• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.821-830
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• 2001

To study the effects of partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with palm kernel meal (PKM) and copra meal (CM) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs, a total of 150 crossbred pigs (Landrace$\times$Duroc$\times$Yorkshire; average $52.11{\pm}1.08kg$ body weight) were alloted to five treatments, in a randomized block design. The treatments included 1) Control: without PKM or CM, 2) PKM2: 2% of palm kernel meal, 3) PKM4: 4% palm kernel meal, 4) CM2: 2% of copra meal, 5) CM4: 4% of copra meal. During the early finishing period (52~74 kg), growth performance was better in CM diets than in PKM diets or control diet, and in overall period (74~100 was lower (p<0.05) in PKM4 diet than the other diets. Nutrient digestibilies of PKM or CM substituted diets showed the tendency to be lower than those of control diet. In the early finishing period, total amino acid digestibilities of PKM and CM diets had the tendency to be lower than control diet, and in the late finishing period, they were lower (p<0.05) than control diet. Carcass length was longer (p<0.05) in the pigs fed 2% CM than in the pigs fed 4% PKM diet, but other carcass characteristics were not different among treatments. Although the dietary C14:0 content affected (p<0.05) on the C14:0 content in the carcass, the inclusion of PKM or CM in the diet did not affect the total saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids in the backfat of finishing pigs. Although it was not significant, supplementation of CM at the 2% and 4% of control group tended to decrease feed cost per kg weight gain by 2.89 to 1.42%, respectively. In conclusion, copra meal can be a valuable source of protein in the diet for finishing pigs and may replace other protein sources in pig diets to a considerable extent.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.248-256
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• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of expander processing and enzyme supplementation of wheat-based diets on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in finishing pigs. For Exp. 1, 60 finishing pigs (average initial BW of 49.5 kg) were fed meal, standard pellets and expanded pellets in a 70 d growth assay. From 49.5 to 79.0 kg, 79.0 to 111.8 kg, and overall (49.5 to 111.8 kg), ADG and ADFI were not affected by pelleting or standard vs expander conditioning (p>0.22). However, from 49.5 to 79.0 kg, pigs fed pellets have greater gain/feed than pigs fed mash (p<0.04), and pigs fed expanded pellets tended to have greater (p<0.10) gain/feed than pigs fed standard pellets. Overall (i.e. from 49.5 to 111.8 kg), gain/feed (p<0.02) and apparent fecal digestibilities of DM (p<0.001) and N (p<0.02) were improved by pelleting the diets. Also, expander processing further improved gain/feed (p<0.06) and digestibility of DM (p<0.04) compared to standard steam conditioning. Scores for keratinization (p<0.002) and ulceration (p<0.003) of the stomach were increased by pelleting, but the mean scores for the various treatments ranged only from 0.05 to 1.08 (i.e., low to mild keratosis and ulceration). For Exp. 2, 80 pigs (average initial BW of 54.1 kg) were fed mash and pellets (standard or expander) without and with xylanase. The enzyme was added to supply 4,000 units of xylanase activity/kg of diet. Adding xylanase to the mash diet improved gain/feed from 90.7 to 115.9 kg (p<0.04) of the growth assay and digestibility of DM (p<0.05) on d 39. However, in pelleted diets, adding the enzyme did not improve growth performance or digestibility of nutrients. Pelleting tended to increase scores for ulceration (p<0.06), and enzyme supplementation decreased stomach keratinization scores for pigs fed the standard pellets (p<0.01). However, as in Exp. 1, the mean scores for all treatment groups were quiet low (i.e., ranging from normal to mild). In conclusion, pelleting improved efficiency of growth, but additional benefits from expander conditioning were observed only in Exp. 1. Finally, xylanase tended to improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility, only in pigs fed mash diets but not in pigs fed pellets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.891-898
