• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.794-801
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• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation Oreganum aetheroleum essential oil on reproductive performance in sows and growth performance of their offspring of weaning pig. 12 sows ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) were randomly assigned within parities to 1 of 3 dietary treatments to give 4 replicates per treatment. Dietary treatments were as follows: 1) CON (basal diet) 2) ANT (basal diet + Efrotomycin 0.08%) and 3) ORE (basal diet + Oreganum aetheroleum essential oil 0.05%), EXP. 1, diets were fed from d 107 of gestation to weanling. EXP. 2, diets were fed from after weaning to 3 weeks. In the Exp.1, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in sow's average parity, sow backfat thickness, the number of piglets, feed intake of sows, the average of piglet weight, and piglet survival ratio between CON, ANT, and ORE treatments. Besides, in the Exp. 2, the inclusion of efrotomycin and Oreganum aetheroleum essential oil in the diets significantly (p < 0.05) increased final body weight, ADG, ADFI, and G/F in weanling pigs. In addition, weanling pigs fed ANT and ORE diets led to decrease the number of weanling pigs with diarrhea as well as fecal score. In conclusion, supplementation of efrotomycin and Oreganum aetheroleum essential oil enhanced growth performance, and decreased the number of weanling pigs with diarrhea and fecal score. However, no significant effect on grow performance was observed in sow and piglet.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.788-793
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• 2016

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), mostly caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), remains to be a major source of economic loss in swine industry. The use of the ETEC-oral challenge model is often applied to mimic unsanitary commercial swine farm conditions where pathogens and unknown complex microbes exist and can cause severe infections in pigs. The purpose of this study was (1) to estimate ETEC density using spectrophotometric computation, (2) to determine survivability of ETEC after storing at $-20^{\circ}C$ for 7 days, and (3) to evaluate survivability of ETEC after blending with diluted sweeteners (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40% sucrose in phosphate buffered saline [PBS]). Cell density was quantified using UV-VIS spectrophotometer and counting ETEC colony forming units (cfu) at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 min. The established linear equation ($y=0.0031x^2-0.0079x+0.0043$ and $y=0.0046x^2-0.0151x+0.0113$) was used for robust quantification of each ETEC cell density. ETEC stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ showed 108 cfu/mL after thawing and incubation. When ETEC was blended with sweeteners (20 and 40%), survival of ETEC was decreased by 58 and 54% in 5 min post blending. However, addition of 20% of sweetener resulted in a higher survivability than those with other media concentrations. Therefore, the use of ETEC-oral challenge model would be possible as a stable method if we could confirm the appropriate medium that increases survivability of ETEC in weaner pigs.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.62-65
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• 2010

Salmonellosis is one of the most important wasting diseases that leads to economic damage in the swine industry. Many risk factors have been reported to increase the spread of Salmonella infection; therefore, it is important to understand how to treat the risk factors of Salmonella to effectively prevent salmonellosis in commercial pig farms. To accomplish this, we conducted a study to determine if the seasons and porcine production stages affected the serological response to Salmonella in Korea. A total of 1,592 serum samples submitted to the School of Veterinary Medicine of Kangwon National University between Jan. 2001 and Dec. 2004 from commercial farms were tested by ELISA. The overall apparent seroprevalence of salmonellosis was 38.1% (95% CI, 38.0-38.2), while the prevalence of Salmonella according to seasons and production stages ranged from 17.9% to 62.8% for the former (24.6% in spring, 17.9% in summer, 38.5% in autumn, and 62.8% in winter) and from 16.1% to 68.3% for the latter (17.9% in suckling pigs, 16.1% in weaning pigs, 37.50% in growers, 41.9% in finishers, 48.0% in gilts, and 68.3% in sows). In this study of seroprevalence by production stage, most pigs were naturally infected by Salmonella during the weaning stage. Also, seroprevalences were found to have a seasonal pattern in which most pigs were infected in autumn to winter.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.384-389
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• 2005

