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.

On pig farms, the highest mortality rate is observed among nursing piglets. To reduce this mortality rate, farmers need to carefully observe the piglets to prevent accidents such as being crushed and to maintain a proper body temperature. However, observing a large number of pigs individually can be challenging for farmers. Therefore, our aim was to detect the behavior of piglets and sows in real-time using deep learning models, such as YOLOv4-CSP and YOLOv7-E6E, that allow for real-time object detection. YOLOv4-CSP reduces computational cost by partitioning feature maps and utilizing Cross-stage Hierarchy to remove redundant gradient calculation. YOLOv7-E6E analyzes and controls gradient paths such that the weights of each layer learn diverse features. We detected standing, sitting, and lying behaviors in sows and lactating and starving behaviors in piglets, which indicate nursing behavior and movement to colder areas away from the group. We optimized the model parameters for the best object detection and improved reliability by acquiring data through experts. We conducted object detection for the five different behaviors. The YOLOv4-CSP model achieved an accuracy of 0.63 and mAP of 0.662, whereas the YOLOv7-E6E model showed an accuracy of 0.65 and mAP of 0.637. Therefore, based on mAP, which includes both class and localization performance, YOLOv4-CSP showed the superior performance. Such research is anticipated to be effectively utilized for the behavioral analysis of fattening pigs and in preventing piglet crushing in the future.

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.

Newborn piglets are routinely subjected to several treatments shortly after birth, one of which is tail-docking. Tail-docking, which is carried out without an anesthetic when the piglet is 3 to 4 days old, is intended to prevent the severe injuries that can occur when pigs bite each other’s tails. The study was performed in slaughterhouses to determine how much tail-docking prevented tail-biting and how much it caused clinical problems such as amputation neuroma. One thousand pigtails were collected from 3 slaughterhouses in different provinces and tail length and tail-biting injuries were examined. Among them, 659 tail tissues were examined for clinical problems like amputation neuroma. The collected tails were divided into 3 groups according to the length of the tail, which was defined as long (n=136, 75% of the tail remained compared to the referred intact tail length of 30.6±0.6 cm of crossbred Landrace×Yorkshire dam×Duroc sire; LYD), medium (n=694, 50% of the tail remained), and short (n=170, 25% of the tail remained). The results showed that 4.3% of 1000 tails had biting injuries and 58.7% of 659 tails had amputation neuromas. There was no significant association between the tail-biting injury and tail lengths (p=0.953). However, the tail-biting injuries differed significantly by the province (p<0.001), and the frequency of amputation neuromas also appeared more frequently in longer tail lengths (p<0.001). The results indicated that tail-biting behavior was not influenced by tail-docking but might be influenced by the housing system and/or management practices.

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 designed to investigate the effect of parity and lactation stage of sows on the behavior of nursing sows and their suckling piglets. In total 18 Yorkshire × Landrace F1 sows (range of parity: 1 to 6) and their litters (range of litter size: 10 to 14 piglets) were assigned according to the sow's parity (1-2, 3-4 and 5-6) and lactation stage (early, middle, and late). The sows were housed in farrowing crates (0.8 × 2.1 m) located in pens (2.1 × 1.75 m) with totally perforated flooring. The behaviors of the sows and their piglets were recorded over a 72-h period for each parity and lactation stage. The sows and piglets were conventionally managed. All nursing sows in both group showed lying behavior for more than 80% of the experimental period, regardless of parity and lactation stage. The behavioral frequency of sows was, in descending order, as follows: lateral lying, ventral lying, eating, standing, and sitting. The parity of sows did not affect their behavior, but the lactation stage did. Ventral lying showed decreased frequency in late stage compare to that in the early or middle stage. The lying, standing, sitting, and eating behavior of sows were not affected by their parity. Sow parity did not affect the behavior of suckling piglets, but the lactation stage did. The behavioral frequency of piglets for the whole lactation period was, in descending order, as follows: lying, suckling, and walking. The lying frequency of piglets was higher in the sow's middle lactation stage than in the early or late lactation stage. It is concluded that the sow parity did not affect the behavior of nursing sows and suckling piglets, but the lactation stage did.

