• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1311-1319
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• 2009

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of soybean oil supplementation replacing tallow in pig diets at different stages of growth. One hundred and twenty crossbred (Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Duroc) pigs weighing 18 kg on average were selected. Pigs were randomly allotted to 12 pens of 10 pigs (5 pigs of each sex) each. Three pens were assigned to each of the four treatments: TA; tallow diet, TA-SO-80; switched from tallow to soybean oil diet at 80 kg average body weight, TA-SO-45; switched from tallow to soybean oil diet at 45 kg average body weight, and SO; soybean oil diet. Treatment SO was significantly lower in ADG than tallow diets (TA, TA-SO-80 and TA-SO-45) during the grower period (18 to 45 kg). However, treatment SO showed greatest compensation in ADFI and ADG during the finisher-2 period (after 80 kg body weight). ADFI and ADG and Gain/Feed for the total period were not significantly different among treatments. Loin area, back fat thickness, firmness and melting point of back fat were not significantly different. The levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein+very low density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in treatment SO than in treatments TA-SO-45, TA-SO-80 and TA. The level of serum triglyceride linearly increased as the length of the tallow feeding period increased. Serum immunoglobulin-G (IgG) level was significantly higher in the soybean oiltreatment than in other treatments. Major fatty acid composition of short rib muscle and back fat were significantly influenced by treatments. Contents of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (C18:3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) linearly increased as the soybean oil feeding period increased. In conclusion, soybean oil can be supplemented to the diet of pigs without significant effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics. The level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially $\omega-3$ fatty acids in the carcass was increased by soybean oil supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1301-1309
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the use of nurse sows and post-weaning nutrition strategies for low wean weight (WW) pigs on lifetime growth and efficiency. Methods: Animals (n = 270) were assigned to one of five treatments at 28 d. Low WW pigs (<6 kg) were either weaned and offered a special dietary regime recommended for low WW pigs (WEAN) or placed on a nurse sow (NURSE) and weaned at 49 d. Normal WW pigs (9 kg) (NORM) were also weaned at 28 d. After weaning, NORM and NURSE pigs were offered either a 'high' (4 kg/pig of starter 1 diet followed by 8 kg/pig of starter 2 diet) or 'low' (8 kg/pig of starter 2 diet) starter diet allowance in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. A typical grower diet was then offered, followed by a typical finisher diet until 147 d of age. Results: NORM pigs where heavier throughout their life compared to NURSE pigs (91.4 kg vs 76.2 kg at 147 d; p<0.001). WEAN pigs were heavier at 70 d compared to NURSE pigs (23.9 kg vs 21.0 kg; p<0.001), but there was no significant difference at 147 d between NURSE and WEAN treatments. NURSE pigs had reduced feed intake throughout the finishing period (1.6 kg/d; p<0.001) compared to WEAN (2.0 kg/d) and NORM (1.9 kg/d) pigs. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of NURSE (2.20) was lower than NORM and WEAN during the finishing period (2.40 and 2.79, respectively). Conclusion: Extended (up to 49 d) nursing for low WW pigs resulted in improved FCR during the finishing period, but no overall improvement in growth rate compared to low WW pigs weaned at 28 d and offered a specialised starter regime. Normal WW pigs where significantly heavier than low WW pigs throughout the study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.668-676
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• 2001

Two growth performance experiments were undertaken in order to compare the nutritional benefit of micronized dehulled barley (MDB) with wheat and maize. In the first experiment, ninety-six 24 d old Cotswold pigs with an average body weight of 9.5 kg were randomly allotted into one of four dietary treatments. The wheat and MDB ratio in the four complex diets were 100% wheat, 75% wheat+25% MDB, 50% wheat+50% MDB and 100% MDB; cereal was about 47% of the whole diet and varied by using different ratios of wheat and MDB. Starter phase was started at a bodyweight 9.9 kg; grower phase continued at liveweight 37.1 kg and finished at 74.0 kg. The ADFI, ADG and feed efficiency (F/G) were not affected (p>0.05) by the level of MDB in the diet from 9.9 to 37.1 kg live weight. However, ADFI was (p<0.05) less (14%) for the pigs fed the 75 or 100% of MDB based diets without affecting F/G during the second phase (37.1 to 74.0 kg live weight). Pigs fed the MDB based diet had a lower (p<0.05) plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentration than the pigs fed the wheat-based diet. In the second experiment, the trial started at 9.9 kg body weight and ended at market weight (107.6 kg), with three different phases in the trial. One hundred and twenty Cotswold pigs were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments. The maize and MDB ratio in the three diets were 100% maize, 50% maize+50% MDB and 100% MDB. Diet treatments did not affect (p>0.05) growth performance, PUN level, carcass characteristics and organ size, except for an improvement (p<0.05) in ADG for the pigs in the starter phase fed 50% and 100% MDB based diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1496-1501
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• 2002

