Weaning stress is the most common issue in weanling pigs, and increases diarrhea and mortality. Various wavelengths of light irradiation affect the body owing to the association with biophotons. Biophotons are very weak photons in the visible light range generated during metabolic and chemical reactions in vivo. Immune mechanisms are activated by increasing signal transmission between cells through biophoton emission. This study evaluated the influence of ultra-weak light (LED) on growth performance, antioxidant status, and stress of weaned piglets. A total of 120 weaned pigs with an average initial body weight of 7.04±0.01 kg (age: 21 d) were allotted to two treatments (Control and LED) with 10 replicates. Diets prepared in pellet form were administered to the pigs in three phases including Phase 1 (0–14 d), Phase 2 (15–28 d), and Phase 3 (29–42 d). At the end of the study, the average daily gain (8.96%, p<0.05) and feed efficiency (6.56%, p<0.05) of pigs was significantly increased at phase 3 in the LED treatment. Low concentration of malondialdehyde (12.58%, p<0.05) and high concentrations of glutathione reductase (7.41%, p<0.01) and total antioxidant capacity (5.48%, p<0.05) were observed in the LED treatment at Day 42. The concentration of hair cortisol was also decreased (24.05%, p<0.05) in the LED treatment at Day 42. In conclusion, the use of LED for weanling pigs is recommended to improve growth performance by modulating antioxidant capacity and cortisol level in hair.

We aimed to investigate the effect of environmental enrichment via toys on the behaviour and performance of weanling pigs. A total of 300 pigs (LYD) were housed in different pens with ten pigs per replicate and ten pigs per head divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was called “CON” and received no toys, group 2 was TOY-2, and pigs in this group had access to toys in the first 2 weeks, and lastly, pigs in TOY-4 were given toys in the fourth week. The pigs had access to feed and water ad-libitum. The individual pig behaviours in each group was recorded on days 14 and 28 (d 14 and 28) with a video camera for accuracy. The results showed higher (p<0.05) overall ADG in TOY-4 compared with CON, while the overall ADFI was higher (p<0.05) in TOY-supplemented groups compared to CON. Diarrhea incidence and fecal score were lower on D 14 in TOY-supplemented groups compared with CON. Behavioural features such as ear biting and fighting were lower (p<0.05) in TOY-supplemented groups compared with CON on D 14. Tail biting was lower (p<0.05) in TOY-2 compared with CON at D 14. Conversely, at D 28, tail biting was lower (p<0.05) in TOY-4 compared with CON. The ADG improved due to the toy supplied to reduce undesirable social behaviours. We concluded that the environmental enrichment of pens with toys can help to improve the welfare in weaning pigs, leading to a greater survivability and more production thereby improving farmer incomes.

This study investigated various levels of sodium nitrite and probiotics (SNPro) combination as an alternative to zinc oxide on the growth performance, immune response, intestinal microflora, and morphology of weaned pigs. One hundred and ninety-two weaned pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) with an average body weight of 6.51±0.15 kg were randomly assigned to four treatments(n=6) on the basis of their initial body weight. Experimental period was divided into phase 1 and 2 (each 14 days). The dietary treatments were: 1) Basal diet (control), 2) SNPro1 (control+0.01% SNPro), 3) SNPro2 (control+0.02% SNPro), 4) SNPro3 (control+0.03% SNPro). The average daily gain when SNPro was added to the diet was 288, 309, 319, 324 g in phase 1, 355, 387, 410, 407 g in phase 2 and 321, 348, 364, 366 g in the overall. The concentration of interleukin-8 and interleukin-10 in serum when SNPro was added to the diet were 15, 13.5, 13, 12.8 ng/ml and 165, 162, 155, 145 ng/ml (p<0.05) but toll-like receptor 4 and immunoglobulin G levels in serum were no significantly different. The colonization of Escherichia coli in the ileum and Salmonella spp. in the caecum were significantly decreased as SNPro level increased (p<0.05). However, the population of Lactobacillus spp. did not differ among the groups. Although villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio were not significantly affected by the treatments, crypt depth in the jejunum was 599, 586, 615, 599 ㎛ as SNPro level increased (p<0.05). In conclusion, SNPro had beneficial effects on growth performance, immune response, intestinal microflora and morphology weaned pigs. Therefore, SNPro not only can be considered as an alternative for the pharmacological level of zinc oxide in weaning pigs but also ideal dietary SNPro level was 0.02%.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary protein level and supplementation of protease on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut microflora, intestinal morphology and fecal noxious gas emission in weanling pigs. A total of 240 weaned pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc, 5.82±0.3 kg) were used during 4 weeks in 2 phases (days 0-14, phase 1; and days 15-28, phase 2) feeding program based on age and initial body weight. Pigs were allocated to 2×2 factorial arrangement, including 2 protein levels (HP, high protein; LP, low protein) and 2 protease levels (with or without protease). The average daily gain in the LP treatment (357 g/d) was increased rather than the HP treatment (339 g/d). A greater avarage daily gain was observed in dietary suppiemented protease treatment (358 vs 339 g/d). Average feed intake was greater in the LP treatment (544 g/d) rather than the HP treatment (530 g/d). A greater average daily feed intake was observed in dietary supplemented protease treatment (552 vs 523 g/d). Dry matter and crude protein digestibility were increased in dietary supplemented protease treatment (82.62% and 76.08%, respectively) rather than non-supplemented treatment (81.74% and 75.13%, respectively). Ileal Lactobacillus spp. count increased in dietary supplemented protease treatment (7.42 vs 7.32 log10CFU/g). Emission of H2S was decreased in the LP treatment (4.41 ppm) rather than HP treatment (4.78 ppm). Emission of NH3 was decreased in dietary supplemented protease treatment (10.43 ppm vs 11.76 ppm). In conclusion, the decrease of dietary protein level and supplementation of protease had beneficial effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut microflora, and noxious gas emission in weanling pigs.

