• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.51-73
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• 2024

This study investigated how birth weight differences in piglets affected carcass and muscle fiber properties as well as meat quality at slaughter. Within litters, piglets were grouped according to their birth weight as either normal (NBW; 1.62-1.73 kg) or low (LBW; 1.18-1.29 kg). At 5 weeks of age, NBW piglets were randomly transitioned to control (C) or isocaloric high fat diets derived from non-dairy (HF), while LBW piglets were randomly transitioned to high fat diets derived from non-dairy (HF) or dairy sources (HFHD). Piglets were reared in individual pens under standardized housing and feeding conditions. Live weight was recorded weekly, and pigs were slaughtered at 12 weeks of age. Hot carcass weights, dressing percentages, lean meat yield, and primal cut proportions were determined. The m. longissimus thoracis was collected from the right side of the carcass for measurement of physical and chemical properties of meat and muscle fiber characteristics. Results indicated that LBW pigs compensated for their live weight compared to NBW pigs at 6 weeks of age. The mean muscle fiber diameter of LBW-HFHD group is significantly higher than NBW-C and NBW-HF group, and the type I muscle fiber diameter is significantly higher than NBW-C group. Dairy fat inclusion in LBW pig diet reduced carcass back fat thickness. This increased the calculated lean meat yield to be comparable to that of NBW pigs fed a commercial diet. Incorporating dairy-sourced high-fat into LBW pigs' diets appears to be an effective strategy for producing carcasses equivalent to NBW pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.917-922
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate effects of farm, type of sow Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire, LY; Yorkshire${\times}$ Landrace, YL; Yorkshire${\times}$Yorkshire, YY and multi-cross bred sow, MBS), parity, farrowing year, farrowing season and mating method on reproductive traits such as total number born per litter, number of born alive per litter, number of weaned per litter, number of mummified per litter, number of stillbirth. The Reproductive Records of 3,387 litters from January, 1999 to September, 2002 were obtained from four pig farms managed by Electronic Data Processing(EDP) system. Reproductive performances for two types of F1 Sows(YL and LY) were estimated as 11.34${\pm}$0.266 and 11.57${\pm}$0.263 heads for total number of born per litter, 10.56${\pm}$0.216 and 11.81${\pm}$0.251 heads for number of born alive per litter, and 10.05${\pm}$0.131 and 9.96${\pm}$0.153 heads for number of weaned per litter, respectively. These records are significantly higher(P〈0.05) than those of YY and MBS. However, number of mummified per litter, number of stillborn per litter, number of dead by diarrhea per litter, number of dead by other reasons during lactating period per litter and estrus interval did not show significant difference between types of sows. There were more total number of born per litter and number of weaned per litter in year 2001 than other year. As year passed, number of dead by crush per litter, number of dead by diarrhea per litter and number of dead by other reasons during lactating period per litter reduced from 0.18${\pm}$0.023 to 0.07${\pm}$0.022 head, 0.12${\pm}$0.21 to 0.02${\pm}$0.020 head and 0.43${\pm}$0.041 to 0.22${\pm}$0.040 head, respectively and weaning rate increased from 0.94${\pm}$0.005% to 0.97${\pm}$0.005%. The total number of born per litter and number of born alive per litter were higher(P〈0.05) in the case of mating twice than mating once. The number of weaned per litter, number of mummified per litter and number of stillborn per litter were not significant(P〈0.05) between mating methods. Estrus interval was shorter on the occasion of twice artificial insemination(5.24${\pm}$0.153days) than twice natural mating(6.51${\pm}$0.466days).

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.531-541
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• 2014