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of crude oligosaccharide extract from coconut milk meal (CMM) and spent tea leaves (ST) on the performance and gut development of broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 240 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks (ROSS 308) were raised on litter-floored pens and had ad libitum access to water for 42 days. The experiment was conducted on chicks fed with basal diet (CON), commercial mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), crude oligosaccharide extract from CMM, and crude oligosaccharide extract from ST. The experimental diets were supplemented with 2 and 1 g/kg oligosaccharides during the starter and grower periods, respectively. Results: The body weight gain (BWG) of birds in the MOS group was higher than that of birds in the other groups (p<0.05) in the starter period. However, during the grower period, ST significantly improved the BWG compared to the MOS (p<0.05). MOS, CMM, and ST showed no influence on the carcass and visceral organ weight and the weight and length of intestine (p>0.05). The digestibility of gross energy was greater (p<0.05) in the CMM group than in the CON group during the grower period. Morphological changes were absent in the dietary treatments (p>0.05). Conclusion: The improvements in the growth performance were partly driven by nutrient digestibility of such oligosaccharides having prebiotic properties. This result can indicate that supplementing broiler diets with crude oligosaccharides from CMM and ST had no negative effect on the growth performance and gut development of broilers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2004

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of continuous feeding of probiotics on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and immune responses in pigs. Treatments were 1) Control(basal diet), 2) P-O.l(basal diet + 0.1% probiotics) and 3) P-0.2(basal diet + 0.2% probiotics). In growth trial, a total of sixty pigs(6.17 $\pm$ 0.45 kg average body weight) weaned at 21 days of age were used. All pigs were assigned according to sex and body weight, and each treatment had 5 replicates of 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block(RCB) design. During 0${\sim}$8 weeks, there was no significant difference in average daily gain(ADG), average daily feed intake(ADFI) and gain:feed ratio(GfF) among treatments. During 9 - 20 weeks, ADG was improved significantly in pigs fed P-O.I or P-0.2 diets when compared to the pig fed control diet(P <0.05), but there was no significant difference in ADFI and GfF ratio. During overall period, ADG, ADFI and GfF ratio were not significantly different among treatments. In the first metabolic trial(17.93 $\pm$1.45kg average body weight), apparent digestibility of OM, protein, fat in pigs fed P-O.l and P-0.2 diets were greater than in pigs fed control diet(P <0.05) and ash digestibility in pigs fed P-0.2 diet was significantly higher than in pigs fed control diet(P <0.05). Calcium digestibility in pigs fed P-0.2 diet was significantly higher than in pigs fed control and P-O.I diets(P <0.05). Fecal-N excretion was lower in pigs fed P-O.! and P-0.2 diets than in pigs fed control(P <0.05). In the second metabolic trial(41.80 $\pm$ 2.68kg average body weight), there was no significant difference among treatments in apparent digestibility of nutrients and N-retention. In blood assay for the BUN and immune responses investigations, there was no significant difference among treatments during overall period of experiment. Therefore, this experiment suggested that probiotics supplementation could improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility of pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.326-339
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• 2024

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of protease supplementation and different nutrient density of diets in growing-finishing pigs. A total of one hundred-eight crossbred growing pigs ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) with an initial body weight (BW; 18.74 ± 3.46 kg) were used for 15 weeks. Pigs were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 3 pigs per pen in a 3 × 2 factorial through the following arrangement: Three groups of protease (1, Basal diets; 2, Protease A: 125 mg/kg protease derived from Streptomyces sps; 3, Protease B: 100 mg/kg protease derived from Bacillus licheniformis) at two different nutrient density diets (1, Basal requirement; 2, 0.94%-0.98% higher than requirement in dietary protein and 50 kcal/kg in energy). High nutrient (HN) diets showed higher average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.05) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP) (p < .0001) compared to basal nutrient (BN) diets during growing periods. Supplementation of protease showed higher BW (p < 0.05) and ADG (p < 0.05) compared to non-supplementation of protease during growing periods. Also, supplementation of protease showed higher ATTD of CP (p < 0.01), ATTD of gross energy (p < 0.05) and decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level (p = 0.001) compared to non-supplementation of protease during finishing periods. Pigs which fed the protease showed decreased ammonia (NH₃) emissions (p < 0.05) during experiment periods and decreased hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) emissions (p < 0.01) during finishing periods. Interactions between nutrient density and protease were observed, which decreased the feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05) in HN diets without protease compared to BN diets without protease during weeks 4 to 6. Also, interaction between nutrient density and protease was observed, which resulted in improved ATTD of CP (p < 0.01) in response to PTA supplementation with HN diets during the finishing period. In conclusion, supplementation of protease reduces NH₃ in feces and BUN in whole blood by increasing the digestibility of CP and improves growth performance. Also, diets with high nutrient density improved growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing periods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.831-837
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ruminally-protected methionine supplementation (0, 7, or 14 g/head/d) on nutrient intake, digestibility, growth performance, carcass, and meat characteristics of Awassi ram lambs fed finishing diets. Twenty four Awassi ram lambs ($16.8{\pm}1.17kg$ body weight) were randomly assigned to 3 treatment diets (8 lambs/treatment) and housed in individual pens. Lambs were given an adaptation period of 7 days before the intensive feeding period that lasted for 86 days. On day 74 of the trial, a digestibility experiment was performed. At the end of the trial (d 86), all lambs were slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics and meat quality. Increasing the level of methionine supplementation did not improve (p>0.05) performance nor feed conversion ratio. Nutrient intake and digestibilities were not influenced (p>0.05) by methionine supplementation. There were no differences in final weight, hot and cold carcass weights, dressing percentages or any of the measured non-carcass components. Tissues and fat depth measurements together with all meat quality attributes measured on longissimus muscle of the loin cut were not affected by methionine supplementation. The only meat quality parameters affected were redness (a*) and the hue angle being higher for the control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that methionine supplementation is not likely to produce any production benefits in nutrient digestibilities, performance or carcass characteristics of ram lambs fed a high performance diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.573-579
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• 2010

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different copper (inorganic and organic) and energy (tallow and glycerol) sources on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gas emission, diarrhea incidence, and fecal copper concentration in growing pigs by using a 2${\times}$2 factorial design. In this trial, 96 pigs (63 d of age) were employed, with an average initial weight of 28.36${\pm}$1.14 kg. The dietary treatments were i) basal diet with 134 ppm copper (Korea recommendation) as $CuSO_4$+tallow; ii) basal diet with 134 ppm Cu as $CuSO_4$+glycerol; iii) basal diet with 134 ppm copper as CuMet+tallow; and iv) basal diet with 134 ppm copper as CuMet+ glycerol. Throughout the entire experimental period, no differences were noted among treatment groups with regard to the magnitude of improvement in ADG (average daily gain), ADFI (average daily feed intake) and G/F (gain:feed) ratios. The nitrogen (N) digestibility of pigs fed on diets containing organic copper was improved as compared with that observed in pigs fed on diets containing inorganic copper (p<0.05). An interaction of copper${\times}$energy was observed in the context of both nitrogen (p<0.05) and energy (p<0.01) digestibility. Ammonia emissions were significantly lower in the organic copper-added treatment groups than in the inorganic copperadded treatment groups (p<0.05). Mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide emissions were reduced via the addition of glycerol (p<0.05). No significant effects of copper or energy source, or their interaction, were observed in reference to diarrhea appearance and incidence throughout the entirety of the experimental period. The copper concentration in the feces was significantly lower in the organic copper source treatment group than was observed in the inorganic copper source treatment group (p<0.05). The results of this experiment show that organic copper substituted for inorganic copper in the diet results in a decreased fecal copper excretion, but exerts no effect on performance. The different energy (tallow and glycerol) sources interact with different copper sources and thus influence nutrient digestibility. Glycerol supplementation may reduce the concentrations of odorous sulfuric compounds with different Cu sources.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1874-1879
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• 2007