본 연구는 두록종 돼지의 복당 생시체중 형질(복당 생시체중 평균, 복당 생시체중 표준편차)과 산자수 형질(총 산자수, 생존 산자수, 사산두수)의 유전모수를 추정하고 이들 형질간의 상관관계와 개량방안을 알아보기 위해 실시하였다. 분석에는 국립축산과학원에서 2006~2016년 사이에 분만한 두록 모돈 1,081복의 자료를 이용하였다. 분석형질은 복당 생시체중 평균(ABW), 복당 생시체중 표준편차(BWSD), 총 산자수 (NB), 생존 산자수(NBA) 및 사산두수(NBD)이다. 유전모수 추정은 다형질 개체모형을 이용하였다. 각 형질에 대한 유전력은 복당 생시체중 평균(ABW), 복당 생시체중 표준편차(BWSD), 총 산자수(NB), 생존 산자수(NBA) 및 사산두수(NBD)에 대해 각각 0.32, 0.13, 0.11, 0.10, 및 0.06으로 추정되었다. 복당 생시체중 평균(ABW)과 복당 생시체중 표준편차(BWSD)는 0.75의 높은 정의 유전상관을 보인 반면 생존 산자수(NBA)와 복당 생시체중 평균(ABW), 복당 생시체중 표준편차(BWSD)간의 유전상관은 각각 –0.26, -0.40로 생존 산자수(NBA)가 증가함에 따라 복당 생시체중 평균과 복내 개체간 체중의 표준편차는 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 생존 산자수(NBA)와 사산두수(NBD)간의 유전상관은 0.24로 생존 산자수(NBA)가 증가하면 사산두수(NBD)도 증가하는 유전적 관계를 나타내었다. 한편 복당 생시체중 평균(ABW)과 복당 생시체중 표준편차(BWSD), 사산두수(NBD), 총 산자수(NB)간의 유전상관은 각각 0.75, 0.81과 0.08로 추정되어 복당 생시체중 평균(ABW)이 증가하면 총 산자수(NB)의 큰 변화 없이 복당 생시체중 표준편차(BWSD), 사산두수(NBD)가 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 결과로 미루어 볼 때 유전력이 높은 복당 생시체중 평균(ABW)은 직접선발을 통한 빠른 개량이 가능한 반면 복당 생시체중 표준편차(BWSD), 총 산자수(NB), 생존 산자수(NBA) 및 사산두수(NBD) 형질은 직접선발을 통한 개량 효과가 낮을 것으로 판단된다. 특히 자돈 생시체중의 균일도를 개량하고자 한다면 복당 생시체중 표준 편차(BWSD)에 대한 직접선발 방법과 더불어 복당 생시체중 평균(ABW)을 이용해 간접선발하는 방법 또한 이용 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

The objective of this study was to comparatively analyze the vocalizations of farrowing sows and their piglets in a welfare certified farm and a conventional farm as they are useful parameters for animal welfare assessment. The conventional farm using the gestation stall, farrowing crate and nursery, grower‐finisher pigs were accommodated in small pens. On the other hand, in the welfare certified farm using the group feeding gestation sows, which allows them to turn around in the furrowing pens, unlike in the crates and nursery, grower‐finisher pigs were accommodated in large pens. Vocalization of farrowing sows and their piglets were recoded and acoustic parameters were analyzed. Eight vocalizations―screaming, fighting, playing, suckling competition, suckling, piglet call, frightened, and space competition―were recoded in the farrowing crate and classified; 4 ordinary and 4 non‐ordinary vocalizations were identified. However, frightened and space competition vocalizations were not detected in the farrowing pen. Screaming, fighting, playing, suckling competition, and suckling vocalizations were significantly (p<0.01) different in pitch, intensity and duration between the farrowing pen and the farrowing crate. Piglet call vocalization did not differ between the farrowing facilities. These findings will aid us in using the differences in vocalizations, under different conditions, as parameters of animal welfare assessment.

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.

