• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.565-572
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of insoluble dietary fiber (Vitacel®) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weanling pigs. A total of 96 pigs that averaged 6.49$\pm$0.52kg BW and 23$\pm$2.1d age were allocated in a randomized block design with two pigs per pen and 12 pens per treatment. Pigs and feeders were weighed 10-days interval for the 40-d trials to determine ADG, ADFI and feed:gain ratio(F:G). Pigs were fed one of four diets:1) Control diet (C) 2) C+0.3% insoluble dietary fiber(IDF) 3) C+0.6% IDF and 4) c+0.9% IDF. For the determination of fecal nutrients digestibility, pigs were fed diets(diet 2) with 1% Celite-545(Fluka) as a marker and feces were collected on $9^{th}$ day and $18^{th}$ day after feeding diet 2. During the whole experimental period, pigs fed diet with 0.3% IDF have significantly higher ADG than other dietary treatment groups(P<0.05). ADG of pigs fed diet with 0.6% IDF was higher than that of pigs fed control diet(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in ADG between control group and 0.9% IDF group(P>0.05). ADFI of pigs fed diet with 0.3% IDF was significantly higher than any other dietary treatment groups(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in ADFI among control group, 0.6% and 0.9% IDF supplementation groups (P>0.05). Digestibilities of organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber and energy were significantly higher in 0.3% IDF supplementation group than any other dietary groups. However, there was no difference in over all nutrient digestibilities between 0.6% and 0.9% IDF group. Feeding diets more than 0.6% IDF did not affect the rest of the nutrients digestibilities except for ADF digestibility compared to control diet. Dietary supplementation level of IDF showed a significant quadratic effect on performance improvement of piglets. This response of growth performance to IDF supplementation is, as expected, in agreement with that of nutrient digestibility. Our results showed that IDF supplementation to diet for weaned piglets might be beneficial in terms of growth and nutrient digestibility. However, there should be more study on the relationship between level of IDF supplementation and piglet response as well as the exact mode of action of IDF in weaned piglets.

• 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.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.10.1-10.7
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• 2014

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with citrus pulp, fish by-product, and Bacillus subtilis fermentation biomass on the growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, and fecal microflora of weanling pigs. A total of 180 weaned piglets (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire ${\times}$ Duroc) were randomly allotted to three treatments on the basis of body weight (BW). There were six replicate pens in each treatment with 10 piglets per pen. Dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal-based basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 2.5, and 5.0% citrus pulp, fish by-product, and B. subtilis fermentation biomass. The isocaloric and isoproteineous experimental diets were fed in mash form in two phases (d 0 ~ 14, phase I and d 15 ~ 28, phase II). Dietary treatments had significant linear effects on gain to feed ratio (G:F) in all periods, whereas significant linear effects on ATTD of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), and ash were only observed in phase I. Piglets fed diet supplemented with 5.0% citrus pulp, fish by-product, and B. subtilis fermentation biomass showed greater (p < 0.05) G:F (phase I, phase II, and overall) as well as ATTD of DM, GE, and ash (phase I) than pigs fed control diet. Dietary treatments also had significant linear effects on total anaerobic bacteria populations by d 14 and 28. In addition, piglets fed diet supplemented with 5.0% citrus pulp, fish by-product and B. subtilis fermentation biomass showed greater (p < 0.05) fecal total anaerobic bacteria populations (d 14 and 28) than pigs fed control diet. Dietary treatments had no significant effects (linear or quadratic) on average daily gain (ADG), average dial feed intake (ADFI; phase I, phase II, and overall), or fecal populations of Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium spp., and coliforms (d 14 and 28). These results indicate that dietary supplementation with 5.0% citrus pulp, fish by-product, and B. subtilis fermentation biomass has the potential to improve the feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microflora of weanling pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 1999