A $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of treatments was used in a completely randomized design to determine the effects of dietary Zn on performance and immune response of acutely endotoxemic growing pigs (n=96, mean BW=24.9 kg). Factors included 1) intramuscular injection of $10{\mu}g/kg$ BW of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or control and 2) supplemental Zn at 10, 50, or 150 ppm. Diets were fed beginning after weaning (initial body weight=7.6 kg) in the nursery and continued for 16 d into the grower phase. The basal corn-soybean meal grower diet contained 1% lysine and 34.3 ppm Zn. Pigs were acclimated for 12 d in the growerfinishing facility before LPS treatment on d 13. Gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency were unaffected by dietary Zn. Feed intake decreased (p<0.10) and gain/feed was greater (p<0.10) from d 13 to d 16 for pigs injected with LPS. Serum Zn and alkaline phosphatase activity increased (p<0.05) with increasing Zn levels. The febrile response to LPS peaked at 6 h post exposure and pigs were afebrile within 12 h. Rectal temperature was greater (p<0.05) in pigs receiving 50 and 150 ppm Zn than in pigs supplemented with 10 ppm Zn. In vivo cellular immune response, measured on d 13 by skin thickness response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), was greater after 6 h (p<0.05) in pigs fed 10 ppm Zn and exposed to LPS compared to all other treatments, but was not affected at 12, 24 or 48 h. Zinc did not affect mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation. Zinc supplemented at 50 or 150 ppm resulted in an enhanced febrile response in pigs subjected to iatrogenic endotoxemia, but did not affect pig performance or immune response measurements.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1304-1308
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• 2000

A total of thirty-six gilts $(24.78{\pm}1.39kg)$ were employed for 38 days (Exp. 1), and twenty-four gilts $(46.50{\pm}1.90kg)$ for 43 days (Exp. 2) to determine growth performance and carcass characteristics in pigs fed dried food waste (DFW). Pigs were allocated by dietary treatments: 0%, 20% and 40% DFW. For nutrient digestibility, twelve female pigs $(50.20{\pm}0.52kg)$ were used in individual pens to collect feces. Food wastes were collected from restaurants and apartment complex areas and dried in a drum-type dryer at $115{\pm}2{^{\circ}C}$. Experimental diets for feeding trials were formulated to contain 3,400 kcal DE/kg and 17% crude protein. The tested DFW contained 2,858 kcal DE/kg, 25.0% crude protein, 17.3% crude fat, 1.37% Ca, 1.28% P, and 3.28% NaCl. As compared to crude protein content, the limiting amino acids (i.e., 0.90% lysine and 0.52% methionine) were low. The digestibilities of energy, ash, calcium and phosphorus in the DFW were generally lower than those in the grower diets, but the digestibilities of crude protein and crude fat were higher in DFW than the grower diet. Feeding DFW in pigs had a linear (p<0.01) effect on ADG and feed/gain as the inclusion levels of DFW were increased (Exp. 1). The ADG of pigs fed 40% DFW was also poorer (p<0.05) than that fed the control diet (Exp. 2). Carcass characteristics in terms of backfat and dressing percentage were not affected by dietary treatments. In conclusion, it seems that the optimal dietary inclusion level of the DFW is about 20% in the diet for growing-finishing pigs.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.17 no.sup
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• pp.43-50
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• 2011

This study was conducted to verify the effect of chlorine dioxide ($ClO_2$) on odor reduction at a commercial swine facility consisting of a windowless piglet barn and a grower/fattening barn. The windowless piglet barn used a duct ventilation system. Air velocity at very below the upper duct was 4.53 m/s. Air velocity at the lower space around the living space of pigs in the grower/fattening barn was 0.26 m/s. $NH_3$ concentration was around 9ppm and less than 3 ppm before and after the $ClO_2$ spraying, respectively, which was over 70% reduction. There was no $H_2S$ detection. $NH_3$ concentrations measured in the windowless grower/fattening barn and at the exhausted air were 26 ppm and 11ppm, respectively. $NH_3$ concentration at a biocurtain outside was less than 1 ppm. Hence, $ClO_2$ spraying at windowless barns was effectively decreased malodor such as $NH_3$.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.361-365
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• 1993

