• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nursery Pigs

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Processing Effects of Feeds in Swine - Review -

  • Chae, B.J.;Han, In K.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.11 no.5
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    • pp.597-607
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    • 1998
  • Processing is generally employed to alter the physical and chemical properties of feeds used in pig diets, using hammer/roller mills, pellet mills and extruders/expanders. The reported optimum particle sizes of corn are approximately $500{\mu}m$, $500-700{\mu}m$, $400-600{\mu}m$, for nursery, growing-finishing, and breeder pigs respectively. Optimum particle size of grains are affected by diet complexity. There was a trend towards reducing particle size in order to increase ADG in pigs fed a simple diet, though such was not the case for pigs fed a complex diet. Uniformity of particle size also affects the nutritional values of swine feeds. Uniform particle sizes would consistently give greater nutrient digestibilities. In terms of pellet quality, it is reported that a higher incidence of fmes in pelleted feeds has a direct correlation with poorer feed conversion ratio in pigs. Particle and pellet sizes are also very important for pelleting in terms of grinding, digestibility, stomach ulceration and pellet durability. A particle size of $600{\mu}m$, or slightly less, seemed optimal for com in fmishing pigs, and the 5/32 in. diameter pellets supported the best efficiencies of gain during nursery and finishing phases. Extruder and/or expander processes would allow the feed industry an increased flexibility to utilize a wider spectrum of feed ingredients, and improve pellet quality of finished feeds. It would appear that extruded or expanded diets containing highly digestible ingredients have little effect on the growth performance of pigs, and the feeding values of the feeds over pelleted diets were not improved as pigs grew. The extruder or expander is much more effective than a pelletizer in salmonella control. Gastric ulcerations and/or keratinizations were consistently reported in pigs fed mash and processed diets containing finely ground grains, whereas carcass quality was not affected by diet processing methods such as pelleting, extruding or expanding. In corn- or sorghum-based diets, the electrical energy consumption is 4-5 times higher in the expanding than in the pelleting process. But the expander's processing cost was half of that shown by an extruder. Finally, the decision of which feed processing technology to adopt would depend on the processing cost, and any potential improvement in growth performance and digestibilities of nutrients should offset the increased operating and capital costs related to the extruder/expander technology over mash or pelleting processes in pigs.

Effects of Dietary Astragalus Membranaces and Dried-Onion Meal on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility in Pig Diets (돼지 사료내 황기와 건조양파분의 첨가가 성장 및 영양소 소화율에 미치는 효과)

  • 손경승;홍종욱;권오석;민병준;조진호;진영걸;김인호
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.5 no.4
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    • pp.273-278
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    • 2004
  • Sixty $[(Duroc \times {Yorkshire)} \times {Landrace]}$ nursery pigs$(11.44\pm{0.13Kg}$ average initial body weight) were evaluated to know the effects of dietary Astragalus Membranaces and dried-onion meal complex(AO) on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility. There were three pigs per pen and five pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included 1) corn-SBM based diet(CON; basal diet), 2) AO 0.2(basal diet+0.2% AO), 3) AO 0.4(basal diet+0.4% AO) and 4) AO 0.6(basal diet+0.6% AO). ADG was increased as the concentration of AO in the diets was increased(Linear effect, P =0.01). DM and N digestibilities were increased as the concentration of AO in the diets was increased(Linear effect, p =0.01). Thirty $[(Duroc \times {Yorkshire)} \times$ Landrace] growing pigs $(37.97\pm{0.54Kg}$ average initial body weight) were fed dietary treatments included 1) corn-SBM based diet(CON; basal diet) and 2) TRT(basal diet+0.3% AO). Pigs fed TRT diet were significantly(P<0.05) increased in ADG, ADFI and gain/feed compared to pigs fed CON diet. DM and N digestibilites of pigs fed TRT diets was higher than that of pigs fed CON diet(P<0.05). In conclusion, the results obtained from this feeding trial suggest that the dietary AO for nursery and growing pigs had improved growth performance and nutrient digestibility.

