• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.236-245
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• 2017

Objective: The study was to investigate the effects of alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln) and glutamine (Gln) supplementation on the intestinal mucosa barrier in piglets. Methods: A total of 180 barrows with initial weight $10.01{\pm}0.03kg$ were randomly allocated to three treatments, and each treatment consisted of three pens and twenty pigs per pen. The piglets of three groups were fed with control diet [0.62% alanine (Ala)], Ala-Gln diet (0.5% Ala-Gln), Gln diet (0.34% Gln and 0.21% Ala), respectively. Results: The results showed that in comparison with control diet, dietary Ala-Gln supplementation increased the height of villi in duodenum and jejunum (p<0.05), Gln supplementation increased the villi height of jejunum (p<0.05), Ala-Gln supplementation up-regulated the mRNA expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor in jejunal mucosa (p<0.05), raised the mRNA expressions of Claudin-1, Occludin, zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) and the protein levels of Occludin, ZO-1 in jejunal mucosa (p<0.05), Ala-Gln supplementation enlarged the number of goblet cells in duodenal and ileal epithelium (p<0.05), Gln increased the number of goblet cells in duodenal epithelium (p<0.05) and Ala-Gln supplementation improved the concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G in the jejunal mucosa (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrated that dietary Ala-Gln supplementation could maintain the integrity of small intestine and promote the functions of intestinal mucosa barriers in piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.802-811
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• 2020

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary sucralose on diet preference and growth performance of weaned piglets, and a third experiment was a 28-d safety study to examine if high-dose sucralose could affect the health state of weaned piglets. Methods: In experiment one, 48 piglets had free access to a corn-soybean based diet and the same diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg sucralose for 15 d. In experiment two, 180 piglets were blocked into 5 treatments with 6 replications. They were fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 mg/kg sucralose for 28 days. In experiment three, 108 piglets were randomly assigned to 3 treatments and fed diets supplemented with 0, 150 (suitable level), and 1,500 (ten-fold suitable level) mg/kg sucralose for 28 d. Results: The experiment 1 showed that piglets preferred (p<0.05) diets containing sucralose during experimental period. In experiment 2, piglets fed a diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg sucralose had a higher average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) than pigs in the control group and other treatment groups during the experiment period. The concentrations of sucralose over 150 mg/kg may decrease feed intake. However, no difference in feed conversion ratio was observed. In experiment 3, piglets fed diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg sucralose had a higher ADG and ADFI than that of pigs in the control group and 1,500 mg/kg treatment groups during the experiment period. Clinical blood metabolites, organ index and histological morphology were not significantly different between sucralose treatments. Conclusion: Sucralose can promote feed intake and thereby improve growth performance of weaned piglets. Moreover, inclusion of 1,500 mg/kg sucralose was demonstrated to have no observed adverse effects. Supplementing 150 mg/kg sucralose for weaned piglets is recommended in this study.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the effective cryoprotectants for the cryopreservation of porcine mesenechymal stem cells (pMSCs). In order to understand the effectiveness of various cryoprotectants on pMSCs, we studied the most commonly used cryoprotectants; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG), DMSO and EG. pMSCs were isolated from bone marrow matrix of piglet (2 month) and characterized by alkaline phopshatase (AP) activity, colony forming, and differentiation to adipocyte. In slow cooling cryopreservation, the pMSCs were exposed to cell medium containing Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% DMSO, 1.5M EG and 5% DMSO/0.75M EG, respectively, and freezed to $-1^{\circ}C$/min from $25^{\circ}C$ up to $-80^{\circ}C$ in a cryo-container. The proportion of viable cells and the growing rates in fresh pMSCs were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of other groups, but did not differ between the cryopreserved groups. The expression of Sox-2 and Nanog gene was increased by extending culture time in cryopreserved groups. The expression of Bax gene in cryopreserved groups was similar with fresh pMSCs. Moreover, the gene expression of adipocyte-specific marker as well as chondrogenic/osteogenic factors in cryopreserved groups was similarly to fresh pMSCs. Taken together, our results suggested that all these cryoprotectants of 10% DMSO, 1.5M EG and 5% DMSO/0.75M EG could be used for cryopreservation of the pMSCs.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.197-201
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of donor cell treatments on the production of transgenic cloned piglets. Ear fibroblast cell obtained from NIH MHC Inbred minipig was used as control. The GalT knock-out/CD45 knock-in (GalT/CD46) transgenic cell lines were established and used as donor cells. The reconstructed GalT/CD46 embryos were surgically transferred into oviduct of naturally cycling surrogate sows (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) on the second day of standing estrus. Unlike control (1.2 kV/cm, 75.4%), the fusion rate of the GalT/CDl6 donor cells was significantly higher in 1.5 kV/cm, (84.5%) than that of 1.25 kV/cm, (20.2%) (p<0.01). When the number of the transferred embryos were more than 129, the pregnancy and delivery rates were increased to 13/20 (65%) and 5/20 (25%) compared to less then 100 group [1/6 (16.7%) and 0/6 (0%)], respectively. To analyze the effect of donor cell culture condition on pregnancy and delivery rates, the GalT/CD46 donor cells were cultured with DMEM or serum reduced medium. In serum reduced medium group, the pregnancy and delivery rates were improved to 8/12 (66.7%) and 5/12 (41.7%) compared to DMEM group [3/7 (42.9%) and 0/7 (0%)], respectively. In conclusion, it can be postulated that an appropriate fusion condition and culture system is essential factors to increase the efficiency of the production of transgenic cloned piglets.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.627-632
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• 2003