These experiments were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of rice protein concentrate (RPC) in weaning pigs. In expt. I, a 5-week feeding trial was conducted with 126 pigs (L${\times}$Y${\times}$D; 21 d-old; 5.32${\pm}$0.34 kg). Treatments were spray-dried plasma protein (SDPP; control), soy protein concentrate (SPC) and RPC (phase 1), and dried porcine soluble (DPS; control), SPC and RPC (phase 2). An ileal digestibility trial was also conducted to compare digestibility of amino acids in the tested protein sources. In expt. II, 160 weaning pigs (L${\times}$Y${\times}$D; 21 d-old; 5.65${\pm}$0.35 kg) were used in a 5-week feeding trial to determine the optimal inclusion level of RPC in the diet. Treatments were control (9% SPC), and three levels of RPC instead of SPC in the diets (3, 6 and 9%). During phase 1, pigs fed SDPP showed better (p<0.05) ADG and FCR compared with those fed SPC or RPC, while there was no difference in ADFI among treatments. During phase 2, however, pigs fed DPS showed lower (p<0.05) ADG than those fed SPC or RPC. During the total period, there were no significant differences in ADG, ADFI and FCR among treatments. The apparent ileal digestibilities of his, lys, phe, thr and met were not different among the tested protein sources. The apparent ileal digestibilities of arg, ile, leu and val were lower (p<0.05) in RPC than SDPP. The true ileal digestibilities of arg and leu were lower (p<0.05) in RPC than SDPP and SPC. However, that of met was higher (p<0.05) in RPC than SDPP. In expt. II, there were no significant differences in ADG and FCR when SPC was substituted with RPC up to 9% during the total period. In conclusion, based on our experimental results, RPC would replace SPC in the complex prestarter diet, which is somewhat cheaper than SPC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1326-1331
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• 2003

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of Toyocerin, a probiotic containing Bacillus toyoi spores, on the health status and productivity of pigs, during nursery, growing and finishing phases. On a commercial farrow-to-finish farm in Greece, 3 experimental groups were formed, each of 72 weaned piglets. The pigs of the first group (T1 group; negative controls) received normal feed with no antimicrobials or probiotics, the pigs of the second group (T2 group) received the same type of feed but supplemented with 1.0${\times}$10$^9$, 0.5${\times}$10$^9$ and 0.2${\times}$10$^9$ spores per kg of feed at weaning, growing and finishing stage, respectively, and the pigs of the third group (T3 group) were fed with Toyocerin at the dose of 1.0${\times}$10$^9$ spores per kg of feed during the entire fattening period (weaning, growing and finishing stages). The results have shown that, compared to the controls, Toyocerin treated pigs had reduced incidence of postweaning diarrhoea (p<0.05). Enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli were detected in faecal samples of 0% to 25% of pigs of the treated groups, but in 33.5% to 50% of pigs of the non-treated group (p<0.05). Over the negative controls, a significant improvement of weight gain (4.5% and 8.3% for T2 and T3 groups, respectively), and of feed conversion ratio (6.6% and 13.0% for T2 and T3 groups, respectively) was observed. The 76.5% of the carcasses of the T3 group was classified in the top three categories of the EUROP scale (S, E and U), whilst the respective figures were 47.8% for T2 group and only 10.5% for T1 group (p<0.05).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.37-46
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• 1991

