• 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.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1085-1095
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• 2024

Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine available energy and nutritional digestibility of extruded cereals and the effect of extrusion on the nutritional value of feed ingredients, aiming to provide scientific basis for efficient application of extrusion in the diets of growing pigs. Methods: In Exp. 1, 48 crossbred growing pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) with an initial body weight (BW) of 34.6±2.2 kg were selected and fed with eight diets (non-extrusion or extrusion) to determine the digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and nutrients digestibility. Eight diets included extruded grains (barley, wheat, sorghum, or broken rice), while four had unprocessed grains. In Exp. 2, 9 diets were formulated including 4 cereals with extrusion or non-extrusion and a N-free diet. In addition, 9 growing pigs (BW = 22.3±2.8 kg) were fitted with T-cannula in the distal ileum and arranged in a 9×6 Youden square design. Results: Results show that apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, organic meal, ether extract, neutral and acid detergent fiber was not affected by the extrusion process and there was no interaction between cereal type and extrusion treatment on DE, ME. However, the apparent total tract digestibility for crude protein (CP) increased markedly (p<0.05). The standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of all amino acids (AA) except for leucine remarkably increased by extrusion (p<0.05). There was an interaction on the SID of arginine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, cystine, and tyrosine in growing pigs between type of grain and extrusion treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Extrusion increased the ileal digestibility of CP and most AA in cereals, however, the DE and ME of cereals were not affected in growing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.387-394
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• 2019

Objective: This study was to investigate the nutrient ileal digestibility of dried mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae and compare with those of three animal protein by-products in growing pigs. Methods: A total of 12 crossbred ($[Landrace{\times}Yorkshire]{\times}Duroc$) growing pigs with average body weights of $24.12{\pm}0.68kg$ were surgically equipped with simple T-cannulas after being deprived of feed for 24 h according to published surgical procedures. These pigs had a recovery period of two weeks. A total of 12 pigs were assigned to individual metabolic crates and allotted to one of four treatments with 3 replicates in a fully randomized design. Dietary treatments included the following: i) Fish meal, corn-vegetable by-product basal diet+9.95% fish meal; ii) Meat meal, corn-vegetable by-product basal diet+9.95% meat meal; iii) Poultry meal, cornvegetable by-product basal diet+9.95% poultry meal; iv) Tenebrio molitor, corn-vegetable by-product basal diet+9.95% dried Tenebrio molitor larvae. Results: Results showed that the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of Lys was higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed Tenebrio molitor diet than that in pigs fed fish meal diet. Pigs fed Tenebrio molitor diet showed increased (p<0.05) AID of His and Arg compared to pigs fed Fish meal or Meat meal diet. The AID of Cys was increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed poultry meal and Tenebrio molitor diets compared to that in pigs fish meal diet. Pigs fed meat meal, poultry meal, and Tenebrio molitor diets showed higher (p<0.05) standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of total energy compared to pigs fed fish meal diet. The SID of Arg was higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed Tenebrio molitor diet than that in pigs fed fish meal or meat meal diet. Furthermore, pigs fed poultry meal or Tenebrio molitor diets showed increased (p<0.05) SID of Cys compared to pigs fed fish meal diet. Conclusion: In conclusion, providing pigs with diets that contained Tenebrio molitor larvae meal improved AID and SID of nutrients as well as essential and non-essential amino acids. The digestibility of dried mealworm larvae protein and its utilization in vivo are also good. Therefore, dried mealworm larvae protein can be used as protein source at 10% level in growing pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.115-124
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• 2024

This study investigated the impact of clay mineral 'illite' (IL) on the growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, and meat-carcass grade quality in growing-finishing pigs. One hundred fifty pigs were divided into two groups with fifteen pens/group and five pigs/pen, a control group that was fed with a corn-soybean meal-based diet and IL treated group were fed a meal-based diet supplemented with 0.5% IL. Compared to the control, IL supplementation increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) and reduce gain to feed ratio (G:F) in the pigs during days 43 to 70 and 99 to 126 and increased dry matter during days 42 and 126, and backfat thickness on day 98 (p<0.05). The drip loss was reduced on day 7, meat firmness tended to increase with dietary IL supplementation. In summary, dietary 0.5% IL supplementation improved ADFI, nutrient utilization of dry matter, and firmness and reduced G:F and drip loss of growing-finishing pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.885-896
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• 2022