This study was conducted to clarify behavior and body weight of weaned piglets between different social experiences during suckling period. Control (no social experience) and treatment (social experience) groups of weaned piglets were housed and observed with the aid of video technology for 8 consecutive hours in early (days 1 and 2) and late (days 22 and 23) periods after mixing. Inactive, locomotion and exploration were significantly different between control and treatment groups in early mixed period. Feeding differed between groups in late mixed period. In social behaviors, agonistic and interaction with adjacent pen were significantly higher in treatment group than in control group during early mixed period. However, social behaviors dramatically decreased in late mixed period. There was negative correlation between average daily gain of body weight and agonistic behavior. In social experienced weaned piglet groups, there were less agonistic behavior and more daily gain of body weight in this study. Social experience during suckling period would be useful for stable group management in swine industry.

The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of purified amino acid (PAA) isolated and purified from animal slaughter house blood on growth performance and immune response of weanling piglets. A total of fifteen, 28 days old, weaned pigs were randomly distributed into three treatment groups, 5 pens per treatment (one head per pen). Each experimental diet was provided to five piglets per group (T0, 0% PAA; T1, 0.1% PAA; T2, 0.5% PAA). The feed consumption was calculated daily and body weight on a weekly basis. The blood samples were analyzed for plasma concentration of biochemical parameters and cytokines using ELISA Kit assay. Pigs fed with the 0.5% PAA have greater average daily weight gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) as compared to those of T0 and T1. However, ADG and FE of T0 and T1 have no remarkable differences. The plasma cytokine levels were lower in T2 as compared to T0 and T1. The blood parameters like total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glutamate oxalate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were within the normal range in all the treatment groups. The study indicated that supplementation of 0.5% PAA have positive effect on the growth performance of the weanling pigs. Moreover, supplementation of the amino acid isolated and purified from animal slaughter house blood has no adverse effect on palatability of the feed and health of the animals.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of supplementation of hot melt extrusion (HME) processed Zn sulfate on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, small intestinal morphology and excretion of Zn in weanling pigs. A total of 200 piglets of mixed sex randomly allotted to four treatments on the basis of initial BW (7.15±0.81 kg). There were five replicates in each treatment with 10 pigs per replicate. The experimental treatments consisted of: 1) basal diet containing ZnSO4; 2) basal diet containing Zn-Methionine (ZnMet); 3) basal diet containing low level of nano-Zn as HME (ZnHME50); 4) basal diet containing medium level of nano-Zn as HME ZnSO4 (Zn-HME75). The average daily gain was improved by the ZnMet and ZnHME75 compared with the pigs fed ZnSO4 supplemented diets (p=0.009). Moreover, ZnHME75 and ZnMet affected on the ATTD of CP during phase 2 (p=0.014). The villus height (VH) was affected by increasing when pigs fed diets supplemented the ZnHME75 (P=0.044). The pigs fed diets supplemented ZnHME50 had significantly the lowest (p=0.037) Zn content in liver compared with other treatments. The Zn content in the feces was significantly higher (p<0.001) in ZnSO4 and ZnMet compared with ZnHME50 or ZnHME75. In conclusion, it could be concluded that dietary Zn can be reduced by 25% with ZnHME without any detrimental effect on performance of weanling pigs.

