• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.279-286
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• 2010

Livestock production in Vietnam is, as in most Asian countries, increasing rapidly and changing into specialized highly intensified operations. The volume of animal excreta generated exceeds the capacity of the operation land base and cannot be utilized efficiently. As a consequence, there is a loss of plant nutrients from livestock farms that causes environmental pollution. This study carried out a feed and excretion experiment measuring fecal characteristic, daily fecal production, daily nitrogen and phosphorous excretion from grower-finisher pigs fed prevalent rations in Vietnam. Furthermore, equations for assessing the excretion were tested, which can be used in farm models for optimal recycling of manure while focusing on reducing pollution. The results indicated that fecal production and nutrient excretion were affected by the different rations tested. This study showed that five selected equations for predicting excretion from grower-finisher pigs in Danish conditions can also be used with precision in Vietnamese pig farming systems. The equations have been proven valid and can, therefore, be used as a much needed tool for assessing fecal production and nitrogen in excreta on pig farms. The study also showed that about 12% of nitrogen excreted was emitted during housing. Waste water contains more than half of the nitrogen excreted, mainly in ammonium form which has a high potential for gaseous emission.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2019

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the plane of nutrition (PN) for growing-finishing pigs on growth performance and meat quality in summer. One hundred and two barrows and 102 gilts weighing approximately 44 kg were placed on a high-, medium-, or low-plane grower diet (HPG, MPG, or LPG) with ME and lysine concentrations ranging from 3.33 to 3.40 Mcal/kg and 0.93% to 1.15%, respectively, for 29 days in 6 replicates (pens) in total. Pigs from each grower pen were divided into two finisher pens and provided with a high-plane finisher diet (HPF) containing 3.40 Mcal ME and 9.5 g lysine/kg and a low-plane finisher diet (LPF; 3.25 Mcal ME and 8 g lysine/kg), respectively, up to approximately 110 kg, and slaughtered. Growth performance of the pigs, including average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain:feed ratio, was not influenced by the grower-phase PN during any of the grower phase, a 31-d finisher phase I, and ensuing phase II. However, both the ADG and gain:feed ratio were greater (p < 0.05) for the HPF group than for the LPF group during the finisher phase I (748 vs. 653 g with SEM = 13 g and 0.333 vs. 0.299 with SEM = 0.008, respectively). The ADG, but not gain:feed ratio, was greater for the HPF group vs. LPF during the finisher phase II (673 vs. 623 g with SEM = 15 g for ADG and 0.322 vs. 0.323 with SEM = 0.005 for the gain:feed ratio). The carcass backfat thickness (BFT) was greater for the LPF group vs. HPF within the pigs which had been placed on LPG during the grower phase, but not within the pigs from the HPG or MPG group. Physicochemical characteristics of the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) and sensory quality attributes of fresh and cooked LM were not influenced by either the grower-phase or finisher-phase PN. In conclusion, high PN is necessary for finishing pigs during the hot season to minimize the reduced rate of weight gain and also to prevent the increase of BFT that could result from low PN.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.830-836
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• 2003

The classical energy balance method was used to measure the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) of four batches of broiler starter and finisher diets produced by two commercial feed companies. The results showed there was little variation in protein content between batches, but NDF content varied from 13.3% to 15.5% between batches of diet. The batch variation in chemical composition differed between feed manufacturers. While there was no difference in AME and feed conversion ration (FCR) between batches of starter diets produced by company A, FCR and AME ranged from 1.76-1.94 (p<0.001) and 11.38-11.90 MJ/kg air dry (p<0.05), respectively, for diets produced by company B. Similar results were found in a second experiment. There was no difference in AME, dry matter digestibility (DMD) and FCR between batches for finishing diet produced by company B, but a large variation occurred for the finisher diets from company A (p<0.01), where the ranges of FCR, AME and DMD were 1.95-2.30, 10.5-12.3 (MJ/kg air dry) and 58-68%, respectively. FCR was correlated with AME. AME was negatively related to the content of fibre in the diet, but positively related to DMD. The preliminary results based on 24 samples showed that near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) has the potential to predict FCR, intake, AME and DMD of commercial broiler diets, with $R^2$ being 0.93, 0.89, 0.95 and 0.98, respectively. The standard error of cross validation was below 0.2 for AME and only 0.06 for FCR.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.371-375
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• 1999

