• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.250-256
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of graded levels of isomaltooligosaccharides (IMO) on the performance, immune function and intestinal microflora and intestinal mucosal morphology of weaned pigs. In a 28-day experiment, one hundred eighty, twenty eight-day-old, crossbred (Duroc${\times}$Large White${\times}$Landrace), weaned pigs, with an initial body weight of $8.19{\pm}1.45kg$, were fed either an unsupplemented corn-soybean meal based diet or similar diets supplemented with 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, or 0.8% IMO added at the expense of corn. Each treatment was replicated six times with six pigs (three barrows and three gilts) per pen. From day 0 to 14, weight gain was linearly increased (p<0.05), while gain:feed (p<0.05) was linearly improved and diarrhea rate (p = 0.05) linearly declined as the IMO level increased. On d 14, the level of the immunoglobulins IgA, IgM, and IgG in the serum of pigs were linearly increased (p<0.05) with increasing IMO supplementation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was linearly (p<0.05) and quadratically (p<0.05) decreased as IMO intake increased. From day 15 to 28, there was a trend for weight gain to be linearly increased, and IL-2 was linearly (p<0.05) increased as IMO supplementation increased on d 28. Over the entire experiment, weight gain was linearly increased (p<0.05), while gain:feed (p<0.05) was linearly improved and diarrhea rate (p<0.05) was linearly decreased as the IMO level increased. Supplementation with IMO had no effect on the intestinal microflora of pigs in the ileum and cecum of pigs, as well as the villus height and crypt depth in the ileum and jejunum (p>0.05). These results indicate that dietary inclusion of IMO increases weight gain, gain:feed and enhanced the immune status of pigs, and could be a valuable feed additive for use in weaned pigs, particularly during the period immediately after weaning.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 2020

This experiment was conducted to investigate effects of dietary protease on immune responses of weaned pigs. Weaned pigs (n = 75; 7.06 ± 0.18 kg BW; 28 d old) were randomly assigned to 3 treatments (5 pigs/pen; 5 pens/treatment). Dietary treatments were positive control, a diet with required protein level (PC), negative control, a diet with lower protein level than PC (NC), and NC + 0.02% dietary protease (PRO). The dietary protease used in this experiment was a commercial product containing 75,000 protease units/g derived from Nocardiopsis prasina produced in Bacillus licheniformis. The dietary treatments did not contain any ingredients or additives that may provide antibacterial or physiological effects. Pigs were fed respective dietary treatments for 6 weeks. Blood was collected from randomly selected 2 pigs in each pen on d 1, 3, 7, and 14 after weaning. Measurements were number of white blood cells (WBC), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Pigs fed PRO had lower WBC on d 7 (14.84 vs 20.42 × 10³/μL; p < 0.05) and TNF-α on d 7 (618 vs 889 pg/mL; p = 0.085) and 14 (437 vs 576 pg/mL; p = 0.069) than those fed NC, but there were no differences on WBC and TNF-α between PC and PRO. Pigs fed PRO had lower TGF-β1 on d 3 (630 vs. 1,588 and 1,396 pg/mL; p < 0.05) than those fed PC and NC. However, no differences were found on CRP among dietary treatments. In conclusion, addition of dietary protease reduced inflammatory immune responses of weaned pigs.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.401-418
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• 2010

This experiment was selected a $\beta$-glucan producing mushroom strain and developed industrial media, and used to $\beta$-glucan as an alternative for antibiotics in weaned pigs. Yields of mycelial biomass and extracellular $\beta$-glucan from Youngji (Ganoderma lucidum) mushroom was 8.52g/L and 4.49g/L respectively. Also, we prepared optimum formula for mushroom cultivations. A total of 144 pigs ($8.6{\pm}0.9$ kg average body weight, weaned $20{\pm}3$ days of age) were allotted to 4 different treatment groups and replicated 4 times with 8 pigs per replicate in randomized complete block design. Treatments were T1) NC (negative control, basal diet), T2) PC (positive control, basal diet+0.255% antibiotics), T3) NC+0.2% $\beta$-glucan and T4) PC+0.2% $\beta$-glucan. The T2 and T4 treatments were significantly higher in feed efficiency by antibiotics group (p<0.05), however, there was no significant differences in terms of average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) during phase I (0~14 days). In phase II (15~28 days), Pigs fed with antibiotics and $\beta$-glucan (T4) had greater ADG than other treatments (p<0.05), while no differences were observed in ADFI and feed efficiency. During the whole experiment period, the ADG of T4 treatment was higher than other treatments. Pigs fed with $\beta$-glucan (T3 and T4) had greater diarrhea score and moisture content than other treatments (p<0.05). Pigs fed with $\beta$-glucan (T3 and T4) had greater moisture content than other treatments (p<0.05). However, there was no significant differences in diarrhea score and mortality of weaned pigs. There was marginal reductions in feed cost measured feed cost per weight gain used in antibiotics and $\beta$-glucan added diet during phase I. In the second phase, the treatment supplemented with antibiotics had a significantly lower feed cost per weight gain compared to the other treatments. The results from these experiments suggests that $\beta$-glucan is likely able to improve the growth performance, and reduce feed cost although they do not have similar effects like antibiotics in weaning pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.537-542
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• 2003