The effect of a chronic inflammation (cell-mediated immune response) on energy metabolism and growth performance was assessed in weanling piglets. Twenty four barrows of 4 wk of age were assigned to one of two immunization treatments : Control group [CON: immunized with Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (lFA)] or Immunization group [IMMU: immunized with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)]. On d0, piglets were weaned and subcutaneously immunized at the medial side of the femur with 2 ml of IFA or CFA, respectively. Energy and nitrogen balances were measured per group during 13-d balance period, and total $(HP_{tot})$, activity-related ($(HP_{act})$) and non-activity-related $(HP_{cor})$ heat production were determined every 9-min by indirect calorimetry. Ig total titers to Mycobacterium butyricum, which is present in CFA, were higher (p<0.01) in IMMU than in CON on d13 (2.5 vs 1.8) and d20 (2.9 vs 1.8) after immunization. There were no differences (p>0.10) between treatments in rectal temperature, performance, feed intake, and availability and partitioning of energy during the balance period. Average daily feed intake was numerically higher in IMMU than in CON (0.34 vs 0.32 kg/d), but there was no difference (p>0.10) in metabolizability of the dietary energy between treatments. $HP_{act}/HP_{tot}$ was 16.24 and 16.89%, and retained energy was 251 and 268 $268\;kJ{\cdot}kg^{0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ for CON and IMMU, respectively. Numerically, maintenance requirement of IMMU was even lower than that of CON $(419\;vs\;427\;kJ{\cdot}kg^{0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1})$. The present study suggests that a chronic inflammation has no effect on energy metabolism and growth performance, in spite of the difference in systemic antibody responses. The reason was considered to be due to locally induced immune response, resulting from the possible encapsulation at the site of injection, and/or to a low systemic immune stress which is within a functionally acceptable physiological range for the piglets.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.397-412
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• 2021

In Experiment 1, the impact of using diets sufficient in P on the performance of weaned piglet growth with or without a super dose of phytase was investigated. One hundred and twelve piglets were randomized into four treatments with 7 replicates (4 piglets·cage^-1). Bodyweight (BW), daily gain (ADG), daily intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were measured over three weeks. Treatments included a positive control (PC) with a Ca : P ratio of 0.80 : 0.50%. and the negative control (NC) had a Ca : P ratio of 0.60 : 0.50%. The PC plus phytase was denoted as PC+, and the NC with the phytase diet was designated as NC+. The PC diet was formulated to meet or exceed the NRC (2012) standards for pigs weighing 7 - 25 kgs. Better results were obtained with the PC diet (p > 0.1) compared to the NC diet. The super dose of phytase in the PC+ diet significantly improved the overall FCR (p < 0.1). For Experiment 2, the impact of different calcium (Ca)/phosphorous (P) ratios with or without supplementation of vitamin D₃ was determined. Ninety-six piglets were randomized into four treatments with 6 replicates (4 piglets·cage^-1). The PC, NC1 and NC2 diets had ratios of 0.80 : 0.50, 0.80 : 0.45, and 0.60 : 0.45%, respectively. The fourth diet (PCV) was the PC diet fortified with vitamin D₃. Improved results were observed with the PC diet (p > 0.1) compared to the NC diets. Supplementing dietary 25-OH-D₃ in the PCV diet led to numerically higher ADG and ADFI scores with lower FCR values at the early nursery stage (p = 0.0044), but the vitamin supplement did not significantly influence the growth.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.260-271
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• 2022

