• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.633-642
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• 2002

Enteric colibacillosis has economically become an important disease of young animals as a result of increasing intensification of farrowing management. The objective of this experiment is to isolate fimbrial antigen from enterotoxigenic E. coli F41, to develop specific polyclonal IgY which can effectively neutralize or reduce the proliferation of pathogens in feed or living animal system, and to apply IgY technologies to animal industry. The results obtained were as follows: The molecular weight of the purified F41 antigen was 29,500 dalton on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Fimbrial antigen was confirmed by the western blot method. It was observed that after immunization the level of serum antibody titer of laying hen was shown in two weeks and gradually increased. The antibody titer in egg yolk appeared two weeks after it was shown in serum antibody. The titers of egg yolk antibody were gradually increased to the maximum level of 320,000 (antigen 50${\mu}g$/$m\ell$), 450,000 (antigen 200${\mu}g$/$m\ell$), and 320,000 (antigen 600${\mu}g$/$m\ell$). According to the results of specificity test by ELISA, the anti-F41 antibodies from chicken serum and egg yolk reacted only with ETEC F41 antigen. There was no cross reaction with other ETEC strains (K88, K99, and 987P). In vitro condition, as a result of antigen binding ability of yolk antibodies, bacterial concentration was rapidly decreased to $10^5$ CFU/$m\ell$ from $10^9$ CFU/$m\ell$ when 2${\sim}$4 mg/$m\ell$ of freeze dried WSF (water soluble fraction) was added.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.218-222
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• 1984

The present study was carried out to investigate the behaviour of parturition, nursing and sleep with a total of 40 sows and 420 piglets during 28 days from July 6 to August 3, 1984. The results obtained in this study were as follows: 1. About half number of sows employed were recumbent and lay on their right or left side throughout the process of delivery, but the rest changed their lying sides during the delivery, about 65% of piglets born were presented anteriorly. During nursing 51.3% of sows were recumbent and lay on their left side. 2. The entire farrowing process normally lasted 4 hr. Piglets were expelled at an average rate of one for every 19.3mim. 3. The first suckling attempt was observed at about 24.3min after birth. "Teat order" were established within 32hr after birth. 4. The duration and time of nursing were 35.8 second and 24.6 times/day, respectively, in the first day of piglet life. However, they tended to shorten with the advance of lactation. The intervals between nursings were 58.5 min. in the first day of piglet life, but it tended to lengthen with the advance of lactation. 5. The sows were awake for 31.7%. drowsy for 16.7%, and asleep for 51.6% of the 24hr period a day.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.543-555
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• 2010

The objectives of this research were the estimation of genetic parameters and trends for weaning-to-first service interval (WSI), and litter traits in a commercial swine population composed of Landrace (L), Large White (T), LT, and TL animals in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. The dataset contained 4,399 records of WSI, number of piglets born alive (NBA), litter weight of live piglets at birth (LBW), number of piglets at weaning (NPW), and litter weight at weaning (LWW). Variance and covariance components were estimated with REML using 2-trait analyses. An animal model was used for WSI and a sire-dam model for litter traits. Fixed effects were farrowing year-season, breed group of sow, breed group of boar (litter traits), parity, heterosis (litter traits), sow age, and lactation length (NPW and LWW). Random effects were boar (litter traits), sow, permanent environment, and residual. Heritabilities for direct genetic effects were low for WSI (0.04${\pm}$0.02) and litter traits (0.05${\pm}$0.02 to 0.06${\pm}$0.02). Most heritabilities for maternal litter trait effects were 20% to 50% lower than their direct counterparts. Repeatability for WSI was similar to its heritability. Repeatabilities for litter traits ranged from 0.15${\pm}$0.02 to 0.18${\pm}$F0.02. Direct genetic, permanent environment, and phenotypic correlations between WSI and litter traits were near zero. Direct genetic correlations among litter traits ranged from 0.56${\pm}$0.20 to 0.95${\pm}$0.05, except for near zero estimates between NBA and LWW, and LBW and LWW. Maternal, permanent environment, and phenotypic correlations among litter traits had similar patterns of values to direct genetic correlations. Boar genetic trends were small and significant only for NBA (-0.015${\pm}$0.005 piglets/yr, p<0.004). Sow genetic trends were small, negative, and significant (-0.036${\pm}$0.013 d/yr, p<0.01 for WSI; -0.017${\pm}$0.005 piglets/yr, p<0.007, for NBA; -0.015${\pm}$0.005 kg/yr, p<0.01, for LBW; -0.019${\pm}$0.008 piglets/yr, p<0.02, for NPW; and -0.022${\pm}$0.006 kg/yr, p<0.003, for LWW). Permanent environmental correlations were small, negative, and significant only for WSI (-0.028${\pm}$0.011 d/yr, p<0.02). Environmental trends were positive and significant only for litter traits (p<0.01 to p<0.0003). Selection based on predicted genetic values rather than phenotypes could be advantageous in this population. A single trait analysis could be used for WSI and a multiple trait analysis could be implemented for litter traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.517-524
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• 2011

