• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2013

Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) is mainly expressed on $CD4^+$ T cells, which plays an important role in immune response. The aim of this study was to detect the association between polymorphisms of the CD4 gene and T lymphocyte subpopulations in pigs, and to investigate the effects of genetic variation on the CD4 gene expression level in immune tissues. Five missense mutations in the CD4 gene were identified using DNA pooling sequencing assays, and two main haplotypes (CCTCC and AGCTG) in strong linkage disequilibrium (with frequencies of 50.26% and 46.34%, respectively) were detected in the population of Large White pigs. Our results indicated that the five SNPs and the two haplotypes were significantly associated with the proportions of $CD4^-CD8^-$, $CD4^+CD8^+$, $CD4^+CD8^-$, $CD4^+$ and $CD4^+/CD8^+$ in peripheral blood (p<0.05). Gene expression analysis showed the mRNA level of the CD4 gene in thymus was significantly higher than that in lymph node and spleen (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between animals with CCTCC/CCTCC genotype and animals with AGCTG/AGCTG genotype in the three immune tissues (p>0.05). These results indicate that the CD4 gene may influence T lymphocyte subpopulations and can be considered as a candidate gene affecting immunity in pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.861-867
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous ghrelin on the behaviors, weight gain, and feed intakes of weanling piglets. A total of 25 pairs of Duroc$\times$Landrace$\times$Large White piglets weaned at 21 days of age were used in this experiment which finished on day 36. Each pair of healthy piglets from the same litter with similar body weight and of the same gender were selected and randomly arranged to ghrelin or control groups. Thus, there were 50 piglets (ghrelin 25; control 25) kept in 10 pens (ghrelin 5; control 5) and 5 piglets per pen. Initial body weight of the pigs did not differ between the control and ghrelin treatment ($7.43{\pm}0.17kg$; p = 0.81). Experimental pigs were infused with ghrelin ($1{\mu}g/d$ pig) via the marginal ear vein between 0750 and 0800 h at 22, 23, 24 days of age. Control pigs were infused with 0.9% saline. Feed consumption was measured on days 23, 24, 25, 29 and 36. Body weight was measured on days 22, 23, 24, 25, 29 and 36. Behavior data of individual piglets were collected by real-time observation from 0800-1500 h through remote supervisory equipment at 22, 23 and 24 days of age. The results indicated that ghrelin infusion could increase drinking (p<0.05) and lying behaviors (p<0.01) and decrease mounting behaviors (p<0.05). No significant influence of ghrelin was found on average daily weight gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in this experiment (p>0.05). In conclusion, exogenous ghrelin by the method above and at the dosage of $1{\mu}g/d$ pig could cause a variety of behavioral effects, but not improve performance of weanling piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1651-1654
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• 2007

The mouse myxovirus resistance protein 1 (Mx1) is known to be sufficient to confer resistance to influenza viruses, and the gene encoding Mx1 is, therefore, an interesting candidate gene for disease resistance in farm animals. The porcine Mx1 gene has already been identified and characterized based on its homology with mouse Mx1; the full-length coding region of the pig Mx1 gene spans 2,545 bp (M65087) and is organized into 17 exons compared with the human ortholog mRNA. In this study, the exons 9, 10 and 11 and introns 6 and 9 of the porcine Mx1 gene were cloned and sequenced. Two SNPs were identified in exons 9, 10 and 11 but none of the SNPs led to an amino acid exchange, and the other eleven variants were detected in introns 6 and 9, respectively. Differences in allele frequency between Meishan and other pig breeds were observed within intron 6, of which an $A{\rightarrow}G$ substitution at position 371 was detected as an SnaBI PCR-RFLP. The association analysis using the Large White${\times}$Meishan $F_2$ offspring suggested that the Mx1 genotype was associated with variation in several immunity traits that are of interest in pig breeding. However, further investigations in more populations are needed to confirm the above result.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.834-843
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• 2011

