• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.655-661
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• 2011

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Bacillus, Saccharomyces and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on performance and nutrient digestibility in grower and finisher pigs. In Exp. 1, 80 pigs (32 females and 48 males), $28.7{\pm}0.9\;kg$ body weight (BW), were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups balanced for sex and weight (5 pigs per pen, 4 pens per treatment). They were fed one of four diets: a basal grower (20-50 kg BW) and finisher (>50 kg BW) diet without any addition of probiotic or antibiotic (diet C), the basal diet supplemented with Bacillus subtilis H4 (diet B), diet B supplemented with Saccharomyces boulardi Sb (diet BS) and diet BS supplemented with a LAB complex (diet BSL). The LAB complex consisted of Enterococcus faecium 6H2, Lactobacillus acidophilus C3, Pediococcus pentosaceus D7, and Lactobacillus fermentum NC1. In Exp. 2, 16 male pigs, $29.2{\pm}0.8\;kg$ BW, were kept in individual pens and divided into 4 groups (4 pigs in each group). All 4 groups were given exactly the same growing-period diets (diet C, B, BS and BSL) as in Exp 1. The total faeces and urine were collected during 5 days (day 20-24) to determine nitrogen retention and total tract digestibility. In the growing period, average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected by diet B and BS (p>0.05), but ADG increased (+5.9%) (p<0.05) and FCR improved (+5.9%) (p<0.05) on diet BSL compared with the control, although ADFI was not different (p>0.05). Digestibility of crude protein and organic matter was higher (p<0.05) in diet BSL and digestibility of crude fibre was higher (p<0.05) in diet BS and BSL than in diet C. Nitrogen retention was not affected by diet (p>0.05). The faecal LAB counts were increased in grower pigs fed diet BSL (p<0.05) and faecal E. coli counts were decreased in pigs fed diets BS and BSL (p<0.05). In the finishing period, no effects of diet were found in ADFI, ADG, FCR, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen retention (p>0.05). Faecal LAB and E. coli counts in the finisher pigs were not affected by diet (p>0.05). In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that a mixture of bacteria and yeast has the potential to be used as a probiotic dietary supplement in grower pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1496-1502
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of diet complexity and fermented soy protein on growth performance and amino acid digestibility. In Exp. 1, a total of 120 crossbred weanling pigs ($5.68{\pm}0.80\;kg$ BW) were randomly allocated into 4 treatments. Each treatment had 6 replicate pens comprising 5 pigs in each replicate. Experimental diets consisted of simple (soybean meal as protein source) and complex (soybean meal, rice protein concentrate, potato protein concentrate and fish meal as protein sources) diets; each diet contained 0 or 5% fermented soy protein (FSP), respectively. Dietary treatments included: i) simple diet; ii) simple diet with 5% FSP; iii) complex diet; iv) complex diet with 5% FSP. Pigs were provided each experimental diet for 20 d (phase 1) and then fed the same common diet for 10 d (phase 2). During days 0-10, pigs fed FSP diets had greater ADG than those fed non-FSP diets (p<0.05). G/F in FSP treatments was significantly higher than that in non-FSP treatments (p<0.05) from days 0 to 10. Throughout the overall period, G/F was greater in FSP treatments compared with non-FSP treatments (p<0.05). On d 10, N digestibility was higher in pigs fed FSP diets than in those fed non-FSP diets (p<0.05). Diet complexity did not affect growth performance and nutrient digestibility (p>0.05) in this experiment. In Exp 2, 12 ileal-cannulated, weanling barrows were housed in individual metabolism crates and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (same as Exp. 1) by using a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Among the essential amino acids, apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of Met and Val were increased in pigs fed FSP diets compared with those fed non-FSP diets (p<0.05). AID of Met, Phe and total essential amino acids were higher in pigs fed complex diets than in those fed simple diets (p<0.05). Among the non-essential amino acids, AID of Ala in FSP treatments was greater than that in non-FSP treatments (p<0.05). In addition, Asp, Cys, Glu, Pro, Ser and total non-essential amino acid digestibilities in pigs fed complex diets were higher compared with those fed simple diets (p<0.05). Interaction was observed in AID of Met, Asp and Pro. In conclusion, these results indicated that feeding of 5% FSP to nursery pigs improved feed efficiency and AID of amino acids, and diet complexity did not maximize the growth performance of pigs in the subsequent phase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1429-1432
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• 2000

