• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2011

The overexpression of Phosphoprotein Enriched in Astrocytes (PEA15) gene is commonly found in human diabetic patients. The overexpression of this gene in skeletal muscle and fat tissues have been reported to cause insulin resistance, thereby impairing insulin stimulated glucose uptake. We introduced a gene of mouse PEA15 (mPEA15) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) into fertilized one cell pig zygotes using microinjection, and produced a piglet that showed overexpression of mPEA15 in the muscle tissues and expression of EGFP in the ear tissues and hooves. RT-PCR RFLP, southern blot and FISH analysis showed that the tissues carried the transgene. Real-time RT-PCR and western blots demonstrated that PEA15 gene was overexpressed in the various tissues and muscle tissues, respectively. These fads suggest that expression vector system is normally expressed in the transgenic (TG) pigs. To use as animal diseases model for type 2 diabetes, further study is necessary to confirm whether diabetes occur in these TG pigs, especially insulin resistance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1574-1580
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• 2009

To evaluate the effect of different housing systems on sow behavior, 80 gilts were randomly allocated at puberty to four treatments: i) sow stall in gestation followed by farrowing crate (SC), ii) group housing with individual feeding in gestation followed by farrowing crate (GC), iii) ESF (Electronic Sow Feeding) system in gestation followed by farrowing crate (EC), and iv) ESF system followed by group farrowing pen (EG). Behavioral observations were carried out on a total of 16 animals per treatment at the following stages: first day of allocation to housing treatment, day of service, 80 days after service, 109 days after service on entry to farrowing accommodation, 24 h before farrowing, day of farrowing, 14, 27 and 28 days after farrowing, at weaning. On each occasion, individual animals were observed for a 24 period with one minute time sampling. There were significant differences (p<0.001) between stages of the reproductive cycle for all the behavior patterns in all treatments. On the first day in experimental housing treatments, sows spent more time rooting and dog-sitting. Activity and investigatory behavior decreased as pregnancy progressed. An activity peak was apparent just before farrowing, followed by a high level of inactivity on the day of farrowing. Time spent active, eating and drinking increased as lactation progressed, and greatest activity and locomotion was seen immediately following weaning. There were significant differences between housing treatments (p<0.01) for standing, moving, eating, drinking, dog-sitting and lying. During pregnancy SC sows spent more time standing, rooting, drinking and dog sitting, while EC sows spent less time rooting and drinking and more time lying. During lactation, GC sows spent more time standing, moving and eating, less time dog sitting and lateral lying. Nursing frequency was reduced in GC sows (p<0.001). The maternal and piglet behaviors were influenced strongly by environment during lactation. However, it was also shown that previous housing history can influence the maternal behavior in the pre-farrowing stage and during early lactation.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.31 no.1 s.114
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• pp.46-51
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• 2006

This study was carried out to recover phosphorus in animal wastewater using a magnesium source. $MgCl_2$, as a magnesium source, was shown a SP (soluble phosphorus) recovery rate of 98% in both the aeration and the NaOH tests to adjust pH around 8.5. In case of MgO, the recovery rate of SP were 88% with the aeration and 58% with the NaOH. In case of ammonia nitrogen recovery, $MgCl_2$ was shown the recovery rate of 17% with aeration and 18% with NaOH. MgO was shown the ammonia recovery rate of 18% with aeration and 11% with NaOH. At low temperature of $6-8^{\circ}C$ with the animal wastewater from piglet stall, the recovery rate of SP was shown 95% with NaOH and 92% with aeration using $MgCl_2$. The recovery rate of ammonia nitrogen was shown 9% with NaOH and 12% with aeration, respectively. It was observed that the pH can be raised by aeration. The reaction was completed within 5 minutes and the struvite cristal structure was formed and could be observed with an electronic microscope.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.7.1-7.7
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• 2015

To meet the increasing demands of specific pathogen free (SPF) minipigs in biomedical researches, 8 pregnant Chinese Wuzhishan minipigs (WZSP) sows with clear background were chosen to obtain SPF WZSP by hysterectomy. At $111{\pm}days2$ of the pregnancy, piglets were aseptically taken out from the sows and artificially suckled for 40 to 45 days in the positive isolators. Then, the piglets defined as F0 were transferred to barrier environment and fed with standard feeds. The original SPF colony was formed for breeding by selected piglets from F0 group of 6-8 months old. Biological characteristics of SPF WZSP were collected and further compared to those of conventional (CV) WZSP, including growth performance, reproductive performance, hematology and blood biochemistry, and major pathogens detection. As a result, 61 F0 piglets were obtained from 8 candidate sows, and 55 out of them survived. After strictly selection, 35 F0 piglets were used to form the original SPF colony, which produced 14 litters of SPF piglets defined as F1. Piglet survival rates, growth performance, and reproductive performance of SPF WZSP were similar to CV WZSP. Some hematology and blood biochemistry parameters showed significant differences between SPF and CV WZSP. Eighteen kinds of pathogens were identified to be free in F0 and F1 SPF colony by repeated pathogen detections. In conclusion, we established a satisfied SPF WZSP colony maintaining original characteristics, free of controlled diseases, and being proved to be a suitable laboratory animal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1263-1272
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• 1999

