@article{jang_zhao_kim_pasquetti_kim_2023, title={Effects of bacterial β-mannanase on apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients in various feedstuffs fed to growing pigs}, volume={36}, ISSN={["2765-0235"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.23.0158}, DOI={10.5713/ab.23.0158}, abstractNote={Objective The objective of this study was to determine the effects of β-mannanase on metabolizable energy (ME) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of protein in various feedstuffs including barley, copra meal, corn, corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), palm kernel meal, sorghum, and soybean meal. Methods A basal diet was formulated with 94.8% corn and 0.77% amino acids, minerals, and vitamins and test diets replacing corn-basal diets with barley, corn DDGS, sorghum, soybean meal, or wheat (50%, respectively) and copra meal or palm kernel meal (30%, respectively). The basal diet and test diets were evaluated by using triplicated or quadruplicated 2×2 Latin square designs consisting of 2 diets and 2 periods with a total of 54 barrows at 20.6±0.6 kg (9 wk of age). Dietary treatments were levels of β-mannanase supplementation (0 or 800 U/kg of feed). Fecal and urine samples were collected for 4 d following a 4-d adaptation period. The ME and ATTD of crude protein (CP) in feedstuffs were calculated by a difference procedure. Data were analyzed using Proc general linear model of SAS. Results Supplementation of β-mannanase improved (p<0.05) ME of barley (10.4%), palm kernel meal (12.4%), sorghum (6.0%), and soybean meal (2.9%) fed to growing pigs. Supplementation of β-mannanase increased (p<0.05) ATTD of CP in palm kernel meal (8.8%) and tended to increase (p = 0.061) ATTD of CP in copra meal (18.0%) fed to growing pigs. Conclusion This study indicates that various factors such as the structure and the amount of β-mannans, water binding capacity, and the level of resistant starch vary among feedstuffs and the efficacy of supplemental β-mannanase may be influenced by these factors.}, number={11}, journal={ANIMAL BIOSCIENCE}, author={Jang, Ki Beom and Zhao, Yan and Kim, Young Ihn and Pasquetti, Tiago and Kim, Sung Woo}, year={2023}, month={Nov}, pages={1700–1708} }
 @article{zhao_liu_niu_cui_zhao_li_zhang_yang_gao_guo_et al._2023, title={Impacts of dietary fiber level on growth performance, apparent digestibility, intestinal development, and colonic microbiota and metabolome of pigs}, volume={101}, ISSN={["1525-3163"]}, url={https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/56455328/}, DOI={10.1093/jas/skad174}, abstractNote={This study aimed to investigate the roughage tolerance of different breeds of pigs. Mashen (MS; n = 80) and Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY; n = 80) pigs with an initial body weight of 20 ± 0.5 kg were randomly allotted to four diet treatments (n = 20 of each breed) with different fiber levels. The dietary fiber levels increased by adding 0-28% soybean hull to replace corn and soybean meal partially. According to the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) level, all treatments were MS_9N (9% NDF), MS_13.5N (13.5% NDF), MS_18N (18% NDF), MS_22.5N (22.5% NDF), DLY_9N (9% NDF), DLY_13.5N (13.5% NDF), DLY_18N (18% NDF), and DLY_22.5N (22.5% NDF). The growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and colonic short-chain fatty acids of pigs were measured. The colonic microbiota and metabolome were analyzed using 16S rDNA gene sequencing and UHPLC-MS/MS. The average daily gain and daily feed intake of MS_18N and DLY_13.5N were increased compared with MS_9N and DLY_9N, respectively (P < 0.05). The digestibility of NDF and acid detergent fiber of MS_18N were greater than that of MS_9N (P < 0.05). The villus height /crypt depth (V/C) of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of MS_18N and MS_22.5N increased compared with MS_9N (P < 0.05), and the V/C of duodenum and ileum of DLY_22.5N decreased compared with DLY_9N (P < 0.05). The colonic acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations of MS_18N were greater than those of MS_9N and MS_13.5N (P < 0.05). The concentrations of acetic acid and butyric acid of DLY_13.5N increased compared with DLY_9N (P < 0.05). Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group in MS_18N and Methanobrevibacter in MS_22.5N increased compared with other groups (P < 0.05). Increasing the NDF level in diets changed the lipid and amino acid metabolism pathways. In conclusion, appropriate fiber levels can promote pigs' growth performance and intestinal development. The optimum fiber level of the MS pig was 18% NDF, while that of the DLY pig was 13.5%. This result indicates that MS pigs had strong fiber fermentation ability due to the higher abundance of the colonic microbiota that could fully ferment fiber and provide extra energy to MS pigs.}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Zhao, Yan and Liu, Chang and Niu, Jin and Cui, Zixu and Zhao, Xinyu and Li, Wenxin and Zhang, Yanwei and Yang, Yang and Gao, Pengfei and Guo, Xiaohong and et al.}, year={2023}, month={Jan} }
