• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.371-378
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• 2001

This research devoted to develop an incubator that could make an optimum environment condition according to days of age for suckling pigs to decrease the mortality and improve the rate of the weight gain of the suckling pigs. Results obtained from this research summarized as follows: 1. Several experiments were carried out at the farm to find the effect of incubator developed for suckling pigs on weight gain by season. The total average gain of the weight of the treatment group was around 6∼22kg, and 6∼23kg higher than control group at the first experiment (April 19), at the second (July 30), and at the third (September 23), year of 2000 experiment, respectively. There were no significant differences ($\alpha$=5%) of the total weight gain among treatment groups. There was, however, a significant difference ($\alpha$=5%) of the total weight gain between the control and treatment groups and it was considered to be that the incubator had efficiency for weight gain of the suckling pigs. 2. The survival rate of the control group was 87% in the total sample number of 92, meanwhile, which of the experiment group was 98% in the total sample number of 50 suckling pigs. 3. Finally, economic analysis was executed for suckling pigs based on a farm size of breeding 500 sows. The results showed that a break-even point was around 9 months and the annual profit of ￦52,265,694 was expected after the break-even point.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2001.02a
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• pp.149-154
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• 2001

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the immunogenicity of autogenous E coli vaccines and their preventive effects on diarrhea in suckling piglets. Autogenous E coli live and killed vaccines were made from the E coli strains isolated from piglets showing diarrhea in field. In group I, pregnant sows were administered with live and killed vaccines at 4 and 2 weeks before parturition, respectively, Killed vaccines were administered twice to pregnant sows at 4 and 2 weeks before parturition in group II, and saline instead of autogenous E coli vaccines was administered to pregnant sows in group III for the control. After parturition, antibody titers in colostrum and milk from sows, incidence of diarrhea in suckling piglets, and immunoreactivity in the ileum of piglets from each treatment group were examined. The results were as follows ; 1. Sixty-two strains of E coli were isolated from suckling piglets with diarrhea. Of the strains, K88 pilus and K99 pilus antigens were identified in 6(9.8%) and 4(6.5%), respectively. Molecular weights of K88 and K99 pilus were 27,500 and 18,500 daltons, respectively. 2. Antibody titers in colostrum from sows after parturition were 1 : 512 to 1 : 1,024 in group I, 1.256 to 1.512 in group II, and 1 : 4 to 1 : 16 in group III. 3. The incidences of diarrhea In suckling piglets of group I, II and III were 3.3%, 9.4% and 21.4%, respectively. 4. When the immunoreactivity in the ileum of piglets from each group was examined, the proportion of IgG-immunoreactivity cells in group I or II was higher than that in group III. In conclusion, administration of autogenous E coli vaccines to pregnant sows before parturition can be an effective way to prevent diarrhea in suckling 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.211-219
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• 2016

For determining the prevalence of major enteric pathogens, clinical examination and etiological diagnosis were carried out on 75 Korean pig farms. Enteric disease-suspected signs were observed in 90.7% of the farms and the incidence and severity were higher in younger age groups of the pigs. Five of seven pathogens were detected in 375 fecal samples collected from the 75 farms, and the farm-level prevalence of porcine rotavirus group A (PoRVA), pathogenic Escherichia (E.) coli, Lawsonia (L.) intracelluraris, Salmonella spp., and Brachyspira (B.) hyodysenteriae was 54.7%, 54.7%, 16.0%, 10.7% and 2.7%, respectively. PoRVA was extensively infected in suckling and weaning pig groups. The prevalence of pathogenic E. coli was highest in suckling period, and after the period, it exhibited a tendency to decrease. Salmonella spp. and L. intracelluraris were detected in all feeding groups of pigs in a ratio of 1.3~6.7%. B. hyodysenteriae was detected in 1.3~2.7% of growing and fattening pig groups but not detected in suckling and weaning pig groups. At least one or more pathogens were detected in 30.1% of 375 fecal samples. Among these, 25.0% or 5.1% of cases were single or mixed infection. Enteric disease signs of the pigs were significantly co-related with the detection of PoRVA, pathogenic E. coli or Salmonella spp. (P<0.01) but not with L. intracelluraris or B. hyodysenteriae (P>0.05). Conclusively, it will be expected that these data obtained in this study are very useful for subsequent studies and prevention strategies for swine enteric disease in Korean pig farms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.765-770
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• 2001

