• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.315-318
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the changes of hormone levels of serum progesterone (P4) and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) in sows of Landrace (L), Yorkshire (Y) and F1 (L ${\times}$ Y) (respectively n=3) with excellent ability, and to provide a baseline data for improving reproductive performance. In this experiment, the sows at the age of 12 months or more were used. The sows were fed by two way methods, one is conventional methods and the other is 3 days-flushing feed before estrus. Each pig's blood was collected in 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 days after the estrus for the analyses of P4 and E2. Serum was separated by centrifugation for 15 min. with 3,000 rpm. Progesterone and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ were measured by immunochemical assay (ELIZA test). In conventional feeding, serum progesterone levels were significantly (p<0.01) higher in F1 than in L and Y. No significant differences in P4 concentrations were seen between the L and Y of sows. Serum E2 levels were similar the serum progesterone levels. In the case of flushing feed, the tendency of hormonal changes were similar to conventional methods. But almost of hormonal levels were a little higher than that of conventional methods. P4 level of L and Y in flushing feed were significantly different (p<0.01). Serum E2 level of Y in flushing feed was significantly different among the breeds (p<0.01). These results were similar to the tendency of hormonal changes in general sows and moreover, flushing feed is known to develop the swine production, these results proved the fact of the methods. And these results suggested that more studies about hormonal changes in sows according to seasonal and nutritional factors should be needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2005

There were two trials involved in the experiment. Trial 1: the trial was conducted on two Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) pig farms. One was located in the north of Taiwan and the other was located in the south. Both farms had wet pad and forced ventilation (WPFV) and conventional open design (COD) boar and sow houses. There were 12 Duroc boars, age ranging from 12-24 months. Half of them (6 boars) were raised in a WPFV pig house, and the other half were kept in a COD house. Semen was collected at 5-day intervals from May $1^{st}$ to the end of October. Sixteen sows (2-8 parity) were served by artificial insemination each week from the beginning of May to the end of Oct. These sows were checked for heat from 18 days to 25 days after insemination. Trial 2: there were four MPFV boar houses involved in the test. Two houses were located in the north of Taiwan, and the other two houses were located in the south. The test was conducted from January 2000 to December 2001. The total number of serviced sows by MPFV-housed boars was 35,105 head and for COD-housed boars 103,065 head. The results showed that the total semen volume, density of sperm, total sperm per ejaculate, sperm motility and morphological abnormality were significantly better (p<0.01) for boar raised in WPFV house than for COD houses. Average sperm motility in June and July was lower than for the other months. Morphological abnormality was higher during May, June and July. Although the results did not reach a significant level, the average value showed that the total volume of boar semen was higher in the north than for the south. The total semen volume production of boar raised in WPFV was higher than for boars raised in COD house, reaching a significant level only in summer. Boars kept in WPFV house had higher total sperm number than boars kept in COD house, reaching a significant level in spring (p<0.05), summer (p<0.01), and fall (p<0.05) but not in winter (p>0.05). Boars raised in WPFV house had significantly higher sperm motility than boars in COD house during spring (p<0.001), summer (p<0.001), fall (p<0.01) and winter (p<0.05). The average farrowing rate and piglets born alive were higher for boars in WPFV house than for boars in COD house, but neither reached a significant level (p>0.05). The present experiment shows that WPFV house can improve the reproduction performance of boars.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1721-1728
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• 2007

