• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.10
• /
• pp.1565-1572
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of brewer's yeast hydrolysate (YH) on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, blood profiles and meat quality of growing pigs. Methods: A total of 200 growing pigs ($[Landrace{\times}Yorkshire]{\times}Duroc$) (initial body weight, $25.31{\pm}1.29kg$) were allotted to 5 treatments as follow: CON, basic diet; and YH treatment, CON+0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0% of YH, respectively. Results: On wk 11, 16 and overall phase, pigs fed YH diet showed a linear improvement in average daily body gain and gain/feed (p<0.05). The pigs that received YH linearly increased the digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy on wk 11 and 16. The concentration of serum urea nitrogen was linearly increased in YH treatments on wk 16. However, the carcass weight, back fat and lean muscle percentage of pigs receiving YH had no significant change. Besides, no difference was observed in creatinine and total protein in the blood among treatments. Conclusion: The pigs fed a graded YH diet had improved growth performance and nutrient digestibility, meanwhile, the YH increased the serum urea nitrogen in the growing pigs.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.241-250
• /
• 2009

This study was conducted to develop an prototype automatic feeder (AF) for growing-finishing pigs. The main components of AF were a feed storage hopper, a feeding motor, a feed agitator, a control box and a programmable IC, which were controlled by a personal computer. The powder type feed transfer rate of AF was average $9.83{\pm}0.4\;g\;s^{-1}$. In feeding test, growing pigs (Landrace) of about 43 kg live weight were used in the study, and was fed over a 6 weeks in pens with solid concrete floors. For feeding trials with AF, the operation time of the feeding motor was set to 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 seconds per feeding. Pigs frequently used AF from 05:00 to 11:00 and from 11:00 to 17:00 without relationship to the operation time of the feeding motor. The AF operation time of the feeding motor to minimize feed loss was between 2 and 4 seconds. Pigs fed with AF had same or slightly higher average daily gam (0.8~0.9 kg) than that with a commercial feeder, and average daily feed intake (2.76~2.93 kg) and feed conversion ratio (3.10~3.66) of pigs fed with AF were same or lower than those with the commercial feeder except the operation time of the feeding motor set to 6 seconds. As a result, AF would help to use and improve the productivity of growing-finishing pigs.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.929-942
• /
• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of β-glucan with vitamin E supplementation on the growth performance, blood profiles, immune response, pork quality, pork flavor, and economic benefit in growing and finishing pigs. Methods: A total of 140 growing pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc) were assigned to five treatments considering sex and initial body weight (BW) in 4 replications with 7 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. The experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without 0.05% or 0.1% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E. The pigs were fed the diets for 12 weeks (phase I, 0 to 3; phase II, 3 to 6; phase III, 6 to 9; phase IV, 9 to 12). The BW and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase. Blood samples were collected at the end of each phase. Four pigs from each treatment were selected and slaughtered for meat quality. Economic benefit was calculated considering the total feed intake and feed price. Pork flavor was analyzed through inosine monophosphate analysis. Results: The average daily gain and feed efficiency were improved compared to the control when β-glucan or vitamin E was added. Supplementing 0.05% β-glucan significantly increased the lymphocyte concentration compared to the addition of 0.1% β-glucan and the content of vitamin E in the blood increased when 0.02% vitamin E was added. The treatment with 0.1% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E showed the most economic effect because it had the shortest days to market weight and the lowest total feed cost. The addition of β-glucan or vitamin E had a positive role in improving the flavor of pork when considering that the content of inosine monophosphate was increased. However, carcass traits and meat quality were not affected by β-glucan or vitamin E. Conclusion: The addition of 0.1% β-glucan with 0.02% vitamin E in growing and finishing pig diets showed great growth performance and economic effects by supplying vitamin E efficiently and by improving the health condition of pigs due to β-glucan.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.9
• /
• pp.1305-1309
• /
• 2005

Experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of modified montmorillonite nanocomposite (MMN) to reduce the toxic effects of aflatoxin (AF) in growing/finishing pigs. 96 weaned pigs were assigned to four dietary treatment groups (0 g of MMN and 0 mg of AF/kg feed, 3 g of MMN/kg feed, 0.1 mg of AF/kg feed, and 3 g of MMN plus 0.1 mg of AF/kg feed). Body weight gain (BW gain), feed/gain ratio, serum biochemical values and enzyme activities were evaluated. Compared with the control, AF alone markedly reduced BW gain and resulted in a significantly higher feed/gain ratio. There were no differences in BW gain and feed/gain ratio between 0.3% MMN or 0.3% MMN plus AF and the control. These results suggested that the deleterious effects of AF were ameliorated by MMN addition. AF intake markedly increased relative organ weights of liver, kidney, spleen and pancreas, and resulted in significant alterations of serum parameters. However, these parameters for pigs fed diets containing MMN and AF returned to normal values, indicating that MMN had the ability to recover the AF-decreased performance, organ damage and to correct aberrations in serum parameters. These findings in our study suggested that MMN can effectively modulate the toxicity of AF in growing/finishing pigs and may offer a novel approach to the preventive management of aflatoxicosis in animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.11
• /
• pp.1547-1554
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of different sources of chromium on growth performance, blood profile and carcass trait in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 200 growing pigs (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Duroc, average initial weight 8.5 kg) were allotted to 5 treatments with 4 replicates per treatment and 10 pigs per replicate. Five treatments were designated as follows according to the source of chromium. i) Control (No chromium): corn-soybean meal based basal diet, ii) $CrCl_{3}$: control diet+200 ppb Cr as $CrCl_{3}$, iii) CrPic: control diet+200 ppb Cr as Cr picolinate, iv) CrMet-1: control diet+100 ppb Cr as Cr methionine, and v) CrMet-2: control diet+200 ppb Cr as Cr methionine. After the feeding trial, three pigs per replicate (12 pigs per treatment) were slaughtered for the evaluation of carcass traits. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed: gain ratio (F/G) were not different (p>0.05) among dietary Cr sources. However, whole-period ADG of pigs fed CrPic, CrMet-1 and CrMet-2 diets was higher (p<0.05) than for the control diet. Nutrient digestibility was not different (p>0.05) among dietary Cr sources, but the nutrient digestibility of pigs fed CrPic, CrMet-1 and CrMet-2 diets was higher (p<0.05) than for the control diet. BUN level decreased with more magnitude (p<0.05) in pigs fed Cr during the 20 to 50 kg period. Although both serum cholesterol and triglyceride were different (p<0.05) among treatments, there was no consistent response that could be related to the dietary Cr sources regardless of growth phase. However, the overall data suggested that serum cholesterol level increased as BW of pigs increased. Blood total protein (TP) increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed Cr only during the 90-110 kg phase, and blood creatinine (Creat) level was higher in $CrCl_{3}$ and CrPic treatments than in the control only during the 90-110 kg phase. Backfat thickness was thinner (p<0.05) in pigs fed CrMet-2 than in the control treatment. Therefore, lean percentage was higher (p<0.05) in CrMet-2 than in control pigs. However, dressing percentage and Longissimus muscle area (LMA) were not different (p>0.05) among treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 200 ppb Cr, via either CrPic or CrMet, improved pig growth performance and nutrient digestibility. Moreover, dietary CrMet supplementation for the growing-finishing pig is evidently remarkable for improving both lean percentage of the carcass and backfat thickness.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.425-430
• /
• 1999

Complex environmental control systems were developed, which control properly the pig's environment in windowless pig-housing based on the thermoregulatory behaviors of pigs and concentrations of noxious gases (CO2 and NH3). The this study was conducted to assess the performance of complex environmental control systems by raising weaned piglets and growing pigs under different seasonal conditions. Average daily gain of pigs in the experimental pig-housing was slightly higher than that of pigs in the conventional pig-housing. Average daily gain was not significantly different in winter and spring(P＞0.05), but was significantly different in summer(P＜0.05). Feed conversion rate of pigs in the experimental pig-housing was smaller than that of pigs in the conventional pig-housing. Feed conversion rate was not significantly different in environment for weaned piglets and growing pigs resulted in the improved daily gain, feed conversion rate, and carcass quality of the finishing pigs. These results showed that the performance of the complex environmental control systems in windowless pig-housing was excellent for weaned piglets and growing pigs.

