.05) at days 14 and 42. On the contrary, there was no effect (p > 0.05) on average daily feed intake, ATTD of nitrogen and energy, and blood profiles during the entire experiment. Moreover, dietary inclusion of FRV significantly increased fecal Lactobacillus (p < 0.05) counts and reduced the diarrhea during days 22 - 42. Thus, the results suggest that FRV can be used as a potential additive to improve growth performance and dry matter and to reduce diarrhea while having beneficial effects on fecal microflora in weanling pigs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2021

This study was conducted on sows to evaluate the effect of flaxseed oil on the sows and their offspring's performance. Forty-eight (48) sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their offspring were assigned randomly to each treatment (Control and Control + flaxseed oil 0.5% [FX]). Body weight (BW), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and nutrient digestibility of the sows were estimated. Sow backfat thickness, days-to-estrus, and chest circumference were measured by different methods. In piglets, survival rate, the initial weight, weaning weight, and average daily gain (ADG) were calculated. Fecal scores of both the sows and piglets were recorded. Inclusion of FX did not influence (p > 0.05) the litter size, days-to-estrus, sow BW, ADFI and digestibility of nutrient throughout the experiment. Reduction in (p < 0.05) BW loss was observed with the FX supplementation in sows. Only the backfat thickness during the weaning period showed an increase (p < 0.05) by FX supplementation. Chest circumference was decreased (p < 0.05) in the FX group compared to the control. Sows fed the FX diet had a reduced (p < 0.05) fecal score only at weaning. Piglets' fecal score showed no significant differences for FX supplementation. However, the inclusion of FX brought about a higher (p < 0.05) birth weight, weaning weight, and average daily gain (ADG). In conclusion, our study suggests that FX has positive supplementary effects on a sow's body condition and its offspring's performance as a source of n-3 fatty acid.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.322-332
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• 2023

Objective: We determined the impact of maintaining pasture-based dairy cows and calves together over 100 days on cow milk production, cow and calf behavior, and calf liveweight and carcass quality. Methods: Six Holstein-Friesian cows and their male calves were monitored for 106±8.6 days. Cows were temporarily separated twice a day for milking with calves remaining in the paddock. Cow and calf behaviors were recorded via scan sampling at 6 different timepoints, for the first 7 days and twice a week thereafter. Calves were weighed weekly and immediately processed for meat quality and rumen development analysis at 106±8.6 days. Daily cow milk yields were collected from enrollment until 109±8.6 days (3 days post-weaning). Results: The average daily gain of calves was 1.4±0.73 kg/d, with an average carcass dressing percentage of 59%. Calves had the greatest frequency of observed close proximity to cow and suckling in the first two weeks and decreased with experiment duration. During separation for milking, cow vocalizations and attempts to return to their calf decreased over time. Reticulorumen weight was on target for calf age, but as a proportion of total stomach weight was lower than industry averages of calves the same age due to the larger abomasum. Cows produced an average of 12±7.6 kg of milk yield per day over the 3-days before the calves were weaned and increased to mean of 31±8.3 kg/d the 3 days after weaning, indicating a consumption of close to 20 kg per calf per day. Conclusion: The impact of a pasture-based cow-calf rearing system on cow and calf behavior and the potential for high levels of calf liveweight gain when provided ad-libitum milk and feed were determined. Further research is required to determine the practicality of replicating such systems with large herds and impact on reared calves post-weaning.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2022

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of supplementation of low-energy diets with PROSOL^® (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate) as an emulsifier on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. A total of 120 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) growing pigs with an average initial body weight of 23.80 ± 4.87 kg were used in a 56-day feeding trial and were sorted into three dietary treatments. Each treatment utilized eight replications with five pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were as follows: PC (high, net energy diet [NE] = 2,488 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 1 to 4] and NE = 2,477 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 5 to 8]); NC (low, NE = 2,472 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 1 to 4] and NE = 2,468 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 5 to 8]); NC1 (NC + 0.05% PROSOL^® emulsifier). Growth performance outcomes were measured at the initial point and at weeks 4 and 8 while nutrient digestibility parameters were measured at weeks 4 and 8. From weeks 1 - 8, body weight and the average daily gain of the NC1 group pigs showed significant increases (p < 0.05) compared to those of the PC and NC treatment groups. At the end of the trail, pigs fed a diet containing low net energy with 0.05% of the emulsifier showed reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR) levels. However, the average daily feed intake and nutrient digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen remained unaffected throughout the experiment. In summary, the addition of a low-net-energy diet with 0.05% sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate as an emulsifier enhanced the body weight and daily gain with no adverse effects on nutrient digestibility in growing pigs.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.776-784
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• 2023

