• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.597-604
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc aspartic acid chelate (Zn-ASP) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microbial and fecal gas emission in growing pigs. Methods: A total of 160 crossbred ([Landrace×Yorkshire]×Duroc) growing pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 25.56±2.22 kg were used in a 6-wk trial. Pigs were randomly allocated into 1 of 4 treatments according to their sex and BW (8 replicates with 2 gilts and 3 barrows per replication pen). Treatments were as follows: i) CON, basal diet, ii) TRT1, CON+0.1% Zn-ASP, iii) TRT2, CON+0.2% Zn-ASP, and iv) TRT3, CON+0.3% Zn-ASP. Pens were assigned in a randomized complete block design to compensate for known position effects in the experimental facility. Results: In the current study, BW, average daily gain, and gain:feed ratio showed significant improvement as dietary Zn-ASP increased (p<0.05) in growing pigs. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter was increased linearly (p<0.05) in pigs fed with Zn-ASP diets. A linear effect (p<0.05) was detected for the Zn concentration in blood with the increasing levels of Zn-ASP supplementation. Lactic acid bacteria and coliform bacteria were affected linearly (p<0.05) in pigs fed with Zn-ASP diets. However, no significant differences were observed in the ATTD of nitrogen, energy and Zn. And dietary Zn-ASP supplementation did not affect fecal ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and total mercaptans emissions in growing pigs. Conclusion: In conclusion, dietary supplementation with Zn-ASP of diet exerted beneficial effects on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and fecal microbes in growing pigs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

This study evaluated the influence of enzyme mixture supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal score of growing pigs. A total of 72 pigs with an initial body weight of 20.23 ± 1.46 kg were randomly assigned to two treatments consisting of a basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% enzyme mixture. During a 19-day trial, no significant difference was observed in the body weight (BW) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the pigs. However, a gradual increase in the average daily gain (ADG) was observed during the period from day 14 to day 19 and the overall period in pigs fed a diet supplemented with the 0.5% enzyme mixture (p < 0.10) as compared to the pigs that were fed the control diet. From days 4 to 14 and in the overall experiment, a gradual increase in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.10) was observed with the inclusion of 0.5% enzyme mixture supplementation. The nutrient digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and energy were not affected by enzyme mixture supplementation. In addition, dietary supplementation with the enzyme mixture had no significant effects on the fecal score of growing pigs. In summary, supplementation with the enzyme mixture had beneficial effects on the ADG performance but failed to have a significant effect on growth performance (BW), nutrient digestibility, and fecal score.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.653-661
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• 2023

Phytase enhances phosphorus availability in pig diets by breaking down phytic acid, which is challenging for animals to digest. This study aimed to assess the impact of dietary phytase supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal score of growing pigs. Sixty-four growing pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc, average body weight 21.20 ± 0.18 kg) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. The dietary treatments were CON, basal diet, and PHY, basal diet + 0.0025% phytase. Results indicated a tendency for increased average daily gain in the phytase-supplemented diet group (p < 0.10) compared to the control diet group. The average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected by the addition of 0.0025% phytase. Furthermore, dry matter digestibility, nitrogen content, and digestible energy were not influenced (p > 0.05) by phytase supplementation. Fecal score remained similar (p > 0.05) in growing pigs fed phytase-supplemented and control diets. These findings suggest that supplementing the diet of growing pigs with 0.0025% phytase may lead to improved average daily gain without adverse effects on nutrient digestibility and fecal score. This implies the potential to enhance growth performance without compromising overall health or digestion in pigs. Further investigations into the optimal levels of phytase supplementation for growing pigs are recommended.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.635-642
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• 1997