The effect on sow milk of variable levels of cassava in lactating sow diets was analyzed in an attempt to explain the beneficial effects reported by producers of including cassava as a basal feed. Twenty crossbred lactating sows were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments. The treatments were: i) broken rice (BR) as the basal feed (BR100), ii) 50% of BR replaced with cassava chip meal (CCM) (CM50), iii) 75% of BR replaced with CCM (CM75), iv) CCM as the basal feed (CM100), and v) dried boiled cassava chips (CCB) as the basal feed (CB100). The hydrocyanide (HCN) content of CCB was reduced to be intermediate between HCN in the no cassava (BR100) and the 50% cassava (CB50) diets. Hydrocyanide was 0.54, 3.24, 4.41, 5.43 and 1.77 ppm in the BR100, CM50, CM75, CM100 and CB100 diets, respectively. Increasing cassava did not affect feed intake (p>0.05), but increased HCN intake (p<0.01). Milk composition was analyzed for protein, fat, lactose, solids not fat (SNF) and total solids (TS). Milk quality was analyzed for total microbes, coliform bacteria, thiocyanate ($SCN^-$), lactoperoxidase (LPO), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. At farrowing, sow milk composition was not affected by experimental diets (p>0.05), but milk $SCN^-$ increased as the intake of HCN increased in sows diets (p<0.01), $r^2$ = 0.96. At mid-lactation (day 14), milk composition was not affected (p>0.05). The milk quality levels of $SCN^-$ were 9.4, 10.3, 10.5, 11.6 and 9.1 ppm for the BR100, CM50, CM75, CM100 and CB100 diets, respectively (p = 0.01). The LPO contents were 16.41, 42.13, 51.42, 53.94 and 22.81 unit/L, respectively (p = 0.03). There was no GPx activity found in sow milk. When BR was replaced with cassava meal, total microbes and coliforms were reduced 78% and 87%, respectively, by the influences of HCN. The reported beneficial effects of cassava chip meal as a basal feed in lactating sow diets is manifested by improved performance of suckling pigs. This is due to beneficial, non-toxic levels of HCN in the diets. Besides passing HCN to suckling pigs in the form of $SCN^-$, sow milk may also benefit suckling pigs with the observed (day 14) increase in lactoperoxidase content and reduction in coliform bacteria.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2012

Noxious gases with malodorous substance concentrations in each stages of pig buildings were determined at a typical 400sow-scale farm to improve piggery environment. Using IAQ-300 and pDR-1000AN, continuous records for the concentration of $NH_3$, CO, $CO_2$, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, $H_2S$, $O_2$, and along with temperature, humidity, dust concentrates from individual pig pens were collected to analyze every 6 hours' condition of indoor environment for 24 hours' period. In most pig houses, the air quality at noon was good, while at night (00:00~06:00), air composition became noxious in all buildings. The order of buildings' air quality for 24 hrs was pregnant > farrowing > nursery > growing > finishing. The cause of air quality differences was presumed to be the differences of stocking density, defecating amount and the length of exposure time of slurry in indoors. In conclusion, well-designed building structure, proper control of stocking density, quick removal of excreta from pig pens and continuous ventilation are prerequisites to improve pig housing environment.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.133-137
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• 2007

