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 χ Yorkshire) χ 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.

ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the optimal duration of creep feeding that improves the growth performance and fecal score of piglets and the performance and estrus interval of sows. Sixteen sows (Yorkshire × Landrace) and their litters were used in this 24-day trial. Dietary treatments were: Treatment 1, in which creep feed was not provided; treatment 2, in which creep feed was provided at the 7th day of life (day 7 to weaning); treatment 3, in which creep feed was provided at the 14th day of life (day 14 to weaning); and treatment 4, in which creep feed was provided at the 21st day of life (day 21 to weaning). There was no difference in body weight or loss, backfat thickness or loss, or estrus interval among treatments in the sows. Piglets in treatment 2 had higher body weight (BW) than pigs of treatments 1, 3, and 4. In addition, piglets in treatment 3 had higher BW than those of treatments 1 and 4. From birth to weaning, piglets of treatments 2 and 3 had higher average daily gain than those of treatments 1 and 4. There was no difference in fecal score of piglets among treatments. Piglets fed creep feed initiated from the first week have higher BW and average daily gain at weaning compared with those initiated from the second and third weeks, indicating that a longer duration of creep feeding improves the growth performance of piglets.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective of C. guianensis oil against MMC and CP, which are direct- and indirect-acting chemical mutagens, using the micronucleus test. Three experiments were performed. First the C. guianensis oil was co-administered to mice at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw with 4 mg/kg bw MMC or 50 mg/kg bw CP. Second, the mutagenic drug (CP) was administered ip 50 mg/kg bw and after 6 and 12 hours 250 and 500 mg/kg bw of C. guianensis oil were administered. In the last, C. guianensis oil was administrated (250 and 500 mg/kg bw) during five days and after it was administered ip 50 mg/kg bw CP. The results obtained showed that the C. guianensis oil is not cytotoxic neither genotoxic to mouse bone marrow. Regarding the antimutagenic effect, all doses of C. guianensis oil were significantly (p < 0.05) effective in reducing the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes, when compared with MMC or CP alone. Based on these results, our results suggest that the C. guianensis oil shows medicinal potential as an antimutagenic agent, modulating the mutagenicity caused by both direct- and indirect-acting chemical mutagens, in a mammalian model.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effects of forage level in diets supplemented with chromium-methionine (Cr-Met) on rumen fluid parameters, meat fatty acid composition, and performance of Korean beef (Hanwoo) steers. Twenty-three Hanwoo steers were used in this experiment. A completely randomized design and repeated measurements were used to analyze the data set. Beef steers were fed diets containing high (10 head; average body weight (BW) = 525.1±27.5; forage:concentrate (F:C) = 60:40) (60F) and low (13 head; average BW = 531.8±32.4; F:C = 40:60 ratio) (40F) forage diets supplemented with Cr-Met for 60 d. Dry matter intake, BW, and feed efficiency were not different between the two treatment groups. Fatty acid composition of meat including myristate, stearate, and gamma linoleate was not different between the two groups; however, palmitate, palimtoleate, and linoleate were higher in 60F group than 40F group. Ammonia-N showed a higher trend in 40F group, whereas pH demonstrated higher values in 60F group. Ruminal acetate was higher in 60F group than 40F group and maintained a high trend throughout the sampling time, whereas no differences were found in ruminal propionate, butyrate, and valerate between two groups. A high-forage diet (60%) improves meat quality and has no adverse effects on performance of Hanwoo steers.

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to evaluate the dietary supplementation of canola meal (CM) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus and Infectious bronchitis virus, and blood profiles of broiler chickens. In total 600 day-old feather-sexed Ross male broiler chicks were randomly assigned into five treatments with six replicates of 20 birds each for 35 days. Treatments consisted of five experimental diets containing 0 (control), 3, 5, 10, or 15% canola meal (CM). Final body weight (BW) was not affected by the dietary treatments. Daily BW gain (DWG) and feed intake linearly decreased as dietary CM inclusion increased during the starter phase (p<0.0001), but not during the grower and total rearing periods. Chicks fed the diet with 15% CM presented the lowest DWG during the starter phase. Breast meat yield of CM-fed chicks linearly decreased as CM inclusion level increased (p=0.0014). Dietary CM supplementation did not influence organ relative weights, except for the spleen, meat quality, or blood profile. The results suggest that the CM may replace soybean meal (SBM) with no detrimental effects on overall growth performance or physiological responses of broiler chickens. However, it is recommended that supplementing excess amount of CM into broilers' diet should be taken into account in practical diet formulation as it could impair growth performance at early age and lower breast meat yields.