Objective: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the inclusion of dietary nontoxic sulfur (NTS) on growth performance, immune response, sulfur amino acid composition and meat characteristics in growing-finishing pigs. Methods: A total of 140 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc) with an average body weight of 34.73±0.66 kg were used for the 12-week feeding trial. Experimental pigs were allotted to one of 5 treatments in 4 replicates of 7 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. The experimental treatments were as follows (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% NTS levels): i) Control, corn soybean meal (SBM)-based diet; ii) NTS 0.1, basal diet + NTS 0.1%; iii) NTS 0.2, basal diet + NTS 0.2%; iv) NTS 0.4, basal diet + NTS 0.4%. Results: Body weight increased linearly as dietary NTS levels increased up to 0.2% (linear; p = 0.04) in the early finishing phase (9 weeks). During the whole experimental period, body weight and average daily gain linearly increased as the dietary NTS level increased in the diet (linear; both p = 0.01), but quadratic responses in body weight and average daily gain were observed with the addition of NTS 0.4% (quadratic, both p = 0.01). In the late finishing period, the IgG concentration increased linearly (linear; p = 0.01) as the dietary NTS level increased up to 4%. In the finishing period, a linear response was observed as a dietary NTS level was added (linear; p = 0.03), and supplementation with 0.2% NTS resulted in a higher methionine content than the other treatments (quadratic; p = 0.01). NST 0.2% had a lower value of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (quadratic; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Consequently, supplementation with dietary NTS up to 0.2% could improve growth performance, amino acid composition in hair and meat antioxidation capacity.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1584-1595
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a low-protein diet on growth performance, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and odor emissions in growing-finishing pigs. Methods: A total of 126 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc) with an average body weight (BW) of 38.56±0.53 kg were used for a 14-week feeding trial. Experimental pigs were allotted to one of 6 treatments in 3 replicates of 7 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were fed each treatment diet with different levels of crude protein (CP). Phase 1 (early growing): 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%; phase 2 (late growing): 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%; phase 3 (early finishing): 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%; phase 4 (late finishing): 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%. All experimental diets in each phase were contained the same concentration of lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), threonine (Thr), and tryptophan (Trp). Results: Over the entire experimental period, there was no significant difference in BW, average daily feed intake, and gain-to-feed ratio among all treatments (p>0.05), but a quadratic effect (p = 0.04) was observed in average daily gain (ADG) during the late finishing phase with higher ADG in Group D. Blood urea nitrogen concentration linearly increased with an increase in dietary CP levels (p<0.01). Regarding nutrient digestibility, excreted nitrogen in urine and feces and nitrogen retention linearly increased as the CP level increased (p<0.01). A linear effect was observed with increasing CP levels in amines, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide in odor emissions (p<0.01). No significant effects were observed in the measurements of carcass traits and meat characteristics (p>0.05). Conclusion: In phase feeding, reducing the CP level to 14% in early-growing pigs, 13% in late-growing pigs, 12% in early-finishing pigs, and 11% in late-finishing pigs is recommended.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1065-1076
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary mulberry leaves on the growth, production performance, gut microbiota, and immunological parameters of poultry and livestock. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were systematically analyzed to identify pertinent studies up to December 2022. The effects of mulberry leaf diet was assessed using the weighted mean difference, and the 95% confidence interval was calculated using a random-effects model. Results: In total, 18 studies that sampled 2,335 poultry and livestock were selected for analysis. Mulberry leaves improved the average daily gain and reduced the feed/meat ratio in finishing pigs, and the average daily gain and average daily feed intake in chicken. In production performance, mulberry leaves lowered the half carcass weight, slaughter rate, and loin eye area in pigs, and the slaughter rate in chickens. Regarding meat quality in pigs, mulberry leaves reduced the cooked meat percentage, shear force, crude protein, and crude ash, and increased the 24 h pH and water content. In chickens, it increased the drip loss, shear force, 45 min and 24 h pH, crude protein, and crude ash. Mulberry leaves also affect the abundances of gut microbiota, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, Megamonas, Escherichia-Shigella, Butyricicoccus, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Escherichia coli in poultry and livestock. Mulberry leaves at different doses were associated with changes in antioxidant capacity in chickens, and immune organ indexes in pigs. With respect to egg quality, mulberry leaves at different doses improved the shell strength, yolk color, eggshell thickness, and eggshell weight. However, moderate doses diminished the egg yolk ratio and the egg yolk moisture content. Conclusion: In general, dietary mulberry leaves improved the growth, production performance, and immunological parameters in poultry and livestock, although the effects varied at different doses.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.103-114
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• 2024