본 연구는 이유 후 돈군이동지연이 자돈의 성장, 혈액성상에 미치는 영향을 규명하기 위해 수행되었다. 평균 체중 6.77 ± 1.395kg의 3원 교잡종([Yorkshire × Landrace]) × Duroc) 180두를 공시하였으며, 3처리 6반복 펜 당 10마리씩 성별과 체중에 따라 난괴법으로 배치하였다. 처리구는 1) D0: 이유 직후 분만사에서 자돈사로 이동한 처리구, 2) D3: 이유 후 분만사에서 3일 대기한 후 자돈사로 이동한 처리구 3) D5: 이유 후 분만사에서 5일 대기한 후 자돈사로 이동한 처리구이다. 실험결과 성장성적과 설사지수에서 처리구간 유의적인 차이를 발견하지 못하였다. 혈액성상에서는 이유 직전의 BUN (blood urea nitrogen) 수치가 분만틀에서 대기하는 기간이 늘어남에 따라 감소하였으며, 이유 후 cortisol 농도에서는 대기하는 기간이 늘어남에 따라 증가하였다. 하지만 면역성상에서는 IgG와 IgA 모두 다 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았다. 따라서 이유직후에 돈군이동(D0)을 하는 것이 분만틀에서 대기 하는 것보다 자돈의 체내 질소의 이용률이나 이유 후의 동물들의 복지 측면에서 농가에게 더 효율적인 사양시스템인 것으로 사료된다.

본 연구는 국내에 보급되어 있는 여러 형태의 이유자돈사에 대하여 CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics) 컴퓨터 시뮬레이션을 통해 가상으로 모델화하여 특성을 비교 분석하고 실제 돈사에서 각종환경요인과 이유자돈의 증체율 및 폐사율을 비교 분석함으로써 우리나라의 기후 조건에 적합한 모델을 제시하기 위하여 수행되었다. 실험돈사로는 복도-더그매 예열 음압환기방식 무창이유자돈사(Model-1), 더그매 예열 음압환기방식 무창이유자돈사(Model-2), 그리고 윈치커튼형 음압환기방식 개방이유자돈사(Model-3)가 이용되었다. 시뮬레이션 결과 Model-1이 Model-2와 Model-3에 비하여 전체적으로 낮은 풍속과 균일한 풍속분포도를 나타냈으며 모델간의 평균 온도, 평균 상대습도 및 평균 암모니아 농도가 차이가 없었으나(p>0.05) Model-1과 Model-3의 종료체중과 일당증체량이 Model-2에 비해 높았다(p<0.001). 따라서 Model-1이 Model-2와 Model-3에 비하여 우리나라의 기후 조건에 적합한 것으로 판단되었다.

본 연구는 식물성 불포화지방산 복합제로 이루어진 보조사료를 첨가하여 이유자돈의 균일성과 증체성적에 미치는 효과를 구명하기 위하여 수행하였다. 공시동물은 일반 종돈장의 Landrace 모돈 110두와 포유자돈 248두를 공시하였다. 시험구는 모돈시험에서는 장쇄지방산 복합제제를 분만사입식부터 이유시까지 약 4주간 급여하였고 자돈시험에서는 액상 중쇄지방산 complex를 포유기간 중 2회 구강투여 하였다. 모돈 시험에서 복당생존자돈수와 복당생시체중은 처리구간 차이를 보이지 않았으나, 복당이유자돈수와 복당이유체중에서는 시험구가 대조구에 비해 유의적으로 높았다(P<0.01). 모돈의 사료섭취량은 시험구가 유의적으로 높았으며, 발정재귀일령은 유의적으로 차이는 없었으나 시험구에서 평균 0.3일 정도 빠르게 나타났다. 포유기간내 일당증체량 역시 이유체중과 양의 상관관계를 갖고 있어 유의적인 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 자돈시험 결과 시험구는 포유기간내 이유체중이 대조구에 비해 유의적으로 높았으며 생시체중 대비 증체량도 같은 기간에 많은 차이를 나타내었다. 자돈의 이유체중에 대한 변이의 지표를 보면 시험구와 대조구간 변이의 차이는 없는 것으로 나타나 개체간의 균일성에 대해서는 처리간차이는 나타나지 않았다. 결론적으로 포유기의 장쇄지방산 급여는 모돈의 젖에서 올레인산, 리놀산 등불포화지방산의 함량을 증가시키고, 젖 분비량과 사료섭취량을 증가시켜 자돈의 초기증체에 기여하는 것으로 나타났고, 자돈에 대한 중쇄지방산의 급여도 이유체중을 증가시키는 효과를 가져왔다.