Bacterial diversity was studied using PCR-DGGE, cloning and sequencing. DNA was isolated from digesta samples from stomach, ileum and colon of 28 weaned piglets (Large White${\times}$Mong Cai) fed dry control feed, naturally fermented liquid feed (FE) and a liquid diet with inclusion of rice distiller's residue feed. General bacterial diversity was described using DGGE analysis of the V3 region of 16S rDNA. The microbial populations in the stomach and the ileum were considerably influenced by the diet, while only marginal effects were observed in the colon. There was a large variation of the microbial flora in the stomach between individuals fed non-fermented diets. In contrast, animals fed diet FE had a more uniform microbial flora in the stomach and the ileum compared to the other diets. In total 47 bands from the DGGE profiles were cloned. In stomach, most frequently lactic acid bacteria were found. Feeding diet FE resulted in the occurrence of Pediococcus species in stomach and ileum. In pigs fed the other diets, Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus fermentum were found in stomach and ileum. Most of the sequences of bands isolated from colon samples and several from ileum matched to unknown bacteria, which often grouped within Prevotellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroidaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae. This study demonstrates that fermented liquid feed affects bacterial diversity and the specific microflora in stomach and ileum, which provides a potential to modulate the gut microflora with dietary means to increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria and improve piglets' health.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1534-1541
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• 2001

Forty-five Large White gilts were used to study the effect of energy intake from 28 to 176 d of age on body composition and reproductive development. From 28 to 60 d, the gilts were fed ad libitum a 16.6 MJ DE/kg, 24% crude protein and 1.3% total lysine diet. From 61 d of age three dietary treatments were used; 1) ad libitum access to feed (15.6 MJ DE/kg, 21% crude protein and 1.07% total lysine) (H), 2) feed offered at 75% (M) of the previous days intake of H, and 3) feed offered at 60% (L) of the previous days intake of H. ADG from 61 to 176 d of age was (p<0.05) affected by treatment. Although live weight at 176 d of age did not differ (p>0.1) the H gilts had higher (p<0.08) carcass weights than the M or L gilts. Back fat depths were similar (p>0.1) for all treatments at 115 d of age, however by 176 d of age M and H gilts were fatter (p<0.1) than L gilts. The mean lipid deposition (LD) from 115 to 176 d of age for L gilts (78.9 g/d) was less (p<0.05) than for M gilts (143.6 g/d) and H gilts (135.6 g/d). There were no differences between treatments for protein deposition (PD) over the same period. More (p<0.05) H gilts (n=8) attained puberty (first observed estrus) than either M gilts or L gilts (n=4 for both). Follicle numbers were similar (p>0.1) across treatments. For gilts that attained puberty, H gilts had fewer (p<0.05) follicles (13.5) than M gilts (19.7) and L gilts (21.3). For gilts with follicular development, H gilts had the heaviest (458.7 g) reproductive tract weight (RTW). However, for those that attained puberty, L gilts had the heaviest RTW. RTW were lowest for those with no follicular development. Energy restriction had a negative impact on puberty attainment, i.e. it took longer to reach puberty. However, for gilts that attained puberty, the number of follicles was greater for those on r feed intakes. It would appear that rate of fat deposition, but not necessarily the total amount of fat, plays an important role in puberty attainment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.548-555
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• 2018