An in vitro and a feeding trial were conducted to investigate the effect of xylanase supplementation on the feeding value of growing pig diets containing high proportions of Chinese double-low rapeseed meals (DLRM). Seven diets were formulated to meet NRC (1998) nutrient requirements. Diet 1 based on corn-soybean meal was used as positive control 1, and diet 2, a practical diet which incorporated a conventional level of Chinese DLRM (60 g/kg diet), as positive control 2. Diet 3 contained a higher level of DLRM (100 g/kg diet) as the negative control. Diet 3 plus xylanase at 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.70 g/kg diet created diets 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively. The seven diets were incubated in triplicate with the in vitro two-stage enzyme incubation method to predict responses of diets to xylanase in terms of digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). In vitro, the negative control had the lowest CP and NDF digestibility. Both DM and CP digestibility were increased (p<0.05) owing to xylanase supplementation either at 0.50 or 0.70 g/kg diet, and NDF digestibility was improved following xylanase addition at all of the test levels. There was a high linear correlation ($r^2>90$, p<0.05) between the activity concentration of the enzyme when transformed into its logarithmic value and in vitro digestibility coefficients of DM, CP or NDF. In the feeding trial, 112 crossbred pigs were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments with 16 replicate pens of one pig each. An obvious dose effect on growth rate was observed ($r^2=0.79$, p<0.05) within the inclusion levels of xylanase. Compared with the negative control, xylanase addition at 0.70 g/kg diet resulted in significantly increased ADG (878 g/d vs. 828 g/d, p<0.05), and a tendency towards improved growth rate (868 g/d vs. 828 g/d, p = 0.10) was also observed following the inclusion of xylanase at 0.50 g/kg diet. It would appear that the nutrient utilization of corn and Chinese DLRM diets by pigs could be enhanced by an appropriate amount of xylanase addition. The in vitro and in vivo results suggested that the in vitro incubation method is feasible for predicting responses of pigs to exogenous enzymes and identifying those preparations that possess potential for improvement of the nutritive values of feedstuffs.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of porcine artificial insemination (A·I) on fertilizing capacity using intrauterine inseminator (IUI) method and conventional A·I (CAI) method. Number of sows used in this study was 15 far IUI and 59 fur (CAI), respectively. The results obtained are as fellows: 1 . The frozen and liquid semen used for A·I showed the higher farrowing rate in liquid semen (86.4%) than frozen semen (67%). Number of pigs born per semen type showed the higher values of number of piglets with no statistical significance using frozen semen (9.7) than liquid semen (9.3). 2. The farrowing rate per parity was highest in the 3∼5th parities (100%), f311owe4 by 0∼ 2th parities (60%), and was the smallest in 6 ∼ 10th parities (25%). Number of pigs born per litter was highest in 0∼2th parities (11.3), followed by 3 ∼ 5th parities (9.2) and lowest in 6∼ 10th parities. In the number of pigs bort per litter, the sow s in the high parities delivered lower number of piglets than those in low parities with no significant difference. These results indicated that fertilizing capacity could be improved by using IUI method.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.457-464
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• 1998

For investigating the effect of amount of applied fertilizer with pig and chicken manures in the field, the number of soil bacteria were counted on the full strength conventional nutrient broth (NB) medium and its 100-fold dilution (DNB) medium. From the control soil samples without organic amendments, the number of bacteria on DNB medium was 5 to 10 times higher than that on NB medium. However, population density on NB medium was higher than on DNB medium from the treated soil with 60 and 120 Mg/㏊ for 3 years. Most of isolates from DNB plates did not grow on the NB plates. There were only grown on the 100-fold dilution medium, so it was called as DNB organisms. The DNB organisms were occupied as dominant group over 60% fo isolates in control soil. However, their occupation rates were rapidly decreased in the treatment soil with pig and chicken manures above 60 and 120 Mg per ha. These DNB organisms (oligotrophs) were significantly low population desities in the treatment soil with organic materials.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 1995

The effect of ${\alpha}_1$-adrenoceptor(${\alpha}_1$-AR) stimulation on intracellular pH($pH_i$), $Na^+$ activity($a_{Na}{^i}$) and contractility were investigated in isolated papillary muscles of euthyroid or hyperthyroid guinea pig with conventional microelectrode, $Na^+$ or $H^+$-selective microelectrodes, and tension transducer. Stimulation of the ${\alpha}_1$-AR by phenylephrine produced a decrease in $a_{Na}{^i}$ in euthyroid preparations. This decrease in $a_{Na}{^i}$ was abolished in presence of PKC activator, phorbol dibutyrate, and increased contrary to decrease. Phenylephrine also increased $a_{Na}{^i}$ in hyperthyroid ones. However, phenylrephtine produced an increase in $pH_i$ in both euthyroid and hyperthyroid ones. These changes were blocked by prazosin, an antagonist of ${\alpha}_1$-AR. These findings suggest that the changes in $a_{Na}{^i}$ and $pH_i$ are mediated by a stimulation of $Na^+-H^+$ exchange via ${\alpha}_1$-AR stimulation. This study focused on the increase in $a_{Na}{^i}$, $pH_i$ and contractility. The increase in $pH_i$ was blocked by amiloride or EIPA, $Na^+-H^+$ exchange inhibitors. Therefore, the increase in $a_{Na}{^i}$ and $pH_i$ mediated by ${\alpha}_1$-AR appeared to be due to an influx of $Na^+$ and a reduction of $H^+$ through $Na^+-H^+$ exchange. This study also revealed that the increase in $pH_i$ and $a_{Na}{^i}$ might be related to the sustained positive inotropic response. The $a_{Na}{^i}$ increase may contribute to the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange, and the $pH_i$ increase could cause an increase in the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of myofilaments and may augment the ${\alpha}_1$-AR-mediated positive inotropic response.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2013