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Effects of Replacing Dried Skim Milk With Wheat Gluten and Spray Dried Porcine Protein on Growth Performance and Digestibility of Nutrients in Nursery Pigs

  • Burnham, L.L.;Kim, I.H.;Hancock, J.D.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.11
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    • pp.1576-1583
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    • 2000
  • Three experiments were conducted to determine the nutritional value of wheat gluten (WG) and spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in diets for nursery pigs. In Exp. 1, 120 weanling pigs (5.7 kg avg initial BW) were used in a 35-d growth assay. Treatments for d 0 to 14 were: 1) dried skim milk (DSM)-dried whey-SBM based control; 2) WG to replace the protein from DSM; 3) SDPP; and 4) WG-SDPP (50:50 blend on a protein basis) to replace the protein from DSM. From d 14 to 35, all pigs were fed a common corn-SBM-whey-based diet. For d 0 to 14, there were no differences in ADG, ADFI, and gain/feed (p>0.11). However, for d 14 to 35, pigs fed diets with WG had greater gain/feed than those fed SDPP (p<0.05), and pigs fed diets with the WG-SDPP blend had greater ADG than pigs fed diets with WG or SDPP alone (p<0.07). In a second experiment, 60 weanling pigs (5.1 kg avg initial BW) were used in a 28-d growth assay. All pigs were fed the WG-SDPP diet fed in Exp. 1 for d 0 to 14, and changed to experimental diets for d 14 to 28. Treatments were: 1) the whey-SBM-based diet used for d 14 to 28 in Exp. 1; or 2) a whey-SBM based diet with 3% added SDPP. There were no differences in ADG, ADFI, gain/feed, or apparent digestibilities of DM and N among treatments for d 14 to 28 or overall (p>0.14). In a third experiment, 150 weanling pigs (5.6 kg avg initial BW) were used in a 32-d growth assay to determine the optimal blend of WG and SDPP for use after weaning. The SDPP was added as 8% of the control diet, and WG was substituted on a protein basis to yield the desired SDPP:WG blends. Treatments were (d 0 to 14): 1) SDPP; 2) 75% SDPP and 25% WG; 3) 50% SDPP and 50% WG; 4) 25% SDPP and 75% WG; and 5) WG. As in Exp. 1, all pigs were switched to a common corn-SBM-whey-based diet for d 14 to 32. For d 0 to 14, ADG and ADFI increased as replacement of the SDPP was increased up to 50% and decreased when more of the SDPP was removed from the diet (quadratic effects, p<0.004 and 0.02, respectively). Apparent digestibilities of DM and N (at d 13) were not affected by treatments (p>0.18). For d 14 to 32, treatments did not affect ADG (p>0.2), although there were quadratic responses in ADFI (p<0.04), with pigs fed the 50:50 blend suggested the greatest intake of feed. For the overall experimental period (d 0 to 32), ADG, ADFI, and gain/feed increased as WG was used to replace as much as 50% of the SDPP (quadratic effects p<0.04, 0.02, and 0.06, respectively). In conclusion, WG can successfully replace up to 50% of the SDPP in a complex nursery diet, when SDPP is included at the 8% level. There is no advantage to keeping SDPP in the diet after Phase I (d 0 to 14).

Effect of Copper Source (Cupric Citrate vs Cupric Sulfate) and Level on Growth Performance and Copper Metabolism in Pigs

