• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.367-379
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• 2021

The objectives of this study were to evaluate convolutional neural network models and computer vision techniques for the classification of swine posture with high accuracy and to use the derived result in the investigation of the effect of dietary fiber level on the behavioral characteristics of the pregnant sow under low and high ambient temperatures during the last stage of gestation. A total of 27 crossbred sows (Yorkshire × Landrace; average body weight, 192.2 ± 4.8 kg) were assigned to three treatments in a randomized complete block design during the last stage of gestation (days 90 to 114). The sows in group 1 were fed a 3% fiber diet under neutral ambient temperature; the sows in group 2 were fed a diet with 3% fiber under high ambient temperature (HT); the sows in group 3 were fed a 6% fiber diet under HT. Eight popular deep learning-based feature extraction frameworks (DenseNet121, DenseNet201, InceptionResNetV2, InceptionV3, MobileNet, VGG16, VGG19, and Xception) used for automatic swine posture classification were selected and compared using the swine posture image dataset that was constructed under real swine farm conditions. The neural network models showed excellent performance on previously unseen data (ability to generalize). The DenseNet121 feature extractor achieved the best performance with 99.83% accuracy, and both DenseNet201 and MobileNet showed an accuracy of 99.77% for the classification of the image dataset. The behavior of sows classified by the DenseNet121 feature extractor showed that the HT in our study reduced (p < 0.05) the standing behavior of sows and also has a tendency to increase (p = 0.082) lying behavior. High dietary fiber treatment tended to increase (p = 0.064) lying and decrease (p < 0.05) the standing behavior of sows, but there was no change in sitting under HT conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.644-649
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• 2003

The effects of housing and nutrition on the performance of first lactation sows of the Nepalese Pakhribas breed were investigated. A total of 36 sows, from a previous experiment on nutrition during gilt rearing, were allocated according to a factorial design with 2 levels of nutrition, 60 or 80% of the calculated lactation requirement, and two types of housing, traditional or improved. The mean live weight loss of sows during lactation was reduced to a slightly greater extent by improved housing (p<0.05) than by better nutrition (p<0.10). There was also a significantly lower loss of $P_2$ backfat thickness (p<0.05) and mean body condition score (p<0.05) for sows on the higher plane of nutrition. Piglet weight gain in early and mid lactation was influenced by gestation feeding of the gilt (p<0.10) and by housing (p<0.05). Late lactation gain was influenced only by lactation feeding (p<0.05). In consequence, piglet weight at 42 day weaning was increased to a similar extent by improved housing (p<0.05) and better lactation nutrition (p<0.01). Significantly more sows were remated by day 10 after weaning from a higher level of rearing nutrition ($x^2=13.57$, p=0.001), and from improved housing and improved lactation (both $x^2=4.57$, p=0.033). It is concluded that, under Nepalese village conditions, improvements in housing may be a more cost effective way of improving sow performance than expenditure on additional feed resources.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.273-283
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of anise flavor on the performance of lactating sows and suckling pigs at different weaning ages. A total of 120 sows (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) were used in this experiment. Sows were fed with a commercial lactation diet (60 sows) or diet with flavor (60 sows) during days 100 to 114 of gestation period and the whole lactation period. Piglets were allotted to 2 dietary treatments based on their initial body weight (BW) using a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 levels of anise flavor (0 or 0.5 g/kg) and weaning periods (weaned at 21 day or 28 day after birth). Sows fed with flavor supplemented diets had higher (p < 0.05) back fat and average daily feed intake (ADFI) at weaning, lower (p < 0.05) back fat loss than those fed with non-flavor diets. Sows weaned at 28 day had higher (p < 0.05) weaning back fat and lower (p < 0.05) back fat loss than those weaned on 21 day. During weaning, piglet average daily gain (ADG), ADFI, digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and gross energy (GE) and fecal score were affected by anise flavor, respectively. In conclusion, dietary flavor supplementation could increase feed intake of lactating sows, improve growth performance and reduce weaning stress of piglets, especially effective in the early weanling piglets. Meanwhile, interactive effects were observed about the piglet performance between weaning ages and anise flavor supplementation after weaning.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권2호
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• pp.302-311
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• 2022

