• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

This study evaluated the influence of enzyme mixture supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal score of growing pigs. A total of 72 pigs with an initial body weight of 20.23 ± 1.46 kg were randomly assigned to two treatments consisting of a basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% enzyme mixture. During a 19-day trial, no significant difference was observed in the body weight (BW) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the pigs. However, a gradual increase in the average daily gain (ADG) was observed during the period from day 14 to day 19 and the overall period in pigs fed a diet supplemented with the 0.5% enzyme mixture (p < 0.10) as compared to the pigs that were fed the control diet. From days 4 to 14 and in the overall experiment, a gradual increase in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.10) was observed with the inclusion of 0.5% enzyme mixture supplementation. The nutrient digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and energy were not affected by enzyme mixture supplementation. In addition, dietary supplementation with the enzyme mixture had no significant effects on the fecal score of growing pigs. In summary, supplementation with the enzyme mixture had beneficial effects on the ADG performance but failed to have a significant effect on growth performance (BW), nutrient digestibility, and fecal score.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.363-368
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of fermented spent coffee ground (FSCG) on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep. Methods: Fermentation of spent coffee ground (SCG) was conducted using Lactobacillus plantrum. Fermentation was performed at moisture content of 70% and temperature of $39^{\circ}C$ with anaerobic air tension for 48 h. Four adult rams (initial body weight = $56.8{\pm}0.4kg$) were housed in a respiration-metabolism chamber and the treatments were: i) control (Basal diet; 0% SCG or FSCG), ii) 10% level of SCG, iii) 10% level of FSCG, and iv) 20% level of FSCG in $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Each dietary experiment period lasted for 18-d with a 14-d of adaptation period and a 4-d of sample collection period. Results: In SCG fermentation experimental result, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) concentration of FSCG (64.5% of total N) was lower than that of non-fermented SCG (78.8% of total N). Digestibility of dry matter and organic matter was similar among treatment groups. Although crude protein (CP) digestibility of the control was greater than FSCG groups (p<0.05), the 10% FSCG group showed greater CP digestibility and nitrogen retention than non-fermented 10% SCG group (p<0.05). Body weight gain and average daily gain were linearly decreased with increasing FSCG feeding level (p<0.05). When the feeding level of FSCG was increased, water intake was linearly increased (p<0.05). With an increasing FSCG level, dry matter intake did not differ among groups, although the gain to feed ratio tended to decrease with increasing level of FSCG (p<0.10). Conclusion: Microbial fermentation of SCG can improve protein digestibility, thereby increasing CP digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep. Fermentation using microorganisms in feed ingredients with low digestibility could have a positive effect on improving the quality of raw feed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.830-835
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• 2004

An experiment of 10 weeks duration was carried out to study the influence of supplemental effective microorganism (EM) culture, yeast culture and enzymes on nutrient digestibility and gut microflora in rabbit gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Twenty four eight to nine weeks old, New Zealand White rabbits were allotted to four dietary treatments; a basal (control) feed, basal feed supplemented with either EM (1%), yeast culture or enzymes (400 ppm). Nutrient flow in digesta and their digestibility at ileum, caecum, colon and in the total tract as well as gut microflora distribution were studied. Feed dry matter was diluted from 92% to about 14% up to the ileum and about 95% of this water was reabsorbed by the colonic rectal segment followed by caecum (25%). EM and yeast improved protein digestibility at a lower rate than enzymes. Ileal, caecal, colonic and total tract digestibility of crude protein with enzymes were higher by 10.8, 9.4, 11.3 and 10.7%, respectively, as compared to the control. Yeast and enzymes increased crude fiber digestibility at ileum, caecum, colon and in the total tract by 8.5, 9.6, 9.0 and 8.3%, respectively, while EM improved them at a lower rate. Irrespective of treatments, total tract digestibility of crude protein (0.698-0.773) and fiber (0.169-0.183) were greater (p<0.05) than the ileal digestibility. Even though a post-caecal protein digestibility was observed, fiber digestion seemed to be completed in the caecum especially with yeast and enzymes. High precaecal digestibility of crude fiber (97%) and protein (95%) were observed even without additives probably due to caecotrophy. EM and yeast culture promoted the growth of lactic acid bacteria especially in the caecum but they did not influence gut yeast and mould. Present findings reveal that even though rabbits digest nutrients efficiently through hind gut fermentation, they can be further enhanced by EM, yeast and enzymes. Of the three additives tested, enzymes found to be the best.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.509-516
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• 2013

