• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2002

The effects of housing and nutrition on the performance of growing gilts of the Nepalese Pakhribas breed were investigated. A total of 36 pigs were allocated according to a factorial design with 3 levels of nutrition, provided to achieve a target growth rate of 200, 300 or 400 g/day, and two types of housing, traditional or improved. The growth rate and body composition were monitored during the growing period and subsequent pregnancy. There was a significantly higher growth rate (p<0.01), greater $P_2$ backfat thickness (p<0.01), and greater eye muscle depth (p<0.01) at service in pigs given the higher level of nutrition. Similarly, there was a significantly higher growth rate (p<0.05), and greater eye muscle depth (p<0.10) with improved housing but no significant difference in $P_2$ backfat thickness. The conception rate was 90% at first service, with no difference between treatments. Gilts from the high plane of rearing produced a mean litter size of one piglet greater than those on the low plane, but this was not significant with the limited numbers. However, both improved plane of nutrition and reduced climatic penalty by improving housing resulted in increased birthweight of piglets (p<0.05). It is concluded that improvement in housing can give benefits equivalent to at least a 7% improvement in efficiency of feed use under traditional Nepalese circumstances for pig rearing.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.1026-1030
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• 2002

A trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary NMA on several growth associated hormones and fat metabolism in finishing pigs. A total of 84 crossbred finishing pigs (average initial BW of $56{\pm}$0.37kg) were divided into 6 pens, 14 pigs per pen (7 gilts and 7 barrows per pen). 3 pens of pigs were fed with control diet (corn-soybean meal) and the others were fed control diet addition with 50 mg/kg NMA. During the trial, all pigs were given free access to feed and water. After 44 days trial, 8 pigs from each treatment (4 gilts and 4 barrows, weight similar to average group weight, $86.94{\pm}0.71kg$ for control group, and $90.55{\pm}1.51kg$ for NMA treated group) were sacrificed to collect the sample of the liver, longissimus muscle, subcutaneous fat (10th rib). The addition of NMA in diet increased the IGF-I, Insulin, T3, T4 levels in serum by 50.68% (p<0.05), 38.36% (p<0.05), 123.33% (p<0.01), 60.58% (p<0.03), respectively. Meanwhile, IGF-I level in the liver and the muscle were increased with 17.83% (p<0.03) and 26.00% (p<0.03) with addition of NMA. The data from subcutaneous fat (10th rib) analysis showed that supplement of 50 mg/kg NMA decreased the total activities of malic dehydrogenase (MDH) by 20.54% (p<0.05), glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-DPH) by 16.97% (p<0.05), and decreased the specific activities of MDH and G-6-DPH by 37.46% (p<0.01) and 35.06% (p<0.01), respectively. The hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) total activity was increased by 25.00% (p<0.05) in NMA treated pigs. These results indicated that addition of 50 mg/kg NMA to diet can induce the endocrine great change in finishing pigs, furthermore, inhibit the fat synthesis through suppressing lipogenic enzymes and promote the fat degradation by elevating HSL activity in finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of different lupin kernel levels on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing pigs. In experiment 1, a total of 54 barrows and 54 growing gilts, with an average initial body weight of $24.7{\pm}0.38kg$, was used to determine the effect of different lupin kernel levels (0, 10% and 20%; Control, LK10 and LK20, respectively) in the diets on growth performance with a $3{\times}3$ randomized complete block design for 35 days. There were no significant differences in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed:gain among treatments. In experiment 2, a total of 54 barrows and 36 finishing gilts, with an average initial body weight of $63.0{\pm}0.56kg$, was used to determine the effect of different lupin kernel levels (0, 15% and 30%; Control, LK15 and LK30, respectively) in the diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics with a $3{\times}3$ randomized complete block design for 63 days. LK30 decreased ADG and ADFI compared with the Control and LK15 (p<0.05). However, LK30 tended to improve feed:gain compared with the Control and LK15. And LK15 did not differ from the Control in ADG, ADFI and feed:gain. With inclusion of lupin kernel in the finishing diet, backfat thickness increased (p<0.01) and carcass grade tended to be improved compared with the Control.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.732-738
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• 1998

