• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.50-56
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• 1979

This experiment was conducted to clarity the possibility of practical use of farrowing inductionin sow by the administration of prostaglandin F2$\alpha$. For this experiment, total 320 heads of pregnant sow and its piglets were used. The reproductive characteristics of artificially farrowed sow and, health and growth state of piglets were estimated. The results obtained in this experiment were summarized as following: 1. No significant difference were observed between naturally and artifically farrowed sow in several aspects such as the rate of dystocia, length of farrowing, farrowing intervals from piglet to piglet. 2. significant (P<0.05) differences were observed between naturally and artificially farrowed sow in intervals from weaning to estrus. However, there were no significant differences among those of 5, 7.5 and 10mg treated group. 3. There were no differences in number of stillbirth, immature birth and alive piglets at 3 weeks age per litter were observed. 4. Similar birth weight, weaning weight, daily gain and rearing rate of piglets were obtained from both naturally and artificially farrowing.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2000

A monitoring and the forecasting system for the swine delivery was developed using CCD camera multi-function board microphone and data-recorder equipped on a personal computer. For the swine delivery monitoring and forecasting factors four factors were selected such as genitalia swine body shape breast color and sound. Image of physical variation of body shape, shape and color of genitalia area and color of breast of pregnant sow were grabbed using the CCD color camera and multi-function board and variation of voice of pregnant sow was acquired using microphone and data recorder. Acquired information of image and voice were analyzed using a custom developed algorithm and program. The result of the forecasting efficiency of swine delivery was 89%, 71% and 100% using the variation of genitalia are the body shape and the voice of pregnant sow. respectively. The efficiency of image processing was 100% for the delivery detection when the piglet was delivered half of its body from genitalia of pregnant sow, The monitoring and forecasting system informed the estimated time of the delivery of swine to a farm manager immediately if an estimated and established time set by the farm manager was the same and/or the estimated time ws earlier than the established time and the system detected the delivery.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2024

This study explored the effect of increased feed intake during the late gestation on the reproductive performance of sows, and fecal score in sows and piglets. A total of 21 crossbred [Landrace × Yorkshire] multiparous sows were randomly distributed into three treatments with seven replicates per treatment. Treatments: CON, 2.4 kg/day; TRT1, 3.2 kg/day; TRT2 , 3.6 kg/day. Body weight and body condition score of sow in different stages were not altered (p > 0.05) due to extra feed in late gestation. A linearly higher (p < 0.05) difference in backfat thickness during farrowing was found in this study. Average daily feed intake was increased (p < 0.05) linearly with extra feed in this experiment. The weaning body weight of piglets was increased (p < 0.05) with extra feed in the sow. The fecal score of sows and their piglets was similar (p > 0.05) in different levels of feed intake. In conclusion, extra feed to gestation sow showed a beneficial effect on improving the weaning piglet's body weight. Although there is a small improvement in the body weight of weaning pigs of sow fed 3.6 kg feed/day in the late gestation period, it is unlikely to be profitable enough to justify the additional waste of feed.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different farrowing space, narrow and wide, on the sow performances and piglet growth performances. The $1.5m^2$ of narrow farrowing space was determined as the size of farrowing crate. The $3.0m^2$ of wide space for farrowing sow was the same of farrowing pen to allow the behavior freedom of sow. Baby piglets in the wide farrowing space was protected from crushing of sow by installation of safety bar. The pregnant sows used in this study were stall-housed during gestation and moved to each farrowing spaces on 8 d before parturition. Feed intake, backfat thickness and body condition score of sow were not affected by both farrowing spaces. However, the changes in backfat thickness and body condition score between farrowing and weaning in wide farrowing space were lower (p<0.05) than in narrow farrowing space. The return to estrus of sow was remarkably decreased in wide farrowing space compared to sows in narrow farrowing space. The lower number of stillbirth and higher mortality of piglets were observed in wide farrowing space. From the results, although wide farrowing space could be practically acceptable in terms of sow performances, possible cause of mortality of piglets should be scrutinized through observation of piglet and sow behaviors.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2010

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of Fe-soy proteinate chelate (Fe-SP) on sows milk, piglet blood parameters and performance. A total of 15 sows of 3 wk before parturition and pigs after births to 3 wk were assigned to three dietary treatments: control (sow-basal diet, piglets with Fe injection); Fe-SP 100 (Fe 100 ppm as Fe-SP in sow and piglet diet); Fe-SP 200 (Fe 200 ppm as Fe-SP in sow and piglet diet). Each treatment had 5 replicates (sows) of six piglets per sow randomly selected from the same offspring. For this experiment, Fe-SP was manufactured. There were no significant differences among treatments in number of pigs born in total or alive per litter, birth weight, number of pigs weaned per litter and weaning weight. However, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio significantly (p<0.05) decreased as the supplementation level of Fe-SP increased. There were no significant differences among treatments in Fe content at 3 wk before parturition in sow blood. However, Fe content at 2 wk before parturition in sow blood significantly (p<0.05) increased as the supplementation of Fe-SP. While there were no significant differences among treatments in Fe content at 1 wk before parturition in sow blood, it tended to increase as the supplementation level of Fe-SP increased. There were no significant differences among treatments in Fe content of sow milk. However, it tended to increase as the supplementation level of Fe-SP increased. Iron content in the blood of piglets was significantly (p<0.05) higher in control (Fe injected) than Fe-SP 100 and Fe-SP 200 treatments at $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ wk but it was significantly higher in Fe-SP 200 than others in $3^{rd}$ wk. Zinc content in the blood also significantly (p<0.05) increased as the Fe-SP supplementation level increased in $3^{rd}$ wk. In conclusion, Fe-SP supplementation significantly affected Fe content in the blood of piglets. Iron injection was more effective at $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ wk, while Fe-SP 200 supplementation was effective at $3^{rd}$ wk in improving blood Fe level in piglets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1170-1176
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• 2009