Piglets communicate with their sow by using special sounds and synchronize their suckling behavior with their mother’s grunting. This study sought to find an effective sound for controlling the nursing/suckling behavior of pigs. Eighteen crossbred Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire sows and their piglets were studied on days 1, 7, and 14 post-partum. The parity of the sows was three or four. The litter size ranged from 9 to 11, with a mean of 10.4 piglets. Thirty minutes after the end of the last suckling, either the nursing-suckling sound (NSS) or the nursing-suckling sound + click sound (NSSCS) was played for 90 s randomly, and this experiment was repeated three times. The behavior of the sows and their piglets was recorded using camcorders and observed each second. When comparing NSS and NSSCS, there was less lying and sleeping and more sitting, standing, walking, and massaging when NSSCS was played than when NSS was played. These results suggest that NSSCS may induce more nursing and suckling in pigs than NSS.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.649-654
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• 2005

Purpose : The present study examined how changes in cerebral hemodynamics in newborn piglets with bilirubin infusion can be evaluated by near infrared sepctroscopy(NIRS). Methods : Seventeen newborn piglets were randomly divided into the following three experimental groups : six in the control group(CG); seven in the bilirubin infusion group(BG), and four in the bilirubin infusion with 7-nitroindazole group(NG). To achieve the concentration of bilirubin above 20 mg/dL, we injected a bolus of 40 mg/kg of bilirubin intravenously, followed by 30 mg/kg/hr of bilirubin continuous intravenous infusion. All groups were monitored with cerebral hemodynamics using near infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) and their brain cortexes were harvested and the activities of $Na^+$, $K^+$-ATPase, level of conjugated dienes, ATP and phosphocreatine(PCr) were determined biochemically. Results : No changes took place in CG. In BG and NG, base excess, pH, and MABP decreased, and lactate level in blood increased. Cerebral $Na^+$, $K^+$-ATPase activity and ATP, PCr level in BG significantly decreased and conjugated dienes increased compared to CG. These abnormalities observed in the BG were significantly improved in the NG. In continuous NIRS monitoring, [$HbO_2$], [HbT], and [HbD] in BG were significantlly decreased compared to CG. However these abnormalities between NG and CG were not significantly different. There were no significant differences in $ScO_2$ between the study groups. Conclusion : Our study suggests cerebral hemodynamic changes could be monitored by non-invasive NIRS in newborn piglets with bilirubin infusion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1285-1293
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• 2005

The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of various animal and plant protein sources on piglet' performance, digestibility of amino acids and gut morphology in weaned pigs until 28 days after weaning. The plant protein sources used were soybean meal (SBM), fermented soy protein (FSP), rice protein concentrate (RPC); and animal protein sources tested were, whey protein concentrate (WPC) and fishmeal (FM). Iso-proteinous (21%) diets were formulated and lysine (1.55%) content was similar in all the diets. The level of each protein source added was 6% by replacing SBM to the same extent from the control diet containing 15% SBM. The ADG was higher (p<0.05) in the groups fed animal proteins as compared with plant proteins at all the levels of measurement, except during 15-28 days. The highest ADG was noted in WPC and FM fed diets and lowest in SBM fed diet. The feed intake was higher in animal protein fed groups than plant proteins at all phases, but the feed:gain ratio was not affected by protein sources except during overall (0 to 14 day) measurement which was improved (p<0.05) in animal protein fed diets compared to plant protein sources. The digestibilities of gross energy, dry matter and crude protein were higher in animal protein fed groups than for plant protein fed sources. The apparent ileal digestibilities of essential amino acids like Leu, Thr, and Met were significantly (p<0.05) higher in animal proteins fed animals as compared with plant protein fed animals. But the apparent fecal digestibilities of essential amino acids like Arg and Ile were significantly higher (p<0.05) in plant protein diets than animal protein sources. The villous structure studied by scanning electron microscope were prominent, straight finger-like, although shortened and densely located in FM fed group as compared with others. The lactic acid bacteria and C. perfringens counts were higher in caecal contents of pigs fed plant proteins than the animal proteins. Overall, it could be concluded that animal protein sources in the present study showed better effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut morphology than plant protein sources.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1638-1652
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• 2000