Three groups of 7, 8 and 8 barrows (22 weeks age; 35 kg body weight), reared on grower diets were fed ad libitum on three isonitrogenous finisher diets containing 50, 71 and 92% wheat bran by replacing maize grain till the attainment of about 74 kg slaughter weight. Growth pattern, average daily gain, feed intake, feed/gain ratio and carcass traits were similar in all the groups. The digestibility of DM, OM, CF, NFE total carbohydrate and energy (DE) decreased (p<0.01) with the increased level of wheat bran in the diet. However, CP digestibility was comparable among all the diet and the digestibility of EE was significantly (p<0.01) higher in grainless diet ($FD_3$). It appears that maize grain may be completely replaced with wheat bran in the diet of crossbred pigs without any adverse effect on their performance with respect to feed intake, body weight gain and carcass characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.206-213
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• 2011

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing barley and soybean meal in finishing diets with sesame hull (SH) on growth performance, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of Black goat kids. Twenty-one Black goat kids were assigned randomly to 0%, 10%, or 20% SH diets (7/diet). The study lasted for 63 d. Intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) of kids fed the 10% diet were greater (p<0.05) than for the 0% and 20% SH diets (p<0.10). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) intakes were highest (p<0.05) for kids fed the 10% SH diet when compared to 0% and 20% SH diets. Ether extract (EE) intake was greater (p<0.05) for kids fed 10% and 20% SH diets when compared to 0% SH. Digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF were similar among all diets. However, sesame hull inclusion increased (p<0.05) EE digestibility. Final body weight, total gain, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio were comparable among all diets. Cost of gain was lower (p<0.05) in kids fed 20% SH than the 0% SH diet, while there was no difference between the 10% SH diet and the other two diets. Dressing percentage, hot and cold carcass weights, non-carcass components, carcass cut weights, and meat quality parameters were not influenced by SH. Total fat percentage in the leg was greater (p<0.05) on 0% SH than on the 10% SH diet. Results of this study demonstrated that inclusion of sesame hull at levels of 10 or 20% did not influence the performance of Black goat kids, but the cost of gain was lower.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.538-544
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• 1998

One hundred and twenty-eight finishing pigs (51.3 kg average initial body weight) were used to determine the effects of adding cellulase enzymes and lactobacillus acidophilus to sorghum-based diets on growth performance, carcass merit, and nutrient digestibility in finishing pigs. Treatments were: 1) corn-soybean meal-based positive control; 2) sorghum-soybean meal-based negative control; 3) Diet 2 with celluloytic enzymes; and 4) Diet 2 with a bacterial feed additive (lactobacillus acidophilus). There was a trend for greater average daily gain (ADG) in pigs fed com versus the sorghum treatments for day 0 to 28 (p < .09), but there was no effect of treatment (p > .15) on overall ADG (i.e., day 0 to 63). Feed consumption was not affected by treatment during the experiment (p > .19). Pigs fed the corn-soybean meal-based diet had 3.5% greater overall gain/feed than pigs fed the other diets (p < .009). Dressing percentage was not affected by treatment (p > .22), but there was a trend for backfat thickness at the last rib to be greater for pigs fed com versus the sorghum treatments (p < .09). Pigs fed the sorghum treatments had 1 % greater fat free lean index (p < .10) compared to pigs fed the corn-soybean meal-based positive control. Pigs fed com had greater apparent digestibilities of DM, N, and GE than pigs fed the sorghum treatments (p < .03), and greater DE intake (p < .07) suggesting that the increased carcass fatness for pigs fed the corn-based control diet resulted from greater energy status of those pigs. In conclusion, pigs fed the corn-soybean meal-based control diet had no improved growth performance but tended to be fatter than pigs fed sorghum. Adding cellulolytic enzymes or a bacterial feed additive to diets for finishing pigs did not affect growth performance, carcass merit, or nutrient utilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1178-1183
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• 2012

A 5-wk trial with 96 ($(Landrace{\times}Yorkshire){\times}Duroc$) pigs ($BW=26.56{\pm}0.42kg$) was conducted to investigate the effect of eugenol and cinnamaldehyde as feed additive in growing pigs. Pigs were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized complete block design according to their sex and BW. Each treatment contained 8 replications with 4 pigs (2 gilts and 2 barrows) per pen. Treatments included: control (basal diet; CON); (basal diet+1,000 mg eugenol/kg; ET); (basal diet+1,000 mg cinnamaldehyde/kg; CT). Administration of eugenol and cinnamaldehyde did not did not affect (p>0.05) the growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility. Dietary CT and ET led to a higher (p<0.05) lymphocyte concentration compared with CON. The inclusion of CT and ET decreased (p<0.05) the fecal E. coli concentration (p>0.05). Pigs fed the diets supplemented with eugenol and cinnamaldehyde had reduced (p<0.05) $NH_3$ and $H_2S$ concentration throughout the experiment. In conclusion, results obtained in the present study indicated that supplementation of eugenol and cinamaldehyde had no effect on growth performance of pigs but exhibited lymphocyte-enhancing activity and decreased the fecal E. coli concentration and fecal noxious gas content ($NH_3$ and $H_2S$).

