• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.103-114
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• 2024

This study was done to investigate the effects of the incorporation of Achyranthes japonica extracts (AJE) in diet on the production parameters of growing pigs. Exp 1: Total, 105 crossbred pigs (average body weight: 24.47 ± 2.46 kg) were used in a 6-week feeding trial. Pigs (seven replicates, five pigs per pen) were allotted randomly to three treatments. Dietary treatments: CON (basal diet); basal diet with 0.025% AJE, and basal diet + 0.050% AJE). Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial count, and fecal noxious gas were assessed in this study. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) were not affected by the addition of up to 0.05% AJE. In the case of apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and digestible energy (DE) were not changed in 3rd and 6th weeks of the feeding trial through the addition of AJE up to 0.05% in the growing pig diet. In microbial count, Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli count at 3rd and 6th week was similar in all the treatment diets. The inclusion of AJE at levels up to 0.05% in growing pig diet had no effect on the production of NH3, H2S, acetic acid, and CO₂ in the feces. After ending the Exp 1, a total of nine pigs were divided into three treatment groups. Treatment diets were included, TRT1, basal diet + powder quercetin 30 g; TRT2, basal diet + powder quercetin 150 g; TRT3, basal diet + powder quercetin 300g. Rate of absorption in blood was increased with the higher dose of quercetin. The results suggested incorporation of AJE up to 0.05% has no significant effect on ADG, ADFI, and G:F, as well as DM, N, and DE digestibility, fecal microbial count, and fecal noxious gas emission in growing pigs, even though no negative effect was found.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.787-796
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• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of germanium biotite (GB) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and fecal gas emission in pigs. In Exp 1., a total of one hundred nursery pigs (initial body weight 13.12${\pm}$0.15kg) were used in a 21 d growth assay. The five treatments were control (CON, basal diet), GB0.5-200 (basal diet + 0.5% GB, 200mesh), GB1.0-200 (basal diet + 1.0% GB, 200mesh), GB0.5-325 (basal diet + 0.5% GB, 325mesh), GB1.0-325 (basal diet + 1.0% GB, 325mesh). Each treatment had four replicates with five pigs per replicate. ADG, ADFI and gain/feed were not significantly different among the treatments. Fecal NH3-N concentration of pigs fed the GB325 diet was lower than that of pigs fed the GB200 diet (P=0.01). The GB treatments reduced fecal volatile fatty acids significantly compared to the CON (propionic acid, P=0.01; butyric acid, P=0.01; acetic acid, P=0.02). Especially, fecal propionic acid concentration of pigs fed the GB325 diets was lower than that of pigs fed the GB200 diets (P=0.02). In Exp 2., a total of seventy five pigs (initial body weight 21.18${\pm}$0.15kg) were used in a 28 d growth assay. The treatments were same as described for Exp. 1. Each treatment had five replicates with three pigs per replicate. The GB1.0 treatments significantly increased the ADG compared to the GB0.5 treatments (P=0.03). The DM and N digestibility of pigs fed the GB1.0 diets were higher than that for pigs fed the GB0.5 diets (P=0.01). Also, the Ca digestibility of pigs fed the GB diets was higher than that for pigs fed the CON diets (P=0.01). The fecal NH3-N concentrations for the GB treatments were lower than that for the CON (P=0.01). The GB325 treatments significantly decreased the fecal NH3-N concentration compared to the GB200 treatments (P=0.03). The fecal butyric acid concentration for the GB325 treatments was lower than that for the GB200 treatment (P=0.04). In conclusion, the results obtained from these feeding trials suggest that the dietary GB for nursery pigs affects fecal noxious gas emission. In growing pigs, dietary GB was effective to improve ADG and decrease fecal noxious gas emission.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.291-301
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different mixing ratios of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis in diets on nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, and odor gas emissions of growing pigs. A total of four crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) barrows with average body weight (BW) of 41.2 ± 0.7 kg were randomly allotted four diets over four periods in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were as follows: Control (CON, basal diet), CON + 0.2% probiotic complex (L4S6, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis at a 4:6 ratio), CON + 0.2% probiotic complex (L5S5, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis at a 5:5 ratio), CON + 0.2% probiotic complex (L6S4, B. licheniformis and B. subtilis at a 6:4 ratio). Dietary probiotic supplementation showed higher crude protein (CP) digestibility values and lower Escherichia