This study was done to investigate the effects of the incorporation of Achyranthes japonica extracts (AJE) in diet on the production parameters of growing pigs. Exp 1: Total, 105 crossbred pigs (average body weight: 24.47 ± 2.46 kg) were used in a 6-week feeding trial. Pigs (seven replicates, five pigs per pen) were allotted randomly to three treatments. Dietary treatments: CON (basal diet); basal diet with 0.025% AJE, and basal diet + 0.050% AJE). Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial count, and fecal noxious gas were assessed in this study. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) were not affected by the addition of up to 0.05% AJE. In the case of apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and digestible energy (DE) were not changed in 3rd and 6th weeks of the feeding trial through the addition of AJE up to 0.05% in the growing pig diet. In microbial count, Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli count at 3rd and 6th week was similar in all the treatment diets. The inclusion of AJE at levels up to 0.05% in growing pig diet had no effect on the production of NH3, H2S, acetic acid, and CO₂ in the feces. After ending the Exp 1, a total of nine pigs were divided into three treatment groups. Treatment diets were included, TRT1, basal diet + powder quercetin 30 g; TRT2, basal diet + powder quercetin 150 g; TRT3, basal diet + powder quercetin 300g. Rate of absorption in blood was increased with the higher dose of quercetin. The results suggested incorporation of AJE up to 0.05% has no significant effect on ADG, ADFI, and G:F, as well as DM, N, and DE digestibility, fecal microbial count, and fecal noxious gas emission in growing pigs, even though no negative effect was found.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 2024

In this research, the growth efficiency, nutritional utilization, fecal microbial levels, and fecal score of weaned pigs were evaluated using therapeutic zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc aspartic acid chelate (Zn-Asp). In a 42-day feeding trial, 60 weaned pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) were arbitrarily allotted (age: 21 days; 7.01 ± 0.65 kg preliminary body weight) to 3 different treatment groups with 5 repetitions (2 male and 2 female piglets) in each pen. The trial had 2 different phases, including 1-21 days as phase 1, and 22-42 days as phase 2. The nutritional treatments were: basal diet as control (CON), basal diet incorporated with 3,000 ppm ZnO as TRT1, and basal diet incorporated with 750 ppm Zn-Asp as TRT2. In comparison to the CON group, the pigs in the TRT1 and TRT2 groups had greater (p < 0.05) body weight on day 42; an average daily gain, and an average daily feed intake on days 22-42. Furthermore, during days 1-42, the average daily gain in the treatment groups trended higher (p < 0.05) than in the CON group. Additionally, the fecal score decreased (p < 0.05) at week 6, the lactic acid bacteria count tended to increase (p < 0.05), and coliform bacteria presented a trend in reduction (p < 0.05) in the TRT1 and TRT2 groups compared to the CON group. However, there was no difference in nutrient utilization (p > 0.05) among the dietary treatments. Briefly, the therapeutic ZnO and Zn-Asp nutritional approaches could decrease fecal score and coliform bacteria, increase lactic acid bacteria, and improve growth efficiency; moreover, Zn-Asp (750 ppm) can perform a comparable role to therapeutic ZnO (3,000 ppm). So we can use Zn-Asp (750 ppm) instead of therapeutic ZnO (3,000 ppm) for the better performance of weaning pigs and the reduction of environmental pollution, as therapeutic ZnO is responsible for environmental pollution.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.691-698
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• 2022

The present experiment was conducted to assess the effect of Buttiauxella-derived phytase in finishing pigs fed corn/soybean meal diets with an increase in the calcium (Ca)/total phosphorus (P) (Ca/tP) ratio and a reduction in net energy on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility on the finishing pigs. A total of 90 crossbred ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) finishing pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 56.94 ± 2.43 kg were used for an 11-week feeding trial. The pigs were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments (six replication/treatment and five pigs/pen) in a randomized complete block design according to their BW and gender. Dietary treatments consisted of supplementation of phytase (0.05, 0.07, and 0.1% in the control, Trt1 and Trt 2 diets, respectively) maintaining the Ca/tP ratio (1.67 : 1, 1.84 : 1, and 2.19 : 1 in control, Trt1 and Trt 2 diets, respectively) and reducing the net energy by 1% in Trt1 and Trt2 diets compared with the control diet. The results showed that dietary supplementation with phytase in the energy-reduced diet had a similar (p > 0.05) effect on the BW, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain/feed ratio of the finishing pigs. Also, there were no effects (p > 0.05) of treatment matrixes on the nutrient digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen calcium, phosphorus, and gross energy. In conclusion, the increase of phytase and Ca/tP ratio and the reduction of net energy in the corn/soybean meal diet resulted in comparable growth performance and nutrient digestibility of finishing pigs relative to pigs fed the control diet.