• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 1981

Reproductive performance of gilts and sows in ordinary piggeries was investigated with special reference to litter size, piglets weaned per litter, the cause of preweaning mortality and the incidence of diarrhea. Biochemical properties of Escherichia coli isolated from piglets with diarrhea were also determined. The results obtained are summarised as follows: 1. Of the 2,226 gilts and sows farrowed, average number of piglets born alived and weaned piglets per litter were 8.9 and 7.1, respectively, indicating that both gilts and sows lost more than 20% of all their piglets prior to weaning. 2. The causes of preweaning mortality in order of prevalence were diarrhea (39.3%), pneumonia (20.0%), crushing (13.8%), starvation (11.0%) and born weak (10.3%). 3. Incidence of 3 diarrheal syndromes of piglets, i.e. 1 week diarrhea, 3 week diarrhea and post-weaning diarrhea were 18.4%, 66.1% and 15.5%, respectively, showing that most farms were suffering from so called 'white scours' in piglets 14~28 days old. 4. Biochemical properties of 268 cultures of E. coli isolated from diarrheal piglets were tested and compared with those of standard strains of porcine origin. All those properties of isolates were matched to standard E. coli teated while variable results were obtained with haemolytic capabilities of cultures tested. 5. Of 147 isolates 16 cultures (10.9%) were identified as colicin producers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1735-1740
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• 2005

Forty-two single-bearing and 42 twin-bearing mature Angus${\times}$Hereford cows were allocated, seven per cell to 3 replications of 2 stocking rates (3.2 cows/ha; medium stocking rate [MSR], and 3.8 cows/ha; high stocking rate [HSR]) to graze summer-active and winter-active pastures from late pregnancy to the weaning of their calves. Cow liveweights and growth of calves were recorded as well as estimates of pasture quantity and forage intake. Pasture quantity did not differ in the paddocks grazed by single- and twin-bearing cows during pregnancy, nor effectively did forage intake. Subsequently, intake was higher during mid-lactation especially with twin-rearing cows (25% higher than single-rearing cows at the MSR; 9% at the HSR). However, quantity of pasture decreased for twin-rearing cows and was less than that available to single-rearing cows as lactation progressed. Liveweights of twinrearing cows decreased by 16% from late pregnancy to weaning at the MSR, and by 14% at the HSR, compared to decreases of 1% for single-rearing cows. Twin calves were lighter at birth, had slower growth rates, and were lighter at weaning than single calves. In spite of weaning smaller calves twinning increased the output (kg of calf weaned) per cow and per ha, and increased the efficiency (kg calf weaned per unit of forage eaten by the cow) over single calf production by 46% at the MSR and by 58% at the HSR. Twinning also increased the marginal returns from investment in high input pastures required by the enterprise.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.834-843
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• 2011

Bacterial diversity was studied using PCR-DGGE, cloning and sequencing. DNA was isolated from digesta samples from stomach, ileum and colon of 28 weaned piglets (Large White${\times}$Mong Cai) fed dry control feed, naturally fermented liquid feed (FE) and a liquid diet with inclusion of rice distiller's residue feed. General bacterial diversity was described using DGGE analysis of the V3 region of 16S rDNA. The microbial populations in the stomach and the ileum were considerably influenced by the diet, while only marginal effects were observed in the colon. There was a large variation of the microbial flora in the stomach between individuals fed non-fermented diets. In contrast, animals fed diet FE had a more uniform microbial flora in the stomach and the ileum compared to the other diets. In total 47 bands from the DGGE profiles were cloned. In stomach, most frequently lactic acid bacteria were found. Feeding diet FE resulted in the occurrence of Pediococcus species in stomach and ileum. In pigs fed the other diets, Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus fermentum were found in stomach and ileum. Most of the sequences of bands isolated from colon samples and several from ileum matched to unknown bacteria, which often grouped within Prevotellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroidaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae. This study demonstrates that fermented liquid feed affects bacterial diversity and the specific microflora in stomach and ileum, which provides a potential to modulate the gut microflora with dietary means to increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria and improve piglets' health.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.834-842
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• 2017