Total 1,434 sera collected from 72 pig farms were tested for the detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus antibodies. The overall seroprevalence of PRRS virus antibodies was 49.3% (707/727). Of 72 farms tested 59 (81.9%) farms had at least one or more than one pigs with PRRS virus antibodies. The seroprevalence of PRRS virus antibody varied with age. Seroprevalence of PRRS virus antibody in 1 to 30-day-old, 31 to 40-day-old, 41 to 50-day-old, 51 to 60-day-old, and over 61-day-old pig were 27.4%, 52.3%, 57.9%, 52.7%, and 68.2%, respectively. Gilt showed relatively higher seroprevalence (61.2%) than sow (29.2%) and boar (38.3%). In most farms, the infection of PRRS virus was chronic and confined to grower or finisher. This pattern of infection suggests that partial depopulation of the infected herds appears be one of the measures to eradicate the PRRS virus infection. High seroprevalence of the PRRS virus antibody in gilts and boars indicates that the infected gilts and boars in the breeding farms are the major source of the PRRS virus infection, and also play an important role in spreading the PRRS virus between fan mates or herds.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.427-433
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• 2012

The present study was performed to investigate long-term effects of the low-crude protein and lysine (low CP/lys) diet and a yeast culture supplemented to the low CP/lys diet on growth and carcass characteristics in growing-finishing pigs. Forty-five gilts and 45 barrows weighing approximately 25 kg born to Yorkshire ${\times}$ Landrace dams and Duroc sires were allocated to nine pens, with five gilts and five barrows assigned per pen. Every three pens received CP/lys-rich grower and finisher diets (control), low CP/lys grower and finisher (basal), or the low CP/lys grower and finisher supplemented (2%) with a yeast culture providing $3.2{\times}10^8$ Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells/kg diet (yeast) for 31 and 79 days, respectively. The ADG was less in the low CP/lys (basal + yeast) group than in the control group (P<0.01) during both grower (0.59 vs. 0.70 kg) and finisher (0.75 vs. 0.89 kg) phases. However, marbling score was greater (P<0.05) in the low CP/lys group vs. control (3.86 vs. 3.12) at slaughter, which resulted in a twice percentage of the $1^+$-quality grade carcasses in the former compared with that for the latter. Supplementation of the yeast culture to the basal diet caused a decrease in ADG during the grower phase (P<0.01), but not during the finisher phase (0.64 vs. 0.53 kg and 0.73 vs. 0.77 kg for the basal vs. yeast group during the grower and finisher phases, respectively), without influencing the marbling score or percentage of the $1^+$-quality grade carcasses. In conclusion, results indicate that long-term provision of the low CP/lys diet has a beneficial effect on marbling and carcass quality grade as well as a negative effect on weight gain and that the yeast culture supplemented to the low CP/lys diet has no beneficial effect on weight gain or carcass quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