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate whether asparagine (Asn) could improve liver energy status in weaning pigs when challenged with lipopolysaccharide. Methods: Forty-eight weaned pigs ($Duroc{\times}Large\;White{\times}Landrace$, $8.12{\pm}0.56kg$) were assigned to four treatments: i) CTRL, piglets received a control diet and injected with sterile 0.9% NaCl solution; ii) lipopolysaccharide challenged control (LPSCC), piglets received the same control diet and injected with Escherichia coli LPS; iii) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+0.5% Asn, piglets received a 0.5% Asn diet and injected with LPS; and iv) LPS+1.0% Asn, piglets received a 1.0% Asn diet and injected with LPS. All piglets were fed the experimental diets for 19 d. On d 20, the pigs were injected intraperitoneally with Escherichia coli LPS at $100{\mu}g/kg$ body weights or the same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution based on the assigned treatments. Then the pigs were slaughtered at 4 h and 24 h after LPS or saline injection, and the liver samples were collected. Results: At 24 h after LPS challenge, dietary supplementation with 0.5% Asn increased ATP concentration (quadratic, p<0.05), and had a tendency to increase adenylate energy charges and reduce AMP/ATP ratio (quadratic, p<0.1) in liver. In addition, Asn increased the liver mRNA expression of pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase ${\beta}$ (linear, p<0.05; quadratic, p<0.05), and had a tendency to increase the mRNA expression of hexokinase 2 (linear, p<0.1). Moreover, Asn increased liver phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK)/total AMP-activated protein kinase (tAMPK) ratio (linear, p<0.05; quadratic, p<0.05). However, at 4 h after LPS challenge, Asn supplementation had no effect on these parameters. Conclusion: The present study indicated that Asn could improve the energy metabolism in injured liver at the late stage of LPS challenge.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1278-1284
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• 2000

An experiment was performed to evaluate different methods for preserving shrimp by-products and to determine their chemical composition. In the first experiment three ratios of shrimp by-product (SBP) to molasses (6:1, 4:1 and 3:1, wet weight), and to cassava root meal (3:1, 2:1 and 1:1, wet weight of shrimp by-product and air-dry weight of cassava root meal) were investigated. The pH of the SBP ensiled with molasses at a ratio of 3:1, and with cassava root meal at a ratio of 1:1, decreased during the first week to below 4.5 and remained low up to day 56 of ensiling, whereas the pH of the mixtures with higher ratios of SBP remained above 7.0, and the material deteriorated rapidly. The dry matter decreased initially in all treatments but then increased slightly from day 28 in the treatment where shrimp by-product was ensiled with cassava root meal at a ratio of 1:1. The crude protein (CP) and ammonia-N $(NH_3-N)$ contents of the preserved shrimp by-product material ensiled with molasses at a ratio of 3:1 increased significantly one week after ensiling. The CP content then remained constant, while the $NH_3-N$ concentration continued to increase up to 56 days after ensiling. When SBP was ensiled with cassava root meal at a ratio of 1:1 the CP content of the silage increased significantly up to 21 days after ensiling and then decreased back to the original level after 56 days, whereas $NH_3-N$ increased markedly up to 14 days and then remained fairly constant up to 56 days. However, the $NH_3-N$ content was significantly higher when SBP was ensiled with cassava root meal than with molasses. A balance experiment was carried out, arranged as a double Latin-square and including 6 F1 (Large White ${\times}$ Mong Cai) castrates fed randomly one of three diets based on cassava root meal, rice bran, and fish meal (FM) or shrimp by-product ensiled with molasses (SBEMO) or with cassava root meal (SBECA) as the main protein source. Apparent organic matter and CP digestibilities were significantly (p<0.001) higher for the fish meal diet than for the two shrimp by-product diets, although CP digestibility in SBEMO and SBECA was similar (p>0.05). N-retention was significantly higher for the fish meal diet than for the SBEMO diet, which in turn was significantly higher than for the SBECA diet (p<0.01). It can be concluded that shrimp by-product can be preserved by ensiling with molasses at a ratio of 3:1 or with cassava root meal at a ratio of 1:1. Nutrient digestibility and N-retention of diets based on these shrimp by-product silages were lower than for similar diets based on fish meal, probably due to their high chitin content and inferior amino acid balance.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2002