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has plagued pig populations worldwide causing severe economical impacts. In order to establish effective strategies for prevention of PRRS, infection patterns on the herd level are primarily evaluated. In the present study, therefore, serological and virological analyses were conducted in 20 pig farms suffering from PRRS. Seroprevalence levels in each farm were grouped into 3 patterns: SN (Stable sow groups/Not infected piglet groups, SI (Stable sow groups and Infected piglet groups), and UI (Unstable sow groups and Infected piglet groups). The rates of each serological pattern were 15% (n=3), 10% (n=2), and 75% (n=15), respectively. In addition, the pattern analysis was extended to virological monitoring on the same farms that further included suckling pig groups. As a result, the infection pattern was classified into 4 categories: SNI (Stable sow groups/Not infected suckler groups/Infected piglet groups), SII (Stable sow groups/Infected suckler groups/Infected piglet groups), UNI (Unstable sow groups/Not infected suckler groups/Infected piglet groups), and UII (Unstable sow groups/Infected suckler groups/Infected piglet groups). The rates of each viroprevalence were estimated at 50% (n=10), 30% (n=6), 10% (n=2), and 10% (n=2), respectively. PRRSV viroprevalence results of suckling pig groups revealed that 8 farms were considered virus positive. In 2 farms among these farms, PRRSV appeared to be transmitted vertically to suckling piglets from their sows. In contrast, piglet-to-piglet horizontal transmission of PRRSV seemed to occur in sucking herds of the remaining farms. Thus, this virological analysis on suckling piglets will provide useful information to understand PRRSV transmission routes during the suckling period and to improve a PRRS control programs. Our seroprevalence and viroprevalence data found that infection patterns between sow and piglet groups are not always coincident in the same farm. Remarkably, 15 farms belonging to the UI seroprevalence pattern showed four distinct viroprevalence patterns (SNI; 7, SII; 4, UNI; 2 and UII; 2). Among these farms, 11 farms with unstable seroprevalence sow groups were further identified as the stable viroprevalence pattern. These results indicated that despite the absence of typical seroconversion, PRRSV infection was detected in several farms, implying the limitation of serological analysis. Taken together, our data strongly suggests that both seroprevalence and viroprevalence should be determined in parallel so that a PRRS control strategies can be efficiently developed on a farm level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1328-1333
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• 2009

To evaluate different housing systems, 80 gilts were randomly allocated at puberty to four treatments: i) sow stall in gestation followed by farrowing crate (SC), ii) group housing with individual feeding in gestation followed by farrowing crate (GC), iii) ESF (Electronic Sow Feeding) system in gestation followed by farrowing crate (EC), and iv) ESF system followed by group farrowing pen (EG). The results showed that stalled sows had a longer interval between puberty and second estrus (p<0.001). The sows kept in the ESF system gained more body weight (p<0.01) and backfat (p<0.05) prior to service, and more backfat during gestation (p<0.05), but also had greater backfat losses in the subsequent lactation (p<0.01). Sows changing from loose housing to confinement at farrowing had longer gestation length (p<0.001). Total litter size did not differ significantly between gestation treatments, but the number of stillborn piglets was significantly higher in the SC treatment (p<0.01). After weaning, SC sows had the longest interval for rebreeding (p<0.001). Some EG sows came into heat before weaning, giving this treatment the shortest interval. These results indicate that gestation confinement in sow stalls had several detrimental effects on sow performance relative to group housing.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2013

The study was conducted to develop an ESF (electronic sow feeder) for improving animal welfare of group housed gestation sows. Feed intake of both individual and group housed gestation sows was restricted 2 kg a day. ESF system was very effective in reducing feed loss. The amount of feed loss in treatment group (group housed gestation sows with ESF) was only about 55 g, while the amount of feed loss in control group (individually housed gestation sows) was about 200 g. In spend time to feed intake, there was no difference in the result between the control (about 30 min) and the treatment (about 22 min) group. The ESF system ran well without any mechanical problems throughout the entire experiment. These results suggest that the EST is expected to improve the performance feeding of sows.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.769-773
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• 1998

Genetic advances, changes in housing systems and new management strategies have made it necessary to thoroughly review conventional nutritional programs. The approach has changed from one of feeding to permit gradual depletion of fat and protein tissues to one of feeding to maintain long-term nutritional balance. Increasingly the sow is viewed as a dynamic system that can be described by a mathematical model. There is opportunity to improve the initial models through research to provide a better understanding of metabolism and key physiological events in the sow's reproductive life. Direct experimentation remains a very important tool for defining nutritional requirements. Recent data supports increases in amino acid recommendations during lactation. Voluntary feed intake remains an intractable problem during lactation.