Sixty [(Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Landrace] pigs (7.63$\pm$0.41kg average body weight and 25-d average age) were used in a 20-d growth assay to determine the effect of dietary recombinant human lactoferricin culture (RHLC) supplementation on growth performance, digestibility and plasma IgG concentration in weaning pigs. Dietary treatments included 1) Negative control (NC : without antibiotic), 2) Positive control (PC : NC diet + 0.1% chlortetracycline), 3) RHLC0.3 (NC diet + 0.3% RHLC), 4) RHLC0.5 (NC diet + 0.5% RHLC). No differences were found among treatments in average daily gain (P>0.05). ADFI of pigs fed RHLC0.3 diet was higher than that of pigs fed PC diet (P<0.05). However, pigs fed RHLC0.5 diet had improved gain/feed compared to pigs fed PC diet. Pigs fed PC and RHLC diets showed significantly increased dry matter digestibility compared to pigs fed NC diet (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in plasma IgG concentrations (P>0.05). The supplementation of RHLC in starter pig diets appears to be an alternative to antibiotics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.998-1003
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• 2016

Although exogenous protease enzymes have been used in poultry diets quite extensively, this has not been the case for pig diets. In general, due to their better gut fermentative capacity and longer transit time, pigs have greater capacity to digest dietary proteins than poultry. However, in early-weaned piglets, the stress brought about by weaning adversely affects the digestion of dietary proteins. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the effects of a commercial protease enzyme in weanling pigs. Indices of growth, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microflora, fecal gas emission and fecal scores were measured during the study. A total of 50 weanling pigs ($6.42{\pm}0.12kg$) at 28 d of age were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 2 dietary treatments: i) control diet (corn-soy based) with no supplemental protease (CON), and ii) control diet+200 g/ton protease (PROT) for 42 d. A completely randomized design consisting of 2 treatments, 5 replicates, and 5 pigs in each replicate was used. Growth performance in terms of body weight ($27.04{\pm}0.38kg$ vs $25.75{\pm}0.39kg$; p<0.05) and average daily gain ($491{\pm}7.40g$ vs $460{\pm}7.46g$; p<0.05) in PROT fed pigs were increased significantly, but gain per feed ($0.700{\pm}0.01$ vs $0.678{\pm}0.01$; p>0.05) was similar between treatments at d 42. Relative to CON pigs, PROT fed pigs had increased (p<0.05) apparent total tract digestibility ($84.66%{\pm}0.65%$ vs $81.21%{\pm}1.13%$ dry matter and $84.02%{\pm}0.52%$ vs $80.47%{\pm}1.22%$ nitrogen) and decreased (p<0.05) $NH_3$ emission ($2.0{\pm}0.16ppm$ vs $1.2{\pm}0.12ppm$) in the feces at d 42. Except for a decreased (p<0.05) in blood creatinine level, no differences were observed in red blood cell, white blood cell, lymphocyte, urea nitrogen, and IgG concentrations between treatments. Fecal score and fecal microflora (Lactobacillus and E. coli) were also similar between CON and PROT groups. Overall, the supplementation of protease enzyme in weanling pigs resulted in improved growth rate and nutrient digestibility. Exogenous protease enzyme reduced fecal $NH_3$ emission, thus, potentially serving as a tool in lowering noxious gas contribution of livestock production in the environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1656-1660
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fermented fruits (FF) on the growth performance, Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus counts in faeces of the post-weaning piglets. A total of twenty-four 4 weeks old Landrace${\times}$ Large White${\times}$Duroc with initial body weight of 6 kg were used in this study. The piglets were housed individually in metabolic cage and randomly assigned to four groups with six piglets per group. The piglets were fed on basal diet without antibiotic (AF), basal diets with antibiotic (Ab), basal diet with 10% (w/w) fermented fruit (10% FF) and basal diet with 20% (w/w) fermented fruit (20% FF). Faecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of each piglet and cultured for Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus counts. In the growth performance, the piglets of Ab and 10%FF had significantly higher (p<0.05) average daily gain than those of 20%FF. However, no differences (p>0.05) were observed between AF, Ab and 10%FF. Studies showed that the use of fermented fruits (FF) could significantly (p<0.05) reduce Enterobacteriaceae population in piglets' faeces compared to the use of normal feed (AF) and antibiotic (Ab). However, the Lactobacillus population in the faeces was increased in those piglets fed with diets added with FF.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.608-619
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• 1998