Although several enteric viral pathogens including the porcine groups A, B and C rotaviruses (PGARV, PGBRV, and PGCRV), sapovirus (PSaV), and torovirus (PToV) are known to cause endemic diarrheas in weaning and post-weaning piglets, their precise prevalence in Korea is not clear. Therefore, we examined 1,222 diarrhea stools obtained from 627 farms during 2004～2009 by RT-PCR and/or nested PCR for evaluating their precise prevalence in Korea. PGARV was the predominant pathogen during 2004～2007 but its prevalence was markedly reduced during 2008～2009. PGBRV infections caused endemic diarrhea during 2004～2007, but was hardly detected during 2008-2009. PGCRV was detected at 27.0%, 14.5%, 42.4%, 28.8%, 7.3%, and 54.2% during each year of 2004～2009, respectively, indicating its high prevalence in Korea throughout the years. PSaV induced with high prevalence (32.4-39.2%) during 2004～2005 but its detection rate was markedly decreased during 2006～2009. PToV caused sporadic infections only during 2006 (1.0%) and 2007 (6.9%). These enteric viruses were detected in diarrhea specimens in piglets usually in combination with each other and/or together with bacterial pathogens including the Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Brachispira hyodysenteriae, and Lawsonia intracellularis. Infections with PGARV, PGCRV, PSaV, and PToV were more prevalent in fecal samples collected in cold seasons. These results provide important epidemiological data for the control and establishment of a surveillance system for the prevailing enteric viruses in Korea.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of wood vinegar (WV) on the fecal microbes and gas emission in weaned pigs. In Exp. 1, 224 weaned piglets (L×Y×D, 21 d-old, initial BW 6.02 ± 0.52 kg) were assigned to four treatments of different WV levels in randomized completely block design with four replicates (14 piglets/pen) for 28 days, including phases I (0-2 wk) and phase II (3-4 wk). The dietary treatments were 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% of WV added to a corn-soybean meal basal diet. The concentration of ammonia measured at 0 h and 24 h in feces did not differ among dietary treatments (p>0.05), but it was linearly decreased (p<0.05) in 0.2% and 0.3% addition level measured at 48 h and 72 h. The concentration of hydrogen sulfide had no significant change (p>0.05) within treatments measured at different time. The fecal total bacteria (TBC), Lactobacilli(LAB) and E. coli were measured on 14 d and 28 d. TBC were higher (p>0.05) in WV added treatments than the control. Similar results were obtained for LAB. But E. coli populations were decreased (p<0.05) in treatments added WV compared to control measured on 14 d and 35 d. In Exp. 2, 288 weaned piglets (L×Y×D, 21 d-old, initial BW 6.62 ± 0.31 kg) were assigned to four treatments in a randomized completely block design with four replicates (18 piglets/pen) for 28 days. The dietary treatments were basal diet (negative control, NC), 0.2% organic acid (positive control, PC), 0.2% antibiotic (AT) and 0.2% WV added to a corn-soybean meal basal diet. The fecal total bacteria (TBC), Lactobacilli(LAB) and E. coli were measured on 14 d and 28 d. TBC, LAB and E. coli showed lower counts in pigs fed AT diets than others. In conclusion, these results indicated that wood vinegar could reduce the NH3 concentration of feces and inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria.