This study estimated the fermentation characteristics and nutrient value of corn-lablab bean mixture silages relative to corn silages. The effects of feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages on nutrient apparent digestibility and milk production of dairy cows in northern China were also investigated. Three ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used to determine the ruminal digestion kinetics and ruminal nutrient degradability of corn silage and corn-lablab bean mixture silages. Sixty lactating Holstein cows were randomly divided into two groups of 30 cows each. Two diets were formulated with a 59:41 forage: concentrate ratio. Corn silage and corn-lablab bean mixture silages constituted 39.3% of the forage in each diet, with Chinese wildrye hay constituting the remaining 60.7%. Corn-lablab bean mixture silages had higher lactic acid, acetic acid, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ash, Ca, ether extract concentrations and ruminal nutrient degradability than monoculture corn silage (p<0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations of corn-lablab bean mixture silages were lower than those of corn silage (p<0.05). The digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, and ADF for cows fed corn-lablab bean mixture silages was higher than for those fed corn silage (p<0.05). Feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages increased milk yield and milk protein of dairy cows when compared with feeding corn silage (p<0.05). The economic benefit for cow fed corn-lablab bean mixture silages was 8.43 yuan/day/cow higher than that for that fed corn silage. In conclusion, corn-lablab bean mixture improved the fermentation characteristics and nutrient value of silage compared with monoculture corn. In this study, feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages increased milk yield, milk protein and nutrient apparent digestibility of dairy cows compared with corn silage in northern China.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.229-237
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• 2019

The influence of dietary supplementation with a yeast culture on growth performance, fecal score and nutrient digestibility was evaluated in weaned pigs in a 6-week feeding trial. A total of 50 weaning pigs with an initial average body weight (BW) of $7.46{\pm}1.60kg$ were randomly allotted into 1 of 2 dietary treatments according to the initial BW. There were 5 replicate pens in each treatment with 5 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1) control, basal diet (CON) and 2) 0.10% yeast culture, basal diet supplemented with 0.1% yeast culture (YC). The average daily feed intake was significantly improved with the dietary supplementation of the yeast culture compared with the control during phases 1 and 3. Overall (0 to 6 weeks), dietary supplementation with the 0.1% yeast culture had a significant effect on the feed conversion ratio (FCR). There was no significant difference in the fecal score between the CON and YC dietary treatments. In addition, no difference in the apparent total tract digestibility was observed between the CON and YC dietary treatments. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation of 0.1% yeast only improved the feed intake of weaning pigs; however, yeast culture supplementation did not affect the average daily gain, feed efficiency, total tract digestibility of dry matter, and nitrogen and energy levels as well as the fecal scores.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1043-1049
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• 2016

A total of 16 growing pigs (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc, average weight $71{\pm}2kg$) were used in this experiment for 24 days to determine the effect of replacing ground corn with barley varieties on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood metabolites. Each pig was housed individually in a metabolic cage with a nipple waterer and feeder. Four dietary treatments included control (a corn and soybean meal-based diet) and 3 barley varieties (Youngyang, Wooho, or Yuyeon barley replacing 40% of ground corn). Growth performance and nutrient digestibility were not affected by replacement of 40% of ground corn with one of the three barley varieties (p > 0.05), but final body weight was. As for blood characteristics, pig treated with all of the barley treatments had no effect (p > 0.05) on total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), and glucose in comparison with control; however, there was a difference in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels between the control and all of the barley replaced treatment groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, in spite of statistically significant differences, each of the three barley varieties is a suitable substitute for ground corn in the diet of growing and fattening pigs without adverse effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.639-646
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• 2022

The present experiment was conducted to assess the effect of Buttiauxella-derived phytase in finishing pigs fed corn/soybean meal diets with an increase in the calcium (Ca)/total phosphorus (P) (Ca/tP) ratio and a reduction in net energy on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility on the finishing pigs. A total of 90 crossbred ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) finishing pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 56.94 ± 2.43 kg were used for an 11-week feeding trial. The pigs were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments (six replication/treatment and five pigs/pen) in a randomized complete block design according to their BW and gender. Dietary treatments consisted of supplementation of phytase (0.05, 0.07, and 0.1% in the control, Trt1 and Trt 2 diets, respectively) maintaining the Ca/tP ratio (1.67 : 1, 1.84 : 1, and 2.19 : 1 in control, Trt1 and Trt 2 diets, respectively) and reducing the net energy by 1% in Trt1 and Trt2 diets compared with the control diet. The results showed that dietary supplementation with phytase in the energy-reduced diet had a similar (p > 0.05) effect on the BW, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain/feed ratio of the finishing pigs. Also, there were no effects (p > 0.05) of treatment matrixes on the nutrient digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen calcium, phosphorus, and gross energy. In conclusion, the increase of phytase and Ca/tP ratio and the reduction of net energy in the corn/soybean meal diet resulted in comparable growth performance and nutrient digestibility of finishing pigs relative to pigs fed the control diet.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2022