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding fresh cassava roots on the performance and carcass quality of pigs raised from $15{\pm}1kg$ to 85 kg live weight. Fresh unpeeled cassava roots were chopped into chips and offered separately along with a protein concentrate made up of copra cake and meat and bone meal, and a local mineral-vitamin premix. Commercial pig grower and finisher diets served as control. A total of 24 pigs were used in an incomplete randomized split-plot design experiment. Pigs fed fresh cassava-based diet grew as fast, 0.78 vs 0.77 kg/day, and were as efficient, 3.74 vs 3.77 in converting feed into body weight gain as those fed the commercial control diet. Similarly, there were no differences in carcass quality measured in terms of dressing percentage, 77 vs 77; backfat thickness, 2.76 vs 2.78 cm; loin eye muscle area, 29.2 vs $29.1cm^2$ and in the relative proportions of the different carcass cuts between the two dietary treatments. The use of fresh cassava along with the protein and the local mineral-vitamin premix however, resulted in lowered total feed cost and cost per unit of live weight gain. It is concluded that fresh cassava roots can be fed along with copra cake, meat and bone meal protein concentrate and a local mineral-vitamin premix to fattening pigs with no adverse affects on performance and carcass quality.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.233-244
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• 2010

This experiment was conducted to evaluate two different types of feed additive as an alternative for antibiotics on growth performance and feed cost in growing and finishing pigs. One additive is an herb extract, with Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) as the main component, while the other feed additive contains aminolevulinic acid (ALA). In the first experiment, 128 grower pigs were allotted to 4 different treatment groups and replicated 4 times with 8 pigs per replicate; the trial lasted for 28 days. The positive control group (PC) which is the control group supplemented with antibiotics was significantly higher (p<0.05) in growth rate (580.6 g/d) followed by the ALA group (532.0 g/d), there was no significant differences in terms of feed intake and feed efficiency. There were marginal reductions in feed costs measured as feed cost per head in ALA and HE added diet. However, the feed cost per weight gain of ALA treatment was higher than the control group (PC) supplemented with antibiotics. In the second experiment, 80 finisher pigs were allotted to 4 treatment groups and replicated 4 times with 5 pigs per replicate; the trial lasted for 70 days. The treatment group supplemented with an herb extract (HE) had a significantly higher (p<0.05) feed intake (2,415.8 g/d) compared to the other treatment groups, but there was no significant differences in terms of growth rate and feed efficiency. Feed cost per head in HE and ALA treatments were higher than PC treatment, and feed cost per weight gain of HE was higher than PC treat (p<0.05). The results from these experiments suggests that these two types of feed additives can both be used as an alternative for antibiotics without having a negative effect on the performance of the animals. And aminolevulinic acid was good in performance and production cost of grower and finisher pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1666-1672
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• 2003

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of an alumninosilicate clay, marketed under the trade name Biotite V, to improve growing-finishing pig performance and to determine its effects on nutrient digestibility and excretion. Sixty crossbred pigs (22.3${\pm}2.7kg$, Camborough 15 Line female${\times}$Canabred sire) were assigned on the basis of sex, weight and litter to one of four dietary treatments in a $2{\times}4$ (two sexes and four treatments) factorial design experiment. The experimental diets were based on barley and soybean meal and contained 0, 0.25, 0.5 or 0.75% biotite during the growing period (22.3-60.5 kg) and 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5% biotite during the finishing period (60.5-110.3 kg). Each pig was allowed access to its own individual feeder for 30 min twice daily (07:00 and 15:00 h). Individual pig body weight, feed consumption and feed conversion were recorded weekly. The pigs were slaughtered at a commercial abattoir when they reached an average weight of 110.3 kg. Carcass weight was recorded and dressing percentage calculated. Carcass fat and lean measurements were obtained with a Destron PG 100 probe between the 3rd and 4th last ribs, 70 mm of the midline. Total tract digestibility coefficients for dry matter, energy, nitrogen and phosphorus were determined using three males and three females per treatment starting at an average weight of $52.2{\pm}3.8kg$. These pigs were housed under identical conditions as those used in the growing stage and were fed the same diets modified only by the addition of 0.5% chromic oxide as a digestibility marker. Over the entire experimental period (22.3-110.3 kg), daily gain was unaffected (p>0.05) by the inclusion of biotite in the diet. There was a cubic response for feed intake (p=0.06) and a quadratic response (p=0.07) for feed conversion due to biotite. Feeding biotite produced no significant (p>0.05) linear or quadratic effects on any of the carcass traits measured. Dry matter digestibility decreased linearly (p=0.02) with increasing levels of biotite in the diet. However, digestibility coefficients for energy, nitrogen and phosphorus were unaffected (p<0.05) by biotite inclusion. Lactobacilli and enterobacteria numbers were unaffected by inclusion of biotite while Salmonella was not detected in any of the fecal samples. The overall results of this experiment indicate that biotite inclusion did not reduce fecal excretion of nitrogen or phosphorus and failed to improve nutrient digestibility. Neither growth rate nor carcass quality was improved while a modest improvement in feed conversion was observed at lower levels of inclusion. Based on the results of this experiment, it would be difficult to justify the routine inclusion of biotite in diets fed to grower-finisher pigs. Whether or not a greater response would have been obtained with pigs of a lower health status is unknown.