This study investigated the effect of a synergistic blend of free and buffered organic acid (FMP) on the performance of piglets born to sows supplemented with a blend of short- and medium-chain organic acids (SGG) during the late gestation and lactation period. A total of 150 multiparous sows (n = 50/treatment, Landrace × Yorkshire) were blocked (2.4 parity) and assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: CON - corn-soybean meal-based basal diet, SGG-Low - CON+ 1.5 kg/ton SGG, and SGG-High - CON + 3kg/ton SGG. During weaning, 600 piglets (6.72 ± 0.5kg) which weaned from sows supplemented with 3 levels of SGG were allocated to 2 weaner diets (Control and FMP - 3kg/ton) following 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Supplemental effects on performance were measured at d0-d21 and d 21-42, and the entire period. Pigs fed with FMP and born to sows supplemented with SGG-High gained more weight and ate more (p < 0.05) compared with those in the CON group in both phases, and with SGG-Low in the second phase. Over the entire post-weaning period, piglets born to sows supplemented with SGG-Low and SGG-High had a higher average daily gain (ADG) and body weight (BW) (p < 0.05). Regardless of sow treatment, pigs fed with an FMP diet had higher ADG (p < 0.001), BW (p = 0.045), and a lower feed conversion ratio (p = 0.033). Also, feeding FMP diets reduced the fecal Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens counts at d42. The current study indicates that sows fed SGG supplement had a positive carry-over effect on the post-weaning growth rate, and FMP supplement enhances the growth performance and reduced the number of C. perfringens and E. coli. Thus, the application of 3 kg/ton of SGG in sows' diet and subsequent feeding of piglets with FMP would be an effective strategy to improve growth rate and reduce pathogenic bacteria in post-weaned piglets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.883-895
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of a fatty acid-balanced oil, instead of soybean oil, on reproductive performance, nutrient digestibility, blood indexes, milk composition in lactating sows, and fecal microbial composition in piglets. Methods: Twenty-four sows (Landrace×Yorkshire, mean parity 4.96) were randomly allotted to two treatments with twelve pens per treatment and one sow per pen based on their backfat thickness and parity. The experiment began on day 107 of gestation and continued until weaning on day 21 of lactation, lasting for 28 days. The control group (CG) was fed a basal diet supplemented with 2% soybean oil and the experimental group (EG) was fed the basal diet supplemented with 2% fatty acid-balanced oil. Results: The fatty acid-balanced oil supplementation increased (p<0.05) the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy in sows. The lower (p<0.05) serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and albumin levels of sows were observed in the EG on day 21 of lactation. Dietary supplementation with the fatty acid-balanced oil decreased the fat content, increased the immunoglobulin G level, and changed (p<0.05) some fatty acid content in milk. Moreover, the fatty acid-balanced oil supplementation changed (p<0.05) the fecal microbial composition of piglets, where the average relative abundance of Spirochaetota was decreased (p<0.05) by 0.55% at the phylum level, and the average relative abundance of some potentially pathogenic fecal microorganism was decreased (p<0.05) at the species level. Conclusion: The fatty acid-balanced oil improved nutrient digestibility, changed the serum biochemical indices and milk composition of sows, and ameliorated the fecal microbial composition of piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권8호
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• pp.1150-1154
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• 2015

