• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2003

This study was carried out to get a fundamental information fur improvement of reproductive performance in gilt. We investigated the effects of breeds on body weight, age, body length, wither's height, girth and backfat thickness, and the serum concentrations of estradiol-17$\beta$, cortisol and progesterone at first estrus and mating of gilts. A total of 47 gilts of Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire, produced at Livestock Experiment Station, Chungnam Livestock Sanitation Research Institute from 2000 through 2002, were used for this experiment. Body weight, age and girth of Duroc at first estrus and mating were higher than those of Landrace and Yorkshire. There were no differences on body length among the three breeds at first estrus and mating. Wither's height of Duroc and Yorkshire at first estrus and mating was higher than that of Landrace. Backfat thickness of Yorkshire was thinnest among the three breeds at first estrus, but there were no differences on backfat thickness among the three breeds at first mating. Serum estradiol-17$\beta$ concentration of Landrace (45.0 pg/ml) at first estrus was higher than that of Yorkshire (27.4 pg/ml) and Duroc (21.8 pg/ml), but there were no differences on estradiol-17$\beta$ concentration (from 18.5 to 31.9 pg/ml) among the three breeds at first mating. Serum cortisol concentration of Duroc at first estrus and mating was higher than that of Landrace and Yorkshire. There were no differences on serum progesterone concentration among the three breeds at first estrus and mating of gilt.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1440-1443
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• 2001

Forty eight $Duroc{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$ pigs ($15.2{\pm}0.3kg$ average initial BW) were used conducted to evaluate the effects dietary phytase (Phytezyme, WOOJIN, Co. Ltd) supplementation on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing pigs. There were three pigs per pen and four pens per treatment. Treatments were 1) Con (corn-wheat-SBM), 2) PE0.1 (low-P iet+0.1% Phytezyme), 3) PE0.2 (Iow-P diet+0.2% Phytezyme), 4) PE0.3 (low-P diet+0.3% Phytezyme). During d 0 to 28, average daily gain was not significantly different among the treatments. Pigs fed PE0.3 diet significantly decreased (p<0.05) their average daily feed intake compared to pigs fed Con diet. Also, gain/feed in pigs fed PE0.1 and PE0.3 diet was improved (p<0.05) compared to pigs fed Con and PE0.2 diet (p<0.05). For d 28 to 56, pigs fed PE0.2 diet grew significantly faster (p<0.05) than pigs fed Con and PE0.1 diet. Gain/feed was greater (p<0.05) for PE0.2 and PE0.3 treatments than for Con. For overall period, average daily gain was increased (P<0.05) by the addition of 0.2% Phytezyme compared with Con. Gain/feed was significantly improved (p<0.05) by supplementation of PE0.3. Pigs fed PE0.2 showed increased DM and N digestibilities compared to pigs fed other treatments. Supplemented diets PE0.2 and PE0.3 improved (p<0.05) the apparent digestibility of Ca and P compared to other treatments. In conclusion, the results obtained from these feeding trials suggest that the Phytezyme supplementation of diets for growing-finishing pigs had improved growth performance and nutrient availability.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.61-71
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• 2004

