• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.730-746
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• 2015

Selenium plays an important role in boar nutrition via participating in selenoprotein synthesis. It seems likely that selenoproteins are central for antioxidant system regulation in the body. Se-dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) is the most studied selenoprotein in swine production. However, roles of other selenoproteins in boar semen production and maintenance of semen quality also need to be studied. Boar semen is characterised by a high proportion of easily oxidized long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and requires an effective antioxidant defense. The requirement of swine for selenium varies depending on many environmental and other conditions and, in general, is considered to be 0.15 to 0.30 mg/kg feed. It seems likely that reproducing sows and boars are especially sensitive to Se deficiency, and meeting their requirements is an important challenge for pig nutritionists. In fact, in many countries there are legal limits as to how much Se may be included into the diet and this restricts flexibility in terms of addressing the Se needs of the developing and reproducing swine. The analysis of data of various boar trials with different Se sources indicates that in some cases when background Se levels were low, there were advantages of Se dietary supplementation. It is necessary to take into account that only an optimal Se status of animals is associated with the best antioxidant protection and could have positive effects on boar semen production and its quality. However, in many cases, background Se levels were not determined and therefore, it is difficult to judge if the basic diets were deficient in Se. It can also be suggested that, because of higher efficacy of assimilation from the diet, and possibilities of building Se reserves in the body, organic selenium in the form of selenomethionine (SeMet) provided by a range of products, including Se-Yeast and SeMet preparations is an important source of Se to better meet the needs of modern pig genotypes in commercial conditions of intensive pig production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.343-348
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• 2013

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the development of T cells in intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) piglets at different gestational stages, and tentatively explore the relationship between T cells development and the Notch signaling pathway. A total of 18 crossbred (Landrace${\times}$Large white) primiparous sows were mated at similar weights and estruses and euthanized at d 60, 90 and 110 of gestation with six replicates for each time point. One IUGR and one normal fetus were picked from each litter. The T-cell subsets, mRNA expression of Delta-like1, Delta-like4, Jagged1, and Notch2 genes in the thymus were investigated. Compared to normal piglets, $CD3^+CD4^-CD8^+$ cells in IUGR fetuses at d 90 was 0.13% lower (p<0.05). At d 110 of gestation $CD8^+$ T cells in IUGR fetuses was 0.19% lower (p<0.05). The percentage of $CD8^+$ T cells was 3.14% lower (p<0.05) of the total T cells in IUGR pigs at d 60. The abundance of Notch2 and Delta-like4 mRNA at d 110 was 20.93% higher and 0.77% (p<0.05) lower, and Delta-like1 mRNA at d 90 was 0.19% (p<0.05) higher compared to normal pigs. These results suggested that normal fetuses had a greater proportion of T-cell subsets at earlier gestation periods, and the Notch signaling pathway was likely partially responsible for these differences to some degree.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.1178-1181
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• 2002

Records from a total of 202 crossbred pigs were classified by their ear type and coat color to examine the presence of interrelationships with growth performances. Crossbred pigs were F2 generations of full sib family out of ten Landrace sows bred by 5 Korean domestic boars. Heavily drooped ear type was predominant, 195 out of 202 pigs over the other two types (1 straight and 6 slightly drooped). Coat colors were classified as four categories, all white, all black, dominant white or dominant black. Ratio among coat color categories did not fall within Mendelian principle of independence regarding two loci involved. There was dependency between ear type and coat color. However, due to rarity of ear types other than heavy drooped, dependency comes from distribution of those rare ear types. Three least squares models to test the effect of ear type and coat colors on growth performances were analyzed. First model analyzed effects on birth weight, body weight at 3 and 6 weeks and ADG' before weaning and between 3 and 5 weeks of age. This model included sex in addition to ear type and coat color. Second model analyzed postweaning growth traits (initial weight, final weight and ADG between these periods) upon initiation of performance testing. This model included effects of sex, test group and start age (as a covariate) in addition. Third model was fit for fasted weight before slaughter and included the effects of sex, test group and age at slaughter (as a covariate). The effects of sex and ear type were not significant source of variation for all traits. Test group was a significant source of variation for all the postweaning traits. Effect of coat color was not significant until the initiation of performance testing and became significant then after. Least squares means of dominantly black pigs were significantly lower than the other three coat colored pigs in final weight around 195 days of age and in ADG from the start of performance test and final weight measure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters between first and later parities as different traits in reproductive traits of pigs using multiple trait animal model procedures. Data related to reproductive traits from a total of 2,371 individuals maintained at a farm were taken from the pedigree file. Sires and dams were consisted of Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire breeds, respectively. The first and later parity records were considered as different traits. Traits included in analyses were total pigs born (TB1), number of pigs born alive (NBA1), number of pigs weaned (NW1), and litter weaning weight (LWT1) in the first parity, and total pigs born (TB2), number of pigs born alive (NBA2), number of pigs weaned (NW2), litter weaning weight (LWT2) and interval between farrowing events (FTF) in later parities. Heritability estimates of TB1, NBA1, NW1 and LWT1 in the first parity were 0.27, 0.25, 0.16 and 0.20, respectively. For TB2, NBA2, NW2, LWT2 and FTF in later parities, heritabilities were estimated as 0.15, 0.15, 0.08, 0.11 and 0.07, respectively. Genetic correlations between sow reproductive traits in the first parity and in the second and later parity were estimated to be 0.89, 0.77, 0.58 and 0.66, respectively, between TB1 and TB2, NBA1 and NBA2, NW1 and NW2, and LWT1 and LWT2. While phenotypic correlations between TB1 and TB2, NBA1 and NBA2, NW1 and NW2, and LWT1 and LWT2 were estimated as 0.18, 0.15, 0.06 and 0.10, respectively. Genetic correlations between reproductive traits of first and later parities were not high indicating that reproductive traits for sows should be analyzed while considering the parities as different traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.825-832
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• 2010