This experiment was conducted to determine apparent ileal and fecal digestibilities of some grains for young pigs (15.6 kg BW). Ileal and fecal digestibility of corn, milo, wheat, barley, rice and tapioca were measured with pigs fitted with simple ileal T-cannula. Rice was the highest (p < 0.05) and tapioca was the lowest (p < 0.05) in the digestibilities of gross energy. For the crude protein digestibilities, rice, barley and wheat were higher (p < 0.05) than corn, milo and tapioca. The average ileal digestibilities of essential amino acids (AAs) were 89.9, 85.8, 81.5, 80.9, 80.2 and 76.3% for those fed rice, barley, milo, wheat, corn and tapioca diets, respectively. Regardless of the dietary carbohydrate sources, among the dispensable amino acids, glycine had lowest digestibility except for barley and milo. The apparent ileal digestibility of lysine and methionine were 90.7, 94.0% in rice, 88.3, 86.5% in barley and 86.3, 82.3% in wheat. The apparent fecal digestibility of average essential AAs were 90.8, 89.9, 87.7, 85.1, 82.5 and 77.9% in pigs fed the rice, barley, wheat, corn, milo and tapioca diets, respectively. The fecal digestibilities of essential AAs and nonessential AAs, in general, were higher than the ileal digestibilities, which indicating a loss of nitrogenous components in the cecum and colon. For all AAs, differences between ileal and fecal amino acid digestibilities ranged from 0.0 (valine) to 5.8 (threonine) in rice, 0.1 (arginine) to 14.5 (glycine) in barley, 2.8 (lysine) to 12.4 (glycine) in wheat, 1.0 (isoleucine) to 12.9 (glycine) in corn, 0.2 (serine, glutamic acid) to 6.5 (methionine) in milo and 0.5 (valine) to 22.1 (glycine) percentage units in tapioca diets. In conclusion, whether it is ileal or fecal, rice and barley appeared to be excellent alternative carbohydrate sources for young pigs in terms of AAs digestibility. However, energy value and cost for each grain should be considered when formulating diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1439-1444
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• 2012

A total of 144 pigs ((Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Duroc)] with an average initial BW of $8.45{\pm}0.57$ kg were used in a 5-wk growth trial. Pigs were randomly allocated to 4 treatments with 9 replications per pen in a randomized complex block design. Dietary treatments included: i) CON (basal diet), ii) ANT (CON+tylosin 1 g/kg), iii) H1 (CON+H. cordata 1 g/kg) and iv) T1 (CON+T. officinale 1 g/kg). In this study, pigs fed the ANT and T1 treatment had a higher (p<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and gain:feed (G:F) ratio than those fed CON and H1 treatment. Dietary ANT and T1 treatment led to a higher energy digestibility than the CON group. No difference (p>0.05) was observed on the growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility with H1 supplementation compared with the CON treatment. The inclusion of ANT treatment led to a higher (p<0.05) lymphocyte concentration compared with the CON treatment. Dietary supplementation of herbs did not affect (p>0.05) the blood characteristics (white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), IgG, lymphocyte). No difference was observed on (p<0.05) fecal microbial shedding (E. coli and lactobacillus) between ANT and CON groups. Treatments H1 and T1 reduced the fecal E. coli concentration compared with the CON treatment, whereas the fecal lactobacillus concentration was not affected by the herb supplementation (p>0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of T. officinale (1 g/kg) increased growth performance, feed efficiency, energy digestibility similarly to the antibiotic treatment. Dietary supplementation of T. officinale and H. cordata (1 g/kg) reduced the fecal E. coli concentration in weaning pigs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.531-537
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• 2022

This study evaluated the effects of dehulled lupin kernel (DLK) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, fecal microbiota and fecal noxious gas emission in growing pigs. A total of 108 growing pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) with an average initial body weight (IBW) of 24.49 ± 3.2 kg were allocated to one of three dietary treatments (5, 10, and 20 % DLK) according to sex and BW in a randomized complete block design for 6 wk. Each dietary treatment consisted of 9 replication pens with 4 pigs per pen (2 gilts and 2 borrows). The results show that there were no significant differences in growth performance and nutrient digestibility among the treatments (p > 0.05). However, pigs fed the DLK20 diet had a higher BUN compared with those fed the DLK10 diet (p < 0.05). No effects were observed on the fecal microbiota and fecal noxious gas emission among the treatments. In conclusion, the inclusion of 20% DLK had no adverse effects on the performance in growing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.347-351
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• 1990

A simple cross-over design was used in digestion experiment carried out on finishing pig (70 kg body wt.) fitted with ileal T-cannula, to determine the difference between ileal and fecal digestible values as affected by various fiber sources and levels. The series of semi-purified diets were formulated in an attempt to meet 1, 3, 7 and 9% crude fiber level, with alfalfa meal (AFM), rubber seed meal (RSM), leucaena meal (LM) and cellulose. Both the levels and sources influenced the amino acid digestibilities, as increasing crude fiber level the digestibilities increased. The digestibilities of amino acids at ileal level were higher than at fecal level. The magnitude of response were ranged from 1.76 to 8.41 percentage unit or 4.86 by average. The dry matter digestibilities of the diets reflect the digestibilities of amino acids as accumulation of fiber would increase endogenous losses. It indicates that the digestibilities of amino acids varied irregularly among diets, probably depended on a dietary nutrient and individual fiber fraction contents.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.163-170
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• 2022