Effects of dietary 0.6% activated carbon on pork quality were investigated with six pigs (Landrace ${\times}$ Large White ${\times}$ Duroc) that were randomly selected from uterine brothers. Three pigs, for control group, were fed with a commercial pig diet for 4 weeks before slaughter whereas the others were fed a diet added 0.6 % activated carbon for treatment group. Pork loin and belly cuts were collected at 24 hrs postmortem, and transfered to laboratory to measure quality characteristics. There were no significant differences in muscle pH and cooking loss % of pork loin and belly. Also there were no significant differences in adhesiveness, cohesiveness, gummness and brittleness between thed treatment and control. However, hardness and springiness of samples from the treatment were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of control. There were no significant differences in scores of aroma, color and off-flavor assessed by a penal test. Treatment group showed a significantly higher acceptability (p<0.05) compared to the control group. Samples of the treatment had higher concentrations of oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, wheres samples of control showed a higher concentration of palmitic acid (p<0.05). Belly cuts of control group showed a significantly higher concentration of stearic acid compared to the treatment group. These results suggested that hardness, springiness and acceptability of pork could be improved, and concentration of unsaturated fat acid in pork muscle might be increased by dietary 0.6 % activated carbon.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.260-271
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• 2022

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of the differing amino acid (AA) release dynamics of two protein sources on the growth performance, nitrogen deposition, plasma biochemical parameters, and muscle synthesis and degradation of piglets when included in their diets at normal and low concentrations. Methods: Forty-eight piglets (Duroc×Landrace×Large White) with initial body weight of 7.45±0.58 kg were assigned to six groups and fed one of 6 diets. The 6 dietary treatments were arranged by 3×2 factorial with 3 protein sources and 2 dietary protein levels. They are NCAS (a normal protein content with casein), NBlend (a normal protein content with blend of casein and corn gluten meal), NCGM (a normal protein content with corn gluten meal), LCAS (a low protein content with casein), LBlend (a low protein content with blend of casein and corn gluten meal), LCGM (a low protein content with corn gluten meal). The release dynamics of AA in these diets were determined by in vitro digestion. The digestibility, utilization and biological value of nitrogen in piglets were determined by micro Kjeldahl method. Plasma insulin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The protein expression of mediators of muscle synthesis and degradation was determined by western blotting. Results: Although the consumption of a low-protein diet supplemented with crystalline AA was associated with greater nitrogen digestion and utilization (p<0.05), the final body weight, growth performance, nitrogen deposition, and phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 and eIF4E binding protein 1 in the muscle of pigs in the low-protein diet-fed groups were lower than those of the normal-protein diet-fed groups (p<0.05) because of the absence of non-essential AA. Because of the more balanced release of AA, the casein (CAS) and Blend-fed groups showed superior growth performance, final body weight and nitrogen deposition, and lower expression of muscle ring finger 1 and muscle atrophy F-box than the CGM-fed groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that the balanced release of AA from CAS containing diets and mixed diets could reduce muscle degradation, favor nitrogen retention, % intake and improve growth performance in pigs consuming either a normal- or low-protein diet.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2015

Amphiregulin (AREG), a glycoprotein that is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, is expressed by the porcine conceptus and endometrium. AREG genotypes were determined based on an SNP in the intron 3 of the gene. Contradictory effects of AREG genotypes on reproductive traits in different pig breeds were reported previously. G allele had undesirable effect on reproductive trait in Meishan breed, while it had favorable effects in Polish Landrace and Large White. We determined AREG genotypes of 179 pigs including the Duroc, Landrace, Yorkshire, Korean native pig (KNP), and Meishan breeds. Two new SNPs were identified near the previously reported SNP in the intron 3 of AREG. Frequencies of AREG alleles among the Duroc, Landrace, Yorkshire, and KNP sows were significantly different (p<0.001), indicating association between AREG genotypes and pig breeds. The first parity litter size was significantly affected by the breeds (p=0.014), but not by AREG genotypes (p=0.148). However, there were breed and AREG genotype associated trends in the first parity litter size. The first parity litter size appeared to be higher in Duroc and KNP sows with G allele, while it appeared to be lower in Landrace sows with G allele. Significant variability of AREG alleles among pig breeds, for the first time in Duroc and KNP sows, was identified. AREG genotypes may influence reproductive traits differentially for each breed and thus, AREG genotypes may need to be considered when sows are bred to increase litter size.