• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.856-863
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• 2013

An in vitro gas production technique was used in this study to elucidate the effect of two strains of active live yeast on methane ($CH_4$) production in the large intestinal content of pigs to provide an insight to whether active live yeast could suppress $CH_4$ production in the hindgut of pigs. Treatments used in this study include blank (no substrate and no live yeast cells), control (no live yeast cells) and yeast (YST) supplementation groups (supplemented with live yeast cells, YST1 or YST2). The yeast cultures contained $1.8{\times}10^{10}$ cells per g, which were added at the rates of 0.2 mg and 0.4 mg per ml of the fermented inoculum. Large intestinal contents were collected from 2 Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire pigs, mixed with a phosphate buffer (1:2), and incubated anaerobically at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h using 500 mg substrate (dry matter (DM) basis). Total gas and $CH_4$ production decreased (p<0.05) with supplementation of yeast. The methane production reduction potential (MRP) was calculated by assuming net methane concentration for the control as 100%. The MRP of yeast 2 was more than 25%. Compared with the control group, in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration increased (p<0.05) in 0.4 mg/ml YST1 and 0.2 mg/ml YST2 supplementation groups. Proportion of propionate, butyrate and valerate increased (p<0.05), but that of acetate decreased (p<0.05), which led to a decreased (p<0.05) acetate: propionate (A: P) ratio in the both YST2 treatments and the 0.4 mg/ml YST 1 supplementation groups. Hydrogen recovery decreased (p<0.05) with yeast supplementation. Quantity of methanogenic archaea per milliliter of inoculum decreased (p<0.05) with yeast supplementation after 24 h of incubation. Our results suggest that live yeast cells suppressed in vitro $CH_4$ production when inoculated into the large intestinal contents of pigs and shifted the fermentation pattern to favor propionate production together with an increased population of acetogenic bacteria, both of which serve as a competitive pathway for the available H2 resulting in the reduction of methanogenic archaea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.579-587
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• 2013

A total of 288 crossbred (Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire) growing pigs were used in two experiments to investigate the effects of adding ${\beta}$-mannanase to corn-soybean meal-based diets on pig performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD). Both experiments lasted 28 d and were split into two phases namely 1 to 14 days (phase 1) and 15 to 28 days (phase 2). In Exp. 1,144 pigs weighing $23.60{\pm}1.59$ kg BW were assigned to one of four corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 0, 200, 400 or 600 U/kg ${\beta}$-mannanase. Increasing the level of ${\beta}$-mannanase increased weight gain (quadratic effect; p<0.01) and feed efficiency (linear and quadratic effect; p<0.01) during the second phase and the overall experiment. However, performance was unaffected (p>0.05) by treatment during phase 1. Increasing the amount of ${\beta}$-mannanase in the diet improved (linear and quadratic effect; p<0.05) the ATTD of CP, NDF, ADF, calcium, and phosphorus during both phases. Based on the results of Exp. 1, the optimal supplementation level was determined to be 400 U/kg and this was the level that was applied in Exp. 2. In Exp. 2, 144 pigs weighing $23.50{\pm}1.86$ kg BW were fed diets containing 0 or 400 U/kg of ${\beta}$-mannanase and 3,250 or 3,400 kcal/kg digestible energy (DE) in a $2{\times}2$ factorial design. ${\beta}$-Mannanase supplementation increased (p<0.01) weight gain and feed efficiency while the higher energy content increased (p<0.01) feed intake and feed efficiency during both phases and overall. Increased energy content and ${\beta}$-mannanase supplementation both increased (p<0.05) the ATTD of DM, CP, NDF, ADF, phosphorus, and GE during both phases. There were no significant interactions between energy level and ${\beta}$-mannanase for any performance or digestibility parameter. In conclusion, the ${\beta}$-mannanase used in the present experiment improved the performance of growing pigs fed diets based on corn and soybean. The mechanism through which the improvements were obtained appears to be related to improvements in ATTD.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1308-1315
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• 2001