This study was conducted to determine the replacement effect of spray dried plasma protein (SDPP) with dried porcine solubles (DPS) in weaning pigs. An ileal digestibility trial, at first, was conducted to formulate the experimental diets with SDPP or DPS. Six piglets (21-d old and 6.12kg BW) with T -cannula in the terminal ileum were used. In a feeding trial, 180 pigs (21-d old and 5.98kg BW) were alloted in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were T1 (SDPP 5%, DPS 0%), T2 (SDPP 5%, DPS 2.5%), T3 (SDPP 2.5%, DPS 0%), and T4 (SDPP 2.5%, DPS 2.5%) for phase I, and T1 (SDPP 3%, DPS 0%), T2 (SDPP 3%, DPS 1.5%), T3 (SDPP 1.5%, DPS 0%), and T4 (SDPP 1.5%, DPS 1.5%) for phase Ⅱ. Phase Ⅰ(0～1 week) diet was formulated to contain 3,300ME kcal/kg and 1.25% digestible lysine, and phase Ⅱ (2～3 week) diet contained 3,320ME kcal/kg and 1.10% digestible lysine. Chemical pompositions of the protein sources were higher in SDPP than DPS: CP (81.60 vs. 56.01), lysine (5.95 vs. 3.36), and methionine (1.85 vs. 1.22). Apparent ileal digestibilities of arginine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine and phenylalanine were higher in DPS than SDPP (p<0.05). The apparent ileal digestibility of essential amino acids (average) was also higher in DPS than SDPP (p<0.05). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in ADG and ADFI of piglets during phase Ⅰ (0～1 week) and Ⅱ (2～3 week) among treatments. However, during phase Ⅱ, T2 showed better FCR than T1 (p<0.05). During the overall period, there was no significant difference in growth performance among treatments. When DPS was partially replaced for SDPP, the diet cost was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in terms of cost/kg of body weight. In summary, the digestibility of DPS was exellent, and it would be concluded that DPS can be partially replaced in the young pigs' diet containing SDPP in order to reduce diet cost in weaning pigs.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of amino acid additives to weaned piglet diets on the pH and volatile fatty acids of pig slurries. A total of 135 weaned 22 -day-old piglets (Yorkshire x Landrace x Duroc) were used in this 56-d study. The three dietary treatments were as follows: (1) Control as a basal diet, (2) 1% amino acid additive and (3) 2% amino acid additive. Both pH and acetic acid values at 71 and 78 days were significantly different in all treatment groups (p<0.05). In addition, significant differences in propionic acid values were observed among treatment groups at 64 and 78 days (p<0.05). However, pH, acetic acid, and propionic acid values did not differ between 1% and 2% amino acid treatment groups. In conclusion, adding 1% and 2% amino acid to weaned piglet diets reduced the pH, acetic acid and propionic acid contents of pig slurries by acting as a probiotic. This may help formulate increase management strategies for improving the pig housing environment.

The plasma cortisol of nurserypigs was examined using an outdoor efficacy testwith a digital content-based approach in animal welfare convergence types. Nine nurserypigs,without discriminating between female and male, were classified into 2 groups of 3 pigs each: control and group 1 (effect+nature), control and group 2(effect+nature+music). The control group was the same for group 1 and 2 to compare the effects using a t-test. There was no significant difference in plasma cortisol levels between the control group and group 1 until 4 h after stress induction. However, significant differences were subsequently found between the control group and group 1 from 8 h to 72 h (p<0.05). Further, plasma cortisol was not affected in group 2 at 0 h through 8 h and 72 h. At 12 h through 48 h, group 2 showed a reduction in plasma cortisol level compared to the control group(p<0.05). These results indicated that after stress induction, applying effect plus nature or effect plus nature plus music can effectively decrease plasma cortisol levels in nursery pigs within8 h through 72 h and may serve as a better model for digital content-based approach in animal welfare convergence types.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of multi-enzyme on diarrhea and immune responses of weaned pigs. A total 36 weaned pigs (5.92 ± 0.48 kg BW; 28 d old) were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments (3 pigs/pen, 6 replicates/ treatment) in a randomized complete block design. The dietary treatments were a typical diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON with 0.1% multienzyme (Multi; mixture of β-mannanase, xylanase, α-amylase, protease, β-glucanase, and pectinase). Pigs were fed their respective diets for 6 wk. Frequency of diarrhea, levels of packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC), immunoglobulins, cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor- β (TGF-β), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Multi group tended to decrease (p<0.1) diarrhea frequency than CON group during 2 wk after weaning. Lower values of PCV on d 3 (p<0.05) and d 7 (p<0.1) were found in Multi group compared with CON group. There were no significant differences on WBC number and immunoglobulin (Ig) M and A between Multi and CON groups. However, Multi group tended to increase (p<0.1) Ig G on d 7 than CON group. Moreover, Multi group showed modulated immune responses, indicated by decreased levels of cortisol (p<0.05) on d 7 and 14, TNF-α on d 3 (p<0.05) and d 7 (p<0.10), TGF- β on d 2 (p<0.05) and d 7 (p<0.10), and CRP (p<0.10) on d 3 and 7 after weaning compared with CON group. Consequently, inclusion of multi-enzyme in diets for weaned pigs improved gut health and modulated immune responses of weaned pigs.