No abstract

A total of 144 crossbred pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with an initial body weight (BW) of 25.7 ± 2.3 kg were used in a 16-wk study to evaluate the effects of xylanase supplementation in growing-finishing pigs. Treatments were as follows: control diet (CON); low-energy diet (LX) + 0.01% xylanase; and alternative diet (AX) + 0.01% xylanase. From weeks 0 to 6, pigs in the AX treatment had greater (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) than those in the CON treatment. On the sixth week, higher (P < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy was observed in the AX treatment compared with the CON treatment. Pigs fed the AX diet had the lowest (P < 0.05) ATTD of energy among all of the treatments on week 12. At the end of the experiment, the ATTD of dry matter (DM) of pigs in the LX treatment was higher (P < 0.05) than those in the AX and CON treatments. The redness values in the LX and AX treatments were higher (P < 0.05) than that in the CON treatment. In conclusion, our results indicated that dietary inclusion of 0.01% xylanase supplement could improve ADFI during weeks 0-6, ATTD of DM at week 16 and energy at weeks 6 and 12, and the redness color of meat in growing-finishing pigs.

A total of eighty 21-day-olds (1.1±0.01kg) ROSS 308 broilers were randomly allocated into 4 groups, with 20 replicates per group and 1 chicken per replicate per cage. Three experimental groups (CAR, THY, ORE group) were given oral administration of 200ìL essential oils (carvacrol, thyme and oregano) at 18:00h every day. The results showed no significant differences on blood metabolites among each group (P>0.05). The villus height of the small intestines in the CAR group increased significantly (P less than 0.05) from 1360.10 to 1552.54ìm as compared to the control group, the goblet cell counts in the THY and ORE groups significantly increased by 20.91% (P less than 0.05) and 31.82% (P less than 0.05), respectively, compared to the control group. The E.coli and Salmonella in ORE group significantly decreased by 11.16% (P less than 0.05) and 9.54% (P less than 0.05), respectively, compared to the control group. The Redness (a*) values of the muscles of the CAR and ORE groups were observed to increase significantly (P less than 0.05) from 3.58 to 7.95 and 6.86, respectively, compared to the control group. In conclusion, oral administration of the essential oils carvacrol, thyme, and oregano promoted intestinal development, improved the intestinal environment and the meat quality of broilers.

A total of 150 crossbred pigs [(Duroc × Yorkshire) × Landrace; body weight (BW) = 5.74 ± 1.15 kg; weaned at day 21 after birth] were assigned to one of five dietary treatments (six pens per treatment and five pigs per pen) by BW and sex (two barrows and three gilts) for a 6 wk experiment. The pen was considered the experimental unit in the statistical model. Treatments were corn–soybean meal diets supplemented with 0.0033% tiamulin as well as 0%, 0.05%, 0.10%, or 0.20% fermented garlic (FG). The average daily gain, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio were linearly (p < 0.05) increased by FG inclusion during days 21–42 and days 0–42. Dietary supplementation of FG linearly increased (p < 0.05) the coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy as well as blood immunoglobulin G concentration during week 6. The fecal ammonia (NH3), total mercaptan emissions, and Escherichia coli counts were linearly (p < 0.05) reduced by FG in the diet. Dietary supplementation of FG increased (p < 0.05) ADFI during days 21–42 and days 0–42 and reduced (p < 0.05) fecal NH3 emissions compared with pigs fed tiamulin. In conclusion, the results indicate that FG can enhance growth performance and digestibility, and reduce fecal E. coli counts as well as fecal gas emissions in weanling pigs.

Participants in the pig production industry focus on feed and feed additives to improve growth performance and meat quality of pigs. Consequently, the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea produced a new paternal line to improve economic traits in pigs. However, there is an absence of information on pig traits with regard to season and sex, and a comparison between the new paternal line and past paternal lines. Therefore, the authors conducted this study to investigate the influence of season of birth, sex and paternal line on growth performance and carcass traits in pigs. A total of 2888 piglets ((Landrace × Yorkshire) × Darby Duroc (DD) or Chookjin Duroc (CD)) with an average age of three weeks were tested for 22 weeks during the four season of the year (spring 608 piglets, summer 404 piglets, autumn 576 piglets and winter 1300 piglets). The bodyweights (BW) of individual pig were recorded, and feed consumption was recorded at weeks 2, 12 and 22, to determine growth performance. At reaching market weight, backfat thickness was determined at the last rib area. Meat was graded according to the criteria of the slaughterhouse. There were no significant differences in growth performance and carcass traits between sexes. The CD line crossbred pig had a significant higher BW at 16 weeks, and higher carcass trait values at 22 weeks than the DD line. During weeks 8 to 16 the CD line crossbred pigs showed a tendency of an increased average daily gain (ADG) and gain : feed (G : F) ratio compared with the DD line. Furthermore, pigs born in spring had significant lower ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and carcass trait values than born in the other seasons. In conclusion, the new paternal line (Chookjin Duroc) improved growth performance and carcass traits compare with the DD line.