• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1352-1359
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• 2020

Objective: Lactobacilli in rabbit intestine is rare and its function in rabbit gut health is not fully understood. The present study aimed to evaluate in vivo the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus casei for suckling rabbits. Methods: Two healthy 5-day-old suckling rabbits with similar weights from each of 12 New Zealand White litters were selected and disturbed to control group and treatment group. All rabbits were artificially fed. The treatment group had been supplemented with live Lactobacillus casei in the milk from the beginning of the trial to 13 days of age. At 15 days of age, healthy paired rabbits were slaughtered to collect intestinal samples. Results: i) Oral administration of Lactobacillus casei significantly increased the proportion of Lactobacilli in the total intestinal bacteria (p<0.01) and obviously reduced that of Escherichia-Shigella (p<0.01); ii) treatment increased the length of vermiform appendix (p<0.05); iii) a higher percentage of degranulated paneth cells was observed in the duodenum and jejunum when rabbits administered with Lactobacillus casei (p<0.01); and iv) the expression of toll-like receptor 9, lysozyme (LYZ), and defensin-7-like (DEFEN) in the duodenum and jejunum was stimulated by supplemented Lactobacillus casei (p<0.05). Conclusion: Orally administered Lactobacillus casei could increase the abundance of intestinal Lactobacilli, decrease the relative abundance of intestinal Escherichia-Shigella, promote the growth of appendix vermiform, stimulate the degranulation of paneth cells and induce the expression of DEFEN and LYS. The results of the present study implied that Lactobacillus casei exhibited probiotic potential for suckling rabbits.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2008

This purpose of this study was to describe and compare the radiographic and computed tomographic(CT) appearance of the experimentally induced Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease(LCPD) in dogs. LCPD was experimentally induced at the left femoral head in 7 litters of a dog. The lesions were evaluated with radiography, CT, and contrast CT every week from day 7 to day 70 after operation. Histopathologic examination was performed on 92th day after operation. Every images were evaluated according to the staging system of the osteonecrosis published by Association Research of Circulation Osseous in 1997 and the scoring(0-4). On CT scan, diffuse porotic lesion and focal sclerotic lesion were detected on day 14 and on day 21 after operation, respectively. Subchondral fracture, articular collapse and crescent sign with decreased attenuation were shown on day 28 after operation for the first time and no change of the sign were detected from operation day 9 to day 70 after operation. Focal porotic lesion and irregular radiopacity of femoral head were detected on day $41{\pm}7.48$ and on day $51{\pm}5.29$ after operation respectively on radiographs. In scoring evaluation, 2.00 was scored on day 14 after operation on CT scan, on day 56 after operation on radiographs, respectively This study has shown that CT is more suitable for early diagnosis of LCPB and has superior sensitivity than radiography. Also, CT has been expected to be important for staging and treatment of LCPD.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 1972

A comparison between the productivity of the evergreen needle pine(Pinus densiflora) and of the deciduous broad leaved oak(Quercus mongolica) stands, which is located near Choon-Chun city, Kangwon dist. have been established. The pine stand had a stand density of 938 trees per ha and oak stand had of 638 trees per ha. The diameter at breast height (D) and the height of tree (H) of each tree were measured in sample plot of 800$m^2$. Twelve standard sample trees chose from the sample area felled down, and then weighed the stem, branches and leaves separately, according to both the stratified clip technique and the stem analysis. The vertical distribution of photosynthetic system was arranged effectively for high productivity in the productive structure of both trees. The allometric relation between D2H and dry weight of stem (Ws), branches (Wb) and leaves (Wl) of pine were approximated by log Ws=0.6212 log D2H-0.5383 log Wb=0.4681 log D2H-0.7236 log Wl=0.2582 log D2H-5.1567 and those of oak were approximated by log Ws=0.5125 log D2H＋0.0231 log Wb=0.5125 log D2H-0.3755 log Wl=0.8721 log D2H-2.9710 From the above, the standing crops of pine and oak in the sample area were estimated to be as much as 38.83ton and 48.11 ton of dry matter, above ground, per ha, respectively. Annual net production as the sum of the biomass newly formed during one year was appraised at 12.66ton/ha.yr in pine stand and at 8.74 ton/ha.yr in oak. The reason of high productivity of pine stand compared with oak might be resulted from much more about 4 times of the amount of the photosynthetic system, but less non-photosynthetic one of pine than those of oak. To increase the productivity of the forest stands investigated it was necessary to make densly a stand density, to be abundant in the inorganic nutrients and to preserve much water in soil to conserve the litters.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 1995