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different methods of feeding and processing of diets on performance, morphological changes in the small intestine and nutrient digestibility of young pigs. A total of 120 pigs (Youkshire${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Duroc; initial body weight of $5.83{\pm}0.67kg$) were randomly allotted into six treatments in a $2{\times}3$ factorial design. Treatments were 1) dry feeding with a mash diet (DM), 2) dry feeding with a pelleted diet (DP), 3) dry feeding with an expanded crumble diet (DEC), 4) wet feeding with a mash diet (WM), 5) wet feeding with a pelleted diet (WP), 6) wet feeding with an expanded crumble diet (WEC). Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were not significantly (p>0.05) different among treatments. However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved when pigs fed a pelleted diet or an expanded crumble diet. Pigs fed an expanded crumble diet showed 9.2% and 17.3% improvement in ADG and FCR compared with those fed a mash diet. The morphological changes in the small intestine were examined at the termination (4 weeks after weaning) of the experiment. Differences in morphological changes of gastrointestinal tract were not significant among treatments. Though villus height was not significantly affected by feeding method or feed processing, the villus height of weaned pigs tended to be preserved by wet feeding. The use of a pelleted diet also helped to prevent the shortening of villus height. Pigs fed a WP diet maintained the highest villus height at all parts of the small intestine. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in nutrient digestibility among treatments. However, nutrient digestibility for pigs fed a pelleted diet had a higher than that of pigs fed mash diets. Especially, pigs fed a WP diet digested 5.3% more P each day than those fed a DM diet. Compared with the mash diet, the expanded crumble diet decreased feed cost per kg weight gain by 15%. The net profit per pig was 79% higher in the expanded crumble diet pigs than in mash diet pigs. In conclusion, this study suggests that feeding processed diets to piglets can be more beneficial in terms of FCR and production cost.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.762-771
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to determine i) the fermentation characteristics of catfish by-product (C) ensiled with rice bran (RB) or sugarcane molasses (M) in different ratios, and ii) the digestibility of the silages in growing pigs. In the ensiling experiment, there were three ratios of C, ensiled with RB or M, of 8:2, 7:3 and 6:4 (wet basis for C and air-dry basis for RB and M). The six treatments were CRB8:2, CRB7:3, CRB6:4, CM8:2, CM7:3 and CM6:4, with 3 replications per treatment and seven sampling times. The pH of CRB7:3 and CRB6:4 decreased (p<0.05) from the first week and stayed stable until 8 weeks of ensiling, but the pH did not decrease in CRB8:2. The pH of CM8:2, CM7:3 and CM6:4 decreased rapidly from the first week until week 8. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) contents were slightly lower when catfish by-product was ensiled with RB than with M. Ammonia content in all treatments increased (p<0.05) during ensiling. Lactic acid content in silages with molasses increased from the first week, with the highest value at week 4. However, the lactic acid content in CRB8:2 did not increase with time and had the lowest value of all treatments. Acetic acid proportions of total volatile fatty acids were low at day 0, with the highest value at day 7, decreasing slowly until 8 weeks. The butyric acid proportion was highest at day 0 and decreased up to week 8. The proportion of propionic acid increased during ensiling. The digestibility experiment had a 4${\times}$4 Latin-square design and included 4 castrated crossbreed (Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) male pigs fed four diets. The basal diet (BD) included rice bran, broken rice and maize meal, and the other three diets included fish meal (FMD) or catfish by-product ensiled with rice bran (CRBD) or sugarcane molasses (CMD). The silages chosen were those which gave the best results in the ensiling experiment for each additive. The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of DM and organic matter (OM) was not significantly different among treatments. The CTTAD of CP was not different among the silage diets, but was lower in BD (p<0.01). The CTTAD of ether extract (EE) was higher in the catfish by-product silage diets than in FMD and BD. There was no significant difference in the digestibility of DM, OM, CP and EE between the fish meal and the by-product silages. In conclusion, catfish by-product can be successfully preserved by ensiling. Moreover, the total tract apparent digestibility of OM, CP and EE in ensiled catfish by-product was comparable with that of fish meal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1739-1750
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• 2017