  • Armstrong, T.A.;Spears, J.W.;van Heugten, E.;Engle, T.E.;Wright, C.L.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.8
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    • pp.1154-1161
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    • 2000
  • Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of cupric citrate (Cu-citrate) relative to cupric sulfate $(CuSO_4)$ as a Cu source for weanling and grow-finish pigs. In addition, the use of liver and bile Cu concentrations as indices of the bioavailability of Cu sources was investigated. Experiment one consisted of a nursery phase (35 d; initial BW=6.4 kg, final BW=21.4 kg) followed by a grow-finish phase (103 d; initial BW=21.5 kg, final BW=111.7 kg). Experiment two only consisted of a nursery phase (35 d; initial BW=6.3 kg, final BW=18.6 kg). Dietary treatments were identical for both experiments and consisted of: control (10 ppm $CuSO_4$); control+66 or 225 ppm $CuSO_4$; control+33, 66, or 100 ppm Cu-citrate. An antibiotic was included in diets for Exp. 1 but not Exp. 2. In both experiments, growth performance variables were similar for pigs receiving Cu-citrate and $CuSO_4$; however, growth performance was not improved by high concentrations of $CuSO_4$. Liver and bile Cu were increased (p<0.05) by 225 ppm $CuSO_4$; however, lower dietary concentrations of Cu from either $CuSO_4$ or Cu-citrate did not affect the Cu concentration of liver or bile relative to that observed in the control pigs. Irrespective of Cu source, there was no linear (p>0.10) increase in plasma Cu with increasing Cu concentrations in the diet for both experiments. However, the plasma Cu concentrations were highest (p<0.10) in pigs receiving diets supplemented with 225 ppm $CuSO_4$. Sixteen randomly chosen pigs per treatment in Exp. 1 were continued through the grow-finish phase. Body weight gain and feed intake were improved (p<0.10) by 66 ppm $CuSO_4$, but other dietary Cu treatments did not alter pig performance compared to the control diet. Plasma Cu concentrations were increased (p<0.10) by 225 ppm $CuSO_4$ in the growing phase and by 225 ppm $CuSO_4$ and 100 ppm Cu-citrate in the finishing phase. These data reveal no consistent effect of $CuSO_4$ on performance; therefore, it is difficult to assess the efficacy of these two Cu sources. In addition, these studies demonstrate that liver and bile Cu are not good indicators of Cu bioavailability in pigs fed adequate to pharmacological concentrations of Cu.

Effects of Antibiotics, Zinc Oxide or a Rare Earth Mineral-Yeast Product on Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Serum Parameters in Weanling Pigs

  • Han, Yung-Keun;Thacker, Philip A.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.23 no.8
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    • pp.1057-1065
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    • 2010
  • Two experiments were conducted to compare the effects of feeding a newly-developed rare earth mineral-yeast product, zinc oxide (ZnO) or antibiotics on the performance, nutrient digestibility and serum parameters of weanling pigs. In experiment 1, 150 crossbred barrows (24 d old and 6.28 kg BW) were fed one of five dietary treatments consisting of an unsupplemented basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with antibiotics (33 ppm tiamulin and 100 ppm chlortetracycline), ZnO (1,500 or 2,500 ppm) or 0.1% peptide-bound rare earth mineral-yeast. In experiment 2, 576 crossbred barrows (28 d old and 7.20 kg BW) were fed the same diets as those used in experiment 1 modified only by the addition of 1.0% Celite 545 to all diets as a digestibility marker. However, the negative control was not included. In experiment 1, weight gain was significantly lower (p<0.05) for pigs fed the negative control than for pigs fed diets supplemented with antibiotics, ZnO, or rare earth mineral-yeast. Pig performance did not differ between pigs fed the four supplemented diets. In experiment 2, there were no differences in performance between pigs fed diets supplemented with antibiotic, ZnO or rare earth mineral-yeast. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, calcium, phosphorus and energy were significantly (p<0.01) higher on the rare earth mineral-yeast diet than on diets supplemented with ZnO. In addition, pigs fed the diet supplemented with rare earth mineral-yeast had significantly (p<0.05) higher digestibility of histidine, lysine, threonine and valine than pigs fed the ZnO supplemented diets. Digestibility coefficients for pigs fed antibiotics tended to be intermediate to those of pigs fed rare earth mineralyeast or ZnO. In conclusion, the performance of pigs fed rare earth mineral-yeast was basically equal to that of pigs fed antibiotics or ZnO indicating that rare earth mineral-yeast can be successfully used as a growth promoter in diets fed to nursery pigs. The effects of rare earth mineral-yeast appeared to be mediated through improvements in nutrient digestibility.