A field trial was performed to evaluate the effects of hormone treatment on estrus induction, ovulation, embryo transfer and reproductive performance in post-weaning sows. This trial involved 61 mixed breed sows of varying parity on a commercial pig farm. Sows were allocated to one of five trials: control group involved 25 sows that were treated with a single intramuscular injection of 5 ml physiological saline, 6 sows received 1,500 IU PMSG on the day of weanning and 500 IU HCG at the onset of estrus in trial I, 7 sows received 750 IU PMSG on the day of weanning and 500 IU HCG at the onset of estrus in trial II, 5 sows were treated with the same as trial II on day 28 after weanning in trial III. and 18 sows were treated with 10 mg PGF$_2$$\alpha$ plus 2 mg estradiol benzoate on day 31 after weanning in trial IV. Ovarian responses were checked by laparotomy and ova were recovered by oviducal flushing between 40 and l00hrs after mating. Fertilized ova were transferred into the oviduts of recipient sows synchroni- zed. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. Percentages of sows detected in standing estrus following treatment were 86~100% among trial groups. The interval from treatment to standing estrus(6l.7$\pm$0.5lhrs) in lOmg PGF$_2$$\alpha$ and 2mg estradial henzoate treated group was significantly earlier than in other trial groups(P<0.05). 2. Average number of ovulations was 11.5~37.8 among trial groups. The ovulation rate in 1,500 IU PMSG and 500 IU RCG treated group (37.8$\pm$ 19.87) was significantly different from other trial groups(P<0.05). 3. Ova were recovered by oviducal flushing between 40~ l00hrs after mating and recovery rates of ova wore 91.4% between 40~59hrs. 4. Fertilized ova were transferred into the oviducts of 8 recipient sows synchronized with 7 to 17 ova per animal. Three of the recipients were pregnant and delivered 25 piglets. 5. Four of the donor sows in those embryo collection was not successful were pregnant following oviducal flushing and delivered 23 piglets. 6. Recurrence of estrus and farrowing performance of experimental sows were observed following the experiment was no difference among trial groups, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1617-1626
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding essential oils to the diet of weaned pigs on performance, nutrient utilization, immune response and intestinal health. A total of 96 weaning pigs ($8.37{\pm}1.58$ kg) were allotted to one of three dietary treatments. The treatments consisted of an unsupplemented basal diet (negative control, NC) or similar diets supplemented with 0.01% of an essential oil product which contained 18% thymol and cinnamaldehyde (EOD) as well as a diet supplemented with 0.19% of an antibiotic mixture which provided 150 ppm chlortetracycline, 80 ppm colistin sulfate and 50 ppm kitasamycin (positive control, PC). Each treatment was provided to eight pens of pigs with four pigs per pen. Over the entire 35 d experiment, ADG and fecal score were improved (p<0.05) for pigs fed the PC and EOD compared with the NC. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility as well as lymphocyte proliferation for pigs fed the PC and EOD diets were increased significantly compared with NC (p<0.05). IGF-I levels in plasma were significantly increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the PC diet compared with pigs fed the NC diet. Interleukin-6 concentration was lower (p<0.05) and the tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ level was higher (p<0.05) in the plasma of pigs fed the EOD diet than the NC diet. Plasma total antioxidant capacity level increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the EOD diet compared with pigs fed the NC. Villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum was greater (p<0.05) in pigs fed the PC and EOD diets than the NC. The numbers of E. coli in the cecum, colon and rectum were reduced (p<0.05) in pigs fed the PC and EOD diets compared with the control. In the colon, the ratio of Lactobacilli to E. coli was increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the EOD diet compared with NC diet. Total aerobe numbers in the rectum were decreased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the PC and EOD diets compared with the control. Collectively, these results indicate that blends of essential oils could be a candidate for use as an alternative to traditional antibiotics in weaning pig diets.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2003

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of the dietary Cu sources on the performance of the weanling pigs. Forty-eight, 24 in each sex, 4 weeks old pigs were assigned to four treatments; control, methionine-Cu chelate, chitosan-Cu chelate or yeast-Cu chelate. Control diet contained 136ppm Cu to which additional 100ppm Cu in different chelated form was added to the respective treatment. Individual pig weight and feed intake of each pen were recorded weekly for 5 weeks. Average daily feed intakes(ADFI), average daily gains(ADG) and ADFI/ADG were not significantly different among treatments. Nutrient availability was not also significantly affected by treatments. Serum triglyceride concentration of chitosan-Cu treatment was significantly lower than those of methionine-Cu and yeast-Cu treatments but was not significantly different from that of the control. Serum cholesterol concentration of yeast-Cu was significantly lower than those of the control and methionine-Cu but was not significantly different from that of chitosan-Cu treatment. Serum HDL-cholesterol concentration was not significantly affected by treatments. Serum IgG concentrations of all copper treatments were significantly lower than that of the control. It was concluded that Cu-chelates supplemented to the basal diet (136ppm Cu) by the level of 100ppm Cu did not significantly affect growth performance of weaning pigs. However, serum parameters of cholesterol, cholesterol and IgG were significantly affected by the treatments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1224-1232
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• 2020