Thirty second parity sows of the synthetic Nepalese Pakhribas genotype were used to investigate factors which might improve the occurrence and expression of estrus. The experiment had two sequential elements. In part 1, a change in suckling pattern was applied during lactation, and in part 2, different estrus detection methods were evaluated after weaning. All sows received the same pattern of weaning, which imitated the progressive weaning system used in Nepalese villages. Piglets from each litter were weaned at three ages (6, 7 and 8 weeks of age) in the proportion of 0.5 at 6 weeks followed by 0.25 at each of the subsequent weanings. In the first lactation treatment, the suckling pattern was left undisturbed, similar to the practice used in the villages in which the remaining piglets after first weaning are allowed continuous suckling. In the other treatment, the remaining piglets after first weaning were allowed to suckle their sows only during the night, whilst in the day time (09:00-16:00) they were excluded from the sow but left free to roam around. After weaning, estrus detection procedures were carried out in the absence or presence of two different boar stimuli: a synthetic boar pheromone spray or fresh boar urine. These were applied sequentially in a sequence of testing that alternated for each sow on a daily basis. The weaning to re-mating interval was significantly longer for the unrestricted suckling treatment. All sows were re-mated within 30 days after first weaning in the restricted suckling treatment groups, whereas only 71% of sows were re-mated within 30 days after weaning in the unrestricted suckling treatment groups ($x^2=3.877$, 1df, p<0.05). Both boar pheromone spray and boar urine increased the estrus detection probability, with no significant differences between the two stimuli treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1308-1314
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• 2018

Objective: Gut health improvements were monitored with respect to growth performance, diarrhea incidence, fecal bacterial population and intestinal morphology of suckling pigs orally supplemented with live Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) oral suspensions and challenged with $F4^+$ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Methods: Two groups of newborn pigs from 18 multiparous sows were randomly designated as non-supplemented (control: n = 114 piglets) and L. salivarius supplemented groups (treatment: n = 87 piglets). Treatment pigs were orally administered with 2 mL of $10^9$ colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL L. salivarius on days 1 to 3, then they were orally administered with 5 mL of $10^9CFU/mL$ L. salivarius on days 4 to 10, while those in control group received an equal amount of phosphate buffered saline solution. On day 24 (2 weeks post supplementation), one pig per replicate of both groups was orally administered with $10^8CFU/mL$ $F4^+$ ETEC, then they were euthanized on day 29 of experiment. Results: Results revealed that pigs in treatment group had a statistically significant increase in average daily gain, body weight and weight gain, and tended to lower diarrhea throughout the study. Numbers of Lactobacillus population in feces of treatment pigs were higher than control pigs, especially on day 10 of study. Numbers of total bacteria in intestinal contents of control pigs were also increased, but not Coliform and Lactobacillus populations. Histological examination revealed statistically significant improvements of villous height and villous/crypt ratio of duodenum, proximal jejunum and distal jejunum parts of treatment pigs compared with controls. Duodenal pH of treatment group was significantly decreased. Conclusion: Oral supplementation of live L. salivarius during the first 10 days of suckling pig promoted growth performance and gut health, reduced diarrhea incidence, increased fecal Lactobacillus populations and improved intestinal morphology.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.1019-1023
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• 2001