These studies were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding dried leftover food (DLF) on growth, feed conversion and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing pigs. In experiment 1, seventy-five three-way cross-hybrids ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace{\times}Duroc$) pigs weighing approximately 22 kg of body weight on average were assigned to five treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment had three replications with five pigs per replication. All pigs were fed experimental diets for 60 days. In experiment 2, seventy-five three-way cross-hybrids pigs weighing approximately 70 kg of body weight were fed experimental diets for 49 days. Each treatment had three replications with five pigs per replication. The treatments included 1) group offered control diet without DLF, 2) group offered diet containing DLF at 25%, 3) group offered diet containing DLF at 50%, 4) group offerred diet containing DLF at 25% with 10% higher protein level and 5) group offerred diet containing DLF at 50% and 20% higher protein level. Average daily gain of growing pigs was highest in control group among all the treatment groups except group offered diet containing DLF at 25% with no significant difference (P>0.05). Feed intake of DLF-offered groups were lower than that of control group while feed intake of groups fed diets containing DLF at 50% with 20% higher protein level was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of control group. Feed conversion of growing pigs was not significantly different amont treatments although it seemed to be slightly improved in groups fed diets containing DLF at 25%. Average daily gain of finishing pigs fed diets containing DLF was significantly lower than that of control group. However there was no significant differences in average daily gain between groups fed diets containing DLF at 25% with 10% higher protein level and control group (P>0.05). Feed intakes were significantly decreased in DLF-fed groups compared to control group while there was no significant differences in feed intake between groups fed diets containing DLF with 10% and 20% higher protein levels and control group (P>0.05). Feed conversion was lowest in groups fed diets containing DLF at 25% with 10% higher protein level. However, there were no significant differences in feed conversion between groups fed diets containing DLF at 25% with 10% higher protein level and control group. Feed conversion of groups fed diets containing DLF at 50% was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05). Carcass weight was decreased with increasing levels of DLF in the diets. There were no significant differences in dressing percentage, backfat thickness and carcass grade among treatments. Feed cost per 1 kg body weight gain of finishing pigs was lowest in groups fed diets containing DLF at 25% with 10% higher protein level.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.605-613
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• 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of plant flavonoid (quercetin) on immune parameters, growth performance, and nutrient digestibility in growing pigs challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 40 crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) growing pigs; initial body weight (BW) of 26.95 ± 1.26 kg were used in a six-week experimental trial. Pigs were randomly allocated into one of four treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with the following factors; without LPS challenge and with LPS challenge (day 21) supplemented with or without 0.1% flavonoid according to BW (2 replicate pens per treatment with 2 gilts and 3 barrows per pen). The single-dose LPS (100 ug / kg BW) injection showed trends tended to be increased in interleukin-6 (IL-6) after 2 h and 6 h of challenge compared with unchallenged pigs. However, other measured immune indices (white blood cell, immunoglobulin G, lymphocyte, and tumor necrosis factor), growth performance, and nutrient digestibility were not significantly different between challenged and non-challenged animals. The supplementation of flavonoid significantly increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) during day 0-21, tended to increase dry matter and nitrogen digestibility, significantly reduced IL-6, increased Ig-G and WBC concentrations and increased lymphocytes percentage regardless of LPS challenge.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.707-715
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• 2020

An experiment was designed to assess ractopamine supplementation on growth, meat quality and carcass, and fecal scores of pigs. The 96 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire× Landrace] × Duroc) had an average body weight of 72.8 ± 2.5 kg. Randomized allocation was followed in the allotment of the pigs according to their body weight into 1 of 2 dietary treatments: 1) CON, basal diet and 2) RAC (ractopamine hydrochloride), CON + 1% ractopamine with 12 replication pens per treatment including equal numbers of barrows (2) and gilts (2) per pen. At the end of the experiment, the lean meat percentage was higher (p < 0.05) for the RAC group compared to the CON group. Dietary ractopamine supplementation did not influence (p > 0.05) the growth performance and fecal score throughout the experimental period. In regard to sensory evaluation, higher (p < 0.05) scores for color and firmness were observed in the RAC group than in the CON group. Drip loss (p < 0.05) was higher in the ractopamine fed diet group compared to the control diet group at day 1. Additionally, longissimus muscle was improved (p < 0.05) in the ractopamine treated diet group than in the control diet group. In conclusion, in the early stage, ractopamine supplementation may not influence the growth performance, but it improves the leanness in the meat of finishing pigs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