Prolific females require better nutrition and feeding practice because of larger litter size and the substantial decline in body fat. Life-time pig output will be compromised if body protein and fat are not properly managed. First litter females are especially vulnerable because they can loose ${\geq}15%$ of whole-body protein. Conservation of body protein mass during first lactation minimizes wean to estrus interval and increases second litter size (up to 1.2 pigs). The ability to influence litter-size by amino acid nutrition is a new dimension in our understanding. A P2 fat depth below 12 mm at farrow and below 10 mm at wean compromised wean to estrus interval (>2 d) and next litter size (0.5 to 1.5 pigs) in sows. It is now clear that a 'modest' excess of feed during the first 72 h of pregnancy decreases embryo viability so that the potential for an increased litter size at birth is not realized. The capacity for milk production by prolific young sows is 25% higher than the standard used previously (NRC, 1988). First litter females averaged 9.82 kg milk/d for a 21 d lactation. Second and third litter counterparts averaged 10.35 kg/d. Milk production was 95% of peak by 10 d of lactation and sows were in greatest negative energy and lysine balance during the first 6 d. Nearly 45% of the total loss in body protein occurred within the first 6 d, but this could reduced to 30-35% by using a more aggressive feeding strategy after parturition. There appear to be 2 phases in lactation for lysine need (d 2-12 vs 12-21). Feeding to the higher level alleviates the second litter size decline. The lysine requirement for lactation can be predicted with accuracy, but we are not able to predict the second limiting amino acid. Mammary uptake of valine relative to lysine and recent work with practical diets suggest that the recent NRC (1998) pattern is realistic and that threonine and valine could be co-limiting for corn-soy diets for prolific sows nursing 10-11 pigs. Empirical studies are needed to refine the ideal pattern so that synthetic lysine can be used with more confidence. Milk fat output for the elite sow is extraordinary and poses an unnecessarily high energetic cost. Methods that reduce mammary fat synthesis will benefit the sow and may enhance piglet growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.775-783
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• 2007

To elucidate the efficacy of different soy protein sources on piglet's performance, a total of 280 weaned piglets ($Duroc{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$, $23{\pm}3$ d of age, $5.86{\pm}0.45$ kg initial BW) were allotted to 5 treatment diets comprising soybean meal (SBM), soy protein concentrate (SPC), Hamlet protein (HP300), fungal (Aspergillus oryzae) fermented soy protein (FSP-A), and fungal plus bacterial (A. oryzae+Bacillus subtilis) fermented soy protein (FSP-B), respectively. Experimental diets for feeding trial were formulated to contain each soy protein sources at 8% level to corn-whey powder basal diet. There were 14 pigs per pen and 4 pens per treatment. Experimental diets were fed from 0 to 14 d after weaning and then a common commercial diet was fed from 15 to 35 d. Also for ileal digestibility studies, 18 pigs were assigned to 6 dietary treatments as N-free, SBM, SPC, HP300, FSP-A and FSP-B with T-canulation at distal ileum for 6 days. At $14^{th}$ d of experimental feeding, the ADG was significantly higher (p<0.05) in SPC fed diet as compared with others. Similar trend was noticed during the 15-35 d and overall study (0-35 d). All the processed soy protein sources tested in this experiment improved (p<0.05) growth than SBM during overall study. The nutrient digestibility of GE, DM, CP and Ca showed lower (p<0.05) values in SBM and FSP-A fed groups than SPC and FSP-B treatments. The apparent ileal digestibility of TEAA, non-TEAA and TAA showed lower (p<0.05) in SBM treatments compared with other soy protein sources. The true ileal digestibility of TEAA, non-TEAA and TAA were lower (p<0.05) in SBM fed group than SPC and HP300 treatments, and lower than FSP treatments though they didn't achieve significant difference (p>0.05). Villous height and crypt depth was not affected by dietary treatments. In conclusion, the growth and digestibility of nutrients in weaned pigs fed SPC was superior to others. Also FSP-A and FSP-B showed improved performance than those fed SBM.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2008

This study was carried out to assess the fermentation properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from bovine colostrum and effects of feeding fermented colostrum feed on the growth to piglet. A total of 427 colonies were isolated from bovine colostrum on the BCP plate count agar. These LAB isolated were subcultured in 10% reconstituted skim milk, and seven strain thereof were selected for their highest acid productions, and two strain thereof were finally selected for their excellent sugar utilization. These strains were identified as Streptococcus thermophilus and Streptococcus macedonicus based on l6S rDNA sequencing data, named S. thermophilus CNB-11 and S. macedonicus CNB-11 respectively. For fermentation profiles, sugar utilization, acid production and viable cell counts were excellent in S. thermophilus CNB-11 as compared with S. macedoniclts CNB-11 after 48 hour. The effect of feeding fermented colostrum feed 0.5% using S. thermophilus CNB-11 was investigated for growth rate, analysis of blood and incidence of diarrhea. 24 heads of piglets were divided into two groups: the experimental and the control of 12 animals each. The average growth rate in the pigs fed fermented colostrum feed was higher 16.73% compared with control diet (p<0.05). There were no differences in the concentrations of blood glucose, cholesterol, albumin and globulin in pigs fed fermented colostrum feed as compared with control piglets. Incidence of diarrhea was no in pigs fed fermented colostrum feed as compared with control piglets.