coli counts in fecal samples than the CON group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in NH₃ or H₂S emission until day 3. The positive effect of H₂S and NH₃ emissions was detected earlier with the L4S6 and L5S5 compared to the L6S4, which had a lower ratio of B. subtilis. Both the L4S6 and L5S5 probiotic complexes significantly decreased the fecal H₂S and NH₃ emission in days 4 and 6 (p < 0.05). On day 7, all probiotic complexes decreased (p < 0.05) H₂S and NH₃ emissions than the CON group. Our results agreed that the dietary supplementation of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis complexes in growing pigs can significantly improve CP digestibility and reduce fecal E. coli counts, NH₃ and H₂S emissions. Notably, the higher mixing ratio of Bacillus subtilis in probiotic supplementation is more effective in reducing the odor of manure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.998-1003
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• 2016

Although exogenous protease enzymes have been used in poultry diets quite extensively, this has not been the case for pig diets. In general, due to their better gut fermentative capacity and longer transit time, pigs have greater capacity to digest dietary proteins than poultry. However, in early-weaned piglets, the stress brought about by weaning adversely affects the digestion of dietary proteins. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the effects of a commercial protease enzyme in weanling pigs. Indices of growth, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microflora, fecal gas emission and fecal scores were measured during the study. A total of 50 weanling pigs ($6.42{\pm}0.12kg$) at 28 d of age were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 2 dietary treatments: i) control diet (corn-soy based) with no supplemental protease (CON), and ii) control diet+200 g/ton protease (PROT) for 42 d. A completely randomized design consisting of 2 treatments, 5 replicates, and 5 pigs in each replicate was used. Growth performance in terms of body weight ($27.04{\pm}0.38kg$ vs $25.75{\pm}0.39kg$; p<0.05) and average daily gain ($491{\pm}7.40g$ vs $460{\pm}7.46g$; p<0.05) in PROT fed pigs were increased significantly, but gain per feed ($0.700{\pm}0.01$ vs $0.678{\pm}0.01$; p>0.05) was similar between treatments at d 42. Relative to CON pigs, PROT fed pigs had increased (p<0.05) apparent total tract digestibility ($84.66%{\pm}0.65%$ vs $81.21%{\pm}1.13%$ dry matter and $84.02%{\pm}0.52%$ vs $80.47%{\pm}1.22%$ nitrogen) and decreased (p<0.05) $NH_3$ emission ($2.0{\pm}0.16ppm$ vs $1.2{\pm}0.12ppm$) in the feces at d 42. Except for a decreased (p<0.05) in blood creatinine level, no differences were observed in red blood cell, white blood cell, lymphocyte, urea nitrogen, and IgG concentrations between treatments. Fecal score and fecal microflora (Lactobacillus and E. coli) were also similar between CON and PROT groups. Overall, the supplementation of protease enzyme in weanling pigs resulted in improved growth rate and nutrient digestibility. Exogenous protease enzyme reduced fecal $NH_3$ emission, thus, potentially serving as a tool in lowering noxious gas contribution of livestock production in the environment.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1592-1605
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to select an effective in vitro digestion-fermentation model to estimate the effect of decreasing dietary crude protein (CP) on odor emission during pig production and to suggest potential prediction markers through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods: In the in vitro experiment, three diet formulations with different CP contents (170 g/kg, 150 g/kg, and 130 g/kg) but containing the same standardized ileal digestible essential amino acids (SID-EAA) were assessed. Each diet was evaluated by two different in vitro gastric-intestinal phase digestion methods (flask and dialysis), combined with fresh pig feces-ferment inoculation. Eighteen growing barrows (31.9±1.6 kg) were divided into three groups: control diet (180 g CP/kg, without SID-EAA adjustment), 170 g CP/kg diet, and 150 g CP/kg diet for 4 weeks. Results: The in vitro digestion results indicated that in vitro digestibility was affected by the gastric-intestinal phase digestion method and dietary CP level. According to the gas kinetic and digestibility results, the dialysis method showed greater distinguishability for dietary CP level adjustment. Nitrogen-related odor compounds (NH₃-N, indole, p-cresol, and skatole) were highly correlated with urease and protease activity. The feeding study indicated that both EAA-adjusted diets resulted in a lower odor emission especially in p-cresol and skatole. Both protease and urease activity in feces were also closely related to odor emissions from nitrogen metabolism compounds. Conclusion: Dialysis digestion in the gastric-intestinal phase followed by fresh fecal inoculation fermentation is suitable for in vitro diet evaluation. The enzyme activity in the fermentation and the fecal samples might provide a simple and effective estimation tool