Objective: This experiment investigated meat color, myoglobin content, enzyme activities, and expression of genes associated with oxidative potential of pigs slaughtered at different growth stages. Methods: Sixty 4-week-old $Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$ pigs were assigned to 6 replicate groups, each containing 10 pigs. One pig from each group was sacrificed at day 35, 63, 98, and 161 to isolate longissimus dorsi and triceps muscles. Results: Meat color scores were higher in pigs at 35 d than those at 63 d and 98 d (p<0.05), and those at 98 d were lower than those at 161 d (p<0.05). The total myoglobin was higher on 161 d compared with those at 63 d and 98 d (p<0.05). Increase in the proportions of metmyoglobin and deoxymyoglobin and a decrease in oxymyoglobin were observed between days 35 and 161 (p<0.05). Meat color scores were correlated to the proportion of oxymyoglobin (r = 0.59, p<0.01), and negatively correlated with deoxymyoglobin and metmyoglobin content (r = -0.48 and -0.62, p<0.05). Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activity at 35 d and 98 d was higher than that at 161 d (p<0.05). The highest lactate dehydrogenase/MDH ratio was achieved at 161 d (p<0.05). Calcineurin mRNA expression decreased at 35 d compared to that at 63 d and 98 d (p<0.05). Myocyte enhancer factor 2 mRNA results indicated a higher expression at 161 d than that at 63 d and 98 d (p<0.05). Conclusion: Porcine meat color, myoglobin content, enzyme activities, and genes associated with oxidative potential varied at different stages.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.557-561
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• 2005

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of weekly administration of implant type recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) on the performance and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 120 crossbred (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc) pigs were employed for 11 weeks in a growth trial in experiment. A rpST designed to implant every 7 d was used. Forty pigs, each weighing 75 kg, were allocated into three rpST treatments; control (CONT), implant of rpST from 75 kg (TRT1) or 90 kg (TRT2) of body weight. The CONT pig and pigs in TRT2 from 75 kg to 90 kg were treated without rpST but with placebo. In rpST-treated pigs, each 100 mg and 125 mg of the equivalent rpST was implanted from live weight of 75 kg to 90 kg and from 90 kg to market weight, respectively. Half of the pigs from each treatment were marketed at live weight of 110 kg and the rest at 130 kg. All pigs were allowed ad libitum access to a commercial feed containing 0.94% and 0.88% of lysine from 75 to 110 kg, 110 to 130 kg of body weights, respectively. rpST had no effect on daily gain, while feed efficiency was improved by 7 to 13% (p<0.05) in the rpST-treated groups compared with the CONT. Compared with the CONT, backfat thickness was decreased by 12% (p<0.05) in TRT1 at 110 kg of market weight, and by 23 to 32% (p<0.05) in the rpST-treated groups at 130 kg of market weight, respectively. Lean muscle rate tended to be higher in TRT1 at both 110 kg and 130 kg of market weight, and carcass fat percentage in the rpST-treated groups was decreased by 33 to 46% (p<0.05) compared with the CONT.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.523-532
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of microbial phytase ($Natuphos^{R}$) supplementation in combination with enzyme complex (composed of enzymes targeted to SBM dietary components such as $\alpha$-galactosides and galactomannans; $Endo-Power^{R}$) to diet with low nutrient levels on growth performance and ileal nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs. A total of 210 crossbred weaned pigs (Landrace$\times$Yorkshire$\times$Duroc), 6.68$\pm$0.98 kg of initial body weight, were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments, based on weight and age, according to a randomized complete block design. There were three pens per treatment and 14 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were 1) CON (Control diet with no phytase and enzyme complex (EC)), 2) LP+EC 100 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower available phosphorus (aP) level+0.1% phytase (500 FTU/kg diet) and 0.1% enzyme complex), 3) LP+EC 80 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP level+0.08% phytase (400 FTU/kg diet) and 0.08% enzyme complex, 4) LPEA+EC 100 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP and 3% lower ME and amino acid levels (lysine, methionine, threonine and typtophan)+0.1% phytase (500 FTU/kg diet) and 0.1% enzyme complex), 5) LPEA+EC 80 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP and 3% lower ME and amino acid levels+0.08% phytase (400 FTU/ kg diet) and 0.08% enzyme complex). For the determination of ileal nutrients digestibility, a total of 15 T-cannulated pigs (initial body weight; 7.52$\pm$1.24 kg; 3 replicates per treatment) were used in the present study. Piglets were weighted and allotted into same dietary treatments as one in growth trial and phase I experimental diets were provided for ileal digestibility study. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) among dietary treatments during the whole experimental period (0 to 5 weeks). However, piglets in LP+EC 100 group had a significantly higher gain/feed ratio (G:F) than piglets had in control (p<0.05). Crude protein, energy and phosphorus digestibilities were significantly improved when both of phytase and enzyme complex were supplemented at the revel of 0.1%, respectively to diets with low nutrient level (aP or (and) ME and amino acids) (p<0.05). Piglets in LP+EC 100 and LPEA+EC 100 groups showed significantly higher phosphorus content (%) in bone than that of piglets in control group (p<0.05). Supplementation of both of phytase and enzyme complex at 0.1%, respectively, to diet with low nutrient levels (aP or (and) ME and amino acids) significantly improved total ileal essential amino acid and nonessential amino acid digestibilities compared to control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results from the present study suggest that the simultaneous inclusion of phytase and enzyme complex to diets at recommended level is advantageous with respect to improving growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs and may contribute to increased economic return when added to corn-soy based weaned pig diets.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2001

