• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.939-965
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• 2009

The Machine Learning has been identified as a promising approach to knowledge-based system development. This study aims to examine the ability of machine learning techniques for farmer's decision making and to develop the reference model for using pig farm data. We compared five machine learning techniques: logistic regression, decision tree, artificial neural network, k-nearest neighbor, and ensemble. All models are well performed to predict the sow's productivity in all parity, showing over 87.6% predictability. The model predictability of total litter size are highest at 91.3% in third parity and decreasing as parity increases. The ensemble is well performed to predict the sow's productivity. The neural network and logistic regression is excellent classifier for all parity. The decision tree and the k-nearest neighbor was not good classifier for all parity. Performance of models varies over models used, showing up to 104% difference in lift values. Artificial Neural network and ensemble models have resulted in highest lift values implying best performance among models.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.297-306
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• 2022

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) when added to sows' diet on their reproductive performance and growth performance and on the hematology parameters of the sows and their piglets. Sixteen multiparous sows (Yorkshire × Landrace) were allotted into two treatment groups and fed basal diets (CON, piglets were injected with iron dextran) or the basal diet containing 0.1% ALA (ALA, piglets were not injected with iron dextran) from day 100 of gestation to day 28 of lactation. Supplementation of ALA had no effect on the body weight (BW), backfat thickness (BFT), or litter sizes of sows in the present experiment. However, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the sows was significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the ALA group. Supplementation of ALA had no effect on the growth performance or survival of suckling piglets but had a significant effect on the birth weight (p < 0.05). With regard to the blood profiles, serum concentrations of iron were unaffected in sows and piglets as compared to the control group. Red blood cell (RBC) counts were significantly improved (p < 0.05) in sows during late gestation to the time before farrowing period and in piglets at weaning. In summary, these results suggest that dietary supplementation of ALA can have positive effects by improving growth performance and blood RBC in sows and suckling piglets.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of mineral extract from granite on the performance, ammonia production from the litter, components of blood, Newcastle Disease (ND) titer and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens. Nine hundred sixty one-day-old broiler chickens (Ross) were assigned to five treatments: C; control, Zeolite; control + zeolite 1$\%$, AM10: control + active mineral water $10\%$ adsorbed zeolite $1\%$, AM20; control + active mineral water $20\%$ adsorbed zeolite $1\%$ and AM30; control + active mineral water $30\%$ adsorbed zeolite $1\%$. Each treatment consisted of four replicates with 48 broiler chicks for feeding trial. In order to test the effect of ND vaccine on the components of blood, ND titer and intestinal microflora, a separate group of 48 broiler chicks were assigned to the same 5 treatment as the feeding trial plus one negative control (No ND vaccine). Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and mortality were not significantly affected by dietary treatments but AM30 tended to be higher than other treatments in weight gain and feed intake, especially during later period (4 to 5 weeks of age). Ammonia production from the litter of AM30 treatment was significantly (P<0.01) lower than the control. Components of blood and ND titer in serum of broiler chickens were not significantly affected by treatments but MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) of blood was significantly lower (P<0.05) in Zeolite treatment compared to others. The colony forming unit (CFU) of Clostridium perfringens in the small intestinal content of all zeolite and AM treated groups was significantly (P<0.01) lower than the control while the CFU of Escherichia coli was not significantly affected. The CFU of Lactobacilli in AM30 treatment was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control. In conclusion, dietary supplement of active mineral water adsorbed to zeolite at $30\%$ level (AM30) tended to improve growth performance of broiler chickens and significantly reduced ammonia production from the litter. It also significantly increased CFU of intestinal Lactobacilli.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of pelleted-Italian Ryegrass (IRG) as a source of fiber on reproduction performance in pregnant sows. A total of 24 pregnant sows were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, which was given a corn-soybean diet with 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% pelleted-IRG from 105 days prepartum to 7 days postpartum. During experimental period, the sows fed the IRG supplemented diet showed the lower feed intake than the sows fed the control diet (p<0.05). The changes of body weight in sows from initial to pre- and/or post-partum was significantly smaller in sows fed the IRG supplemented diet than control group. It is thought that the lower weight gain in IRG supplemented groups is caused by low feed intake. Although there was no significant difference, sows fed the IRG supplemented diet tended to increase the litter size and birth weight in piglets compared with sows fed the control diet. This result suggests that the dietary supplementation of IRG has the positive effects to improve the reproductive performance in sows. But, the excessive feeding of IRG to sows might cause to retard the days of return to estrus, and decrease the contents of solid, milk protein, and milk fat in colostrum. Thus, the addition of about 10% IRG is desirable to increase the reproductive performance. Meanwhile, the feeding energy diet is better effective than feeding the fiber diets to improve overall productivity in sows after postpartum.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2015