for nitrogen-related odor emission prediction in both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chelated Cu and Zn on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal noxious gas emission in weanling pigs. A total of 90 weanling pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of $5.27{\pm}0.04kg$ were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments for 42 d. Pigs were then fed a control diet (CON) or a Zinpro diet (CON + 0.1% chelate copper and zinc). There were nine replicate-pens with five pigs in each pen. During d 0 to 14 and d 14 to 28, the ADFI decreased (p<0.05) and the G/F increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the Zinpro diet compared with those that received the CON diet. During d 28 to 42, the ADFI increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the Zinpro diet relative to those fed the CON diet. Additionally, the apparent total tract digestibility of DM, N, and energy increased (p<0.05) in the Zinpro group when compared to the CON group on d 14 and 28. The lymphocyte percentage was also greater (p<0.05) in the Zinpro group than in the CON group. Overall, dietary supplementation with 0.1% chelate copper and zinc improved the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weanling pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1600-1607
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• 2014

A total of 120 finishing pigs ([Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace]${\times}$Duroc) with an average body weight (BW) of $49.72{\pm}1.72kg$ were used in 12-wk trial to evaluate the effects of protected organic acids on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal micro flora, meat quality and fecal gas emission. Pigs were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments (10 replication pens with 4 pigs per pen) in a randomly complete block design based on their initial BW. Each dietary treatment consisted of: Control (CON/basal diet), OA1 (basal diet+0.1% organic acids) and OA2 (basal diet+0.2% organic acids). Dietary treatment with protected organic acid blends linearly improved (p<0.001) average daily gain during 0 to 6 week, 6 to 12 week as well as overall with the increase in their inclusion level in the diet. The dry matter, N, and energy digestibility was higher (linear effect, p<0.001) with the increase in the dose of protected organic acid blends during 12 week. During week 6, a decrease (linear effect, p = 0.01) in fecal ammonia contents was observed with the increase in the level of protected organic acid blends on d 3 and d 5 of fermentation. Moreover, acetic acid emission decreased linearly (p = 0.02) on d7 of fermentation with the increase in the level of protected organic acid blends. During 12 weeks, linear decrease (p<0.001) in fecal ammonia on d 3 and d 5 and acetic acid content on d 5 of fermentation was observed with the increase in the level of protected organic acid blends. Supplementation of protected organic acid blends linearly increased the longissimus muscle area with the increasing concentration of organic acids. Moreover, color of meat increased (linear effect, quadratic effect, p<0.001, p<0.002 respectively) and firmness of meat showed quadratic effect (p = 0.003) with the inclusion of increasing level of protected organic acid in the diet. During the 6 week, increment in the level of protected organic acid blends decreased (linear effect, p = 0.01) Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts and increased (linear effect, p = 0.004) Lactobacillus counts. During 12-wk of experimental trial, feces from pigs fed diet supplemented with organic acid blends showed linear reduction (p<0.001) of E. coli counts and the tendency of linear increase (p = 0.06) in Lactobacillus count with the increase in the level of organic acid blends. In conclusion, 0.2% protected organic acids blends positively affected growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal gas emission and meat quality in finishing pigs without any adverse effects on blood parameters.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2004

A study was conducted to examine the effect of dietary supplementation of multiple probiotics (EM) on growth performance, blood cholesterol, intestinal micro flora, and fecal gas emission in broiler chicks. A total of 450 one day old male broiler chicks (Ross $\times$ Ross) were divided into six treatments with five replications in each treatment for five weeks. Treatments were factorially designed with two levels of diet containing probiotics (DW; 0, $0.2\%$) and three levels of drinking water containing probiotics (DW; 0, 0.01, $0.1\%$). Basal diets contained $21.5\%$ CP and 3,100 kcal/kg ME for starting and $19\%$ CP and 3,100 kcal/kg ME for finishing period. Weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversions of birds fed with probiotics were not significantly different between Ds. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower (P<0.05) in birds fed with DW $0.01\%$ or $0.1\%$ compared with no probiotics group, but there was no significant difference between D treatments. The number of E. coli, Salmonella and Lactobacillus in the ileum and cecum of the birds fed multiple probiotics were not significantly different from those of no probiotic groups. There were no significant differences in the $CO_2$ gas emissions of fecal between birds fed with Ds or among birds fed with DW. However, $NH_3$ gas emissions of DW $0.1\%$ were significantly lower (P<0.05) than DW $0\%$. In the results of this study, supplementation of probiotics tended to decrease the serum cholesterol and triglyceride compared to those of control groups and reduction of fecal $NH_3$ gas emission.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1073-1079