This research investigated the reproduction cycle, litter size, and the effects of factors of red-tongue viper snake inhabiting in Jeju Island, to delve into their life strategy. Field survey was conducted in Jeju Island from May 2006 to November 2008. Reproduction cycle was analyzed through measurements of testis and follicle sizes in laboratory from March 2009 to December 2010. According to the research results, the sizes of red-tongue viper snake's testis and follicle clearly changed seasonally. The number of eggs within the oviduct were greater on the right side ($2.6{\pm}1.0$ eggs, n=16) than on the left side ($1.8{\pm}0.5$ eggs, n=16) (t=-2,721, p<0.05). Average (${\pm}SD$) of survival litter size (SLS) was $4.4{\pm}1.7$ (1~9, range), while total litter size (TLS) was $4.7{\pm}1.5$ (3~9, range), which were not statistically significant. However, their litter sizes were similar to the number of eggs within the oviduct (t=0.039, P>0.05). Relative litter mass (RCM) was $0.42{\pm}0.13$ (0.18~0.79, n=33), and tended to increase, as maternal condition of pre-parturition (MCPPI) was getting better. The sexual ratio of delivered litters showed no significant difference between male and female red-tongue viper snakes (♂:♀ = 1.15:1, n=73 ; ${\chi}^2$=0.342, P>0.5). Average neonate mass showed a weak correlation with maternal mass of pre-parturition (MMPP1) (r=0.387, P<0.05, n=33). Average neonate Snout-vent length (SVL) also demonstrated a weak correlations with maternal SVL (r=0.399, P<0.05, n=33) and MMPP1 (r=0.344, P<0.05, n=33). Average neonate mass and maternal SVL approached significant probability (r=0.323, P=0.067, n=33). This indicates that mother snakes can bear bigger litter due to its larger size. In some cases, litter's weight decreases as mother snakes are bearing more litter; however, the red-tongued viper snake did not show such exchange relationship. From this, it can be conjectured that a red-tongued viper snake has peculiarity of its own species. The research results are predicted to be used as the basis to find a life history of red-tongued viper snake.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of parity and postpartum day on the behavior of nursing sows and their suckling piglets. Total 36 Landrace or Yorkshire sows(range of parity: 1 to 8) and their litters(range of litter size: 11 to 13 piglets) were assigned with sow's parity($1{\sim}2,\;3{\sim}4$ and 5 or more) and sow's postpartum days(day 1, 7, 14 and 21). The sows were housed in farrowing crates($0.6{\times}2.1m$) located in pens($2.4{\times}1.8m$) with totally perforated flooring. The sows and piglets were conventionally managed. The sows and their piglets behaviors were recorded during the 24 hour period at 1, 7, 14 and 21 days of postpartum. The obtained results from this study were as follows; 1. All the nursing sows in both group made attempts for lateral tying more than for other behaviors for whole days. The order of behavioral frequency at 1 and 3 weeks postpartum according the days of postpartum of sows was lateral tying, ventral lying, standing, sitting, feeding and drinking. The nursing sows at day 1 postpartum spent more time on sitting and standing than the sows at day 7 or more postpartum. 2. The parity of sows did not affected the lateral tying and sitting behavior of nursing sows, however the ventral tying are lowed in $1{\sim}2$ parity of sow group than the other parity group. Standing, feeding and drinking behavior of sows was not showed at any trends according to the sow's parity. 3. In the behaviors of suckling piglets, lying was increased and unsuccessful suckling was decreased until 21 days postpartum. Compared to the 7, 14 and 21 day postpartum, piglets at the 1 day postpartum spent less time for lying and walking, whereas they spent much more time for unsuccessful suckling. 4. According th the sow's parity, their piglets tying and unsuccessful suckling was lowed in $1{\sim}2$ parity sow group, however more than 3 parity sow's piglets behavior are not affected.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2010

