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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of low protein diets added with protease on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profiles of weaned piglets and growing-finishing pigs. A total of 96 weaned pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) with average body weight (BW) of 6.99 ± 0.21 kg were used in a 20-week experiment. The dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design. Treatments were as follows: In phase 1 (1–2 weeks), two protein levels as high protein (HP; 19.0%), low protein (LP; 17.0%), and three protease (PT) levels (PT0, 0%; PT1, 0.3%; and PT2, 0.5%); in phase 2 (3–4 weeks), protein levels (HP, 18.05%; LP, 16.15%) and protease levels (0%, 0.3%, and 0.5%); in phase 3 (5–12 weeks), protein levels (HP, 17.1%; LP, 15.3%) and protease level (0%, 0.15%, and 0.3%); in phase 4 (13–20 weeks), protein levels (HP, 16.15%; LP, 14.45%) and protease level (0%, 0.15%, and 0.3%). At 4 weeks and 20 weeks after treatment, BW was higher (p < 0.050) in the PT2 group than PT0 group. From weeks 0 to 4, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G/F) were higher (p = 0.006 and p = 0.014; p = 0.014 and p = 0.044, respectively) in the PT2 group than PT0 and PT1 groups. From weeks 16 to 20, ADG and G/F were higher (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009; p = 0.004 and p = 0.033, respectively) in the PT2 group than PT0 and PT1 groups. Crude protein (CP) digestibility was higher (p = 0.013, p = 0.014, and p = 0.035, respectively) in the low protein (LP) group than high protein (HP) group at weeks 4, 12, and 20. At weeks 4 and 20, the LP diet group had lower (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels than the HP diet group. Therefore, a low CP diet added with protease could increase growth performance and CP digestibility of weaned piglets and growing-finishing pigs.

The objective of this study was to predict body compositions of live pigs using bioelectrical impedance procedures. In experiment 1, 32 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) finishing pigs with an average weight at 84.06 kg were used. In experiment 2, 96 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) finishing pigs with an average weight at 88.8 kg were used. A four-terminal body composition analyser was utilized to determine fat percentage. Lean meat percentage and backfat thickness were measured with a lean meat measuring meter. In experiment 1, fat percentage was not significantly correlated with lean meat percentage, although a tendency (p < 0.1) of a negative correlation was found. Backfat thickness was significantly correlated with fat percentage and lean meat percentage (r = 0.745 and r = −0.961, respectively). Coefficients of determination for fat percentage with lean meat percentage, fat percentage with backfat thickness, and backfat thickness with lean meat percentage were 0.503, 0.566, and 0.923, respectively. In experiment 2, fat percentage was significantly correlated with lean meat percentage (r = −0.972). Backfat thickness was also significantly correlated with fat percentage and lean meat percentage (r = 0.935 and r = −0.957, respectively). Results of this study indicate that bioelectrical impedance analysis might be useful for predicting body compositions of live finishing pigs.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of crude protein (CP) and protease on nitrogen (N) utilization, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance in growing pigs. A total of six crossbred ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) barrows were individually accepted in 1.2 m × 0.7 m × 0.96 m stainless steel metabolism cages. The pigs (average initial body weight of 27.91 ± 1.84 kg) randomly assigned to six diets with six weeks (6 × 6 Latin square design). The experiment was carried out in an environment with a temperature of 23 ± 1.5°C, a relative humidity of 83 ± 2.3% and a wind speed of 0.25 ± 0.03 m/s. The dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design with two levels of CP (15.3% or 17.1%) and three levels of protease (0 ppm, 150 ppm, or 300 ppm). The average daily gain and gain to feed ratio (G:F) tended to increase (p = 0.074) with increasing amounts of protease. The low CP level diet reduced (p < 0.050) urinary and fecal N concentrations, the total N excretion in feces, and increased (p < 0.050) N retention. Different protease levels in the diet did not affect (p > 0.05) at N intake, but supplementation of the diets with 300 ppm protease decreased (p < 0.050) the N concentration in urine and feces and tended to increase (p = 0.061) the percentage of N retention retained of the total N intake. The dietary CP level did not affect (p > 0.050) the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, digestible energy (DE), and metabolic energy (ME), but diet supplementation with 300 ppm protease showed higher (p < 0.050) ATTD of DE and ME than in the protease-free diet. Therefore, a low protein diet with protease could improve the utilization of nitrogen, thereby reducing the negative effect of N excretion into the environment while maintaining or increasing growth performance compared to a high protein diet.

This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of a microencapsulated mixture of organic acids (MOA) with low protein in piglet feed on growth performance, diarrhea score, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial counts, and blood profiles in weaning pigs. A total of 80 pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc; 6.8 ± 0.48 kg] were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment groups: high protein (HP); low protein (LP); MOA1, LP + 0.2% MOA; and MOA2, LP + 0.3% MOA. The MOA2 group had higher average daily weight gains (during days 0–14 and days 0–28), diarrhea score (during days 0–14, during days 14–28 and days 0–28) and greater digestibility of dry matter (days 14 and 28) compared to the LP group (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the pigs fed diets with the MOA1 and MOA2 in blood profiles and fecal microflora. In conclusion, this study indicates that piglets fed 0.3% MOA in low protein diets maintained similar growth performance and nutrient digestibility, but alleviated the incidence of diarrhea compared to piglets fed high protein diets.

H. S. Kim*, J. S. Lee**, Y. G. Kim**andW. S. Lee*DairyCattleDivision, NationalLivestockResearchInstitute, RDA*Department of DairyScience, ChungnamNationalUniversity**ABSTRACTThis study examined the effect of corn processing with varying rumen undegradable protein (RUP) onfeed intake, milk yield, its composition and, blood characteristics in Holstein cows during the transitionalperiod (21 days pre partum to 21 days post partum). Twenty Holstein cows were randomly assigned tofour diets (five cows/diet), ground corn with 30 % RUP (GCR30), ground corn with 40 % RUP (GCR40),flaked corn with 30 % RUP (FCR30), and flaked corn with 40 % RUP (FCR40). The processed corn withvarying RUP was fed in total mixed rations (TMR) to cows. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher with 40% RUP diet than with 30 % RUP diet, resulting in higher protein and energy intake by cows during preand post partum (p 0.05). However, it was not affected by corn＜ processing during pre and post partum.Similarly milk yield was higher with 40 % RUP diet than with 30 % RUP diet. and milk yield wasaffected by corn processing at RUP 30 % level. Corn processing did not affected the milk fat and proteincontents in dairy cows. The concentration of blood non esterified fatty acid (NEFA) were effected by RUPlevel with flaked corn, however, it was non-significant with RUP levels when given with ground corn. Itis concluded that increasing RUP from 30 % to 40 % in iso-nitrogenous diet could increase milk yield indairy cows during the transitional phase.(Key words : Corn processing, Rumen undegradable protein, Milk production, Blood parameter, Dairycow)