Objective: An experiment was to evaluate the interplay of dietary lipid sources and feeding regime in the transition from sow milk to solid food of abruptly weaned piglets. Methods: Soon after weaning, 144 piglets were selected and were trained over a 15 day period to experience gradually reducing dietary fat content from 12% to 6% for lard (L), soybean oil (S), and coconut oil (C) and their feeding behavior and diet preference then tested in a behavior observation experiment. Another 324 weaned piglets were used in three consecutive feeding experiments to measure the effect of different dietary fats on performance and feed choice in the four weeks after abrupt weaning. The lipid sources were used as supplements in a 3% crude fat corn/soya basal diet, with 6% of each being included to form diets 9C, 9S, and 9L respectively, and their effects on performance measured. Combinations of these diets were then further compared in fixed blends or free choice selection experiments. Results: Piglets pre-trained to experience reducing lipid inclusion showed different subsequent preferences according to lipid source, with a preference for lard at 9%, soybean oil at 3%, and coconut oil at 6% inclusion rate (p<0.001). Following abrupt weaning, whilst after 4 weeks those fed 9C had the heaviest body weights (18.13 kg, p = 0.006). Piglets fed a fixed 1:1 blend of 9C+9S had a poorer feed conversion ratio (FCR = 1.80) than those fed a blend of 9C+9L (FCR = 1.4). The 9C and 9L combination groups showed better performance in both fixed blend and free choice feeding regimes. Conclusion: After abrupt weaning, they still have dependence on high oleic acid lipids as found in sow milk. A feeding regime offering free choice combination of lipids might give the possibility for piglets to cope better with the transition at weaning, but further research is needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 1999

Data from 22837 lambings of Lohi and Kajli ewes from 1962 through 1994 were used to analyse productive and reproductive traits and wool production, Overall litter size at birth averaged 1.33 being 1.45 for Lohi and 1.21 for Kajli ewes. The corresponding values at weaning were 1.23, 1.32 and 1.14, respectively. Litter size was consistently lowest for one year old, with a substantial increase at two, three and four years of ewe age and marginal increase thereafter, Ewes lambing in spring weaned 0.08 more lambs per parturition than ewes lambed in Autumn (p<0,01). Lamb birth weights were affected by ewe breed (p<0.01) and increased with ewe age. Overall lamb weaning weight (120 d) of 17993 lambs was 20.3 kg. Weaning weight was affected by breed, sire, year of birth, sex, rearing rank and weaning age (p<0.01). The highest mean weaning weight was 21.9 kg for Lohi lambs followed by Kajli lambs (18.8 kg), Lambs from Kajli ewes were 9% heavier at birth but 14% lighter at weaning. Twin born lambs were 18% lighter at birth and 13% at weaning than single born lambs. Male lambs were 3% heavier at birth and 4.5% heavier at weaning than female lambs. Overall annual mean wool production was 2,64 kg, Kajli ewes were heavier at breeding than Lohi ewes (i.e. 46.2 vs 44.8 kg). Lohi ewes being 3% less body weight produced 38% more wool and 18% more litter weaning weight than Kajli ewes, When average weight of lamb weaned per ewe weaning lambs was adjusted for ewe average metabolic body size, Lohi ewes were most efficient (i.e. arbitrary assigned value of 100) compared to Kajli ewes achieving only 83% of Lohi level.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.519-524
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• 2017

The present study investigated the impacts of mating age of gilts (A1, < 230 days; A2, 230 - 249 days and A3, $250{\leq}days$) on reproductive performance and litter size of sows at farrowing to weaning. A total of 102 crossbred gilts ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$; average days old, 90 days) were purchased from a commercial breeding company. After identification of third estrus, the gilts were artificially inseminated using semen of Duroc boars. Pregnant pigs were allotted to one of three groups including A1, A2, and A3. Experimental diets and water were fed ad libitum during each experimental period which included the first, second, and third parities. Backfat thickness (BFT) of sows was higher in A3 at farrowing in the first parity than in others. At weaning time in the second parity, sows in A3 group showed a numerically higher BFT than those in A1. There was no effect of mating age on the total number of piglets born and total weaned piglets. There was a tendency to decrease the wean-to estrus-interval in the first parity as age increased at mating. Results obtained in the present study indicate that the first mating age does not affect the subsequent parites' reproductive performance; however, weaned to estrus interval tended to decrease in A2 at the first parity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.737-742
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• 2004

Garole, a prolific small sized sheep breed of West Bengal, was introduced in the Mutton project of the Institute in 1997 to explore the possibility of incorporating fecundity gene(s) into monotocus Malpura sheep of Rajasthan. Results of reproduction and production traits in respect of Garole${\times}$Malpura (G${\times}$M) half-breds have been obtained. Of 35 lambing obtained so far from the ewes of Garole${\times}$Malpura, 45.71% were twin lambing, whereas, Malpura sheep produced mostly single lamb except 2.55% twin lambing on an average. Other reproduction traits in G${\times}$M ewes such as lambing rate, litter size at birth and weaning were considerably improved over Malpura ewes. Results revealed that the fecundity genes responsible for increasing ovulation rate and litter size have been incorporated in to the G${\times}$M genotype and it might prove a valuable germ plasm towards evolving a new prolific strain of sheep. Interestingly, survivability of G${\times}$M half-breds was almost at par with the local Malpura sheep in harsh climatic conditions of semi-arid tropics. The body weights at different ages of G${\times}$M half-breds were on little lower side compared to contemporary Malpura lambs. Average kilogram of lambs weaned/ewe lambed in Malpura and G${\times}$M genetic group was 11.86 and 11.07 kg respectively. In view of minimizing the differences in body weights and kg of lambs weaned/ewe lambed between the two genetic groups, G${\times}$M ewes has to be backcrossed with Malpura rams to raise the inheritance of latter up to 75% level. However, further research is needed to reach on certain conclusions regarding net returns from such crosses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1998