To elucidate the mineral cycles of potassium in a dynamic grassland ecosystem in a steady state condition, this investigation was cunducted along the northwest side on Mt. Kwanak. The exper-imental results may he summarized on communities of Z. japonica and M. sinensis as follows. As compared with some pronerties of the surface soils among two semi-natural grasslands, the levels of exchangeahle potassium were high in M. sinensis and low in Z. japonica. Contents of potassium for the litters of Z. japonica and M. sinensis were 1.69% and 2.51%, re-spectively. The annual production of potassium was 1.32 g /m$m^2$ in the Z. japonica grassland and 3. 08 g /m$m^2$in the M. sinensis grassland. For a case of steady production and release, the ratio of annual min- eral production to the amount accumulated on top of the mineral soil in a steady state provides estimates of the release constant k. The models of the release, accumulation and annual cycle of potassium in a grassland ecosystem are determined by the equation (1) to (3), respectively (Table 3). Since it requires a period of about each 0.693 /r, 3 /r and 5 /r years for the release and accumu-lation of 50, 95 and 99% of its steady-state level, the estimates for potassium in a dynamic grass-land ecosystem of Mt. Kwanak were 1.5, 6.6 and 11.0 years in the Z. japonica grassland, and were 2.7, 11.9 and 19.8 years in the M. sinensis grassland. The amounts of annual cycles for potassium in a grassland ecosystem under the steady-state conditions were 1.32 g /m$^2$ in the Z. japonica grassland and 3.08 g /$m^2$ in the M. sinensis grassland. Key words : ZQvsia japonica Ahscanthus sinensis, Mt. Kwanak, Potassium cycles.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1956-1962
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• 2018

Objective: This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of different creep feed types on suckling performance and further adjustments to solid feed after weaning. Methods: A total of 24 multiparous sows and their litters were allotted to one of three treatment groups: i) provided highly digestible creep feed (Creep), ii) provided a pig weaning diet (Weaner), and iii) provided sow feed (Sow) as creep feed until weaning. After weaning, a total of 96 piglets were selected for evaluation of post-weaning performance. Results: For pre-weaning performance, the Creep treatment led to a significantly higher feed intake from 14 to 28 d (p<0.05) and higher body weight gain from 21 to 28 d than piglets that were provided other diets. However, after weaning, the Weaner treatment yielded a significantly higher feed intake and average daily gain than other treatments from 0 to 14 d after weaning (p<0.05); Creep treatment tended to generate lower villus heights in the duodenum than the other treatments (p = 0.07). Conclusion: Highly digestible creep feed improved pre-weaning performance, but feed familiarity and grain-based creep feed improved post-weaning performance.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.273-283
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of anise flavor on the performance of lactating sows and suckling pigs at different weaning ages. A total of 120 sows (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) were used in this experiment. Sows were fed with a commercial lactation diet (60 sows) or diet with flavor (60 sows) during days 100 to 114 of gestation period and the whole lactation period. Piglets were allotted to 2 dietary treatments based on their initial body weight (BW) using a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 levels of anise flavor (0 or 0.5 g/kg) and weaning periods (weaned at 21 day or 28 day after birth). Sows fed with flavor supplemented diets had higher (p < 0.05) back fat and average daily feed intake (ADFI) at weaning, lower (p < 0.05) back fat loss than those fed with non-flavor diets. Sows weaned at 28 day had higher (p < 0.05) weaning back fat and lower (p < 0.05) back fat loss than those weaned on 21 day. During weaning, piglet average daily gain (ADG), ADFI, digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and gross energy (GE) and fecal score were affected by anise flavor, respectively. In conclusion, dietary flavor supplementation could increase feed intake of lactating sows, improve growth performance and reduce weaning stress of piglets, especially effective in the early weanling piglets. Meanwhile, interactive effects were observed about the piglet performance between weaning ages and anise flavor supplementation after weaning.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.714-723
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of soft pellet creep feed (SPCF) on growth performance and intestinal development in piglets. Methods: A total of 18 sows and their litters of crossbred piglets (14±2 days, 3.73±0.72 kg) were assigned to one of three dietary groups receiving i) powder creep feed (PCF), ii) hard pellet creep feed (HPCF) or iii) SPCF during the pre-weaning period. After weaning, piglets were selected for continuous evaluation of the three diets on growth performance and intestinal health. Results: In the pre-weaning period, the average daily feed intake and average daily dry matter intake were significantly higher in the SPCF group than the HPCF group (p<0.05). In the post-weaning and entire experimental period, the different diets had no significant effect on growth performance. At 10 d after weaning, the serum glucose concentration was lower in the SPCF group (p<0.05) than the other groups; a higher (p<0.05) villus height and lower (p<0.05) crypt depth in the jejunum were also observed in the SPCF group than the other groups; Meanwhile, in the duodenum and jejunum, the SPCF group had a higher (p<0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio than the other groups; Furthermore, the higher (p<0.05) threshold cycle values of lactic acid bacteria and lower (p<0.05) threshold cycle values of Clostridium, Enterobacter and Escherichia coli were also observed in the SPCF group, and the sucrase and maltase activity was higher (p<0.05) in the SPCF group than the other groups in duodenum and ileum. Conclusion: The SPCF improved pre-weaning feed intake and decreased the negative effects of weaning stress in the intestine in piglets.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2021

