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 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.

This study investigated the effects of LactoPlanta® (Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), 2.0 × 109 colony forming units (CFU)/kg) on reduction of noxious gas emission in pig houses as well as improvement of carcass weight and quality in finishing pigs. A total of 850 finishing pigs were assigned to four treatment groups: control (CON, basal diet) (n=190), LP-0.1, 0.1% LactoPlanta® (n=210), LP-0.2, 0.2% LactoPlanta® (n=230), and LP-0.4, 0.4% LactoPlanta® (n=220). Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations were significantly reduced in all treatment groups compared to CON. Mercaptan contents and carcass weights of LP-0.2 and LP-0.4 were significantly decreased compared to CON, whereas there were no significant differences between LP-0.1 and CON. Carcass weight of LP-0.1 was slightly higher than that of CON, but there was no significant difference. However, carcass weights of LP-0.2 and LP-0.4 were significantly higher than that of CON (P<0.05). The prevalence of grade A carcasses in groups administered with L. plantarum (46.7~63.3%) was higher than that in CON (43.3%) and increased in a dose-dependent manner. Based on the results of this study, L. plantarum could be an effective candidate to reduce noxious gas emissions in finishing pig houses as well as improve carcass weight and quality in finishing pigs.

본 연구는 육계 생산과정에서의 건조 Rosemary 잎 분말의 급여가 육계의 생산성, 맹장내 균총 및 깔짚 중 유해가스 발생량에 미치는 영향에 대해서 조사하였다. 총 216수의 7일령 육계에 대조구, Rosemary 분말 0.5% (5 g/kg diet, T1) 및 1.0% (10 g/kg diet, T2)로 구분하여 35일령까지 총 4주간의 사양 시험을 실시하였다. 사육기간중 증체중 및 사료효율은 Rosemary 급여에 의해서 유의하게 증가하였지만(P<0.05), 처리구간(T1 Vs. T2)에는 유의한 차이가 인정되지 않았다. 사료섭취량 및 도태율은 대조구와 처리구간에 차이는 인정되지 않았다. 21일령과 35일령 모두 맹장내 Lactobacillus의 수는 Rosemary 급여에 의해서 유의하게 증가하였고(P<0.05), E. Coli 및 Salmonella의 수는 유의하게 감소하였다(P<0.05). 혐기성 총 미생물 수는 Rosemary의 첨가에 의한 영향은 인정되지 않았다. 깔짚 내 Ammonia의 발생량은 Rosemary 첨가에 의해서 유의하게 감소하였다(P<0.05). 그러나 처리구간(T1 Vs. T2)에는 차이가 인정되지 않았다. 이상의 결과를 종합해보면, 육계사양에서 건조 Rosemary 잎의 급여는 사료중 영양소 이용율 증가, 소화관내 유익균의 증가 및 유해균의 감소, 및 배설물 중 NH3의 발생량 감소로 인한 증체량 및 사료효율을 개선시킬 가능성이 생각된다.