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity defines biotechnology as "Any technological application that uses biological systems, dead organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use" Biotechnology has made tremendous contributions to improve production efficiency of agriculture during the last century. This article reviews successful examples of application of bio-fermentation in improving swine nutrition efficiency mainly based on the authors'z own research experience. Production of feed grade supplemental amino acids by bio-fermentation allowed nutritionists to formulate accurate feed for optimal lean growth and reduced nitrogen excretion. Recent issues with high feed grain prices caused potential feed quality problems. Bio-fermentation allowed nutritionists to use exogenous supplemental enzymes such as phytase and NSPases in swine diets, thereby improving nutrient utilization and reducing nutrient excretion to the environment. Yeast metabolites are also produced by bio-fermentation and have been repeatedly shown to improve milk production of sows during early lactation even though actual mechanisms are still to be investigated. Bio-fermentation technology also allowed nutritionists to prepare vegetable protein sources with large protein molecules and anti-nutritional factors suitable for feeding newly weaned piglets, as selected microorganisms significantly reduce specific anti-nutritional factors and size of peptides. Preparations of vegetable protein sources suitable for newly weaned pigs will greatly contribute to swine nutrition by providing efficient alternatives to the use of animal protein sources that are often expensive and somewhat against societal preference. Considering the few examples listed above, biotechnology has closely influenced improvement of production efficiency in the swine industry. As we have limited resources to produce meat to satisfy ever-increasing global demands, extensive adaptation of biotechnology to enhance production efficiency should be continued. However, at the same time, wise and careful application of bio-technology should be considered to ensure production of safe food and to meet the expectations of our society.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.634-639
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of heating of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine before injection, on the incidence of lesions at the injection site (pork butt), amount of discarded meat, and economical benefit. Methods: In total, 101,086 piglets raised in 30 farms, were vaccinated in the neck with 2 mL of FMD vaccine at 56 d and 84 d of age using a commercial syringe. The heat treatment group (48,511 pigs) was injected with the FMD vaccine after it had been heated in a water bath at 40℃ for 20 min. After slaughter, the incidence of lesions on the pork butt was inspected, and the subsequent amount of discarded meat was recorded. Results: Heat treatment of FMD vaccine reduced the incident rate of lesions on the pork butt (p<0.01). Overall, 17.81% of the pigs in the heat treatment group had lesions, while the incident rate in the control group was 21.70%. The amount of discarded meat per head of total pigs and per head of pigs with lesions were significantly lower in the heat treatment group than the control group (p<0.01). Thus, the proportion of discarded meat to dressed carcass was lower in the heat treatment group (0.249%) compared with the control group (0.338%) (p<0.01). Farms that rear 1,000 sows can gain 1,863,289 KRW (1,600 USD) in one year when they adopt heat treatment of FMD vaccine before injection. Conclusion: Heat treatment of FMD vaccine using simple heat equipment (water bath) can be effective in reducing lesions caused by FMD vaccination and increase the economic benefits in pig farms.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.441-446
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• 1990