A number of management issues can be used as drivers for change in order to improve animal welfare and nursing capacity of the hyperprolific sow. Group housing of sows during gestation is a recommended practice from the perspective of animal welfare. Related health issues include reproductive health and the locomotor system. It appears that management of pregnant sows in groups is challenging for a producer and considerable skill is required. We explored the benefits and challenges of group housing, including feeding issues. Increasing litter size requires additional attention to the mammary gland and its ability to provide sufficient nursing for the growing litter. We discuss the fundamentals of mammary development and the specific challenges related to the hyperprolific sow. We also address challenges with the farrowing environment. It appears that the old-fashioned farrowing crate is not only outdated in terms of welfare from the public's perspective, but also fails to provide the environment that the sow needs to support her physiology of farrowing, nursing, and maternal behaviour. Studies from our group and others indicate that providing the sow with a loose housing system adequate in space and nesting material, along with reasonable chance for isolation, can be considered as fundamental for successful farrowing of the hyperprolific sow. It has also been shown that management strategies, such as split suckling and cross fostering, are necessary to ensure proper colostrum intake for all piglets born alive in a large litter. We thus conclude that welfare and nursing capacity of the sow can be improved by management. However, current megatrends such as the climate change may change sow management and force the industry to rethink goals of breeding and, for instance, breeding for better resilience may need to be included as goals for the future.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2021

Severe outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) have continued to re-emerge worldwide. Because of the high mortality rate of suckling piglets in PEDV outbreaks, the disease causes significant economic losses in the pig industry. The limited pre-existing immunity against this virus is thought to cause an explosive increase in infection in pig farms. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical symptoms of PEDV after intentional exposure (feedback). During the first few days of the outbreak in a breeding pig farm, 14 sows showed watery diarrhoea, and the disease subsequently spread rapidly throughout the barn. Pigs that were intentionally exposed to PEDV (n=251) showed watery diarrhoea (46.6%), reduced appetite (17.5%), and vomiting (6.0%). However, 75 exposed pigs (29.9%) showed no clinical signs of disease. Four weeks after the feedback challenge, 34 sows gave birth to litters of piglets, which survived with no diarrhoea. Five weeks after the start of the outbreak, PEDV was not detected in any of the examined samples, including environmental swabs. Thus, early diagnosis, prompt establishment of herd immunity, and strict application of biosecurity are good practices to reduce the mortality rates among new-born piglets and control economic losses in pig farms showing PEDV outbreaks.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.776-782
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• 2022

Corn-soybean meal diets are commonly used in the pork industry as a primary source of energy and protein. However, such a diet generally contains non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) which present a challenge in finding ways to improve their availability and digestibility. Dietary multi-carbohydrases (MCs) have been proposed as an efficient approach to utilize NSPs, and can result in improved growth performance and host intestinal fitness. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MC in lactation diets on gut microbiota composition of lactating sows and their litters. The experimental design contained two dietary treatments, a diet based on corn-soybean meal (CON), and CON supplemented with 0.01% multigrain carbohydrases (MCs). Sow and piglet fecal samples were collected on days 7 and 28 after farrowing. Based on the results from 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, MC led to changes in species diversity and altered the microbial compositions in lactating sows and their piglets. Specifically, the MC treatment induced an increase in the proportions of Lactobacillus in piglets. Clostridium and Spirochaetaceae showed a significantly reduced proportion in MC-treated sows at day 28. Our results support the beneficial effects of dietary carbohydrases and their link with improved production due to better host fitness outcomes and gut microbiota composition.