We conducted this research to examine the reducing level of lysine : tryptophan ratios in the diet affected the performance and meat quality of finishing pigs. At the end of the experiment, 144 crossbred finishing pigs (Duroc × [Yorkshire × Landrace]) having an average body weight of 70.6 ± 3.9 kg were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (9 replications, 4 pigs per pen). The pigs in the 4 treatments were fed diets with different lysine : tryptophan ratios, such as 1 : 0.175, 1 : 0.160, 1 : 0.145, and 1 : 0.130. In considering average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), the ratio of tryptophan and lysine (Lys : Trp) did not show any significant effect (p > 0.05). Moreover, nutrient digestibility had no significant impact (p > 0.05). However, the decreasing level of tryptophan linearly decreased the back-fat thickness at overall period (p = 0.038) and reduced at week 5 (p = 0.007). Additionally, the lean meat percentage (LMP) showed a tendency to increase at initial (linear effect, p = 0.097) and increased at overall period (linear effect, p = 0.045). Therefore, we suggest that Lys : Trp ratio of 0.130 could enhance the meat quality in finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1655-1661
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• 2007

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H) plays a central role in collagen synthesis by catalyzing the hydroxylation of the proline residue in the X-Pro-Gly amino acid sequence, and controls the biosynthesis of collagen that influences overall meat quality. In order to verify expression level of the catalytic ${\alpha}$ subunit of P4H, a 2.7 kb clone of the ${\alpha}$ subunit gene for P4H was selected from a cDNA library prepared from the muscular tissue of Sancheong berkshire pigs, and the whole gene sequence was determined. As expression level of the ${\alpha}$ subunit of P4H differed between tissues of pigs, we intended to assess more precisely the level of ${\alpha}$-subunit expression between tissues of Sancheong Berkshire pigs by using RT-PCR. Muscular and adipose tissues were taken from each pig grouped by growth stage (weighing 60, 80, and 110 kg) of Yorkshire and Sancheong Berkshire pigs, and the expression levels of the ${\alpha}$-subunit of P4H were examined. Since there were significant differences in the expression level with respect to variation in growth stage (p<0.01), an attempt was made to identify any influences of pig species and tissue variation. The muscular and adipose tissues of pigs weighing 110 kg showed higher expression levels than pigs weighing 60 kg and 80 kg. In general, significantly higher expression levels were found in muscular than in adipose tissue. The expression levels in Sancheong Berkshire were significantly higher than in Yorkshire pigs (p<0.01 or p<0.05). Since expression level of the ${\alpha}$-subunit of P4H affects the activity of P4H and is connected to the biosynthesis of collagen and increased collagen can improve meat texture, this finding may explain why meat quality of the Sancheong Berkshire pig is acclaimed in Korea. Given the higher expression levels of the ${\alpha}$-subunit gene in adipose than in muscular tissue, and also in the heavier pigs, more intensive studies are required to assess the correlation between expression level of the ${\alpha}$ subunit gene and overall meat quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.515-524
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• 2001

Two experiments using growing and finishing pigs (Landrace$\times$Duroc$\times$Yorkshire) were conducted to determine the effects of different levels of vitamins and trace minerals (VTM) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs, and to evaluate the suitability of vitamin-mineral levels commonly used in the swine industry in Korea. A total of 120 three crossbred (Landrace$\times$Duroc$\times$Yorkshire) growing (Experiment I: 20.90 0.44 kg average initial body weight) and finishing (Experiment II: 53.55 0.97 kg average initial body weight) were used in 6 and 9 weeks feeding trials, respectively. Pigs were allotted on the basis of sex and weight to 5 treatments with 6 replications per treatment with 4 pigs per pen in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were: 1) control, 2) fat soluble vitamin 200% vs. control, 3) water soluble vitamin 200% vs. control, 4) trace mineral 50% vs. control, 5) trace mineral 200% vs. control. In experiment I, during the overall experimental period (0 to 6 weeks, 21 to 54 kg body weight), ADG of the 200% trace mineral supplemented group was significantly higher than that of the 50% trace mineral supplemented group. There were no significant differences among other the treatments. Digestibility of crude protein was lowest in mineral 50% supplemented group (p<0.05). Calcium digestibility was significantly higher in the 200% fat soluble vitamin supplemented group than in the other treatments (p<0.05). In experiment II, during the overall experimental period (0 to 9 weeks, 54 to 106 kg body weight), growth performance was not significantly affected by dietary vitamin and trace mineral levels. However, increasing level of water soluble vitamins at the level of 200% compared to control had a tendency to improve the overall growth performance. Overall carcass characteristics except for carcass length did not differ among pigs fed the dietary treatments. Loin eye area, pH, drip loss and shear force of meat were not affected by dietary vitamin and trace mineral levels. There was a trend for less fat content (%) in pork when the level of vitamin and trace mineral was increased, but the difference was not significant. Flavor score was the lowest in control and highest in the 200% fat soluble vitamin supplemented group (p<0.05). Juiciness of muscle was lower in the 200% fat soluble vitamin supplemented group than other dietary treatments, except for trace mineral 50% supplemented group (p<0.05). Based on these results, it is suggested that "typical" commercial levels of vitamin and trace minerals used by feed companies in Korea are sufficient to meet requirement for the maximum growth of growing-finishing pigs. Our results suggests that a reduction in trace mineral levels in commercial diets could be considered to reduce feed cost and nutrient excretion with economic and environmental benefits.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2009