Encephalomyocarditis virus infection in pigs, characterized by severe reproductive failure in sows and sudden death in less than 7 day-old-piglets, a period of several months from October to December of 1989, in Korea was occurred. The most outstanding gross lesions at necropsy were found in the heart which were consisted of pale, yellow brown necrotic foci of varying size in myocardium. In some cases, pulmonary edema and liver congestion were observed. Histopathology of the heart revealed the interstitial myocarditis, endocarditis and epicarditis with lymphocytic, plasmacytic and macrophage cell infiltration and, in some cases, calcification of the necrotic myocardial muscle fibers. In some cases of brain, the perivascular cuffing and glial nodules were observed. In the liver and the lacrimal gland varying degrees of multifocal necrosis were seen. The virus was isolated from the heart and the brain in a stillborn piglet and a mummified fetus. This outbreak represents the first case of encephalomyocarditis virus infection of pigs in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

Yersinia enterocolitica is an inhabitant in the lower intestinal tract of many domestic and wild animals as well as in the nature. Of the several forms of diseases caused by Y. enterocolitica, an acute enteritis, especially in young children, is the most common form. Infection of the bacteria usually occurs through fecal-oral route by contaminated foods or water, especially mountainspring water. Of the domestic animals, swine has been known as one of the most important carrier in the human infection. Based on the knowledge, prevalence of antibody against Y enterocolitica was investigated with swine sera collected from Korea for the survey of Y enterocolitica infection in swine. As the first step of this survey, we analyzed outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles of the representative strains of Y enterocolitica isolated from the feces of piglets and mountainspring water in Korea. Thirty-eight kDa OMP was identified as the common OMP regardless of origin, serotype, or biotype of Y enterocolitica isolates. Presence of antibody specific for 38 kDa OMP of Y enterocolitica in 1,076 swine sera collected from November 1999 to October 2000 was analysed with ELISA. Antibody titer in sows was significantly higher than that in piglets, growing pigs and finishing pigs (p<0.05). Also, there was seasonal difference in the prevalence of antibody against Y enterocolitica. These results would provide the basic knowledge for controlling the Y enterocolitica infection in human as well as swine.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2016

Clostridium novyi (C. novyi) is a gram positive, non-capsulated, motile, obligatory anaerobe that produces endospores. Both C. novyi type A and B produce a bacteriophage encoded lethal alpha toxin which belongs to a family of large clostridial cytotoxins. These large clostridial cytotoxins of C. novyi bind to the uncharacterized receptors on host vascular endothelial cells, which leads to the loss of integrity of the vascular endothelium with subsequent edema, refractory hypotension, organ failure, and sudden death. A total of 13 sudden death cases were submitted to Chonbuk National University-Veterinary Diagnostic Center between June and October, 2015. The samples, mainly liver, were collected in sterile vials after necropsy and processed within 12~24 hours for diagnosis, isolation and identification of C. novyi. All of the 4 gram positive samples showed amplification by PCR. Out of 4 positive samples, 3 were detected to be C. novyi type B and 1 was detected as C. novyi type A. Based on the 16S rDNA sequence analysis, 1 case (150564) showed 99% similarity with C. novyi type A while other 3 cases (150388, 150557 and 150775) presented 99% similarity with C. novyi type B. Based on the results, C. novyi was found to be prevalent in Korean pig farms and causes sudden death to finishing pigs or sows during summer season. Thus, C. novyi should be considered for differential diagnosis on sudden death cases during the summer season.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii (TG) in cattle and pigs reared in eastern areas of Gyeongbuk province by ELISA. Among 368 sera collected from 119 cattle farms, 76 (20.7%) sera from 34 (28.6%) farms had antibodies to TG. Fifty (27.2%) out of 184 cattle in Uljin-gun and 26 (14.1%) out of 184 cattle in Yeongdeok-gun were positive. Pyeonghae (50.0%) in Uljin-gun and Dalsan (33.3%) in Yeongdeok-gun had the highest TG antibodies in cattle compared to other areas. Prevalence of TG antibodies in cattle was increased with age. Among 368 sera collected from 43 pig farms, 62 (16.8%) sera from 16 (37.2%) farms had antibodies to TG. Forty (21.7%) out of 184 pigs in Uljin-gun and 22 (12.0%) out of 184 pigs in Yeongdeok-gun were positive. Uljin and Puk (40.0%) in Uljin-gun and Yeonghae (33.3%) in Yeongdeok-gun had the highest TG antibodies in pigs compared to other areas. Prevalence of TG antibodies in sows was higher than that in fattening pigs. Seasonally, prevalence of TG antibodies in pigs was highest in summer (23.4%) and lowest in winter (12.5%). Based on these observations, data indicate that infection by the protozoan parasite TG is widely prevalent in cattle and pigs reared in eastern areas of Gyeongbuk province.