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between the mRNA expression levels of sperm phospholipids hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and heparin-binding protein (HBP), and in-vivo fertility in boars. The farrowing rate was not correlated with litter size. Sperm PHGPx mRNA expression level of the larger litter size (over 10) group $(2,414.7{\pm}400.7)$ was high that of smaller litter size (below 8) group $(1,875.8{\pm}311.2)$. Sperm HBP mRNA expression level was also higher in the larger litter size $(2,255.9{\pm}360.8)$ group than the smaller litter size $(2,155.4{\pm}378.0)$. However, significant differences were not observed. Sperm PHGPx mRNA level was correlated positively with litter size (r=0.206). Because the expression levels of PHGPx and HBP are not strongly correlated with in-vivo fertility, PHGPx and HBP can not be considered a predictive measure for fertility in boars.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of frozen boar semen on reproductive performance in swine artificial insemination (AI). Many factors, which were breeds, time of insemination, sperm concentration per dose, farm and year were investigated to improve reproductive performance efficiency. Boars were raised at Swine Artificial Insemination Center in National Livestock Research Institute, Sunghwan, Chungnam, Korea. This experiment was carried out from 1995 to 2000. There were no differences in swine AI with frozen boar semen using 5$m\ell$ maxi-straw among 3 breeds (Landrace, Yorkshire, Duroc), 2 or 3 times insemination per estrus, and 3 different sperm numbers of 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0$\times$10$^{9}$ per dose of insemination. However, non-return rate and litter size of sows inseminated with frozen boar semen of commercial farms were different according to farm management system and inseminator's skill. Conception rate, farrowing rate and number of pigs born alive per litter by artificial insemination with frozen boar semen (5$m\ell$ maxi-straw) from 1995 to 1999 was 68.3~74.6%, 61.7~67.6% and 8.1~8.7 heads.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of packing materials of frozen boar semen to improve reproductive performance efficiency in pig. Boars were raised at Swine Artificial Insemination Center in National Livestock Research Institute, Sunghwan, Chungnam, Korea. We compared packing protocols for frozen boar semen among 5$m\ell$ maxi-straw, 5$m\ell$ cryogenic-vial, and aluminum-pack. Cryogenic-vial packing material showed similar sperm characteristics compared with maxi-straw packing material when the sperm was frozen above 15cm from liquid nitrogen and thawed at 52$^{\circ}C$ for 190 seconds. We investigated different thawing times to find out the optimal condition of freezing and thawing protocol with cryogenic-vial. Freezing above 15cm from liquid nitrogen and thawing at 52$^{\circ}C$ for 190 seconds were the optimal protocol compared with 120 and 150 seconds. However, normal acrosome rates did not show any differences among thawing times. Post-thawing results of maxi-straw in water at 52$^{\circ}C$ for 45 seconds had better total motility and curve linear velocity than those of cryogenic-vial in water 52$^{\circ}C$ for 190 seconds. However, there were no differences on straightness and normal apical ridge of sperm between maxi-straw and cryogenic vial. Non-return rate, farrowing rate and litter size of sows inseminated with frozen boar semen of commercial farms were higher in the maxi-straw than cryogenic-vial, but there were no significant differences between maxi-straw and cryogenic-vial. In conclusion, there were no significant differences between maxi-straw and cryogenic-vial and so, we may replace cryogenic-vial packing method instead of maxi-straw packing method by improvement of freezing and thawing rate.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.1076-1085
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• 2021

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of spray-dried plasma (SDP) supplementation during late gestation and lactation on productive performance and immune responses of sows and their litters. Twelve sows (227.78 ± 2.16 kg average body weight; 2.0 average parity) were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: a basal diet (CON) and the basal diet supplemented with 1% SDP. Sows were fed experimental diets from d 30 before farrowing to weaning of their piglets. Blood samples were collected from sows on d 1, 3, and 7 of lactation and from two randomly selected nursing pigs per litter on d 3 and 7 after birth, and d 1, 3, and 7 after weaning. Productive performance and immune responses of sows and their piglets were measured. There was a trend of less body weight loss in sows supplemented with SDP (p < 0.10) during the lactation period and a trend of greater (p < 0.10) average daily gain in SDP piglets compared to those in the CON group. Sows in the SDP group tended to have lower (p < 0.10) serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and cortisol on d 3 and lower serum concentration of TNF-α on d 7 compared with sows in CON group. In comparison with CON piglets, piglets from SDP sows tended to have lower (p < 0.10) serum concentrations of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and cortisol on d 7 after birth, lower (p < 0.10) serum TNF-α and C-reactive protein on d 3 and 7 after weaning, and greater (p < 0.10) average daily gain after weaning. Moreover, weaned pigs from sows fed SDP had significantly lower (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of cortisol and TGF-β1 on d 3 and 7 postweaning, respectively, than CON piglets. In conclusion, SDP supplementation in sow diets from late gestation to weaning improved the productive performance of sows and their offspring; the beneficial effects of SDP may be mediated in part through modulation of immune responses of both sows and piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1475-1481
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate pork quality from Hereford${\times}$Berkshire female and intact male pigs reared outdoors in an alternative production system. Methods: Berkshire purebred sows were artificially inseminated, once in the fall and again in the spring of the following year, with semen from Hereford boars and managed free of antibiotics in an outdoor hoop structure until the last month of pregnancy, after which they were moved to a pasture-based unit of 0.8 hectares with individual lots with a farrowing hut, shade, and water ad libitum. Piglets were weaned at 4 weeks of age and housed in a deep-bedded hoop structure, grouped by sex. Animals were harvested at market weight of 125 kg, approximately 200 days of age. Hot carcass weight was collected at the time of the harvest. After 24 hours of refrigeration, carcass characteristics were measured. Longissimus dorsi samples collected from the right side loin. Loins were cut into 2.54-cm thick chops and were used to measure marbling score, color score, drip loss, and ultimate pH. Sensory panel tests were conducted as well at North Carolina State University. For pork characteristics and sensory panel data, trial and sex were included in the statistical model as fixed effects. Hot carcass weight was included in the model as a covariate for backfat thickness. Results: Neither the subjective nor the objective color scores displayed any differences between the boars and the gilts. No difference was found for pH and marbling score between trials or sexes. Gilts had a thicker backfat measurement at the last lumbar and a narrower longissimus muscle area measurement when compared to the boars. The only difference in the sensory characteristics was found between the trials for texture and moisture scores. Conclusion: Consumers were not able to detect boar taint under the condition of this study, which is that the intact males were reared outdoors. Additional trials would be necessary; however, based on the results of the present study, outdoor rearing can be suggested as a solution to the issue of boar taint.