The effect of the fermented food wastes (FFW) on growth performance and feeding efficiency war investigated in growing-finishing pigs. Four treatments with different mixing rates [0% FFW (100% commercial diet: control) ; 25% FFW ; 50% FFW ; and 100% FFW] were tried. Twenty heads of cross-bred barrows ($Duroc\;{\times}\;Landrace$, average live weight : 28.5 kg) were divided into 4 treatments with 5 replicates. During entire feeding trial (10 to 27 week), average daily gain increased by 29.4% and 13.9% in 25% FFW and 50% FFW, but decreased by 38.2% in 100% FFW compared to control. Daily feed intake was the highest in 25% FFW and it greatly decreased in 50% and 100% FFW feeding. The amount of feeds required for weight gain was similar with control in 25% FFW or significantly decreased in 50% FFW, while greatly increased in 100% FFW feeding. Cost of feeds per kg weight gain was decreased by 28.6%, 49.4% and 32.6% in 25%, 50% and 100% FFW, respectively. The results showed that replacement up to 50% with fermented food wastes was advantageous with respect to feed efficiency and feed cost, but 100% FFW feeding was disadvantageous because of a very low feed efficiency.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.555-564
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of zeolite on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fecal ammonia gas release in the finishing pigs. A total of 120 crossbred finishing pigs (50.2$\pm$1.4kg, Landrace$\time$Yorkshire$\time$Duroc) were assigned to 4 treatments and randomly divided into 12 groups. They were divided between early finishing period (50~80kg) and late finishing period (80-120kg). Finishing pigs were fed on a basal diet supplemented with 0, 1, 2 and 4% levels of zeolite. Average daily gain and feed conversion were significantly (P<0.05) improved by the dietary supplementation of 4% zeolite compared with other treatments during overall period. In the finishing periods, ammonia gas emission was reduced (P<0.05) in 4% zeolite treatment more than that of the other treatments. Carcass weight and back fat thicknesses were not affected by zeolite treatments. But, the appearance of A grade pork was increased by the dietary supplementation of 4% zeolite. Feed cost was linearly decreased by increasing the supplementation of zeolite. According to this study, 4% supplement of zeolite is suitable for the improvement of carcass quality and feed conversion, the reduction of fecal ammonia gas emission and feed cost per body weight gain.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2009

This study was carried out to compare Msp I polymorphisms in the 3rd intron of porcine gene encoding the pituitary-1 transcription factor (POU1F1) from 286 pigs (Landrace $\times$ Yorkshire $\times$ Duroc, LYD) and to determine the associations between its genotypes and carcass traits by using the PCR-RFLP technique. The frequency of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype DD (84.33%) was very higher than that of CC genotype (0.75%). Allelic frequencies for C and D were 0.082 and 0.918, respectively. Each population followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Meat colours of Hunter $L^*$ values and visual colour according to two genotypes were all significantly different. However, no significant difference in crossbred (LYD) was found between CD and DD genotypes for other traits. Therefore, this suggests that POU1F1 may be a major gene or marker for carcass traits.