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• 2010

Forty-eight ((Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Landrace) pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of $48.47{\pm}1.13\;kg$ were used in a 12-week growth trial to investigate the influence of Anion (silicate) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality and fecal noxious gas content in growing-finishing pigs. Pigs were allotted into three dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design according to sex and initial BW. Each dietary treatment consisted of four replications with four pigs per pen. Dietary treatments included: i) CON (basal diet), ii) HCI (basal diet+3 g/kg Anion), iii) HCII (basal diet+6 g/kg Anion). No significant difference (p>0.05) was detected for average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain/feed ratio (G/F) throughout the experiment, although dietary supplementation of Anion numerically increased these characteristics compared with CON. The dietary HCI group significantly (p<0.05) increased the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) and energy compared with the CON group (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed in meat quality except that meat firmness was linearly (p<0.05) increased by the Anion supplementation, while an increased tendency in meat color and a decreased tendency in 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was also observed (p<0.10). Anion supplementation linearly (p<0.05) decreased the fecal $NH_3$ compared with the CON group. However, dietary Anion supplementation at 3 g/kg decreased the $H_2S$ concentration compared with CON, while no significant difference was detected in the HCII group, although the $H_2S$ emission was numerically decreased compared with CON. In conclusion, supplementation of the diet with 3 g/kg Anion was found to exert a beneficial effect on nutrient digestibility and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs, and concomitantly decreased the noxious gas emission without negative effect on growth performance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of feeding various Lactobacillus on production performance, nutrients digestibility, intestinal microflora, and fecal $NH_{3}$ gas emission in laying hens. Three hundred and sixty ISA Brown layers, 21 weeks of age, were randomly allotted to nine treatments, with low replicates per treatment. Nine treatments consisted of Control(no Lactobacillus), Lactobacillus crispatus avibrol(LCB: KFCC-11195), Lactobaciilus reuteri avibro2(LRB: KFCC-11196), Lactobacillus crispatus avihenl(LCH: KFCC-11197), Lactobacillus vaginalis avihen2(LVH: KFCC-11198). Each Lactobacillus was added at two levels ($10^{4}$and $10^{7}$ cfu/g diets). Egg production, and egg weight were measured daily. A metabolism trial was conducted following the 12-week feeding trial, during which egg qualities, intestinal microflora and fecal $NH_{3}$ gas emission were examined. Egg production and daily egg mass improved significantly by the addition of various Lactobacillus(P<0.05), of which effect was more notable during the latter part of the feeding trial. But, no significant differences were found among Lactobacillus strains and between two levels of supplementation. Egg weight and feed intake showed no difference among all treatments. Feed conversion ratio of birds fed lactobacillus was significantly improved compared to that of the Control(P<0.05), but not different among lactobacillus treatments. Digestibility of crude protein, ether extract and crude ash improved significantly in lactobacillus treatments(P<0.05). However, there were not statistically different by adding levels and strains. Total counts of Lactobacillus spp. in ileum of layers fed Lactobacillus were significantly higher than that of the control, but no consistent trend was found in cecum. There were no significant differences in intestinal yeast and anaerobes counts among all treatments. The Lactobaciilus supplementation did not exert my effect on the eggshell quality and Haugh unit. Fecal $NH_{3}$ gas emission decreased significantly in Lactobacillus treatments, and showed no difference between the two supplementation levels. From the result of this study, it could be concluded that dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus, regardless of their species, Improves the laying performance and decreases the fecal ammonia gas emission. The proper level of supplementation appears to be $10^{4}$ cfu/g of diet.