Little is known about the effects of the plane of nutrition on growth performance and meat quality of grow-finish pigs under commercial production conditions. The present study was thus addressed to this virtually unanswered question. One hundred and two barrows and 102 gilts weighing approximately 24 kg were fed phase I and II grower diets with a high, medium, or low plane of nutrition (HP, MP, or LP) to approximately 43 and 70 kg, respectively, in 6 replicates (pens). Subsequently, the HP and MP groups were fed the HP and MP1 finisher diets, respectively, the LP group being fed a second MP (MP2) finisher diet (LP1 group). Moreover, 68 LP-grower-fed barrows and gilts were added to the feeding trial and fed the MP1 and LP finisher diets to approximately 95 kg and thereafter, respectively (LP2 group). All MP diets had the lysine:calorie ratios comparable to the RNC recommendations, with < 18% differences between those of the HP and LP diets. The finisher pigs were reared in 16 pens and slaughtered at approximately 115 kg. The gain:feed ratio, but not average daily gain (ADG), was greater for the HP group than for the MP and LP during the grower phase I whereas during the grower phase II, ADG was greater (p < 0.05) for the HP and LP groups vs. MP. During the finisher phase I, ADG was less for the LP (LP1 + LP2) group vs. HP and MP, with no difference between the HP and MP groups; the gain:feed ratio was less for the LP vs. MP group. Backfat thickness was greater for the LP vs. HP group. The water holding capacity of fresh longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) and the sensory juiciness score for cooked LM were greatest for the LP group, the sensory flavor and tenderness scores being greater for the LP group vs. MP. In conclusion, results suggest that compensatory growth occurred for the LP and MP groups during the grower phase II and finisher phase I, respectively, with fat deposition increased for the LP group and that meat quality could be improved by the use of LP.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.324-329
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• 2015

The primary aim of this study was to investigate biosecurity practices in pig farms and to determine the major risk factors associated with PCV2 infection for a sampled swine population in Korea. To this end, we analyzed data from a cross-sectional study of 296 farrow-to-finish farms, which was conducted between March and September 2014 to explore the prevalence of swine disease at farm level. Face-to-face interviews by on-site visit of trained veterinarians were conducted with the farm owners or managers using a standardized questionnaires with information about basic demographical data and management practices. Farms were classified as negative or positive through the use of infection profiles that combined data on serological testing including PCR antigen test result, antibody titer and sero-conversion pattern at each age category taking into account vaccination status. Data were analyzed using multivariate ordinal logistic regression. Results from this study indicated that biosecurity level of the farms was considered not good given low compliance of the biosecurity programs and facilities in the farm: off-site removal of dead stocks (7%), off-site location of storage facility for incoming feeds (12.6%), off-site pick-up location for finishers (19.3%), restrictions on feed supplier vehicles for farm entrance (19.6%), restriction of finisher trucks entering the farm (22.4%), and restriction on manure disposal trucks entering the farm (26.4%). In the final model (n = 255), allowance of finisher truck driver to the pig unit had increased risk of infection (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.22-4.67) whereas farms with a sign forbidding the entrance had decreased risk of infection (OR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.10-0.58). Further comprehensive research with larger sample size is required to better understand the multifactorial characteristic that some predisposing risk factors that were not available in this study. To the best knowledge of the authors, this was the first study to use empirical data to report risk factors associated with PCV2 infection in the Korean pig farms. Results from the current study could be used to decide optimal biosecurity measures to reduce the impact of PCV2 infection to farmers and policy makers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.287-294
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• 1999

Vitamin and mineral deletion from swine diets can result in reduced growth if done during the period wher muscle and bone development is occurring. Several of the vitamins and minerals decline in the serum during the starter period, suggesting a higher dietary inclusion may be necessary postweaning. Vitamin research with grower-finisher pigs is limited, but results suggest that rapidly growing lean pigs may have a higher dietary requirement for the B vitamins. Several studies have suggested that early weaning and pigs of a lean genotype may have a dietary requirement for vitamin C, CI and Cr. High dietary vitamin E levels are fortified in the diet and seems to be effective in preventing mulberry heart problems in weanling and grower pigs. Organic Se is more effectively retained in muscle tissue than inorganic Se, approximately 20% less is excreted, but the bioavailability of organic Se for glutathione peroxidase activity is only 80 to 90% to that of sodium selenite. The active form of thyroxine (T4) is dependent upon a Se containing enzyme. Withdrawal of vitamins and minerals during the latter part of the finisher period has not affected pig performance responses, but studies with poultry suggest that the vitamin content of the meat may be reduced if the vitamins are withdrawn prior to marketing. High levels of vitamin E have been shown to improve pork quality, by reducing drip loss. Studies with vitamin C and Se have suggested that they may also be involved in pork quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.504-510
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• 2004