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of palm kernel expellers on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and changes in white blood cells (WBC) of lactating sows. A total of 14 sows ($200{\pm}12kg$ of average body weight [BW]; 2.5 of average parity) were used and moved from gestation room to farrowing room on d 109 of gestation. Sows were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The treatments were a diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON added with 20% of palm kernel expellers (PKE). Sows were fed the treatments for 28 days (weaning) after farrowing. Blood was collected from each sow and 4 randomly selected piglets from each sow before farrowing or on d 3, 7, or 14 of lactation. Sows were fed respective treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide from d 15 to 21 of lactation. Fecal samples were collected daily for the last 3 days after the 4-d adjustment period. Measurements were performances and WBC changes of sows and litter, nutrient digestibility of sows, and daily diarrhea of litter. Sows fed PKE had greater average daily feed intake (7.38 vs 7.10 kg/d; p<0.05) and lost less BW (-6.85 vs -8.54 kg; p<0.05) and backfat depth (-0.42 vs -0.71 mm; p<0.05) than those fed CON. However, there were no differences on digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy and weaning to estrus interval of sows fed either CON or PKE. Piglets from sows fed PKE gained more BW (203 vs 181 g/d; p = 0.08) and had less frequency of diarrhea (6.80 vs 8.56%; p = 0.07) than those from sows fed CON. On the other hand, no difference was found on preweaning mortality of piglets from sows fed either CON or PKE. Sows fed PKE had lower number of WBC (9.57 vs $11.82{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$; p = 0.09) before farrowing than those fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. Similarly, piglets from sows fed PKE had also lower number of WBC (7.86 vs $9.80{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$; p<0.05) on d 14 of lactation than those from sows fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. In conclusion, addition of 20% palm kernel expellers to lactation diet based on corn and soybean meal had no negative effects on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and WBC changes of lactating sows.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제61권3호
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• pp.147-153
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• 2019

A goal for swine farming is the improvement in the number of live-born and weaned piglets per sow. Hence, the effect of parities should consider the correlation between the component traits of reproductive performance, weaning, and duration. Sows were housed in farrowing pens (W 2.2 ${\times}$ D 1.8 ${\times}$ H 1.2 m) on a partially slatted plastic floor. Twenty sows used in this study were between the first and sixth parity in gilts (P1), parity 2-5 (P3), and parity 6-9 (P6). Data collection by parity was classified into three categories: (1) reproduction performance (gestation length, total number of piglets born, number of piglets live born, number of piglets stillborn, total piglet birth weight; (2) weaning traits (weaning period, number of piglets weaning, total piglets weaning weight); (3) duration traits (farrowing duration, placenta expulsion duration, time from last piglet to first placenta, average birth interval, and tail wagging behavior). Gestation length was higher in P6 than P1 and P3 of different parity sows. The maximum value in P1 and P3 was 117 days, but the median value in P6 was 117 days (p < 0.05). The total number of piglets born (p = 0.113), number of piglets live born (p = 0.118), number of still piglets born (p = 0.151), and total piglet birth weight (p = 0.117) were not affected by parity. The number of live piglets was higher than the other parities by an average of $15.6{\pm}2.1$ in P1. The duration of farrowing was the lowest at 22.2 min in P6, but the maximum value was 42.2 min more than other parities (p = 0.355). Weaning traits of sows also did not differ significantly (p > 0.05), but the weaning period from P1 was lower than that of the other parities (p = 0.170). The number of piglets weaned was 10 heads on average in P1, P3, and P6 (p < 0.05). However, the mean values of the total piglet weaning weight (p = 0.377) of P6 (62.0 10.4 kg) were higher than those of P1 (54.9 10.2 kg) and P3 (58.4 13.6 kg). The placenta expulsion duration was higher in P6 than that in P1 and P3 (p = 0.447). The time from the last piglet to first placenta was be lower in P3 than that of the other parities (p = 0.206). The average birth interval was higher in P3 than that of the other parities (p = 0.156). Tail wagging (count) behavior was higher in P6 than in the other parities (p = 0.065). The data showed that the reproduction performance, total piglets born, and weight were higher in the gilts group, and higher in the weaning trait than that in the P6 group. This study examined the relationship between reproductive performance, birth interval and tail motion according to sow parity. Regarding duration, farrowing duration was lower in P6 than that in the other parities, but placenta expulsion and tail wagging were higher in P6 than in the other parities. Therefore, it is possible that the results from these sows could be used as basic data for effective farm management.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.193-197
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• 1986