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of the differing amino acid (AA) release dynamics of two protein sources on the growth performance, nitrogen deposition, plasma biochemical parameters, and muscle synthesis and degradation of piglets when included in their diets at normal and low concentrations. Methods: Forty-eight piglets (Duroc×Landrace×Large White) with initial body weight of 7.45±0.58 kg were assigned to six groups and fed one of 6 diets. The 6 dietary treatments were arranged by 3×2 factorial with 3 protein sources and 2 dietary protein levels. They are NCAS (a normal protein content with casein), NBlend (a normal protein content with blend of casein and corn gluten meal), NCGM (a normal protein content with corn gluten meal), LCAS (a low protein content with casein), LBlend (a low protein content with blend of casein and corn gluten meal), LCGM (a low protein content with corn gluten meal). The release dynamics of AA in these diets were determined by in vitro digestion. The digestibility, utilization and biological value of nitrogen in piglets were determined by micro Kjeldahl method. Plasma insulin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The protein expression of mediators of muscle synthesis and degradation was determined by western blotting. Results: Although the consumption of a low-protein diet supplemented with crystalline AA was associated with greater nitrogen digestion and utilization (p<0.05), the final body weight, growth performance, nitrogen deposition, and phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 and eIF4E binding protein 1 in the muscle of pigs in the low-protein diet-fed groups were lower than those of the normal-protein diet-fed groups (p<0.05) because of the absence of non-essential AA. Because of the more balanced release of AA, the casein (CAS) and Blend-fed groups showed superior growth performance, final body weight and nitrogen deposition, and lower expression of muscle ring finger 1 and muscle atrophy F-box than the CGM-fed groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that the balanced release of AA from CAS containing diets and mixed diets could reduce muscle degradation, favor nitrogen retention, % intake and improve growth performance in pigs consuming either a normal- or low-protein diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1718-1728
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• 2011

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the in vitro ability of keratinase to hydrolyze soybean glycinin and ${\beta}$-conglycinin and to evaluate the in vivo effects of keratinase when included in corn-soybean diets with different levels of crude protein and fed to nursery pigs. In experiment 1, a saturated keratinase solution (1 ml) was added to two blank controls of either glycinin or ${\beta}$-conglycinin resulting in the hydrolysis of 94.74% glycinin and 88.89% ${\beta}$-conglycinin. In experiment 2, 190 pigs (8.3${\pm}$0.63 kg BW) were allotted to one of four treatments in a 2${\times}$2 factorial arrangement on the basis of body weight, and sex was balanced among the pens. The effects of crude protein (19 vs. 22%) and keratinase (0 vs. 0.05%) were studied. Each treatment was applied to six pens with seven (two pens) or eight pigs per pen. Pigs were fed the experimental diets for 21 d. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio were improved (p<0.05) with keratinase supplementation while feed intake was reduced (p<0.05). Keratinase supplementation increased (p<0.05) the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, energy, crude protein and phosphorus. Keratinase supplementation also increased n-butyric acid in the cecum and colon, lactobacilli and total anaerobe counts in the colon as well as the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the ileum. Additionally, fecal score, ammonia nitrogen and branch chain volatile fatty acids in the colon, E. coli and total aerobe counts in the colon, crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum as well as serum interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 concentrations were also decreased (p<0.05) by keratinase supplementation. A reduction in dietary crude protein decreased (p<0.05) colon ammonia nitrogen concentration and cecal propionic acid and branch chain volatile fatty acid concentrations. In addition, cecal E. coli counts, colon total anaerobe counts, ileal crypt depth, and serum interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 concentrations were also decreased (p<0.05) with the reduction of dietary crude protein. With the exception of fecal scores, there were no significant interactions between crude protein and keratinase. This study provides evidence that dietary keratinase supplementation improved nursery pig performance by improving intestinal morphology and ecology, thus improving nutrient digestibility and alleviating the inflammatory response.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1268-1273
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• 2011