The small and the large intestine of swine represent the organs that extract nutrients from feedstuffs through digestion and fermentation and that allow their absorption and incorporation into the blood circulation. Special attention is directed towards the small intestine of young pigs since the transition to a solid diet at weaning exerts major impacts on the structural and functional integrity of the small intestine. Dietary factors involved in postweaning changes of gut morphology and biochemistry such as removal of bioactive compounds in sows milk at weaning, anti-nutritional factors in weaner diets, dietary fiber and the role of voluntary feed intake will be elucidated. The microbial function of the large intestine which is carried out by a diverse population of microorganisms is dependent on substrate availability. Short chain fatty acids as main fermentation products contribute to the energy supply of the host but they are also important for the maintenance of the morphological and functional integrity of the epithelium in the colon. As a result of bacterial nitrogen assimilation in the large intestine, nitrogen is shifted from the urinary to the fecal excretion route thus saving metabolic energy to the pig because less ammonia would become available for conversion to urea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.768-774
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• 2016

The present study investigated the impact of parity 1 gilt body weight during late gestation (d 109) on subsequent reproductive performance of sows and performance of suckling pigs. A total of 2,404 farrowing records over 6 parities were divided into six groups on the basis of body weight (190, 200, 210, 220, 230, and 240 kg) at d 109 of gestation of 585 gilts. Significant effects (p<0.05) of body weight on sow retention rate was noticed, with the 210 kg group having the lowest culling rate and highest total number of piglets born alive over the 6 parities. With increase of body weight, a linear increase (p<0.05) in losses of body weight and backfat during the lactation period of parity 1 and a linear decrease (p<0.05) in backfat loss for parities 4 and 6 were found. Compared with light sows, heavy sows had higher (p<0.05) litter weight at birth for parities 1 and 2 and at weaning in parity 1. Sow weaning-to-estrus interval of sows was not influenced (p>0.05) by body weight. In conclusion, maintaining optimal body weight during gestation would be beneficial to sows and suckling piglets.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

Porcine circovirus (PCV) is a small, nonenveloped virus that contains a single-stranded circular DNA genome of about 1.76 kb and belongs to the family circoviridae. The PCV-2 has been incriminated as the cause of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) , an emerging disease in pigs. In the present study, a PCR assay was applied to detect PCV-2 in tissue samples. The presence of PCV-2 antigen in the porcine tissues was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) with PCV-2 specific monoclonal antibodies. And then DNA extracted from PCV-2 positive tissues was used as a template. One oligonucleotide primer suitable for PCR was selected from a published PCV-2 sequence (Genbank). Amplified PCR product was detected the same fragment lengths of 416 bp as a control. Based on these results, it was suggested that the PCR is a simple and sensitive method for support diagnostic purposes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 2007

The risk of an outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) was evaluated in relation to the vaccination and seroprevalence of antibodies. Blood samples were collected from 60 piggeries throughout Korea and information regarding CSF vaccination habits was also obtained via in-person interviews with pig farmers. The results of the survey indicated that 51 out of 60 farms were regularly performing CSF vaccinations in reproductive herds. Farmers preferred to vaccinate their reproductive pigs before weaning (41 farms) than on (9 farms) or after weaning (1 farm). In growing herds, however, double vaccinations as recommended were implemented for only 40 farms (66.7%) and vaccine schedules were identified as being frequently ignored. Moreover, many farms (18/40) were found to vaccinate earlier or later than the recommended time. According to antibody seroprevalence levels, only 36 farms (60%) were considered to be safe regarding potential risk for a CSF outbreak. Among the remaining pig farms, 6 were at low-risk (10%), 12 were at medium-risk (20%), and another 6 were at high-risk (10%). Antibody levels were found to be consistent with vaccination status obtained from personal interview surveys. Our findings demonstrate the importance of vaccinations regarding the prevention of a CSF outbreak, suggesting that vaccinations must be promoted toward pig raisers and practitioners.