Objective: The QingYu pig is well known for its excellent meat quality attributes in Sichuan province, China. In order to improve its production efficiency, the determination of genetic factors contributing to quantifiable economic traits of livestock is important. Moreover, the cross-breeding of QingYu pigs with western breeds possessing strong growth attributes is an efficient way to improve the performance of this breed. Methods: Here, the genetic parameters of several important reproductive traits of QingYu pigs were estimated, include total number born (TNB), number born alive, litter birth weight, individual birth weight, number of piglets weaned, litter weaning weight, and individual weaning weight. The data was analyzed using the ASReml 3.0 software (NSW Inc., Sydney, Australia). Furthermore, the effects of crossing Berkshire with QingYu (BQ) pigs on carcass and meat quality traits, as well as the effects of slaughter weight on carcass and meat quality of BQ were characterized. Results: QingYu pigs exhibited superior reproductive traits. The TNB available to QingYu pigs was more than 8 per parity. The observed repeatability of the reproductive traits of the QingYu pigs was between 0.10 and 0.23. The significantly correlated genetic and phenotypic of reproduction traits were consistent. Interestingly, the BQ pigs exhibited improved carcass quality, with a significant increase in loin muscle area, lean percentage and reduction in sebum percentage. As a result, BQ had higher L_45min, lower cooking scores, and lower drip loss. In addition, the loin muscle area, body length, and sebum percentage were significantly higher in 90 and 100 kg animals. Cooking loss showed a significant increase at 80 kg, and marbling increased significantly from 90 kg. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that QingYu pigs exhibit excellent reproductive properties and heritability of these traits. Crossing with Berkshire is an efficient strategy to improve the carcass and meat quality of QingYu pigs for commercial operations. Furthermore, it appears as though the optimal slaughter weight of BQ pigs is at approximately 90 kg.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.29.1-29.6
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• 2018

Background: Dietary supplementation of zinc oxide (ZnO) to 2000 to 4000 mg/kg is known to be effective for the prevention and treatment of post-weaning diarrhea in the pig. Such a 'pharmacological' supplementation, however, can potentially result in environmental pollution of the heavy metal, because dietary ZnO is mostly excreted unabsorbed. Two experiments (Exp.) were performed in the present study to determine the effects of a lipid-coated ZnO supplement Shield Zn (SZ) compared with those of ZnO. Methods: In Exp. 1, a total of 240 21-day-old weanling pigs were fed a diet supplemented with 100 mg Zn/kg as ZnO (ZnO-100), ZnO-2500, SZ-100, or SZ-200 in 24 pens for 14 days on a farm with its post-weaning pigs exhibiting a low incidence of diarrhea. Exp. 2 was performed using 192 24-day-old piglets as in Exp. 1 on a different farm, which exhibited a high incidence of diarrhea. Results: In Exp. 1, fecal consistency (diarrhea) score (FCS) was less for the ZnO-2500 and SZ-200 groups than for the SZ-100 group (P < 0.05), with no difference between the SZ-100 and ZnO-100 groups. Both average daily gain (ADG) and gain:feed ratio were less for the SZ-200 group than for the ZnO-2500 group, with no difference between the ZnO-100 group and SZ-100 or SZ-200 group. The villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and VH:CD ratio of the intestinal mucosa were not influenced by the treatment. In Exp. 2, FCS was lowest for the ZnO-2500 group, with no difference among the other groups. However, neither the ADG nor gain:feed ratio was influenced by the treatment. Conclusion: Results suggest that physiological SZ supplementation has less beneficial effects than pharmacological ZnO for the alleviation of diarrhea irrespective of its severity and for promoting growth without influencing their integrity of the intestinal mucosal structures with little advantage over physiological ZnO in weanling pigs with a small pen size.