This study was conducted to investigate effects of feeding fermented milk on growth, intestinal microorganisms and fecal noxious gas emission in suckling pigs. A total of a hundred birth piglets (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) were randomly assigned into feeding group and control group during suckling period that ten pigs per sow. Fermented milk contained 3.0×108/g of Bacillus and 3.5×108/g of Lactobacillus, and was supplied by top dressing method. Fermented milk fed to the sulking pigs indicated tendency to increase weaning body weight (p=0.052) and average daily gain (p=0.094). Total microbial flora and Escherichia coli in the feces were lower (p<0.05) in the feeding group than the non-feeding group. Reversely, Lactobacillus was higher (p<0.01) in feces of the pigs fed fermented milk than the pigs of the control group. Hydrogen sulfide emitted in feces was decreased in feeding group compared with control group (p<0.05). Similarly, fecal total mercaptans was diminished in the feeding group than the control group (p<0.01). Therefore, the fermented milk fed to the sulking pigs may improved growth and can influence positively intestinal microorganisms and fecal noxious gas emission.

이유자돈 시기에 자돈의 성장성적을 개선하기 위하여 자돈의 사료섭취량을 극대화하는 것은 중요 하다. 본 연구는 사료섭취량을 증대시키기 위한 방법으로써의 향미제의 사용이 이유자돈의 성장성적 및 혈액성상에 미치는 영향을 규명하기 위해 수행되었다. 평균 체중 6.43±0.955kg의 3원 교잡종 ([Yorkshire×Landrace])×Duroc) 160두를 공시하였으며, 4처리 5반복 펜당 8마리씩 성별과 체중에 따 라 난괴법으로 배치하였다. 처리구는 1)향미제를 첨가하지 않은 처리구, 2)밀크-바닐라향 0.3%를 첨가 한 사료 3)버터향 0.3%를 첨가한 사료 4)어분향 0.3%를 첨가한 사료이다. 실험결과 성장성적, 혈액성 상 및 설사지수에서 처리구간 유의적인 차이를 발견하지 못하였다. 따라서 향미제의 종류에 상관없이 향미제를 0.3% 첨가한 사료는 그렇지 않은 사료에 비해 이유자돈의 성장성적이나 혈액성상에 있어서 아무런 긍정적인 영향을 끼치지 않을 것으로 판단된다.

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.

This experiment was conducted to investigate effect of brine mineral water (BMW) on growth performance and properties of blood in weaning pigs. Treatments allotted were 0% (general water), 2%, 3% and 5% BMW. In growth trial, a total of 36 weaning pig barrows [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] weaned after 21 days with an average initial weight of 5.38±0.89 kg were used. Each treatment had 3 replications of 3 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. Weaning pigs were investigated for growth performance, complete blood corpuscle count and blood biochemical assay. In results, growth performance of 2% and 3% treatment groups were significantly higher than other groups (p<0.05). In addition, high density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 2% group than other treatment groups. On the other hand, mean corpuscular volume of supplement of BMW treatment groups were significantly (p<0.05) increased than control. Therefore, this study suggests that supplementation of BMW could improve growth performance and level of red blood cell in weaning pigs.

적리를 동반하는 돼지 분변에서 용혈성 균주를 분리 동정한 후, 장 독소 생성 유 무 및 항생제 감수성 시험을 수행하였다. 분리된 용혈성 균주 B. cereus BY06의 gyrB 유전자 염기서열을 분석한 결과, B. cereus와 99% 유사성을 나타내었다. PCR법에 의한 장 독소 유전자 검출 시험에서 B. cereus BY06는 장 독소 분비 양성으로 판정됨에 따라 설사형 식중독 균임이 확인되었다. B. cereus BY06를 이용한 항균제의 감수성 시험 결과, penicillin G에는 내성을 나타낸 반면 cephalothin, vancomycin, clindamycin, fusidic acid, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline 및 rifampin에 대하여 감수성을 나타냈다. 본 연구를 통해 돼지 분변에서 분리된 B. cereus 균주는 설사를 유발하는 장 독소를 분비하며, penicillin G에 대한 내성을 확인하였다.

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.

Odors were produced in the reactor where contained the swine excreta sampled from the pigery and were analyzed the major odor materials based on the odor contribution index. The container hoggery where six pens were separated was set up in S-myun, Gyeonggi-do, Korea: one was control group, the other were experimental group. Sixty weaners were raised and their excreta were sampled every week to the test of the effect of feed type probiotics. Some probiotics showed very effective deodorizing activity during the whole experimental periods. All products had positive effects on the reducing odor intensities after 4 to 5 week periods. The odor contribution analysis represented the main odor compounds were trimethylamine and volatile sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, mercaptane, and dimethyl sulfide.

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.