Effects of Sodium Sulfite and Extrusion on the Nutritional Value of Soybean Products for Nursery Pigs

  • Burnham, L.L.;Kim, I.H.;Kang, J.O.;Rhee, H.W.;Hancock, J.D.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.11
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    • pp.1584-1592
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    • 2000
  • Three hundred nursery pigs were used in two growth assays (avg initial BW of 6.5 and 6.0 kg, respectively) to determine the effects of sodium sulfite ($Na_2SO_3$) as an extrusion aid for soy products used in diets for weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, treatments were arranged as $3{\times}2$ factorial with main effects of soy product [soybean meal (SBM), extruded SBM, and dry-extruded whole soybeans (DEWS)] and concentration of $Na_2SO_3$ (0 and 10 g/kg of soy product). The extruded SBM and DEWS treatments were processed in a dry extruder ($Insta-Pro^{(R)} $, Triple F Nutrition, Des Moines, IA) with barrel temperatures and throughputs of $169^{\circ}C$ and 578 kg/h, and $147^{\circ}C$ and 598 kg/h, respectively. All diets were formulated to 3.5 Mcal/kg DE, with 0.92% lysine for d 0 to 14, and 0.76% lysine for d 14 to 28. For d 0 to 14, there was a tendency for pigs fed diets with $Na_2SO_3$ to have greater ADG (p<0.08), and pigs fed SBM to have greater ADFI (p<0.02), thus pigs fed the extruded soy products has 15% greater gain/feed than those fed SBM (p<0.007). For d 14 to 28, there were no differences in ADG or gain/feed among pigs fed diets with SBM and those fed diets with the extruded soy products (p>0.15). However, pigs fed DEWS had greater ADG than pigs fed extruded SBM, and pigs fed $Na_2SO_3$ had greater ADG and ADFI compared to those not fed $Na_2SO_3$ (p<0.02 and 0.08, respectively). The positive response in ADG and gain/feed to the addition of $Na_2SO_3$ resulted with SBM and extruded SBM treatments, and not with DEWS (interaction effect, p<0.04). Overall (d 0 to 28), pigs fed DEWS had greater ADG (p<0.01) and gain/feed (p<0.08) than pigs fed extruded SBM. Also pigs fed diets with $Na_2SO_3$ had greater ADG, ADFI, and gain/feed compared to those fed diets without $Na_2SO_3$ (p<0.002, 0.04, and 0.04, respectively). Exp. 2 was designed as a $2{\times}3$ factorial with main effects of soy product (SBM and DEWS) and concentration of $Na_2SO_3$ (none, 7.5, and 15.0 g/kg of soy product). As in Exp. 1, all diets were formulated to 3.5 Mcal/kg DE, with 0.92% lysine for d 0 to 13, and 0.76% lysine for d 13 to 53. At a constant processing temperature (148 to $149^{\circ}C$, $Na_2SO_3$ increased throughput of the extruder (578, 595, and 602 kg/h for the 0, 7.5, and 15.0 g/kg additions, respectively). For d 0 to 13, treatment had no effect on ADG or ADFI, but gain/feed decreased for pigs fed SBM with increasing concentrations of $Na_2SO_3$, and increased for pigs fed DEWS with increasing concentrations of $Na_2SO_3$ (SBM vs DEWS sulfite quadratic interaction, p<0.03). For d 13 to 35, pigs fed DEWS had greater ADG (p<0.01) and gain/feed (p<0.001) than pigs fed SBM. Also, ADFI decreased and gain/feed increased with increasing concentrations of $Na_2SO_3$ (linear effects, p<0.04 and 0.01, respectively). Overall, pigs fed the diets with DEWS had greater ADG and gain/feed than pigs fed SBM (p<0.003 and 0.002, respectively), and $Na_2SO_3$ tended to decrease ADFI and increase gain/feed (linear effects, p<0.07 and 0.06, respectively). In conclusion, pigs fed DEWS had greater rate and efficiency of gain than pigs fed SBM. Also, adding $Na_2SO_3$ prior to extrusion increased yield and feed efficiency.