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

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.242-253
• /
• 2020

Currently, there is a growing interest among consumers in selecting healthier meat with a greater proportion of essential fatty acids (FA). This experiment was conducted to evaluate the role of different ratios of dietary n-6:n-3 on growth performance, FA profile of longissimus dorsi (LD), relative gene expression of cytokines, meat quality, and blood parameters in finishing pigs. A total of 108 finishing pigs was randomly allotted to three treatments including a control (basal diet) and low ratios (4:1 and 2:1) of n-6:n-3. The 4:1 and 2:1 diets decreased the overall stearic acid in LD. There were reductions in the content of stearic acid, palmitoleic acid, total saturated acid, and n-6:n-3 ratio of LD in pigs fed 4:1 and 2:1 diet compared with the control diet. The 4:1 and 2:1 diets increased the concentration of α-Linolenic acid and polyunsaturated FA in the LD of pigs. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase enzyme gene was down-regulated in pigs fed 2:1 diet compared with finishing pigs fed the control or 4:1 diets. The relative expression of hormone-sensitive lipase was increased in pigs fed 2:1 and 4:1 ratio diets. Lower total cholesterol of plasma was observed in finishing pigs fed 2:1 and 4:1 diets. The cooking loss ratio of meat was lower in pigs fed the 2:1 and 4:1 diets compared with the control diet. Pigs fed the 4:1 and 2:1 diets had greater final body weight. In conclusion, the 2:1 and 4:1 diets have the potential to increase the meat quality and growth performance of pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.8-14
• /
• 1997

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding graded levels of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate on growth performance, blood components, carcass grade, in vitro lipogenesis and lipolysis, and in vitro protein degradation and synthesis in growing-finishing pigs. There were no significant differences for daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion among treatments during growing phase, while in the finishing phase, feed intake was lower in groups fed diets with 200 ppb chromium than in other treatment (p < 0.1). Feed conversion was improved in the groups fed diets with chromium compared with control. Carcass weight was similar among treatments while carcass length was longer in groups fed diets with 200 ppb chromium (p < 0.05). Thinner carcass fat was found with groups fed diets with chromium compared to control. Three A grade of carcasses were from groups fed chromium compared to control. No significant differences were observed with blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acid at 60kg body weight. While, at 100 kg body weight, blood triglyceride was lower in groups with 200 and 400 ppb chromium but higher in groups with 100 ppb chromium (p < 0.05). In vitro lipolysis and protein synthesis in adipose tissues were increased as dietary chromium was increased from 0 to 200 ppb (p < 0.1). As a result, 200 ppb chromium in a growing-finishing diet could improve feed efficiency and carcass traits; an increase to 400 ppb has no further effect.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.573-578
• /
• 1999

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of diet for growing-finishing pigs with high level of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) from by-products on nitrogen excretion and nitrogen losses from slurry during storage. Sixteen commercial crossbred barrows of about 68 kg BW were randomly allotted to one of four diets. The control diet was formulated using tapioca and rice as basal energy sources. In the other diets, tapioca was replaced by either coconut expellar, rice bran or beer by-product. The diets differed mainly in the amount and compostition of NSP. After a 12-day adaptation period, urine and faeces were collected separately in metabolism cages for 9 days. Urine and faeces from the first four days were used to analyse the nitrogen partitioning. Urine and faeces from the last 5 days were mixed as slurry. The slurry was sampled at the end of the collection period and again after 30 days storage, to analyse for nitrogen to calculate the losses. Increasing dietary NSP reduced urinary nitrogen and nitrogen losses from the slurry during storage. The pigs fed the diet based on beer by-product excreted the most nitrogen via faeces and the least nitrogen via urine. Nitrogen losses from slurry of pigs fed the beer by-product were from 34 to 65% lower than from the other three diets. It is concluded that including NSP-rich by-products in the diet of growing-finishing pigs reduces urinary nitrogen excretion and nitrogen losses from slurry during storage.