• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.787-796
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• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of germanium biotite (GB) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and fecal gas emission in pigs. In Exp 1., a total of one hundred nursery pigs (initial body weight 13.12${\pm}$0.15kg) were used in a 21 d growth assay. The five treatments were control (CON, basal diet), GB0.5-200 (basal diet + 0.5% GB, 200mesh), GB1.0-200 (basal diet + 1.0% GB, 200mesh), GB0.5-325 (basal diet + 0.5% GB, 325mesh), GB1.0-325 (basal diet + 1.0% GB, 325mesh). Each treatment had four replicates with five pigs per replicate. ADG, ADFI and gain/feed were not significantly different among the treatments. Fecal NH3-N concentration of pigs fed the GB325 diet was lower than that of pigs fed the GB200 diet (P=0.01). The GB treatments reduced fecal volatile fatty acids significantly compared to the CON (propionic acid, P=0.01; butyric acid, P=0.01; acetic acid, P=0.02). Especially, fecal propionic acid concentration of pigs fed the GB325 diets was lower than that of pigs fed the GB200 diets (P=0.02). In Exp 2., a total of seventy five pigs (initial body weight 21.18${\pm}$0.15kg) were used in a 28 d growth assay. The treatments were same as described for Exp. 1. Each treatment had five replicates with three pigs per replicate. The GB1.0 treatments significantly increased the ADG compared to the GB0.5 treatments (P=0.03). The DM and N digestibility of pigs fed the GB1.0 diets were higher than that for pigs fed the GB0.5 diets (P=0.01). Also, the Ca digestibility of pigs fed the GB diets was higher than that for pigs fed the CON diets (P=0.01). The fecal NH3-N concentrations for the GB treatments were lower than that for the CON (P=0.01). The GB325 treatments significantly decreased the fecal NH3-N concentration compared to the GB200 treatments (P=0.03). The fecal butyric acid concentration for the GB325 treatments was lower than that for the GB200 treatment (P=0.04). In conclusion, the results obtained from these feeding trials suggest that the dietary GB for nursery pigs affects fecal noxious gas emission. In growing pigs, dietary GB was effective to improve ADG and decrease fecal noxious gas emission.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.1035-1045
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to examine whether spraying an anti-microbial agent into the slurry pit will reduce the noxious odor substances from piggery barns. For this, a total of 200 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) growing pigs with an initial average body weight (BW) of 23.58 ± 1.47 kg were selected and housed in two different rooms, i.e. control (CON) and treatment (TRT). Each room has 100 pigs (60 gilts and 40 borrows). For a period of 42 days, all pigs were fed with corn-soybean meal-based basal diet. Later the noxious odor substances were measured by the following methods. First, fecal samples were randomly collected and stored in sealed and unsealed containers, and sprayed with the non-anti-microbial agent (NAMA) (saline water) and multi-bacterial spraying (MBS) agent (200 :1, mixing ratio-fecal sample : probiotic), Second, the slurry pit of CON and TRT rooms were directly sprayed with NAMA and MBS, respectively. The fecal sample that was stored in sealed and un-sealed containers and sprayed with MBS significantly reduced NH₃ and CO₂ concentration at the end of day 7. However, at the end of day 42, the fecal sample showed a lower H₂S, methyl mercaptans, acetic acid, and CO₂ concentration compared to the unsealed container. Moreover, at the end of days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 compared to the CON room and TRT room slurry pit emits lower concentrations of NH₃, acetic acid, H₂S, and methyl mercaptans, and CO₂ into the atmosphere. Based on the current findings, we infer that spraying anti-microbial agents on pig dung would be one of the better approaches to suppress the odor emission from the barn in the future.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.305-314
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• 2002