Captured wild specimens of the big white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura were classified into three age classes by tooth wear and height of molars, and seasonal variations of breeding and reproductive organs were examined. Juveniles had not tooth wear in molars and height of the third molars were lower than the first and second molars, and had only non-breeding condition. Young adults had little tooth wear and the third molars reached to the first and second molars, and old adults had heavy tooth wear in molars, young adults and old adults had breeding or non-breeding condition according to the season. On the basis of histological examination, seasonal variations of breeding were confirmed that breeding condition of young and old adult males were continued from early February to early October although the breeding activity was the highest in April, that of females were continued from the end of March to October, males reached sexual maturity earlier than females. Whereas the breeding condition seems to cease for non-breeding season because of the deficiency of food resources, soil invertebrates. Young and old adult males of the breeding season had large testes with enlarged seminiferous tubules that were filled with numerous germ cells, and expanded caudal epididymides with a vast number of spermatozoa, and were more than 10.0 g in the body weight and 0.03 g in the testis and epididymis weight. The females of the breeding season were pregnant condition with 4~6 litters or had the Graafian follicles and the corpus lutea in the ovary, and were more than 9.6 g in the body weight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1485-1491
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of iron from an amino acid complex (Availa-$Fe^{\circledR}$) on the iron status of neonatal and suckling piglets. A total of 24 gestating sows (Landrace${\times}$Large White) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments. The control diet contained 80 mg $kg^{-1}$ Fe from ferrous sulfate heptahydrate ($FeSO_4$.$7H_2O$), while the two experimental diets were supplemented with an additional 120 mg $kg^{-1}$ Fe from Availa-$Fe^{(R)}$ or $FeSO_4$.$7H_2O$, respectively. The lactating sows remained the same iron treatments as gestating sows, while neonatal piglets of 24 litters born from the above sows were allotted to another three treatments. Piglets from the sows of the control treatment were fed basal diet with no supplemental Fe as control treatment, but were injected with 100 mg Fe as Fe dextran at birth. Piglets from the sows of Availa-$Fe^{(R)}$ or $FeSO_4$.$7H_2O$ treatments were supplemented with 120 mg $kg^{-1}$ iron from Availa-$Fe^{(R)}$ or $FeSO_4$.$7H_2O$, respectively. The total born alive and weaned, and the average piglets weight at birth and at weaning were not significantly affected by the sow' dietary treatments (p>0.05). Iron from Availa-$Fe^{(R)}$ did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and plasma iron of sows on day 90 and 105 of pregnancy and the milk iron of sows during lactation (p>0.05). Neonatal piglets in the Availa-$Fe^{(R)}$ treatment had a significantly higher hemoglobin concentration (p<0.05) and higher hematocrit and plasma iron (p>0.05) than those in the other two treatments, respectively. The hemoglobin of suckling piglets in the Availa-$Fe^{(R)}$ treatment was higher than that of piglets in $FeSO_4$.$7H_2O$ treatment on day 28 (p<0.05). The total iron binding capacity of piglets in Availa-$Fe^{(R)}$ treatment was lower than that of piglets in the control and $FeSO_4$.$7H_2O$ treatment on day 14 (p<0.05), but there was not a statistically significant difference among three treatments on day 28 (p>0.05). However, the hemoglobin and hematocrit of suckling piglets injected with Fe were higher than those of piglets in the other two treatments (p<0.05). This study indicated that the addition of 120 mg $kg^{-1}$ iron from amino acid complex into the diets improved iron status of neonatal and nursing piglets more effectively than the addition of 120 mg $kg^{-1}$ iron from $FeSO_4$.$7H_2O$, however, this improvement of the organic Fe was not sufficient to replace the Fe injection for prevention of iron-deficiency anemia.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.135-140
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of mixing with unfamiliar piglets on changes in the body surface temperature of sows and piglets during the suckling period. A total of 123 pigs (12 sows and 111 piglets) were used for this study. A control group of piglets of the same litter was maintained in the farrowing pen and compared to a treatment group of piglets of three different litters mixed by removing the partition in the farrowing pen. In the treatment group, mixing of piglets was performed at 10:00 a.m. on day 11 after parturition, and the body surface temperature of sows and piglets was taken using a thermo-graphic camera at 30 minutes after mixing. In the case of sows, the average surface temperature of the treatment group ($37.1^{\circ}C$) was significantly higher than that of the control ($36.3^{\circ}C$; p<0.05); however, the hot spot temperatures did not differ significantly between groups. In contrast, the average surface temperature of piglets was significantly decreased by mixing (37.5 and $36.0^{\circ}C$ in the control and treatment, respectively; p<0.01). Moreover, the hot spot temperature tended to be lower in the treatment ($39.1^{\circ}C$) than the control ($39.4^{\circ}C$), although there was no significant difference (p=0.079). These results suggest that mixing of unfamiliar piglets during the suckling period leads to changes in the body surface temperature of sows and piglets. In the future, the correlation between body surface temperature and body core temperature should be analyzed, and additional studies investigating the effects of mixing on the physiological changes in sows and piglets are required.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.276-288
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• 2013

The present study investigates the effects of elevated soil nitrogen on growth and decomposition of Oryza sativa shoots. The plants were cultivated in greenhouse until leaf senescence and the total biomass of the plant increased 1.9 times at nitrogen addition plot. Total C and N content in shoot increased; however, lignin, C/N, and lignin/N levels decreased in the N-treated soil. The shoot litters collected from the control and N-treated soil were tested for decay and microbial biomass, $CO_2$ evolution, and enzyme activities during decomposition on the control and N-treated soil at $25^{\circ}C$ microcosm. The remaining mass of the shoot litter was approximately 6% higher in the litter collected from the control soil (53.0%) than the litter collected from high N-treated soil (47.1%). However, the high N-containing litter exhibited faster decay in the control soil than in the N-treated soil. The litter containing high N, low C/N, and low lignin/N showed a higher decomposition rate than that of low quality litter. The N-addition showed decreased microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity in soil; however, it exhibited high microbial biomass N and urease activity in soil. When the high N-containing litter decays on the N-treated soil, the microbial biomass C increased rapidly at the initial phase of decomposition and decreased thereafter, and dehydrogenase activity was less that of other treatment; however, there was no effect on the microbial biomass N. The urease in the decomposing litter was highest during the early decomposition stage and dramatically decreased thereafter. The present findings suggested that the N-addition increased N content in litter, but inhibited the decomposition process of above-ground biomass in terrestrial ecosystems.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1615-1634
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• 2004