ABSTRACT The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of molasses as a substitute for corn in diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, fecal noxious gas emission, and meat quality in finishing pigs. A total of 120 [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 54.21±2.62 kg were used in this experiment. Pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 dietary treatments on the basis of BW and sex (10 replicate pens per treatment with four pigs per pen: two gilts and two barrows in each pen). The experiment was divided into two phases: 0-5 weeks and 6-10 weeks. Dietary treatments were as follows: control, basal diet; control + 2.5% cane molasses; and control + 5% cane molasses. No significant differences were observed in terms of growth performance, nutrient digestibility, red blood cells, and white blood cells in blood characteristics, fecal noxious gas emission, and meat quality in this study. However, blood lymphocytes were higher with control + 2.5% cane molasses than with control at the end of the 10th week. Molasses can be considered an alternative for corn at the level of 2.5% without any negative influence in finishing pigs.

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of blends of dietary protected organic acid supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, faecal microflora, and gas emission on sows and piglets with emphasis on their modes of action to improve pig performance. A total of 12 sows with an average initial body weight (BW) of 252.40±11.7 kg were used in this trial. Growth performance, blood profiles, and nutrient digestibility of sows and piglets fed protected organic acid were evaluated. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (CON); CON + 0.1% protected organic acid; and CON + 0.2% protected organic acid. The BW and back fat of sows was checked four days prior to farrowing and at the weaning day to calculate BW loss and back fat loss during that period. Inclusion of 0.2% protected organic acid provided a greater digestibility than CON diets throughout the experimental period in lactating sows. Dietary supplementation with 0.2% protected organic acid led to a higher white blood cell and lymphocyte concentration than CON treatment in sucking piglets. Immunoglobulin G concentration observed was greater in protected organic acid groups in lactating sow and sucking piglets. Increased faecal Lactobacillus counts with decreased E. coli concentrations were observed with the diets of protected organic acid fed to lactating sows. The E. coli counts were decreased in weaning piglets. The faecal H2S contents were decreased in 0.2% protected organic acid diets during farrowing on day 1. Dietary supplementation with protected organic acid blends beneficially affects the nutrient digestibility, ileal noxious gas (NH3 and H2S) emission, as well as intestinal microbial balance in lactating sows.

Since the racehorses with excellent performance have a heavy carried weight (CW) in the current system, their finishing time does not increase along with heavier CW. As the CW increases, the finishing time decreases. Moreover, the percentage of victories also gets higher as the CW increases. Therefore, the effect of ratio CW/ BW as the ratio of carried weight to the body weight on finishing time was analyzed in order to suggest the problems of current CW system. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of CW/BW ratio on finishing time, using a total of 155 656 racing records belong to 8197 racehorses. Generally, the BW of racehorse is heavier, the potentiality as a good racehorse is higher. The fact that the ratio CW/BW is high means that most of racehorses have lighter BW. As the ratio CW/BW increases in the racing distance of 1000 m, the actual finishing time tends to increase in general. The finishing time that has run while bearing the ratio of 12.0-12.7%, has demonstrated a good racing record. When the ratio CW/BW is about 13.1% or more, it has begun to influence on the finishing time gradually. Also, the racehorse tends to have a growth potential in a long distance race when the BW is no less than 475-480 kg. Consequently, when setting a handicap, it is desirable to consider the just before raced BW of racehorse to a certain degree.

Dado que los caballos de carrera con excelentes prestaciones transportan un handicap pesado (CW) en el sistema actual, su tiempo a la finalización no aumenta con handicaps (CW) aún mayores. Cuando el CW aumenta, el tiempo de carrera disminuye. Por otra parte, el porcentaje de victorias se hace mayor a medida que aumenta el CW. Por ello, el efecto de la relación CW/BW, como relación entre peso transportado y peso corporal, sobre el tiempo de la carrera fue analizado al objeto de detectar los problemas en el sistema actual de handicap. El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar la influencia de la relación CW/BW, sobre el tiempo de carrera, empleando un total de 155 656 registros pertenecientes a 8197 carreras. Generalmente si el peso corporal del caballo es más pesado, su potencial como buen caballo de carrera es mayor. El hecho de que la relación CW/BW sea alta, significa que el peso de los caballos es menor. Cuando la relación CW/BW aumenta en la distancia de 1000 m el tiempo de la carrera tiende a aumentar. Cuando la relación está entre 12,012,7%, se ha demostrado conseguir un buen tiempo de carrera. Cuando la relación CW/BW es de 13,1 o más, comienza a influir gradualmente sobre el tiempo de carrera. También el caballo tiende a tener un buen potencial de recuperación en una distancia larga cuando el BW no es inferior a 475-480 kg. Consecuentemente cuando se asigna un handicap, es deseable tener en cuenta el peso del caballo antes de la carrera.