Effect of Feed Antibiotics on the Performance and Intestinal Microflora of Weanling Pigs in China

  • Li, Defa;Zang, Sumin;Li, Tongzhou;Qiao, Qingyan;Thacker, P.A.;Kim, J.H.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.13 no.11
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    • pp.1554-1560
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    • 2000
  • Ninety-six crossbred (Large White${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Duroc) pigs, weaned at 35 days of age, were assigned to four dietary treatments in order to investigate the effects of oral antibiotics on the performance and the intestinal microflora of weanling pigs. Pigs were fed either a basal diet, without antibiotics, or the basal diet plus either 50 ppm acetylspiramycin, 50 ppm olaquindox, or 100 ppm bacitracin zinc. The pigs were housed eight per pen with three pens per treatment in an environmentally controlled nursery. Ten days after weaning, three pigs from each treatment were slaughtered and intestinal pH, microflora, and volatile fatty acid concentration were determined. At the end of the 4 week trial, the remaining pigs were weighed and feed consumption was measured. Average daily gains for pigs fed acetylspiramycin, olaquindox, bacitracin zinc and the control diet were 0.43, 0.40, 0.37, and 0.34 kg per day (p=0.001), respectively. Antibiotic addition did not modify feed intake, but acetylspiramycin improved feed conversion (p=0.003). In comparison with the control, acetylspiramycin significantly increased Bifidobacteria numbers in the jejunum (p=0.082) and ileum (p=0.014) and decreased total bacterial counts throughout the intestine (p<0.01 except for the ileum where p=0.079). Acetate production was significantly lower in the cecum (p=0.028) and colon (p=0.079) of pigs fed acetylspiramycin. In addition to increasing numbers of Bifidobacteria in the jejunum (p=0.082) and ileum (p=0.014), olaquindox increased Lactobacillus in the jejunum (p=0.004) and decreased E. coli in the colon (p=0.022). Bacitracin zinc increased Lactobacillus numbers in the jejunum (p=0.004) and Bifidobacterium concentrations in the jejunum (p=0.082) and ileum (p=0.014).

Dietary Zinc Effects on Growth Performance and Immune Response of Endotoxemic Growing Pigs

  • Roberts, E.S.;van Heugten, E.;Lloyd, K.;Almond, G.W.;Spears, J.W.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.15 no.10
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    • pp.1496-1501
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    • 2002
  • A $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of treatments was used in a completely randomized design to determine the effects of dietary Zn on performance and immune response of acutely endotoxemic growing pigs (n=96, mean BW=24.9 kg). Factors included 1) intramuscular injection of $10{\mu}g/kg$ BW of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or control and 2) supplemental Zn at 10, 50, or 150 ppm. Diets were fed beginning after weaning (initial body weight=7.6 kg) in the nursery and continued for 16 d into the grower phase. The basal corn-soybean meal grower diet contained 1% lysine and 34.3 ppm Zn. Pigs were acclimated for 12 d in the growerfinishing facility before LPS treatment on d 13. Gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency were unaffected by dietary Zn. Feed intake decreased (p<0.10) and gain/feed was greater (p<0.10) from d 13 to d 16 for pigs injected with LPS. Serum Zn and alkaline phosphatase activity increased (p<0.05) with increasing Zn levels. The febrile response to LPS peaked at 6 h post exposure and pigs were afebrile within 12 h. Rectal temperature was greater (p<0.05) in pigs receiving 50 and 150 ppm Zn than in pigs supplemented with 10 ppm Zn. In vivo cellular immune response, measured on d 13 by skin thickness response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), was greater after 6 h (p<0.05) in pigs fed 10 ppm Zn and exposed to LPS compared to all other treatments, but was not affected at 12, 24 or 48 h. Zinc did not affect mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation. Zinc supplemented at 50 or 150 ppm resulted in an enhanced febrile response in pigs subjected to iatrogenic endotoxemia, but did not affect pig performance or immune response measurements.

Effects of Dietary Animunin Powder® on Growth Performance and Blood Components in Nursery and Growing Pigs (Animunin Powder®의 첨가가 자돈 및 육성돈의 성장과 혈액성상에 미치는 영향)