An on-farm trial was conducted in temperature-controlled lactation rooms at a commercial pig farm to investigate the efficacy of broadcasting sow suckling grunts from day 4 of lactation, on increasing piglet growth to weaning. In the Broadcast treatment, sows and litters were exposed to a 3-min broadcast from loud-speakers every 42 min. The Control treatment was not exposed to the broadcast. All sows and litters had similar husbandry and piglets were provided with creep feed on the floor twice daily. In each of the three replicates in time, the Broadcast and Control treatments were allocated to different lactation rooms at random and there were 12 sows and litters per treatment per replicate. A total of four identical lactation rooms were available for the trial, each containing 28 conventional sow and litter crates with piglet heater in the creep area. A non-trial room separated the two treatment rooms in each replicate to minimise the chance that the broadcast grunt stimulation was audible to the Control treatment litters. Five "normal and average-looking" piglets from the trial litters were weighed twice, 7 d apart. The cohort of five piglets was identified by ear-tags and formed the experimental unit for the statistical analysis. The average (${\pm}SD$) age of piglets at initial weighing was 7.7(${\pm}2.22$) days. For each litter, mean piglet live weight at day 14 of lactation was estimated by linear regression of the two weights recorded seven days apart, when on average, the Broadcast treatment had been exposed to the stimulation for 10 days. Piglets in the Broadcast treatment were heavier (p<0.01) at day 14 of lactation compared to Control treatment (4.24 and 3.92 kg, respectively) and tended to have a greater average daily weight gain over the 7-d period (245 and 228 g/day, respectively; p<0.08). The results suggest piglet growth was improved by about 8% in response to the regular, timed broadcast of sow suckling grunts in the lactation shed. The independent contributions of milk and creep feed to the improved growth remain to be determined.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1451-1455
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• 2009

Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) is a betaherpesvirus which causes reproductive failure in breeding sows and generalized infection in newborn piglets. It has worldwide distribution including Korea. Serological survey on this virus has been reported in 76.3% of pigs, but virological survey and epidemiological analysis on PCMV distribution have been reported in only a few papers in Korea. In this study, we investigated the virological prevalence and infection status of PCMV on a farm level in selected swine farms with respiratory diseases. A total of 1,938 blood samples taken from groups of pigs of different ages were collected from 31 farms distributed nationwide in 2006 and 2007 and tested by PCR to detect the presence of PCMV. Virological prevalence at farm level and pig level were 96.8% and 17.5%, respectively, suggesting that PCMV has endemically infected Korean pig herds. The prevalence at farm level in gilts, sows and suckling piglet groups were 16.7%, 36.7% and 56.7%, indicating that vertical infections frequently occurred in conception or newborn stage. Thereafter, detection rates of PCMV were slightly increased in pig groups aged 40 and 70 days (70.0% and 73.3%), and then gradually decreased as they aged - 33.3% in 100, 26.7% in 130 and 16.7% in 160 day old pig groups. The prevalence at pig level has similar patterns to that at farm level. With the passage of time, the variation of infection patterns of PCMV was investigated in four PCMV-positive farms. Three blood samples were collected at intervals of 6 months in each farm, and examined for presence of PCMV using PCR. The results revealed that once PCMV was introduced to the pig farms, it continuously circulated between and within groups of sows and piglets in those farms. Taken together, it can be concluded that PCMV has endemically infected Korean pig farms and has the potential risk for emerging pathogen in combination with the known endemic pathogens including porcine reproductive, respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2. Therefore, more research is needed on diagnosis, epidemiology and control strategy for PCMV on the field.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2018

Outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in vaccinated sow herds from occurrence to stabilization were monitored and analyzed in terms of serology and reproductive performance. Three different conventional pig farms experienced severe reproductive failures with the introduction of a type 1 PRRSV. These farms had adopted mass vaccination of sows using a type 2 PRRSV modified live vaccine (MLV). Therefore, to control the type 1 PRRSV, an alternative vaccination program utilizing both type 1 and type 2 MLV was undertaken. Following whole herd vaccinations with both types of MLV, successful stabilization of PRRS outbreaks was identified based on serological data (no viremia and downward trends in ELISA antibody titers in both sows and suckling piglets) and recovery of reproductive performance. Additionally, through comparison of the reproductive parameters between outbreak and non-outbreak periods, it was identified that PRRSV significantly affected the farrowing rate and the number of suckling piglets per litter at all three pig farms. Comparison of reproductive parameters between periods when the different vaccination strategies were applied revealed that the number of piglets born in total and born dead per litter were significantly increased after the introduction of the type 1 PRRS MLV.