Three crossbred gilts weighing $61{\pm}2kg$ ($mean{\pm}SD$) and three gilts weighing $52{\pm}3kg $ on the day before the first treatment began (d -1) were used for each of two experiments (Exp. 1 and Exp. 2), respectively. In Exp. 1, all pigs were fed the experimental diet (CP 19%) from d -7 to the end of study (d 21) to verify that nitrogen retention is constant during the 21 -d period. In Exp. 2, pigs were fed the control diet (CP 15.5 %) from d -7 to d 8 and then the low-lysine diet from d 9 to d 16 in order to determine how rapidly dietary changes in amino acid composition results in a new equilibrium for nitrogen metabolism. The amount of urine nitrogen loss was not different over 21 days (p > 0.10). Rates of nitrogen retention were not different among pigs (p > 0.10) nor over time (p > 0.10). Average nitrogen retention during the period was 1.00 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$ per day. The apparent biological value was 41%, which did not change over the 3-week period (p > 0.10). The overall efficiency of nitrogen use for nitrogen retention was 35% (Exp. 1). The amount of nitrogen loss in urine and the efficiency of nitrogen utilization for nitrogen gain reached a new equilibrium within 2 to 3 d after the diet was changed. The low-lysine diet resulted in a 20% increase of nitrogen loss in urine (p < 0.001) and a 9% decline in efficiency of nitrogen use for nitrogen retention (p < 0.001). Nitrogen retention while the pigs were fed the control diet was also higher than the retention when pigs were fed the low lysine diet (p < 0.001). The efficiency of nitrogen use for nitrogen retention in pigs fed the control diet was 57% (Exp. 2), which was higher (p < 0.001) than that from pigs fed the low-lysine diets (52%).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1647-1651
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• 2004

The follicles (1.8 to 7.8 mm in diameter) were recovered from the ovaries in marketed pigs and the number of granulosa cells, the diameter of oocytes obtained from different development stages of the follicles and follicular fluid levels were determined. Correlations between size measurements and cell counts as well as the diameter of antral follicles and oocytes were also investigated. The results indicated that, while expanding in size, follicle numbers decreased with a greater atretic proportion. Granulosa cells increased in numbers continuously and remained unchanged beyond the size of 200 ${mm}^3$ in non-atretic follicles, whereas a sudden drop of granulosa counts was observed in atretic follicles. Follicular fluid, on the other hand, linearly increased its volume with follicle size and differed little between those of non-atretic and atretic follicles. Diameters of oocytes in non-atretic follicles increased to its maximum when follicles expanded to 150 ${mm}^3$ and maintained its size during later follicular expansion. It is concluded that, for in vitro culture, the optimal size of porcine follicle should be between 150 to 180 ${mm}^3$if they are collected from pre-pubertal gilts of marketing size slaughtered in an abattoir.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.552-556
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• 2005

Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), glutathione transferase (GST) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) activities were analyzed in serum, livers and kidneys of pigs treated with graded doses of fluoride (as NaF). Ninety-six Duroc-Landrace-Yorkshire crossbred growing pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts, respectively), with similar initial weight 24.14${\pm}$1.12kg, were randomly assigned to four different treatments. These treatments containing the following added F: basal control; 50 mg/kg F; 100 mg/kg F and 150 mg/kg F were randomly assigned to four pens (three barrows and three gilts) each in a completely randomized design. The results showed pigs treated with 150 mg/kg F significantly decreased average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and increased feed/gain ratio (F/G) (p<0.05) compared to the controls. In the groups treated with fluoride, the contents of MDA increased, T-AOC levels and the activities of SOD, GSH-PX, CAT, GST and XOD decreased, and most of which altered significantly (p<0.05). The study therefore indicated the mechanism of excess fluoride on the impairment of soft tissues involved in lipid peroxidation and decreased the activities of some enzymes associated with free radical metabolism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1304-1308
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• 2000

A total of thirty-six gilts $(24.78{\pm}1.39kg)$ were employed for 38 days (Exp. 1), and twenty-four gilts $(46.50{\pm}1.90kg)$ for 43 days (Exp. 2) to determine growth performance and carcass characteristics in pigs fed dried food waste (DFW). Pigs were allocated by dietary treatments: 0%, 20% and 40% DFW. For nutrient digestibility, twelve female pigs $(50.20{\pm}0.52kg)$ were used in individual pens to collect feces. Food wastes were collected from restaurants and apartment complex areas and dried in a drum-type dryer at $115{\pm}2{^{\circ}C}$. Experimental diets for feeding trials were formulated to contain 3,400 kcal DE/kg and 17% crude protein. The tested DFW contained 2,858 kcal DE/kg, 25.0% crude protein, 17.3% crude fat, 1.37% Ca, 1.28% P, and 3.28% NaCl. As compared to crude protein content, the limiting amino acids (i.e., 0.90% lysine and 0.52% methionine) were low. The digestibilities of energy, ash, calcium and phosphorus in the DFW were generally lower than those in the grower diets, but the digestibilities of crude protein and crude fat were higher in DFW than the grower diet. Feeding DFW in pigs had a linear (p<0.01) effect on ADG and feed/gain as the inclusion levels of DFW were increased (Exp. 1). The ADG of pigs fed 40% DFW was also poorer (p<0.05) than that fed the control diet (Exp. 2). Carcass characteristics in terms of backfat and dressing percentage were not affected by dietary treatments. In conclusion, it seems that the optimal dietary inclusion level of the DFW is about 20% in the diet for growing-finishing pigs.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.375-383
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• 2014