This study investigates the effects of the dietary inclusion of zinc oxide (ZnO) on the growth performance, apparent total digestibility, and the fecal scores of growing pigs fed a corn-wheat-based diet. In total, 84 crossbred (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) growing pigs with an initial body weight of (20.86 ± 0.64 kg) (4 pigs·pen^-1; 2 gilts and 2 barrows; 7 replications·treatment^-1) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups based on body weight (BW) and sex in a three-week trial. The dietary treatments were as follows: TRT1 (CON [basal diet]), TRT2 (CON + 0.07% ZnO), and TRT3 (CON + 1% ZnO). Dietary ZnO supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) improved body weight gain (BWG) of growing pigs at weeks 2 and 3 compared to the control diet. In addition, dietary ZnO supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) increased the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) at weeks 2, 3, and overall. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) remained unaffected throughout the trial. Regarding the total tract nutrient digestibility of nitrogen, dry matter was significantly improved with an increased level of ZnO supplementation. In addition, dietary supplementation of ZnO significantly reduced fecal scores in grower pigs at the initial period compared to the control diet. In summary, dietary inclusion of zinc oxide via supplementation improved growth performance, and total tract digestibility and reduced the fecal scores of growing pigs.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.991-994
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of feeding mealworm pellets on protein digestibility and fecal composition of companion canines. The canine breeds used in the specification test were Maltese (average weight 2.0 kg) and Poodle (average weight 2.5 kg), with a total of six canines, three of each breed, without discriminating between males or females. The control feed for the two canines was based on 100 g of commercially available general feed, to which the dogs were allowed to adapt for approximately 3 d. Ony on Day 0 of the experiments, dogs were fed twice, in the morning and afternoon. One day later, the treated group was 80 g of regular feed with 20 g of mealworm pellets added, and the dog was fed for 1 to 7 d in the same manner as the control group. The addition of mealworm pellets increased the protein digestibility in both canine breeds, however, the differences were no significances (p>0.05). Based on the normal stool score of 3, no remarkable changes were observed in stool score from Days 1 to 6, showing that the canines had adapted to the mealworm pellet feed. In particular, on Day 7, feeding mealworm pellet appeared to affect the fecal properties differently between the two breeds. This difference can be owing to differences in the intestinal environment and digestion and absorption ability between the two breeds. Consequently, using mealworm pellets improved the protein digestibility of canines as well as maintained normal fecal properties.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.883-895
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of a fatty acid-balanced oil, instead of soybean oil, on reproductive performance, nutrient digestibility, blood indexes, milk composition in lactating sows, and fecal microbial composition in piglets. Methods: Twenty-four sows (Landrace×Yorkshire, mean parity 4.96) were randomly allotted to two treatments with twelve pens per treatment and one sow per pen based on their backfat thickness and parity. The experiment began on day 107 of gestation and continued until weaning on day 21 of lactation, lasting for 28 days. The control group (CG) was fed a basal diet supplemented with 2% soybean oil and the experimental group (EG) was fed the basal diet supplemented with 2% fatty acid-balanced oil. Results: The fatty acid-balanced oil supplementation increased (p<0.05) the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy in sows. The lower (p<0.05) serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and albumin levels of sows were observed in the EG on day 21 of lactation. Dietary supplementation with the fatty acid-balanced oil decreased the fat content, increased the immunoglobulin G level, and changed (p<0.05) some fatty acid content in milk. Moreover, the fatty acid-balanced oil supplementation changed (p<0.05) the fecal microbial composition of piglets, where the average relative abundance of Spirochaetota was decreased (p<0.05) by 0.55% at the phylum level, and the average relative abundance of some potentially pathogenic fecal microorganism was decreased (p<0.05) at the species level. Conclusion: The fatty acid-balanced oil improved nutrient digestibility, changed the serum biochemical indices and milk composition of sows, and ameliorated the fecal microbial composition of piglets.