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.547-554
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• 2008

In performance, digestibility and slaughter trials, a total of forty five male weaned lambs were used to examine the effects of monensin and live yeast supplementations on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and ruminal fermentation parameters when the lambs were fed steam-flaked corn-based diets. Animals were allotted to one of three treatment diets in a completely randomized design. The three treatment diets were: (1) basal diet (CON) with steam-flaked corn as a sole grain source, (2) basal diet supplemented with monensin (MO), and (3) basal diet supplemented with live yeast (LY). Total average daily intake (ADI) was unaffected by MO and LY supplementations. LY supplementation increased (p<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) by 13.1% compared with the CON diet. Both MO and LY supplementations resulted in a significant improvement (p<0.05) of feed efficiency over the CON diet (4.47, 4.68 vs. 5.05). Hemicellulose digestibility was higher (p<0.05) for lambs in the LY supplementation group (62.4%) as compared with the CON group (55.7%), but no differences were observed in digestibilities of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). All carcass traits were not influenced by dietary supplementations. Ruminal pH in lambs fed the LY supplemental diet was more stable than that with the CON diet (6.57 vs. 6.17). Neither MO nor LY supplementation influenced the concentration of ruminal ammonia-N and total volatile fatty acid (VFA), and molar percentages of individual VFA. Plasma urea-N concentration was decreased (p<0.05) by MO and LY supplementations, while plasma ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), glucose and other blood parameters were unaffected. In conclusion, while both MO and LY supplementations had a positive impact on feed efficiency and LY supplementation stabilized ruminal pH and improved fiber utilization, none of the supplements had the capacity to significantly enhance the carcass characteristics.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of enzyme complex on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and feed cost in growing pigs. Ninety-six pigs [(Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) ${\times}$ Duroc, $22.96{\pm}0.79$ kg average initial body weight] were used in 42d growth assay. Dietary treatments included:1) HC (high energy and nutrient density diet), 2) CON (control, basal diet), 3) CE1 (CON + 0.05% enzyme complex) and 4) CE2 (CON + 0.1% enzyme complex). Four pigs were allotted per pen with six replicate pens per treatment by completely randomized design. The ADG was higher in CE1 and CE2 treatments than CON treatment (P<0.05). The ADFI was linearly increased by CE treatments compared to HC treatment. The CE1 treatment had highest DM, N and GE digestibility (P<0.05). Digestibility of DM, N and GE were quadratic enhanced by enzyme complex level. No differences were found among treatments for creatinine and BUN. The enzyme complex treatments (CE1 and CE2) showed lower feed cost/body weight gain than HC treatment. In conclusion, enzyme complex can improve ADG and reduce feed cost/body weight gain when low energy diet was used. Furthermore adding 0.05% enzyme complex had highest nutrient digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1648-1653
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• 2009

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of source of supplemental zinc (Zn) on performance, nutrient digestibility and plasma mineral profile in Cashmere goats during the cashmere fiber growing period. Twenty-seven Liao Ning Cashmere wether goats (9-10 month of age; initial BW = 19.31${\pm}$0.32 kg) were fed a basal diet (containing 22.3 mg Zn/kg DM) with no supplemental Zn (control) or 20 mg of supplemental Zn/kg of DM from Zn sulfate ($ZnSO_{4}$) or Zn methionine (ZnMet) for 60 days including a 10-day metabolism trial. Average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and gain:feed (G/F) (p<0.05) were increased by Zn supplementation, but no differences were noted between Zn sources (p>0.05). The length and diameter of cashmere fiber did not differ among treatments (p>0.05). Zn supplementation had no influence on digestibility of DM, CP, EE and NDF (p>0.05). However, ADF digestibility in the group supplemented with ZnMet was significantly higher than in other treatments (p<0.05). Plasma Zn was increased (p<0.05) and Cu tended to be decreased (p = 0.057) by Zn supplementation, but no differences were found between Zn sources (p>0.05). Plasma alkaline phosphatase activity (AKP) was improved by Zn supplementation (p<0.05) and was higher in the $ZnSO_{4}$ than the ZnMet group (p<0.05). Zn retention was increased (p<0.05) and apparent absorption rate was decreased (p<0.05) by Zn supplementation. The results indicate that supplementation of 20 mg Zn/kg DM either as $ZnSO_{4}$ or ZnMet in the basal diet containing 22.3 mg Zn/kg DM can improve growth performance in Cashmere goats, and effectiveness of the two sources is similar on performance measurements.