Klotho (KL) is a single transmembrane protein composed of KL1 and KL2 repeats possessing ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activity and maintains calcium homeostasis in physiological state. It has been implicated in pigs that calcium is important for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, and our previous study has shown that transient receptor potential vanilloid type 6 (TRPV6), a calcium ion transporter, is predominantly expressed in the uterine endometrium during pregnancy in pigs. However, expression and function of KL in the uterine endometrium has not been determined in pigs. Thus, the present study determined expression and regulation of KL in the uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in pigs. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that levels of KL mRNA decreased between Days 12 to 15 of the estrous cycle, and its expression showed a biphasic manner during pregnancy. KL mRNA was expressed in conceptuses and in chorioallantoic tissues during pregnancy. Explant culture study showed that expression levels of KL were not affected by treatment of steroid hormones or interleukin-1beta during the implantation period. Furthermore, levels of KL mRNA in the uterine endometrium from gilts carrying somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived embryos were significantly lower than those from gilts carrying natural mating-derived embryos on Day 12 of pregnancy. These results exhibited that KL was expressed at the maternal-conceptus interface in a pregnancy status- and stage-specific manner, and its expression was affected by SCNT procedure, suggesting that KL may play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2010

The Jeju native pigs of 168 heads (116 barrows and 52 gilts) were examined to investigate the carcass characteristics related to gender, meat quality grades and yield grades. The averages of carcass characteristics for Jeju native pigs were 72.94 kg for carcass weight, 20.98 mm for backfat thickness, 38.14 for Hunter L*, 4.68 for a*, 6.04 for b*, 5.61 for pH, 3.61 for visual plate meat color, 3.36 for marbling scores, 1.83 for meat quality grades and 2.08 for yield grades, respectively. The carcass weight of gilts was significantly higher than that of barrows (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between barrows and gilts in carcass percent, backfat thickness, and meat color. The pH of barrows was significantly higher than that of gilts (p<0.05). The differences between gender groups were significantly noticed in carcass quality grades, and yield grades (p<0.05). The carcass weight, carcass percent, backfat thickness, and marbling scores for pigs with high grades(1 and 2 grades) were significantly higher than those for pigs with low grades (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference among 4 carcass grades. The carcass weight, carcass percent, backfat thickness, pH, and meat color for carcass with high yield grades were significantly higher than those for carcass with low grades (p<0.05). The meat colors for Hunter L*, a* and b* were not significantly shown in carcass yield grades.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.493-502
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• 2006

The slaughter weight (wt) is a most important economic factor in swine roduction. The present study was undertaken to determine if it is feasible to increase the slaughter wt of finishing pigs to 130kg without significantly affecting the growth efficiency and carcass quality. One hundred and sixty gilts and 160 barrows born from lean-type Yorkshire×Landrace (YL)-dam and Duroc (D)-sire lines, which are most widely used for terminal breeding for pork production in Gyeongsangnam-do, were randomly allocated into 16 pens under a 2 (sex)×2 (slaughter wt; 110 vs. 130kg) factorial arrangement of treatments. The animals were fed ad libitum a diet containing 3,200kcal DE/kg and 15.5% crude protein. After slaughter at the predetermined wt, yields of trimmed primal cuts and physicochemical characteristics of the longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) were measured or analyzed. Average daily gain was greater (P<0.01) in barrows than in gilts (0.86 vs. 0.79kg), but it was not different between the 110- and 130-kg slaughter wt groups (P>0.05). Backfat thickness was greater in the 130- vs. 110-kg group in both sexes (gilts: 21.6 vs. 17.6 mm, barrows: 25.1 vs. 20.8 mm). The yield percentage of belly was greater in barrows than in gilts (21.2 vs. 20.5%) and also in the 130-kg vs. 110-kg group (21.4 vs. 20.2%). Major physicochemical characteristics of LD including the color, percentage of 48-h drip loss, 24-h pH and percentages of crude protein and fat were not influenced by slaughter wt. Marginal profit of the 130-kg vs. 110-kg market pig was approximately 󰠏20,000 won/head, which resulted primarily from the heavy carcass weight of the former exceeding the upper limit of the A- or B-grade. However, if it had not been for the carcass weight limit of the current grading system, a 130-kg market pig would have had a potential marginal profit greater than 20,000 won. Results suggest that slaughter wt of lean-line finishing pigs can be increased to 130kg without significantly compromising the growth efficiency and carcass quality and accordingly, the upper weight limit of the ‘good-grade’ carcass needs to be increased or abolished to accommodate the larger market pigs.