A total of one hundred and forty four weaned pigs with an average BW of $8.09{\pm}0.05$ kg were used in a 28 day study to investigate the effects of fermented soy protein on growth performance, blood urea nitrogen and total protein concentrations in serum and nutrient digestibility in weaner pigs. Pigs were blocked by initial body weight and randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. There were six replications per treatment. Dietary treatments included: SBM (corn-soybean meal basal diet), F 5, 10 and 15 (fermented soy product was used at 5, 10 and 15% to replace soybean meal in basal diet, respectively). ADG (average daily gain) and ADFI (average daily feed intake) were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary treatments during the entire 4-wk study period. There were linear increments in feed efficiency (p<0.01) as the dietary FSP level increased during the entire feeding period. No significant differences were observed for dry matter and nitrogen digestibility during the experimental period (p>0.05). Digestibilities of histidine, lysine and methionine were increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p<0.05, p<0.01). Among non-essential amino acids, alanine, glutamic acid, serine, tyrosine and total non essential amino acid digestibilities were increased linearly (p<0.05, p<0.01). There were quadratic effects in protein digestibility (p<0.05). Total amino acid digestibility of the F15 diet was improved compared with the F5 diet (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in fecal consistency score among the treatments (p>0.05). At the end of experiment, BUN (blood urea nitrogen) concentration was increased as the FSP level increased (linear effect, p<0.01) and total protein concentration was lowest (p<0.05) for pigs fed the SBM diet among treatments. In conclusion, the feeding of 10 or 15% FSP to nursery pigs improved feed efficiency, amino acid digestibility and blood urea nitrogen and total protein concentrations in blood.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1202-1208
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• 2009

Synbiotics is the term used for a mixture of probiotics (live microbial feed additives that beneficially affects the host animal) and prebiotics (non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the organism). This study investigated the effect of probiotics from anaerobic microflora with prebiotics on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, noxious gas emission and fecal microbial population in weaning pigs. 150 pigs with an initial BW of 6.80${\pm}$0.32 kg (20 d of age) were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments as follows: i) US, basal diet+0.15% antibiotics (0.05% oxytetracycline 200 and 0.10% tiamulin 38 g), ii) BS, basal diet+0.2% synbiotics (probiotics from bacteria), iii) YS, basal diet+0.2% synbiotics (probiotics from yeast), iv) MS, basal diet+0.2% synbiotics (probiotics from mold), v) CS, basal diet+0.2% synbiotics (from compounds of bacteria, yeast and mold). The probiotics were contained in $10^{9}$ cfu/ml, $10^{5}$ cfu/ml and $10^{3}$ tfu/ml of bacteria, yeast and molds, respectively. The same prebiotics (mannan oligosaccharide, lactose, sodium acetate and ammonium citrate) was used for all the synbiotics. Pigs were housed individually for a 16-day experimental period. Growth performance showed no significant difference between antibiotic treatments and synbiotics-added treatments. The BS treatment showed higher (p<0.05) dry matter (DM) and nitrogen digestibility while ether extract and crude fiber digestibility were not affected by the dietary treatment. Also, the BS treatment decreased (p<0.05) fecal ammonia and amine gas emissions. Hydrogen sulfide concentration was also decreased (p<0.05) in BS, YS and MS treatments compared to other treatments. Moreover, all the synbioticsadded treatments increased fecal acetic acid concentration while the CS treatment had lower propionic acid concentration than the US treatment (p<0.05) gas emissions but decreased in fecal propionate gas emissions. Total fecal bacteria and Escherichia coli populations did not differ significantly among the treatments, while the Shigella counts were decreased (p<0.05) in synbiotics-included treatment. Fecal bacteria population was higher in the YS treatment than other treatments (p<0.05). The BS treatment had higher yeast concentration than YS, MS and CS treatments, while US treatment had higher mold concentrations than MS treatment (p<0.05). Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that synbiotics are as effective as antibiotics on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and fecal microflora composition in weaning pigs. Additionally, synbiotics from anaerobic microflora can decrease fecal noxious gas emission and synbiotics can substitute for antibiotics in weaning pigs.