The Far Infrared Ray (FIR) is part of the natural energy as light spectrum of sunlight. Human can disentangle the colors within visible ray, but FIR is invisible to human sight because it has longer wavelength than visible ray. The effect of using FIR on broiler performance, blood biochemical profiles and fecal gas emission from litter. Day-old semi-broiler chicks (Ross ♂ ${\times}$ Hyline ♀) were obtained and assigned to eight pens, 2 replicates of white and green color LED light, and with FIR on each color light, in a 20L:4D of lighting program. The body weight gain and feed efficiency were tend to improve under the green color than white color, which were increased by exposing to FIR on both color light. Emission of ammonia and lower hydrocarbons from litter were not different from each color but there was a decrease by exposing to FIR regardless of light color. The level of blood aspartate aminotransferase (AST) tends to be decreased under green color than white color, and this tendency becomes more pronounced as exposing to FIR. Therefore significantly increased under white color without FIR than green color with FIR (P<0.05). The levels of albumin and immunoglobulin were not different from each color but there was an increase by exposing to FIR regardless of light color. In conclusion, exposing to Far Infrared Ray (FIR) when broiler raising, there is potential to increase broiler performance because of improvement of bioactivity and raising environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1004-1012
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• 2016

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary energy levels on the physiological parameters and reproductive performance of gestating first parity sows. A total of 52 F1 gilts ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$) were allocated to 4 dietary treatments using a completely randomized design. Each treatment contained diets with 3,100, 3,200, 3,300, or 3,400 kcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/kg, and the daily energy intake of the gestating gilts in each treatment were 6,200, 6,400, 6,600, and 6,800 kcal of ME, respectively. During gestation, the body weight (p = 0.04) and weight gain (p = 0.01) of gilts linearly increased with increasing dietary energy levels. Backfat thickness was not affected at d110 of gestation by dietary treatments, but increased linearly (p = 0.05) from breeding to d 110 of gestation. There were no significant differences on the litter size or litter birth weight. During lactation, the voluntary feed intake of sows tended to decrease when the dietary energy levels increased (p = 0.08). No difference was observed in backfat thickness of the sows within treatments; increasing energy levels linearly decreased the body weight of sows (p<0.05) at d 21 of lactation and body weight gain during lactation (p<0.01). No significant differences were observed in the chemical compositions of colostrum and milk. Therefore, these results indicated that high-energy diets influenced the bodyweight and backfat thickness of sows during gestation and lactation. NRC (2012) suggested that the energy requirement of the gestation gilt should be between 6,678 and 7,932 kcal of ME/d. Similarly, our results suggested that 3,100 kcal of ME/kg is not enough to maintain the reproductive performance for gilts during gestation with 2 kg feed daily. Gilts in the treatment 3,400 kcal of ME/kg have a higher weaning number of piglets, but bodyweight and backfat loss were higher than other treatments during lactation. But bodyweight and backfat loss were higher than other treatments during lactation. Consequently, an adequate energy requirement of gestating gilts is 6,400 kcal of ME/d.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.381-384
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• 1998

Twenty-three crossbred (Yorkshire $\times$ Duroc $\times$ Hampshire $\times$ Chester White) primiparous sows were used to evaluate the effects of the mineral-salt laxative in lactation diets on sow and litter performance. The sows were fed a sorghum-extruded soybean-based diet with .85% lysine, .90% Ca, .80% P, and 3.2 Mcal ME/kg. Sow body weight (p > .54) and backfat loss (p > .61), average daily feed intake (p > .42), and litter weight gain (p > .74) were not affected by the mineral-salt laxative in the diet. However, survivability of piglets was greater (p < .06) for sows with the mineral-salt laxative in their diet and, thus, number of pigs weaned was increased. As expected, fecal moisture was increased (p < .09) in sows fed the mineral-salt laxative. Apparent digestibilities of DM, N, and GE were not affected by treatment (p > .26). After weaning, stomachs were collected and scored for ulcers and keratinization using a scoring system of 0 = normal to 3 = severe. Severity of ulceration and keratinization was not significantly affected by treatment (row mean scores differ test p > .25), but scores for sows fed the diet containing the mineral-salt laxative were numerically lower than sows fed the control diet. Thus, our data indicate that sows fed the mineral-salt laxative during lactation had improved piglet survivability, greater fecal moisture, and tended to have fewer lesions in the mucosa of the stomach.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.737-742
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• 2004