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of three different copper (Cu) sources (one inorganic and two organics) and levels (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg) on the growth performance, Cu digestibility, fecal mineral excretion, serum mineral concentration, jejunal morphology, and serum biochemical profile of growing pigs. A total of 42 male, growing pigs (31.08 ± 1.82 kg) were randomly assigned to seven treatments consisting of one negative control (0 mg/kg of added Cu level) and treatments with copper sulfate (CuSO4), Cu-amino acid complex (CuAA), and Cu-hydroxy-4-methylthio butanoate chelate complex (CuHMB) at 50 and 100 mg/kg each for 28 d. Pigs fed 50 or 100 mg/kg of Cu showed improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain and feed intake. Although Cu excretion decreased (p < 0.01) in pigs fed 100 mg/kg of organic Cu sources compared to those fed CuSO4, there was no difference between the Cu sources in pigs fed 50 mg/kg. However, the apparent total tract digestibility of Cu increased (p < 0.01) in pigs fed organic Cu sources compared with that in pigs fed CuSO4. The addition of CuHMB increased (p < 0.01) serum phosphorus and sulfur concentrations; however, there were no effects of source and level on jejunal morphology and serum biochemical profile. These results suggest that the inclusion (50 mg/kg) of organic Cu sources (CuAA and CuHMB) in the growing pig diet could be beneficial for growth performance and Cu availability and may reduce environmental pollution.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.108-115
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• 2013

The effects of dietary Coptis chinensis herb extract (CHE) on growth performance, blood characteristics, nutrient digestibility and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs were investigated in an 18-wk feeding trial. A total of 36 Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire-Duroc pigs with an initial body weight of $20{\pm}1.0$ kg were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments with 6 replications per treatment and 2 pigs per pen. A maize-soybean meal-based diet was formulated as a control diet and other treatment diets were supplemented with 0.5, or 1 g CHE/kg, respectively. After the feeding period, meat samples were collected from those pigs that had reached the market BW. During the experimental periods, growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen were unaffected (p>0.05) by the dietary supplementation of CHE. Plasma erythrocytes counts were increased (Linearly, p<0.05) in response to application of CHE at the end of the experiment. Moreover, pigs fed the CHE diets had better (p<0.05) meat color, pH and water holding capacity (WHC) than pigs fed the control diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with CHE could increase blood erythrocytes counts and improve meat quality in growing-finishing pigs but not improve growth performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1440-1444
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• 2000

Two feeding trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of inclusion levels of dietary vitamin and trace mineral (VTM) premixes on growth and nutrient digestibility in growing pigs. A total of 112 pigs ($24.82{\pm}3.22kg$) were employed for 49 days (exp. 1), and 168 pigs ($21.64{\pm}1.41kg$) for 40 days (exp. 2) in completely randomized block designs. Treatments were: 1) 100%, 2) 150%, 3) 200% and 4) 250% NRC (1998) requirement of VTM in exp. 1, and the ratio of vitamins to trace minerals at 1) 100:100%, 2) 100:150%, 3) 150:100% and 4) 150:150% of NRC (1998) requirement in exp. 2. Basal diets for feeding trials were formulated to contain 3,310 kcal ME/kg and 18% crude protein, and contained 0.25% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker for digestibility trials. Increasing dietary VTM premix in growing pigs had linear and quadratic effects (p<0.05) on ADG, and feed conversion ratio was also improved (p<0.05) as VTM premix was increased by 150-250% of NRC (1998) requirements in exp. 1. Adding vitamin to trace mineral premixes at 150% NRC (1998) over the control improved (p<0.05) ADG and feed efficiency in growing pigs, but performances were not improved by vitamin nor by trace mineral premixes alone (p>0.15) (exp. 2). There were no differences (p>0.05) in the digestibilities of energy, crude protein and fat among dietary treatments. However, increasing dietary VTM premix in growing pigs had a linear effect (p<0.05) on the digestibilities of calcium and phosphorus. The 200 or 250% fed group showed improved (p<0.05) calcium digestibility, and 250% fed group also showed improved (p<0.05) phosphorus digestibility as compared to 100% or 150% fed group (exp. 1). The digestibilities of Ca and P were higher (p<0.05) in 150% addition of vitamins than in 150% addition of trace minerals in the diet (exp. 2).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.370-374
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• 2005