The pork from black-coated pigs is famous among-consumers for better eating quality. The loci affecting black coat color was identified in pig chromosome 6 in which several genetic effects on pork quality have been reported. The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene is a major gene which plays a key role in regulation of eumelanin (black/brown) and phaeomelanin (red/yellow). In this study, the MC1R gene polymorphism was analyzed for pig breed determination and genetic association with pork quality traits. MC1R Ala243Thr variation was analyzed to determine a specific genotype for four commercial pig breeds (Landrace, Yorkshire, Berkshire and, Duroc) and a Korean native pigs (KNP). Then we developed original KNP-specific DNA markers to determine the pork from black-coated pigs using MC1R DNA sequences. The total length of the MC1R coding sequence ranged 1451bp in KNP. KNP had the 0201 allele pertaining to $E^{D1}$ but some of the KNP had the $E^P$ allele, probably reflecting the geneticintrogression of $E^P$ allele into KNP. Furthermore, a relationship between Leu102Pro single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype and pork quality phenotype were analyzed in F2 reciprocal-crossbred population between KNP and Yorkshire. Association analysis indicated that the allele of the MC1R gene has no effect on pork quality. These results suggest that black coat-color is not directly associated with preferred pork quality, but the black-coat color pig breed may have other genetic components for superior pork quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.121-132
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• 2008

A total of 100 pigs were used to investigate the effects of pig breed on proximate, physicochemical, cholesterol, amino acid, fatty acid and sensory properties of loins. Crossbred pigs were alloted into one of five experimental groups [×Duroc(LYD), ×Berkshire (YBB), British Berkshire(BB), Kagoshima Berkshire(KB), Korean native black pig×Wild boars(KW; Sus coraanus)]. Pigs were slaughtered at 110 kg live weight. Moisture content was significantly(p<0.05) higher in KW than those of other pig breeds. Crude protein content was significantly(p<0.05) higher in YBB and KW than in LYD, BB, and KB. Cholesterol content was significantly(p<0.05) higher in YBB than those of other pig breeds. WHC and pH value had lower and shear force had higher(p<0.05) in YBB than those of other pig breeds. In color, LYD was significantly(p<0.05) higher in L* than those of other pig breeds. There was no significant different in a* and brittleness value among the breeds. In fatty acid and amino acid composition, KW had a higher(p<0.05) UFA/SFA, EFA/UFA ratio and EAA content but lower (p<0.05) SAAA. Total amino acid content was significantly(p<0.05) higher in LYD(20.44%) and BB (20.81%) than those of other pig breeds. In fresh meat, breeds affected meat color, drip loss, marbling score, and overall acceptability(p<0.05). Nevertheless, no significant differences were found among the breeds in the sensory parameters evaluated in the cooked meat, except for flavor