For the Exp. 1, a total of seventy two pigs (10.53${\pm}$0.02kg average initial body weight) were used in a 38-d growth assay to determine the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) supplementation on growth performance and fecal microbial populations. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (corn-dried whey-SBM based diet), 2) SC0.2 (CON diet+0.2% SC) and 3) SC0.4 (CON diet+0.4% SC). Through the entire experimental period, ADG, ADFI and gain/feed were not significantly different among the treatments. At d 7 and 14 after the onset of the experiment, fecal Lactobacilli sp. count increased as the concentration of SC in the diets was increased (linear effect, P$<$0.01). At d 7 after the onset of the experiment, fecal Escherichia coli count decreased as the concentration of SC in the diets was increased (linear effect, P$<$0.02, quadratic effect, P$<$0.03). For the Exp. 2, forty five pigs (49.71${\pm}$0.45kg average initial body weight) were used in a 28-d growth assay to determine the effects of complex probiotics (CPB, Phichia anomala ST, Galactomyces geotrichum SR59, Thiobacillus sp.) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and fecal $NH_3$-N and volatile fatty acid concentrations. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (corn-SBM based diet), 2) CPB0.2 (CON diet+0.2% CPB) and 3) CPB0.3 (CON diet+0.3% CPB). Through the entire experimental period, pigs fed CPB0.3 diet significantly increased their ADG compared to pigs fed CON and CPB0.2 diets (P$<$0.05). Also, apparent digestibility of DM and N in pigs fed CPB0.3 diet was greater than for pigs fed CON diet (P$<$0.05). Fecal $NH_3$-N decreased (P$<$0.05) in the pigs fed CPB diet compared to pigs fed CON diets. Also, pigs fed CPB0.3 diet significantly decreased their fecal propionic acid compared to pigs fed CON diets (P$<$0.05). In conclusion, the results obtained from these feeding trials suggest that the dietary SC for nursery pigs affects fecal microbial population. In finishing pigs, supplemental CPB was effective to improve ADG and nutrient digestibility but to decrease fecal noxious gas emission.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary Agariemycetes on egg quality and fecal noxious gas concentration in laying hens. A total of two hundred forty laying hens were randomly allocated to four treatments with five replicates of twelve chicks per pen. The experiment lasted 42 days with a 7-day adjustment period. Dietary treatments were as follows: 1) CON (basal diet), 2) A1 (basal diet + Agariemycetes 0.1%), 3) A3 (basal diet + Agariemycetes 0.3%) and 4) A5 (basal diet + Agariemycetes 0.5%). There was no significant difference in egg production and egg weight between CON and Agariemycetes treatments. During the second week of the experiment, eggshell breaking strength was higher in A3 and A5 treatments than that in CON treatment (P<0.05). Besides, eggshell breaking strength in P5 treatment was higher when compared with that in CON treatment (P<0.05) in the sixth week. During the second week of the experiment, eggshell thickness was higher in Agariemycetes treatments than CON treatment (P<0.05). Also, A5 treatment was higher than other treatments in the fourth week of the experiment (P<0.05). At the end of the second week, yolk color unit in A5 treatment was lower compared with CON treatment (P<0.05). During the fourth week of the experiment, CON treatment was higher than A3 treatment (P<0.05). During the second week of the experiment, Haugh unit in A3 treatment was greater than that in CON treatment (P<0.05). At the end of six weeks, Haugh unit in CON treatment was lower than other treatments (P<0.05). Fecal ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were increased in Agariemycetes treatments when compared with CON treatment (P<0.05). Compared with CON and A5 treatments, fecal mercaptans was higher than in other treatments in first of the experiment (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study indicated that the addition of Agariemycetes in the diet improved the egg quality and decreased the feacal noxious gas concentration in laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1660-1669
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium) and xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum profiles, intestinal health, fecal microbiota and noxious gas emission in weanling pigs. Methods: A total of 240 weanling pigs ([Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace]${\times}$Duroc) with an average body weight (BW) of $6.3{\pm}0.15kg$ were used in this 28-day trial. Pigs were randomly allocated in 1 of the following 4 dietary treatments in a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement with 2 levels of probiotics (0 and 500 mg/kg probiotics) and XOS (0 and 200 mg/kg XOS) based on the BW and sex. Results: Administration of probiotics or XOS improved average daily gain (p<0.05) during 0 to 14 d and the overall period, while pigs that were treated with XOS had a greater average daily gain and feed efficiency (p<0.05) compared with unsupplemented treatments throughout 