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of supplementation of low-energy diets with PROSOL^® (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate) as an emulsifier on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. A total of 120 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) growing pigs with an average initial body weight of 23.80 ± 4.87 kg were used in a 56-day feeding trial and were sorted into three dietary treatments. Each treatment utilized eight replications with five pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were as follows: PC (high, net energy diet [NE] = 2,488 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 1 to 4] and NE = 2,477 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 5 to 8]); NC (low, NE = 2,472 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 1 to 4] and NE = 2,468 kcal·kg^-1 [weeks 5 to 8]); NC1 (NC + 0.05% PROSOL^® emulsifier). Growth performance outcomes were measured at the initial point and at weeks 4 and 8 while nutrient digestibility parameters were measured at weeks 4 and 8. From weeks 1 - 8, body weight and the average daily gain of the NC1 group pigs showed significant increases (p < 0.05) compared to those of the PC and NC treatment groups. At the end of the trail, pigs fed a diet containing low net energy with 0.05% of the emulsifier showed reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR) levels. However, the average daily feed intake and nutrient digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen remained unaffected throughout the experiment. In summary, the addition of a low-net-energy diet with 0.05% sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate as an emulsifier enhanced the body weight and daily gain with no adverse effects on nutrient digestibility in growing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.981-986
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• 2013

The nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and in vivo metabolizable energy supply of Mucuna pruriens whole pods fed to growing Pelibuey lambs was investigated. Eight Pelibuey sheep housed in metabolic crates were fed increasing levels of Mucuna pruriens pods: 0 (control), 100 (Mucuna100), 200 (Mucuna200) and 300 (Mucuna300) g/kg dry matter. A quadratic (p<0.002) effect was observed for dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre (aNDF), nitrogen (N) and gross energy (GE) intakes with higher intakes in the Mucuna100 and Mucuna200 treatments. Increasing M. pruriens in the diets had no effect (p>0.05) on DM and GE apparent digestibility (p<0.05). A linear reduction in N digestibility and N retention was observed with increasing mucuna pod level. This effect was accompanied by a quadratic effect (p<0.05) on fecal-N and N-balance which were higher in the Mucuna100 and Mucuna200 treatments. Urine-N excretion, GE retention and dietary estimated nutrient supply (metabolizable protein and metabolizable energy) were not affected (p>0.05). DM, N and GE apparent digestibility coefficient of M. pruriens whole pods obtained through multiple regression equations were 0.692, 0.457, 0.654 respectively. In vivo DE and ME content of mucuna whole pod were estimated in 11.0 and 9.7 MJ/kg DM. It was concluded that whole pods from M. pruriens did not affect nutrient utilization when included in an mixed diet up to 200 g/kg DM. This is the first in vivo estimation of mucuna whole pod ME value for ruminants.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1061-1069
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feed processing and particle size on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, and gastric health in growing-finishing pigs. Methods: A total of 360 growing pigs (22.64±0.014 kg initial body weight [BW]) were allocated to 1 of 6 treatments with 6 replicates by BW and sex, and 10 pigs were housed in one pen in a randomized complete block design. The BW and feed intake were recorded to calculate growth performance. For the digestibility trial, a total of 24 barrows with an initial BW of 33.65±0.372 kg were split into 6 treatments with a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were designed by a 2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments based on two main factors, particle size (600, 750, 900 ㎛) and feed form (mash and pellet) of diet. Experimental diets were formulated to contain the requirements of the NRC (2012). Results: The BW and average daily gain were not changed by dietary treatments, and the feed intake of finishing pigs (wks 6 to 12) was increased when the pigs were fed a mash diet (p<0.05). For the overall period, the feed efficiency of pigs was improved with the pellet diet (p<0.01) and reduced particle size (p<0.05). The pellet diet had effects on increasing crude fat digestibility (p<0.01) relative to a mash diet, but there was no considerable change in dry matter and crude protein digestibilities by dietary treatments. In the evaluation of gastric health, a trend for an increased incidence of keratinization in the esophageal region was observed as particle size decreased (p = 0.07). Conclusion: Feed efficiency could be improved by pellet diet and reduced particle size. Nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, and gastric health were not affected by feed form, and particle size ranged from 600 to 900 ㎛.