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of direct-fed microbial supplementation on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in pigs. In experiment 1, forty eight pigs were used in a 42-d growth assay. There were four pigs per pen and three pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included 1) NC (without antibiotic basal diet), 2) PC (NC diet+0.1% antibiotic, 100 g/kg chlortetracycline), 3) DFM-1 (NC diet+0.2% Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus salivarius complex) and 4) DFM-2 (NC diet+0.2% Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus plantarum and Yeast complex). For the overall period, no treatment had significant effects in growth performance. In the nutrition digestibility, the pigs fed DFM diets were improved in DM and N digestibility compared with the pigs fed NC and PC diets but it was not significantly different. In experiment 2, sixty four crossbred pigs were used in a 98-d growth assay. There were four pigs per pen and four pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included 1) HND (high nutrient diet), 2) LND (low nutrient diet), 3) HND+DFM (HND diet+0.2% Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus plantarum complex) and 4) LND+DFM (LND diet+0.2% Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus plantarum complex). For overall period of growing phase, the pigs fed LND diets had improved gain/feed (p=0.01) and for overall period in the finishing phase, the pigs fed LND with DFM diets had higher ADG, ADFI and gain/feed than the others but there were no significant differences (p>0.13). In total period of growing-finishing phase, the pigs fed LND diet had higher gain/feed than the pigs fed HND diets (p<0.05). In growing phase, there were not significant differences among the treatments means for DM and N digestibility. However, the pigs fed diets with DFM had improved N digestibility (p<0.02) compared to the pigs fed diets without DFM in finishing phase. In conclusion, DFM slightly improved the growth performance in growing-finishing pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of dietary protein level and phase feeding regimens on performance, carcass characteristics and pork quality in growing-finishing pigs. In both experiments, growing pigs (n=90; barrows; Landrace $\times$ Yorkshire $\times$ Duroc) were allotted to 3 treatments. Each treatment had 3 replicate pens comprising 10 pigs in each. In Exp. 1, pigs (average body weight $25.06{\pm}0.57\;kg$) were fed diets having low (17.50-14.50-12.51%), medium (19.49-17.50-13.87%) or high (22.47-19.49-16.36%) CP concentration (LP, MP and HP diets, respectively) diets during grower-finisher I-finisher II phases, respectively. Feeding of MP diet resulted in higher (P<0.05) ADG and better FCR than pigs fed LP diet. Pigs fed HP diet had lower (P<0.05) pork color and marbling score. Meat of pigs fed LP diet had higher (P<0.05) Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), while meat of pigs fed HP and LP diets had greater drip loss than pigs fed MP diet. In addition, meat from pigs fed LP diet was darker while meat of pigs fed HP and MP diets was paler and redder. In Exp. 2, pigs (average body weight $10.40{\pm}0.61\;kg$) were subjected during 126 days to three or four phase regimes of different duration. The treatments T1 and T2 were subjected to four phase feeding regimens (grower I, grower II, finisher I and finisher II) for 22, 42, 32 and 30 days (T1) and 40, 40, 25 and 21 days (T2), respectively, while T3 was subjected to three phase feeding regimen (grower I, grower II and finisherI) for 40, 56 and 30 days, respectively. Duration of phase feeding regimens had no effect (P>0.05) on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of pigs. These results suggest that both high and low levels of CP have a negative effect on performance and pork quality; however, alterations in the phase feeding regimens do not have any discernible effect on the performance and pork quality in growing-finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.727-733
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of arsenic ($As^{III}$) on lipid peroxidation, glutathione content and antioxidant enzymes in growing pigs. Ninety-six Duroc-Landrace-Yorkshire crossbred growing pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts, respectively) were randomly assigned to four groups and each group was randomly assigned to three pens (four barrows and four gilts). The four groups received the same corn-soybean basal diet which was supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 30 mg/kg As respectively. Arsenic was added to the diet in the form of $As_2O_3$. The experiment lasted for seventy-eight days after a seven-day adaptation period. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione (GSH) contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were analyzed in serum, livers and kidneys of pigs. The results showed that pigs treated with 30 mg As/kg diet had a decreased average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and an increased feed/gain ratio (F/G) (p<0.05) compared to the controls. The levels of MDA significantly increased (p<0.05), and the contents of GSH and the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the pigs fed 30 mg As/kg diet. The results indicated that the mechanism of arsenic-induced oxidative stress in growing pigs involved lipid peroxidation, depletion of glutathione and decreased activities of some enzymes, such as SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST, which are associated with free radical metabolism.