The present study was conducted to determine a feasible method of protein concentrate extraction from rice bran (RBPC) and its effect as a substitution for skim milk in early weaning pig diets. An investigation to extract protein concentrate from full fat rice bran was undertaken to determine the best ratio of water and rice bran, the amount of NaOH and a HCl solvent to use in a simple paddle-type mixer with modified spinning to produce RBPC. The results stated that the best ratio for water mixing in the RBPC extraction process was 1:5 with 20 g NaOH and 30 min in a paddle-type mixer at 300 rpm. A mix of 250 ml 0.2 N HCl was optimum for neutralization and protein precipitation. After the fluid was spun out with a washing machine, the sediment was left for 12-14 hours to complete the filtration. One kilogram of rice bran could produce an average of 324.5 gram RBPC and it contained 3.40% ash, 496.48 kcal of GE/100 gram, 1.94% crude fiber, 28.20% ether extract, 7.64% moisture and 16.66% crude protein, respectively. A total of 45 crossbred piglets, weaned at 3 weeks of age were allotted into control diet (A) and dietary treatments formulated with a four different rates of RBPC substitution for skim milk at a percentage of 25 (B), 50 (C), 77 (D) and 100 (E) respectively, in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. All piglets had free access to feed and water until 8 week of age when the experiment ended. Feed intake, average daily gain, growth rate and feed efficiency were not affected by dietary treatments. Blood test parameters after completion of the growth trial indicated normal health. Even though the mean of cell hemoglobin concentration was significantly different between treatments (p<0.05) it was still within the normal range. The cost difference for BW gain of 100% RBPC substituted for skim milk in the weaning diet was approximately 35% lower than that of the control and the relative cost of production was 96.67, 92.85, 70.75 and 64.48% lower for the replacement of 25, 50, 75 and 100% of skim milk respectively. These results implied that this technology is feasible for use by small scale farmers to improve their self-reliance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.70-83
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• 2022

A set of studies was performed to determine the influence of dietary ZnO concentration and source during two phases (days 0 to 14 and days 15 to 28). Experiment 1: 168 weaned piglets were allocated to four treatment groups in six replicates. The treatments included a basal diet without ZnO supplementation (control), 2,500 mg ZnO/kg (In2500), 500 mg nano-ZnO/kg (N500), and 150 mg nano-ZnO/kg (N150). Experiment 2: 168 weaned piglets were divided into three treatment groups with eight replicates. The treatments included control, In2500, N300, and 150 mg nano-ZnO/kg (N150). An in vitro trial showed that the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium was inhibited when exposed to 300 and 500 ppm of ZnO after 24 h of incubation. In experiment 1, the average daily gain (ADG) by the pigs was improved in the N500 and IN2500 treatment groups. Colonization of coliforms and Clostridium spp. significantly decreased in the pigs fed the N500 and IN2500 diets in phase 1. The total plasma antioxidant capacity was greater in the IN2500 and N500 treatment groups than in the control. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was greater in pigs fed the IN2500 (phase 1) or the IN2500 and N500 (phase 2) diets than in the control and N150 treatment group. In experiment 2, pigs in the N300 treatment group showed a higher ADG and lower fecal score colonization of coliforms and Clostridium spp. compared with those in the N150 treatment group. In conclusion, nano-ZnO at a dose of 300 ppm showed the same growth as the pharmacological dose of Zn. This provides an option to the pharmacological dose.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1998

The experiment was conducted with 120 barrows weaned at 21 days of age to estimate their lysine requirement weaned at 21 days of age when other important amino acids were fortified to get optimal ratio to lysine. The treatments were 1.15% (control), 1.25%, 1.35%, 1.45%, 1.55%, 1.65% total lysine in the diet. Based on the growth performance total lysine requirement of 21-day old pigs appears to be 1.45%. The lowest digestibilities of dry matter and crude fat were found in pigs fed 1.15% total lysine diet and the highest were found in pigs fed 1.65% total lysine diet with no significant differences among treatments. Nitrogen digestibility increased as the total lysine level increased up to 1.35% (p < 0.05) and remained relatively constant beyond 1.35%. However, the best nitrogen digestibility was observed in pigs fed 1.45% total dietary lysine. Gross energy, crude ash and phosphorus digestibilities did not differ due to the increase in total lysine level. The amounts of excreted dry matter and nitrogen differed significantly by the increase in lysine level up to 1.35% (p < 0.05), while phosphorus excretion was not influenced by the lysine level. Dry matter and nitrogen excretion were reduced by 13.6% and 18.4%, respectively, when 1.45% lysine was offered to the pigs compared to the those fed on 1.15% lysine diet. The amino acid digestibilities increased as the total lysine level increased up to 1.45% (p < 0.05), and remained constant beyond 1.45%. The lysine requirement for the pigs weighing 6 to 14 kg seems to be higher than the previous estimates and in order to reduce pollutant excretion the accurate nutrient requirement should be set and applied to the animal.