In low-income countries, infectious diseases still account for a large proportion of deaths, highlighting health inequities largely caused by economic differences. Vaccination can cut health-care costs and reduce these inequities. Disease control, elimination or eradication can save billions of US dollars for communities and countries. Vaccines have lowered the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and will control cervical cancer. Travellers can be protected against "exotic" diseases by appropriate vaccination. Vaccines are considered indispensable against bioterrorism. They can combat resistance to antibiotics in some pathogens. Noncommunicable diseases, such as ischaemic heart disease, could also be reduced by influenza vaccination. Immunization programmes have improved the primary care infrastructure in developing countries, lowered mortality in childhood and empowered women to better plan their families, with consequent health, social and economic benefits. Vaccination helps economic growth everywhere, because of lower morbidity and mortality. The annual return on investment in vaccination has been calculated to be between 12% and 18%. Vaccination leads to increased life expectancy. Long healthy lives are now recognized as a prerequisite for wealth, and wealth promotes health. Vaccines are thus efficient tools to reduce disparities in wealth and inequities in health.

En los países de ingresos bajos, las enfermedades infecciosas representan todavía una gran proporción de las defunciones, lo que pone de manifiesto unas inequidades sanitarias cuya causa fundamental son las desigualdades económicas. La vacunación puede reducir los costos de la atención de salud y reducir esas inequidades. El control, la eliminación y la erradicación de enfermedades permiten ahorrar miles de millones de dólares estadounidenses en beneficio de las comunidades y los países. Las vacunas han reducido la incidencia de carcinoma hepatocelular y permitirán controlar el cáncer cervicouterino. Los viajeros pueden protegerse contra enfermedades «exóticas» mediante la vacunación apropiada. Las vacunas son un arma imprescindible contra el bioterrorismo. En el caso de algunos agentes patógenos, pueden dificultar la aparición de resistencia a los antibióticos. Algunas enfermedades no transmisibles, como la cardiopatía isquémica, también podrían reducirse mediante la vacunación contra la gripe. Los programas de inmunización han mejorado la infraestructura de atención primaria en los países en desarrollo, reducido la mortalidad en la niñez y empoderado a las mujeres para planificar mejor su familia, con los consiguientes beneficios sanitarios, sociales y económicos. La vacunación contribuye al crecimiento económico en todas partes, debido a la menor morbilidad y mortalidad. Se estima que las ganancias que reportan anualmente las inversiones en inmunización ascienden a un 12%-18%. La vacunación propicia una mayor esperanza de vida, y es un hecho admitido hoy día que las vidas longevas y sanas son una condición de la riqueza, y que ésta favorece a su vez la salud. Las vacunas constituyen por consiguiente un instrumento eficiente para mitigar las disparidades de riqueza y las inequidades en salud.

Dans les pays à faible revenu, les maladies infectieuses représentent encore une forte proportion des décès, mettant en lumière des inégalités sur le plan sanitaire résultant dans une large mesure d’écarts économiques. La vaccination peut faire baisser les coûts des soins de santé et réduire ces inégalités. La lutte contre les maladies, leur élimination ou leur éradication permettent aux communautés et aux pays d’épargner des milliards de dollars des Etats-Unis. Les vaccins ont également fait baisser l’incidence du carcinome hépatocellulaire et permettront d’endiguer le cancer du col utérin. Les voyageurs sont protégés contre les maladies « exotiques » par une vaccination appropriée. Les vaccins sont considérés comme indispensables dans la lutte contre le bioterrorisme. Ils peuvent s’opposer au développement d’une résistance aux antibiotiques pour certains agents pathogènes. La vaccination antigrippale pourrait aussi faire reculer des maladies non transmissibles, comme les cardiopathies ischémiques. Les programmes de vaccination ont permis d’améliorer l’infrastructure de soins de santé primaire dans les pays en développement, de faire baisser la mortalité infanto-juvénile et de favoriser l’autonomie des femmes dans le cadre d’une meilleure planification familiale, avec des bénéfices sanitaires, sociaux et économiques conséquents. La vaccination contribue partout à la croissance économique, grâce aux baisses de morbidité et de mortalité. On a calculé que le retour annuel sur investissement de cette intervention se situait entre 12 et 18 %. Elle entraîne également une augmentation de l’espérance de vie. Il est maintenant reconnu que des vies longues et en bonne santé sont un préalable à la richesse et la richesse favorise à son tour la santé. Les vaccins constituent ainsi des outils efficaces pour réduire les inégalités en matière de richesse et de santé.