The effects of carnitine in diets with or without added fat (5% lard or soybean oil) were evaluated in 72 Large White ${\times}$ Landrace ${\times}$ Duroc pigs weaned at 35 days of age. Pigs were fed a 1.30% lysine corn-soybean basal diet+15% dried whey+4% fish meal with carnitine at 0 or 50 mg/kg and either 0% added fat, 5% soybean oil or 5% lard for 6 weeks in a $2{\times}3$ factorial trial (6 treatments, 3 pens per treatment, 4 pigs per pen). Addition of carnitine increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the second two weeks of the six-week trial and overall, but had no significant effect on feed per gain (F/G). Lard alone depressed ADG (p<0.05) in the last two weeks of the trial and overall, but the ADG for pigs fed lard+carnitine was similar to the control. Lard reduced feed intake in the first two weeks of the trial (p<0.05). Carnitine reduced the percentage of pigs with poor (ADG<375 g/d) growth (15 vs 40%; p<0.05). The greater uniformity of growth was most evident in low-weaning-weight pigs in the second period (16 vs 62%, p<0.005). Addition of fat did not produce any positive effect on uniformity and had no interaction with carnitine on uniformity. Carnitine addition increased serum total carnitione and short-chain acyl-carnitine levels (p<0.05), but did not modify free carnitine levels. Serum carnitine levels were lower at weaning than at 14, 28, or 39 days after weaning (p<0.05). Carnitine increased serum protein levels on day 14 (p<0.05). Addition of fat in the form of soybean oil or lard did not improve piglet growth performance. Addition of 50 mg/kg of carnitine to the diet of weanling pigs enhanced postweaning performance.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2017

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains producing each F4, F5, F6 and F41 fimbriae were lysed by GI24 peptide. The lysate cells were used as ETEC vaccine candidate. This study was carried out to examine whether intramuscular (im) immunization of pregnant sows with the novel vaccine candidate could effectively protect their neonatal piglets against ETEC colibacillosis. All pregnant sows were primed at 11 weeks and were boosted at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Group A sows were im inoculated with PBS. Group B sows were im immunized with $2{\times}10^9$ the mixture. Seral IgG, colostral IgA and IgG titers from group B sows, and seral IgG and IgA levels in group B piglets were significantly higher than those of group A sows and piglets, respectively. After challenge with wild-type ETEC, diarrhea and mortality was not observed in group B piglets. However, diarrhea was observed in 66.7% of group A piglets, and 33.3% mortality was observed. These findings indicate that im immunization of sows with the mixture of the novel vaccine candidate can effectively protect their offspring from ETEC colibacillosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1304-1308
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• 2009

To investigate the infection patterns of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in Korean pig farms, a total of 4,768 swine sera samples from 159 pig farms were taken twice, in June (n=82) and October (n=77) in 2007. In each farm selected for the survey, 10 samples from breeding pigs and 4 from each of the 5 age groups (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days) were taken, and all serum samples were tested for PEDV by the serum neutralization test. The overall seroprevalence was 62.6% (2,983/4,768), with the highest prevalence in breeding pigs (93.5%, 1,485/1,589). The prevalence showed an increasing trend with increasing age (30.8, 27.2, 44.7, 61.6, and 71.2% respectively in the 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days age groups) (p<0.0001 for $x^2$ trend test). The association between age and PEDV prevalence was similar in both surveys, indicating that the infection of PEDV seemed to be occurring repeatedly in the farms surveyed. This inference could also be explained by the fact that prevalence in sows was very high despite low vaccination coverage, as they are continuously exposed to PEDV in potentially infected farms for a longer period. Based on the neutralizing antibody levels in sows and growing pigs, the majority of farms (91.8%, n=146 farms) were endemically infected with PEDV, and most of pigs seemed to be intensively infected with PEDV at around early growth (41.8%) and weaning (31.5%). On the other hand, serum neutralizing antibodies were not detected in pigs older than 30 days of age in farms classified as having no PEDV infection (n=13 farms), indicating the level of maternal antibody against PEDV is decreased on a non-detectable level before the piglet is 60 days old in the field situation. The results indicated that most farms surveyed in 2007 were affected with endemic PEDV infection. Therefore, a national monitoring and control program for the endemic type PEDV infection needs further attention.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1451-1455
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• 2009

Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) is a betaherpesvirus which causes reproductive failure in breeding sows and generalized infection in newborn piglets. It has worldwide distribution including Korea. Serological survey on this virus has been reported in 76.3% of pigs, but virological survey and epidemiological analysis on PCMV distribution have been reported in only a few papers in Korea. In this study, we investigated the virological prevalence and infection status of PCMV on a farm level in selected swine farms with respiratory diseases. A total of 1,938 blood samples taken from groups of pigs of different ages were collected from 31 farms distributed nationwide in 2006 and 2007 and tested by PCR to detect the presence of PCMV. Virological prevalence at farm level and pig level were 96.8% and 17.5%, respectively, suggesting that PCMV has endemically infected Korean pig herds. The prevalence at farm level in gilts, sows and suckling piglet groups were 16.7%, 36.7% and 56.7%, indicating that vertical infections frequently occurred in conception or newborn stage. Thereafter, detection rates of PCMV were slightly increased in pig groups aged 40 and 70 days (70.0% and 73.3%), and then gradually decreased as they aged - 33.3% in 100, 26.7% in 130 and 16.7% in 160 day old pig groups. The prevalence at pig level has similar patterns to that at farm level. With the passage of time, the variation of infection patterns of PCMV was investigated in four PCMV-positive farms. Three blood samples were collected at intervals of 6 months in each farm, and examined for presence of PCMV using PCR. The results revealed that once PCMV was introduced to the pig farms, it continuously circulated between and within groups of sows and piglets in those farms. Taken together, it can be concluded that PCMV has endemically infected Korean pig farms and has the potential risk for emerging pathogen in combination with the known endemic pathogens including porcine reproductive, respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2. Therefore, more research is needed on diagnosis, epidemiology and control strategy for PCMV on the field.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2002

The effects of housing and nutrition on the performance of growing gilts of the Nepalese Pakhribas breed were investigated. A total of 36 pigs were allocated according to a factorial design with 3 levels of nutrition, provided to achieve a target growth rate of 200, 300 or 400 g/day, and two types of housing, traditional or improved. The growth rate and body composition were monitored during the growing period and subsequent pregnancy. There was a significantly higher growth rate (p<0.01), greater $P_2$ backfat thickness (p<0.01), and greater eye muscle depth (p<0.01) at service in pigs given the higher level of nutrition. Similarly, there was a significantly higher growth rate (p<0.05), and greater eye muscle depth (p<0.10) with improved housing but no significant difference in $P_2$ backfat thickness. The conception rate was 90% at first service, with no difference between treatments. Gilts from the high plane of rearing produced a mean litter size of one piglet greater than those on the low plane, but this was not significant with the limited numbers. However, both improved plane of nutrition and reduced climatic penalty by improving housing resulted in increased birthweight of piglets (p<0.05). It is concluded that improvement in housing can give benefits equivalent to at least a 7% improvement in efficiency of feed use under traditional Nepalese circumstances for pig rearing.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.780-786
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• 2005

This study presents a non-video, non-invasive, automatic, on-site monitoring system the system employs ultrasonic transducers to detect behavior in sows before, during and after parturition. An ultrasonic transmitting/receiving (T/R) circuit of 40 kHz was mounted above a conventional parturition bed. The T/R units use ultrasonic time-of-flight (TOF) ranging technology to measure the height of the confined sows at eight predetermined locations. From this data, three momentary postures of the sow are determined, characterized as standing-posture (SP), lateral-lying-posture (LLP) and sitting posture (STP). By examining the frequencies of position switch Stand-Up-Sequence (SUS) between standing-posture (SP), lateral-lying-posture (LLP) and sitting-posture (STP) rate can be determined for the duration of the sow' confinement. Three experimental pureblooded Landrace sows undergoing normal gestation were monitored for the duration of confinement. In agreement with common observation, the sows exhibited increased restlessness as parturition approached. Analysis of the data collected in our study showed a distinct peak in Stand-Up-Sequence (SUS, i.e. the transition from lying laterally to standing up ) and sitting-posture (STP) rate approximately 12 h prior to parturition, the observed peak being 5 to 10 times higher than observed on any other measurement day. It is concluded that the presented methodology is a robust, low-cost, lowlabor method for the continuous remote monitoring of sows and similar large animals for parturition and other behavior. It is suggested that the system could be applied to automatic prediction of sow parturition, with automatic notification of remote management personnel so human attendance at birth could reduce rates of sow and piglet mortality. The results of this study provide a good basis for enhancing automation and reducing costs in large-scale sow husbandry and have applications in the testing of various large mammals for the effects of medications, diets, genetic modifications and environmental factors.