  • Shon, K.S.;Hong·, J.W.;Kwon, O.S.;Min, B.J.;Lee, W.B.;Kim, J.H.;Kim, I.H.;Kim, H.S.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.46 no.3
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    • pp.325-334
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    • 2004
  • Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of Animunin Powder${\circledR}$ supplementation on the growth perfonnance and blood components in nursery and growing pigs. In Exp. 1, ninety six pigs(initial mean live weights 27,6 ${\pm}$ 2.63kg) were randomly allocated into four treatments with six replications per each treatment. Four treatments were control(CON), control + 0.1% Antibiotics(AB), control + 0.1% Animunin Powder${\circledR}$(AM), and control + 0.1% Antibiotics + 0.1% Animunin Powder${\circledR}$(ABM). During 4 weeks experiment, ADG of pigs was significantly(p < 0.05) higher in ABM treatment compared with CON and AB treatments, Serum IgG concentration was higher(P < 0.05) in AM and ABM treatments than CON. Serum from treated pigs ABM had higher(P < 0.05) albumin concentration in comparison to CON and AB treatments. In addition, higher (p < 0.05) serum lymphocyte concentration was found in ABM treatment compared with CON and AM treatments. Digestibility of dry matter was higher(P < 0.05) in ABM treatment compared with AB and AM treatments. However, no statistical differences(P > 0.05) were found in total protein content of serum and crude protein digestibility of diets. In Exp. 2, seventy five pigs(initial mean live weights 40.22 ${\pm}$ 2.82kg) were randomly allocated into three treatments with 5 replicates per each treatment for 29 days. Three treatments were control(CON), control + 0.1% Animunin Powder${\circledR}$(AM1) and control + 0.2% Animunin Powder${\circledR}$(AM2). During the whole experiment, pigs fed AM1 and AM2 diets were shown higher ADG than pigs fed CON diet. The ADFI of AM1 diet is higher(P < 0.05) compared to that of CON diet. Serum IgG and albumin concentration of AM1 and AM2 treatments were greater than those of CON treatment(p < 0.05). Lymphocyte was highest for AM1 and lowest for CON, with intermediate for AM2(P < 0.05). In conclusion, Animunin Powder${\circledR}$ was effective for improving growth performance and to increase the concentrations of blood IgG, albumin, total protein and lymphocyte in nursery and growing pigs.

Administration of vitamin D3 by injection or drinking water alters serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations of nursery pigs

  • Jang, Young Dal;Ma, Jingyun;Lu, Ning;Lim, Jina;Monegue, H. James;Stuart, Robert L.;Lindemann, Merlin D.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.278-286
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    • 2018
  • Objective: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate vitamin $D_3$ administration to nursery pigs by injection or in drinking water on serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol ($25-OHD_3$) concentrations. Methods: At weaning, 51 pigs (27 and 24 pigs in experiments 1 and 2, respectively) were allotted to vitamin $D_3$ treatments. Treatments in experiment 1 were: i) control (CON), no vitamin administration beyond that in the diet, ii) intramuscular (IM) injection of 40,000 IU of vitamin $D_3$ at weaning, and iii) water administration, 5,493 IU of vitamin $D_3/L$ drinking water for 14 d post-weaning. Treatments in experiment 2 were: i) control (CON), no vitamin administration, and ii) water administration, 92 IU of $d-{\alpha}-tocopherol$ and 5,493 IU of vitamin $D_3/L$ drinking water for 28 d post-weaning. The lightest 2 pigs within each pen were IM injected with an additional 1,000 IU of $d-{\alpha}-tocopherol$, 100,000 IU of retinyl palmitate, and 100,000 IU of vitamin $D_3$. Results: In both experiments, serum $25-OHD_3$ was changed after vitamin $D_3$ administration (p<0.05). In experiment 1, injection and water groups had greater values than CON group through d 35 and 21 post-administration, respectively (p<0.05). In experiment 2, serum values peaked at d 3 post-administration in the injection groups regardless of water treatments (p<0.05) whereas CON and water-only groups had peaks at d 14 and 28 post-administration, respectively (p<0.05). Even though the injection groups had greater serum $25-OHD_3$ concentrations than the non-injection groups through d 7 post-administration regardless of water treatments (p<0.05), the water-only group had greater values than the injection-only group from d 21 post-administration onward (p<0.05). Conclusion: Serum $25-OHD_3$ concentrations in pigs increased either by vitamin $D_3$ injection or drinking water administration. Although a single vitamin $D_3$ injection enhanced serum $25-OHD_3$ concentrations greater than water administration in the initial period post-administration, a continuous supply of vitamin $D_3$ via drinking water could maintain higher serum values than the single injection.