Garole, a prolific small sized sheep breed of West Bengal, was introduced in the Mutton project of the Institute in 1997 to explore the possibility of incorporating fecundity gene(s) into monotocus Malpura sheep of Rajasthan. Results of reproduction and production traits in respect of Garole${\times}$Malpura (G${\times}$M) half-breds have been obtained. Of 35 lambing obtained so far from the ewes of Garole${\times}$Malpura, 45.71% were twin lambing, whereas, Malpura sheep produced mostly single lamb except 2.55% twin lambing on an average. Other reproduction traits in G${\times}$M ewes such as lambing rate, litter size at birth and weaning were considerably improved over Malpura ewes. Results revealed that the fecundity genes responsible for increasing ovulation rate and litter size have been incorporated in to the G${\times}$M genotype and it might prove a valuable germ plasm towards evolving a new prolific strain of sheep. Interestingly, survivability of G${\times}$M half-breds was almost at par with the local Malpura sheep in harsh climatic conditions of semi-arid tropics. The body weights at different ages of G${\times}$M half-breds were on little lower side compared to contemporary Malpura lambs. Average kilogram of lambs weaned/ewe lambed in Malpura and G${\times}$M genetic group was 11.86 and 11.07 kg respectively. In view of minimizing the differences in body weights and kg of lambs weaned/ewe lambed between the two genetic groups, G${\times}$M ewes has to be backcrossed with Malpura rams to raise the inheritance of latter up to 75% level. However, further research is needed to reach on certain conclusions regarding net returns from such crosses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1157-1163
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• 2001

First-litter gilts were used to determine how different dietary treatments during gestation affect the reproductive performance of gilts and immunity development of their piglets. Twenty-two crossbred $Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$ gilts were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments, Following conception, the gilts were fed experimental diets until farrowing occurred. The diet for treatment I was low protein diet (8% CP), treatment 2 had an additional supplement of 0.14% threonine that was added to the low protein diet, and treatment 3 was a control diet containing 12% CP. During gestation, net body weight gain of sows in treatment group 2 was higher than in treatment group 1 (p=0,075), However, during lactation there was no difference between all treatments groups on body weight loss and their live piglets at birth. Although milk IgG between treatments did not differ, treatment groups 2 and 3 were slightly higher than treatment group I was, Plasma IgG concentrations in piglets were however equal within all treatment groups at birth and at 7 days of age, at 21 days of age, it was higher in treatment group I than it was in the other two groups (p<0.01), Threonine supplementation to a low protein diet during gestation slightly increases milk IgG of sows, It is beneficial for piglets to acquire more passive immunity, but a suppressive effect was also noted on the endogenous IgG synthesis in piglets. A gestation diet of 8% CP for gilts can stimulate immuno-system of her piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.1186-1190
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• 2002

One hundred and twenty nine primiparous sows were used to determine the effects of alternative processing procedures and feeding systems on the nutritional value of sorghum grain-based diets for lactating sows. Treatments were a ground sorghum control, steam-flaked sorghum and extruded sorghum fed in meal form and the ground sorghum control given as pellets or gruel (1:1 ratio of water and feed on a volume:volume basis). Average daily feed intake was greater for sows fed pelleted and gruel diet forms than sow fed the diets with steam-flaked and extruded sorghum (p<0.04). However, no differences occurred in sow weight or backfat losses among the treatments (p>0.14). Number of pigs weaned and livability rates were similar among treatments except that steam-flaked sorghum supported greater litter weight gains than extruded sorghum (p<0.02). Apparent digestibilities of DM, N and GE in sows fed steam-flaked and extruded sorghum were greater (p<0.001) than in sows fed pelleted or gruel diets. Of the various treatments, sows fed extruded sorghum tended to have the highest digestibilities of DM, N and GE, and lowest excretions of DM and N in the faeces. Severity of ulceration was not significantly affected by treatments (p>0.35), but keratinization was greatest for sows fed extruded sorghum (p<0.01). In conclusion, the alternative processing methods (steam-flaking and extrusion) and feeding system (pellets and gruel) had little effect on sow and litter performance. However, nutrient digestibilities were improved for all treatments that involved heating (steam flaking, extrusion and pelleting) and, thus, these treatments resulted in less fecal excretion of DM and N.