Willingness-to-pay (WTP) for pork produced by quality test was determined using a contingent valuation method. Three model studies including a dichotomous-choice and two double dichotomous-choice types were conducted. The respondents in this study appropriately understood the contingent valuation and the suggested price was significant as a characteristic variable. The results imply that there is lower chance to select pork produced by the quality test, as the price difference is greater between conventional and quality-tested pork. WTPs in double and single contingent valuation models were 735 and 547 won/100 g, respectively. WTP was increased with increasing the educational level of respondents. The average WTPs analyzed by convariate were 1,015 won/100 g for double contingent valuation and 580 won/100 g for single contingent valuation. Considering the minimum price of WTP of pork produced by quality test (547.4 won/100 g), the total economic value was estimated to be 5,173,600 million won and per capita customer value was 106,000 won. Therefore, providing an institutional strategy for pork quality test will be beneficial for the consumers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.113-122
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• 2018

Thermal stress of pigs causes decreased feed consumption and weight gain rate, immunosuppression, reproductive disorders, and increased mortality. The concept of the temperature-humidity index (THI) has been widely used to evaluate the degree of thermal stress of pigs. However, use of this concept is strongly restricted for animals living in the enclosed facilities. In this study, Building Energy Simulation (BES) technique was used to realize the energy flow among outside weather conditions, building materials, and animals. Especially, mechanisms of sensible and latent heat generation from pigs according to surrounding air temperature and their weight were designed to accurately evaluate the THI values inside the pig house. The THI values computed by the BES model were compared to those calculated by method of the report (NIAS, 2016), the model of this study predicted the start date of heat stress about 9~76 days earlier compared to the NIAS model. Results of the BES model also showed higher frequencies of the THI above the THI threshold for pigs, indicating that conventional model has a possibility of underestimating the degree of heat stress of pigs.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.55-70
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• 2009

The long-term effects and the soil environmental changes were examined to ensure the safety of food waste compost in agricultural use. Based on conventional nitrogen application rate of chemical fertilizer, Pig manure compost with $24g\;N\;kg^{-1}$, $8g\;P_2O_5\;kg^{-1}$, and $10.4g\;K_2O\;kg^{-1}$ and food waste compost with $20g\;N\;kg^{-1}$, $20.1g\;P_2O_5\;kg^{-1}$, and $6.5g\;K_2O\;kg^{-1}$ were applied to the paddy soil in $2{\times}2{\times}2m$ lysimeter in which paddy rice (Oryza sativa L. var Chucheong) were grown. The rice grown where food waste compost applied showed better growth responses than control, whereas less yield rate than chemical fertilizer applied. The contents of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus after experiment were increased with compost applied. In addition, it improved soil aeration by the application of food waste compost, while little difference was observed in the quality of surface, infiltrated, and ground water compared to chemical fertilizer applied or control.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1484-1490
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• 2024

The gut microbiota is a key factor significantly impacting host health by influencing metabolism and immune function. Its composition can be altered by genetic factors, as well as environmental factors such as the host's surroundings, diet, and antibiotic usage. This study aims to examine how the characteristics of the gut microbiota in pigs, used as source animals for xenotransplantation, vary depending on their rearing environment. We compared the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in fecal samples from pigs raised in specific pathogen-free (SPF) and conventional (non-SPF) facilities. The 16S RNA metagenome sequencing results revealed that pigs raised in non-SPF facilities exhibited greater gut microbiota diversity compared to those in SPF facilities. Genera such as Streptococcus and Ruminococcus were more abundant in SPF pigs compared to non-SPF pigs, while Blautia, Bacteroides, and Roseburia were only observed in SPF pigs. Conversely, Prevotella was exclusively present in non-SPF pigs. It was predicted that SPF pigs would show higher levels of processes related to carbohydrate and nucleotide metabolism, and environmental information processing. On the other hand, energy and lipid metabolism, as well as processes associated with genetic information, cell communication, and diseases, were predicted to be more active in the gut microbiota of non-SPF pigs. This study provides insights into how the presence or absence of microorganisms, including pathogens, in pig-rearing facilities affects the composition and function of the pigs' gut microbiota. Furthermore, this serves as a reference for tracing whether xenotransplantation source pigs were maintained in a pathogen-controlled environment.