Two experiments were conducted. In expt. 1, a total of fifty-four pigs (L$\times$Y$\times$D, 56.14$\pm$1.7 kg) were used for a feeding trial to determine the effect of wet feeding of a commercial-type diet without food waste (FW). Treatments were dry (Control), wet (WF) and wet+dry feeding (WDF). For wet feeding, the diet was mixed with water at a ratio of 1:2.5 (feed:water). A wet feed was given during the whole experimental period for the WF group, but the dry feed was given during the finisher period for the WDF group. In expt. 2, a total of fifty-four pigs(L$\times$Y$\times$D, 55.7$\pm$1.8 kg) were used for a feeding trial to determine the effect of wet feeding of FW. Treatments were a commercial-type dry (Control), wet fermented food waste (WFFW) and WFFW+dry feeding (WFFW+DF). For wet feeding of fermented food waste, however, some ingredients (concentrate) were added to make nutrient contents comparable to the control diet. The FW collected was ground ($\leq$5 mm), heated with a steam jacket (140$\pm$3$^{\circ}C$) and fermented with probiotics for one day in a steel container at 30-40$^{\circ}C$. For the WFFW group, the wet feed was given during the whole experimental period, but a dry feed was given during finisher period for the WFFW+DF group. In expt. 1, during the grower period, pigs fed wet feed showed higher average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed only dry feed (p<0.05). During the finisher period, pigs in the WDF group showed better ADG and FCR than the control group. During the entire experimental period, pigs in the WDF group grew faster (p<0.05) than those in the control group, and the same trend was found in FCR. Also, dressing percentage, backfat thickness, lean %, and pork color were not affected by the wet feeding of diets in this study. In expt. 2, during the grower period, pigs fed diets containing FW showed lower (p<0.05) ADG than those fed the control diet. But FCR was better (p<0.05) in pigs fed FW than in the control group. During the finisher period, pigs in the WFFW+DF group grew faster (p<0.05) than those in the control and WFFW groups. During the entire experimental period, pigs fed the control diet showed better ADG (p<0.05) than those fed FW, but feed intake and FCR were vice versa. Dressing percentage was lower (p<0.05) in the WFFW than in the control group, but backfat was thinner in the WFFW group than in the control group. In summary, it can be concluded that wet feeding of formula feed can improve daily gain, however, feeding fermented wet food waste may reduce daily gain of finishing pigs, even though it was fermented and the nutrient was fortified with concentrates. In addition, dry feeding of a formula feed during the finishing period can improve daily gain in pigs fed a wet feed with or without food waste during the grower period.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2001

Swine proliferative enteritis(SPE) caused by inかsoma intracellularis is a common enteric disaese of grower and finisher pig. Swine affected with SPE show variable clinical signs including diarrhea, weight loss, aberrant growth and death. The characteristic lesion of ileitis at necropsy is marked thickening of the last section of the small intestine. The inner lining of the thickened intestine proliferates almost like a cancer and curved rod bacteria(L intracellularis) are always seen inside the intestinal wall. Infected swine shed the organism in the feces. Isolation and growth of pure L intracellularis in vitro requires a suitable cell culture. This procedure is difficult and not a practical means of diagnosis, thus the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) test of feces can be used to determine whether a pig is shedding the infective organism. A sensitive assay based on amplification of a 319bp DffA fragment of the L intracellularis of Swine proliferative enteritis was attempted for the detection of the organism in the 62 feces of swine. L intracellularis was identified on three herds and detected in 6 fecal samples, representing a infection rate of 9.7%. The PCR was very sensitive and specific on the individual level. The PCR technique could be very useful for the diagnosis of this disease.