15 to 28 d and the whole experiment. Either probiotics or XOS treatments increased the apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients (p<0.05) during 0 to 14 d. No effects on serum profiles were observed among treatments. The XOS increased villus height: crypt depth ratio in jejunum (p<0.05). The supplementation of probiotics (500 mg/kg) or XOS (200 mg/kg) alone improved the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy on d 14, the activity of trypsin and decreased fecal NH3 concentration (p<0.05). Administration of XOS decreased fecal Escherichia coli counts (p<0.05), while increased lactobacilli (p<0.05) on d 14. There was no interaction between dietary supplementation of probiotics and XOS. Conclusion: Inclusion of XOS at 200 mg/kg or probiotics (Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium) at 500 mg/kg in diets containing no antibiotics significantly improved the growth performance of weanling pigs. Once XOS is supplemented, further providing of probiotics is not needed since it exerts little additional effects.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding probiotics on the growth performance, blood composition, and fecal noxious gas in broiler chickens. Two hundred eighty eight broiler chickens were randomly allocated into three treatments with eight replications for live weeks. Dietary treatments included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) PB 0.5 (basal diet +0.5% probiotics), 3) PBI.0 (basal diet + 1.0% Probiotics for 0 to 1 wk of age, 0.5% probiotics for 1 to 3 wk of age, 0.25% probiotics for 3 to 5 wk of age) . There were no significantly difference among treatments for the body weight gain, but the feed intake of control group significantly (p<0.05) increased as compared with the PBI.0 group in overall experimental period. Digestibility of DM in PB0.5 group (80.84%) was significantly (p<0.05) improved as compared with those in PB 1.0 (79.34%) or control group (79.15%). Although N digestibility was slightly higher in broiler chicks fed probiotics than Control, there was no significance between probiotic groups. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were not significantly different among the treatments. NH$_3$-N concentration in feces with PBI .0 treatment was lower (p<0.05) than Control or PB 0.5 treatments. These results indicated that locally obtained probiotics can be effectively used for reduction of ammonia nitrogen.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.169-180
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• 2020

This study examined the effects of a probiotic complex (PC) containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, organ weight, immune parameters, fecal microbial count, and noxious odor in broiler chicks. A total of 216 birds (4-day-old) were fed a basal diet (CON) and a diet supplemented with 0.25% (PC1) and 0.5% (PC2) of PC until 35 days of age. No difference in body weight, feed intake, and FCR was observed among the groups. The intestinal mucosal weight of the PC1 group was greater than that of the CON group without affecting weights of the other organs. Intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels in the PC2 group increased significantly (P<0.05) compared with that in the CON group. The PC2 group also had a strong tendency for elevated blood sIgA levels. Dietary PC did not affect the level of interleukin-1β in the blood and mucosal tissues or alter maltase, sucrase, and leucine aminopeptidase activities in the intestinal mucosa. The PC2 group had higher colony-forming units (cfu) for L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae, but lower cfu for E. coli than those in the CON group. Compared to the CON diet, the PC2 diet resulted in a decreased H₂S concentration and a tendency toward decreased CH₃SH concentration. In conclusion, a 0.5% PC diet showed increased sIgA and desirable microbial population, and decreased noxious odor in the feces, suggesting that PC could be applied as an environmentally friendly feed additive in broiler chicks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1202-1208
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• 2015