The experiment was conducted with 120 barrows weaned at 21 days of age to estimate their lysine requirement weaned at 21 days of age when other important amino acids were fortified to get optimal ratio to lysine. The treatments were 1.15% (control), 1.25%, 1.35%, 1.45%, 1.55%, 1.65% total lysine in the diet. Based on the growth performance total lysine requirement of 21-day old pigs appears to be 1.45%. The lowest digestibilities of dry matter and crude fat were found in pigs fed 1.15% total lysine diet and the highest were found in pigs fed 1.65% total lysine diet with no significant differences among treatments. Nitrogen digestibility increased as the total lysine level increased up to 1.35% (p < 0.05) and remained relatively constant beyond 1.35%. However, the best nitrogen digestibility was observed in pigs fed 1.45% total dietary lysine. Gross energy, crude ash and phosphorus digestibilities did not differ due to the increase in total lysine level. The amounts of excreted dry matter and nitrogen differed significantly by the increase in lysine level up to 1.35% (p < 0.05), while phosphorus excretion was not influenced by the lysine level. Dry matter and nitrogen excretion were reduced by 13.6% and 18.4%, respectively, when 1.45% lysine was offered to the pigs compared to the those fed on 1.15% lysine diet. The amino acid digestibilities increased as the total lysine level increased up to 1.45% (p < 0.05), and remained constant beyond 1.45%. The lysine requirement for the pigs weighing 6 to 14 kg seems to be higher than the previous estimates and in order to reduce pollutant excretion the accurate nutrient requirement should be set and applied to the animal.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.260-266
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• 1996

Eighteen crossbred pigs were weaned at 4 days of age and fed up to 28 days of age to examine the effect of sulfur amino acid content of three diets upon plasma taurine concentration and hepatic cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity. The experimental diets consisted of either whey protein (W) or partialy hydrolyzed soy protein (S) as the source of protein. 0.25% methionine was added to the S diet for the third dietary regimen (SM). Sulfur amino acid content(methionine plus cystine)of the three diets was 1.53%, 1.34% and 1.09% for the W, SM and S diet, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration from the pigs fed the three experimental diets reflected the total sulfur amino acid content of the diet. The S diet resulted in a significantly lower plasma tarrine level than the W and SM diets throughout the experiment. After three weeks, pigs fed the W diet had significantly higher plasma taurine concentration than those fed SM diet. Therfore it appears that taurine requirement of the pig depends on the sulfur amino acid contents of the diets and the conversion o sulfur amino acid to taurine seemed not to be limited by any factor when sulfur amino acid was below 1.53% of the diet. There was no significant difference between three dietary groups in hepatic cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity and this suggests that the reduced cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity due to high sulfur amino acid in the diet may not occur in the pig liver.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1263-1272
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• 1999

The effects of carnitine in diets with or without added fat (5% lard or soybean oil) were evaluated in 72 Large White ${\times}$ Landrace ${\times}$ Duroc pigs weaned at 35 days of age. Pigs were fed a 1.30% lysine corn-soybean basal diet+15% dried whey+4% fish meal with carnitine at 0 or 50 mg/kg and either 0% added fat, 5% soybean oil or 5% lard for 6 weeks in a $2{\times}3$ factorial trial (6 treatments, 3 pens per treatment, 4 pigs per pen). Addition of carnitine increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the second two weeks of the six-week trial and overall, but had no significant effect on feed per gain (F/G). Lard alone depressed ADG (p<0.05) in the last two weeks of the trial and overall, but the ADG for pigs fed lard+carnitine was similar to the control. Lard reduced feed intake in the first two weeks of the trial (p<0.05). Carnitine reduced the percentage of pigs with poor (ADG<375 g/d) growth (15 vs 40%; p<0.05). The greater uniformity of growth was most evident in low-weaning-weight pigs in the second period (16 vs 62%, p<0.005). Addition of fat did not produce any positive effect on uniformity and had no interaction with carnitine on uniformity. Carnitine addition increased serum total carnitione and short-chain acyl-carnitine levels (p<0.05), but did not modify free carnitine levels. Serum carnitine levels were lower at weaning than at 14, 28, or 39 days after weaning (p<0.05). Carnitine increased serum protein levels on day 14 (p<0.05). Addition of fat in the form of soybean oil or lard did not improve piglet growth performance. Addition of 50 mg/kg of carnitine to the diet of weanling pigs enhanced postweaning performance.