A review was undertaken to obtain information on the sustainability of pig free-range production systems including the management, performance and health of pigs in the system. Modern outdoor rearing systems requires simple portable and flexible housing with low cost fencing. Local pig breeds and outdoor-adapted breeds for certain environment are generally more suitable for free-range systems. Free-range farms should be located in a low rainfall area and paddocks should be relatively flat, with light topsoil overlying free-draining subsoil with the absence of sharp stones that can cause foot damage. Huts or shelters are crucial for protecting pigs from direct sun burn and heat stress, especially when shade from trees and other facilities is not available. Pigs commonly graze on strip pastures and are rotated between paddocks. The zones of thermal comfort for the sow and piglet differ markedly; between 12-22$^{\circ}C$ for the sow and 30-37$^{\circ}C$ for piglets. Offering wallows for free-range pigs meets their behavioural requirements, and also overcomes the effects of high ambient temperatures on feed intake. Pigs can increase their evaporative heat loss via an increase in the proportion of wet skin by using a wallow, or through water drips and spray. Mud from wallows can also coat the skin of pigs, preventing sunburn. Under grazing conditions, it is difficult to control the fibre intake of pigs although a high energy, low fibre diet can be used. In some countries outdoor sows are fitted with nose rings to prevent them from uprooting the grass. This reduces nutrient leaching of the land due to less rooting. In general, free-range pigs have a higher mortality compared to intensively housed pigs. Many factors can contribute to the death of the piglet including crushing, disease, heat stress and poor nutrition. With successful management, free-range pigs can have similar production to door pigs, although the growth rate of the litters is affected by season. Piglets grow quicker indoors during the cold season compared to outdoor systems. Pigs reared outdoors show calmer behaviour. Aggressive interactions during feeding are lower compared to indoor pigs while outdoor sows are more active than indoor sows. Outdoor pigs have a higher parasite burden, which increases the nutrient requirement for maintenance and reduces their feed utilization efficiency. Parasite infections in free-range pigs also risks the image of free-range pork as a clean and safe product. Diseases can be controlled to a certain degree by grazing management. Frequent rotation is required although most farmers are keeping their pigs for a longer period before rotating. The concept of using pasture species to minimise nematode infections in grazing pigs looks promising. Plants that can be grown locally and used as part of the normal feeding regime are most likely to be acceptable to farmers, particularly organic farmers. However, one of the key concerns from the public for free-range pig production system is the impact on the environment. In the past, the pigs were held in the same paddock at a high stocking rate, which resulted in damage to the vegetation, nutrient loading in the soil, nitrate leaching and gas emission. To avoid this, outdoor pigs should be integrated in the cropping pasture system, the stock should be mobile and stocking rate related to the amount of feed given to the animals.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.501-512
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• 2005

In Exp. 1, a total of forty eight multiparous sows were used in a 21-d performance assay. All litters were standardized at eleven piglets within 24h of parturition. Sows were fed one of the four experimental diets 1) CON(basal diet; Control), 2) MP1(basal diet added 0.05% of medicinal plant mixtures), 3) MP2 (basal diet added 0.1% of medicinal plant mixtures) and 4) MP3(basal diet added 0.2% of medicinal plant mixtures). Backfat thickness difference from farrowing to weaning was tended to increase in CON treatment compared to those of medicinal plants mixture(MP) treatments. However, there were not significant differences among the treatments(P>0.05). Sow’s ADFI was increased in sows fed MP2 treatment compared to MP3 treatment(P<0.05). Piglet weight gain was tended to increase in MP1 treatment compared to CON treatment(P<0.05). The glucose concentration of MP3 treatment was higher that of CON treatment(P<0.05). Exp. 2, a total of one hundred twenty weaning pigs ($L{\time}Y{\time}D$, 4.70$\pm$0.63kg average initial body weight) were used in a 20-d performance assay. Weanling pigs were fed treatments diets included 1) CON(basal diet; Control), 2) MP0.05(basal diet added 0.05% of medicinal plant mixtures), 3) MP0.1(basal diet added 0.1% of medicinal plant mixtures) and 4) MP0.15(basal diet added 0.15% of medicinal plant mixtures). Through entire experimental period, as MP increased in the diets, there was an increase in ADG(linear, P<0.067), improvement gain/feed(linear, P<0.018) and a decrease in ADFI (linear, P<0.008). DM digestibility was significantly increased with addition of MP(linear, P<0.004; quadratic, P<0.030). In conclusion, sows fed MP2 had showed less body weight loss and increased weight gain for suckling piglet. In weaning pigs, as supplementation MP from 0.05 to 0.1% in diet had improved growth performance and DM digestibility.