The effects of daily dietary Bacillus subtilis (Bs), and adding L-tryptophan, fructan, or casein to fecal fermentation broths were investigated as means to reduce the production of noxious gas during manure fermentation caused by ammonia, hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$), and 3-methylindole (skatole). Eighty swine ($50.0{\pm}0.5kg$) were equally apportioned to an experimental group given Bs in daily feed, or a control group without Bs. After 6 weeks, fresh manure was collected from both groups for fermentation studies using a $3{\times}3$ orthogonal array, in which tryptophan, casein, and fructan were added at various concentrations. After fermentation, the ammonia, $H_2S$, L-tryptophan, skatole, and microflora were measured. In both groups, L-tryptophan was the principle additive increasing skatole production, with significant correlation (r = 0.9992). L-tryptophan had no effect on the production of ammonia, $H_2S$, or skatole in animals fed Bs. In both groups, fructan was the principle additive that reduced $H_2S$ production (r = 0.9981). Fructan and Bs significantly interacted in $H_2S$ production (p = 0.014). Casein was the principle additive affecting the concentration of ammonia, only in the control group. Casein and Bs significantly interacted in ammonia production (p = 0.039). The predominant bacteria were Bacillus spp. CWBI B1434 (26%) in the control group, and Streptococcus alactolyticus AF201899 (36%) in the experimental group. In summary, daily dietary Bs reduced ammonia production during fecal fermentation. Lessening L-tryptophan and increasing fructan in the fermentation broth reduced skatole and $H_2S$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1456-1463
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• 2011

A total of 629 Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Large White crossbred pigs were utilized in three experiments (Exp. 1, 222 pigs weighing $25.6{\pm}2.0\;kg$ BW; Exp. 2, 216 pigs weighing 5$6.2{\pm}4.3\;kg$ BW; Exp. 3, 191 pigs weighing $86.4{\pm}4.6\;kg$ BW) conducted to determine the effects of fermented potato pulp on performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits and plasma parameters in growingfinishing pigs. Each experiment lasted 28 d. The pigs were assigned to one of two corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 0 or 5% fermented potato pulp. The inclusion of fermented potato pulp increased weight gain (p<0.05) in experiments 1 and 2 and increased feed intake (p<0.05) in experiment 2. Feed conversion was improved (p<0.05) in experiment 2 and showed a tendency to improve (p<0.10) in experiments 1 and 3 when pigs were fed fermented potato pulp. Fermented potato pulp increased (p<0.05) dry matter digestibility in experiments 1 and 3 and energy digestibility in experiment 2. Feeding fermented potato pulp decreased plasma urea nitrogen (p<0.05) and alanine aminotransferase (p<0.05) in experiments 1 and 2, while plasma aspartate aminotransferase was decreased (p<0.05) in experiment 3. Dietary fermented potato pulp did not affect the carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Feeding fermented potato pulp reduced (p<0.05) fecal ammonia concentration in all three experiments. In conclusion, feeding growing-finishing pigs diets containing 5% fermented potato pulp improved weight gain and feed conversion without any detrimental effects on carcass traits. The improvements in pig performance appeared to be mediated by improvements in nutrient digestibility.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.937-946
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immunological cells change, fecal noxious gas and carcass meat quality characteristics in finishing pigs. The dietary treatments were 1) CON(basal diet), 2) BS0.1(basal diet+ 0.1% Bacillus subtilis) and 3)BS0.2(basal diet+0.2% Bacillus subtilis). Sixty crossbred(Landrace$\time$ Yorkshire$\time$Duroc) pigs(89.5$\pm$0.11kg average initial body weight) were used in a 42 days growth trial. 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. Through the entire experimental period, average daily gain(ADG) and average daily feed intake(ADFI) were not significantly different among the treatments. Pigs fed BS0.1 diet significantly increased their gain/feed compared to pigs fed CON and BS0.2 diets(P<0.05). Also, dry matter(DM) and nitrogen(N) digestibilities were greater in the pigs fed BS0.1 diet than those fed CON diet(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in fecal NH3-N concentration among the treatments. In blood assay for immunological cells change investigations, red blood cells(RBC) counts increased in the pigs fed BS0.2 diet compared to pigs fed CON and BS0.1 diets. There were no significant differences in carcass pH, drip loss, marbling and firmness. However, sensual color and a*(redness) value of meat in the pigs fed BS0.2 diet were higher than in pigs fed CON diet(P<0.05). Therefore, this experiment suggested that Bacillus subtilis supplementation could improve nutrient digestibility, RBC counts and carcass meat color of pigs.