본(本) 시험(試驗)은 임신말기(姙娠末期) 및 초기포유기간(初期哺乳期間)의 모돈(母豚)에 아미노산 킬레이트 철분제(鐵分齊)를 급여(給與)함으로써 자돈(仔豚)에게 철분제(鐵分劑)를 경구투여(經口投與)하거나 주사(注射)하지 않고 자돈(仔豚)의 철분결핍성(鐵分缺乏性) 빈혈(貧血)을 예방(豫防)할 수 있는 지를 구명(究明)하기 위해서 모돈(母豚) 20두(頭)를 가지고 4처리(處理)로 나누어 실시(實施)한 바, 그 결과(結果)를 요약(要約)하면 다음과 같다. 1. 생시체중(生時體重)은 각(各) 처리군(處理群)들 간(間)에 차이(差異)가 없었으나, 15일령(日齡)의 체중(體重)에서는 킬레이트 철분급여군(鐵分給與群)이 제일 무거웠고, 35일령(日齡)의 체중(體重)에서는 대조군(對照群)이 제일 가벼웠다. 2. 이유시(離乳時) 생존율(生存率)은 각(各) 처리군(處理群)들 간(間)에 차이(差異)를 인정(認定)할 수 없었다. 3. 헤모그로빈, 적혈구(赤血球) 및 헤마토크리트의 수준(水準)은 출산시(出生時)와 15일령(日齡)에서 킬레이트 직분(織分) 급여군(給與群)이 대조군(對照群)에 의하여 높은 수준(水準)을 보였으며(p<.05) 35일령(日齡) 이유시(離乳時)에는 각(各) 처리군(處理群)들 간(間)에 차이(差異)가 없었다.

• 한국축산시설환경학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

본 연구는 충남 당진군소재 대규모 양돈장에서 2007년 7월 1일부터 2008년 6월 30일까지 762복의 후보모돈에 대한 실내 외 돈방별 사육환경이 초산차 번식 및 이유형질에 미치는 효과를 조사 분석하여 양돈농가의 모든 생산성 향상을 위한 기초 자료를 제공하고자 실시하였으며, 그 연구한 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1. 실내 외 사육장소간에는 유의한 차이없이 서로 비슷한 임신기간으로 각각 116.11일과 116.12일로 나타났다. 분만율은 운동장사육 후보돈에서 92.54%로 군사방 후보모돈 91.57% 보다 약간 높은 경향이었으나, 두 집단간에 유의성은 없었다. 2. 총산자수는 운동장사육 모돈 10.44두, 군사돈방 모돈 9.46두와 포유개시두수는 운동장사육 모돈이 9,77두, 군사돈방 모돈이 8.59두로 조사되었다. 운동장사육 후보모돈에서 군사돈방 후보모돈 보다 총산자수는 0.98두, 그리고 포유개시두수는 1.18두로 유의하게 양호한 성적을 보였다(p<0.001). 3. 사산수(율)는 운동장 후보모돈이 0.22두(2.10%), 군사돈방 후보모돈이 0.33두(3,53%)로 운동장사육 후보 모돈이 유의하게(p<0.01) 양호하였다. 운동장사육 후보모돈과 군사돈방 모돈의 도태두수는 각각 0.23두(2.27%)와 0.26두(2.77%)로써 서로 비슷한 성적을 보였다. 그리고 미이라 발생두수에서도 운동장과 군사돈방이 각각 0.21두(2.0%)와 0.28두(2,29%)로 사육 돈방간에 유의성 없이 비슷한 결과를 보였다. 4. 이유두수는 군사돈방보다 운동장에서 사육한 후보모돈이 1.22두가 유의적으로(p<0.001) 높은 성적을 보였다. 이유일령은 운동장과 군사돈방에서 각각 22.39일과 23.21일로써, 군사돈방 후보모돈보다 운동장 사육 후보모돈에서 유의적으로 짧았다(p<0.001). 자돈 이유육성율은 운동장과 군사돈방 후보모돈에서 각각 97.13%와 96.65%로 두 사육집단간에는 유의성 있는 차이는 없었다. 이상의 결과를 보면 군사돈방에서 사육한 후보모돈보다 운동장사육 후보모돈이 초산차의 번식능력이나 이유성적 등이 비교적 양호한 것으로 나타났다.