 @article{li_chen_zhang_zhao_zhang_shi_zhao_cai_lu_gao_et al._2023, title={Transcriptome Analysis Revealed Potential Genes of Skeletal Muscle Thermogenesis in Mashen Pigs and Large White Pigs under Cold Stress}, volume={24}, ISSN={["1422-0067"]}, url={https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/21/15534}, DOI={10.3390/ijms242115534}, abstractNote={Pigs are susceptible to cold stress due to the absence of brown fat caused by the partial deletion of uncoupling protein 1 during their evolution. Some local pig breeds in China exhibit potential cold adaptability, but research has primarily focused on fat and intestinal tissues. Skeletal muscle plays a key role in adaptive thermogenesis in mammals, yet the molecular mechanism of cold adaptation in porcine skeletal muscle remains poorly understood. This study investigated the cold adaptability of two pig breeds, Mashen pigs (MS) and Large White pigs (LW), in a four-day cold (4 °C) or normal temperature (25 °C) environment. We recorded phenotypic changes and collected blood and longissimus dorsi muscle for transcriptome sequencing. Finally, the PRSS8 gene was randomly selected for functional exploration in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells. A decrease in body temperature and body weight in both LW and MS pigs under cold stress, accompanied by increased shivering frequency and respiratory frequency, were observed. However, the MS pigs demonstrated stable physiological homeostasis, indicating a certain level of cold adaptability. The LW pigs primarily responded to cold stress by regulating their heat production and glycolipid energy metabolism. The MS pigs exhibited a distinct response to cold stress, involving the regulation of heat production, energy metabolism pathways, and robust mitochondrial activity, as well as a stronger immune response. Furthermore, the functional exploration of PRSS8 in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells revealed that it affected cellular energy metabolism and thermogenesis by regulating ERK phosphorylation. These findings shed light on the diverse transcriptional responses of skeletal muscle in LW and MS pigs under cold stress, offering valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cold adaptation in pigs.}, number={21}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES}, author={Li, Wenxia and Chen, Yufen and Zhang, Yunting and Zhao, Ning and Zhang, Wanfeng and Shi, Mingyue and Zhao, Yan and Cai, Chunbo and Lu, Chang and Gao, Pengfei and et al.}, year={2023}, month={Nov} }
 @article{zhao_kim_2020, title={Oxidative stress status and reproductive performance of sows during gestation and lactation under different thermal environments}, volume={33}, ISSN={1011-2367 1976-5517}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.5713/ajas.19.0334}, DOI={10.5713/ajas.19.0334}, abstractNote={Objective Two experiments were conducted using 28 healthy multiparous sows to evaluate the oxidative stress status and reproductive performance of sows during gestation and lactation under different thermal environments. Methods Fourteen multiparous sows were used in Exp. 1 under a high thermal environment, and the other 14 multiparous sows were used in Exp. 2 under a moderate thermal environment. In both experiments, reproductive performances of sows were recorded. Plasma samples were collected on d 35, 60, 90, and 109 of gestation, and d 1 and 18 of lactation for malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, immunoglobulin g (IgG), and IgM analysis. Results For sows in Exp. 1, plasma malondialdehyde concentration on d 109 of gestation tended to be greater (p<0.05) than it on d 18 of lactation. Plasma concentration of protein carbonyl on d 109 of gestation was the greatest (p<0.05) compared with all the other days. Plasma concentrations of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine on d 109 of gestation was greater (p< 0.05) than d 18 of lactation in Exp. 1. For sows in Exp. 2, there was no difference of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl concentration during gestation and lactation. In both Exp. 1 and 2, litter size and litter weight were found to be negatively correlated with oxidative stress indicators. Conclusion Sows under a high thermal environment had increased oxidative stress during late gestation indicating that increased oxidative damage to lipid, protein, and DNA could be one of the contributing factors for reduced reproductive performance of sows in this environment. This study indicates the importance of providing a moderate thermal environment to gestating and lactating sows to minimize the increase of oxidative stress during late gestation which can impair reproductive outcomes.}, number={5}, journal={Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences}, publisher={Asian Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies}, author={Zhao, Yan and Kim, Sung Woo}, year={2020}, month={May}, pages={722–731} }
 @article{zhao_weaver_fellner_payne_kim_2014, title={Amino acid fortified diets for weanling pigs replacing fish meal and whey protein concentrate: Effects on growth, immune status, and gut health}, volume={5}, ISSN={["2049-1891"]}, url={https://publons.com/wos-op/publon/38685441/}, DOI={10.1186/2049-1891-5-57}, abstractNote={Limited availability of fish meal and whey protein concentrate increases overall feed costs. Availability of increased number of supplemental amino acids including Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, Val, and Ile allows replacing expensive protein supplements to reduce feed costs. This study was to evaluate the effect of replacing fish meal and/or whey protein concentrate in nursery diets with 6 supplemental amino acids on growth performance and gut health of post-weaning pigs. Treatments were 1) FM-WPC: diet with fish meal (FM) and whey protein concentrate (WPC); 2) FM-AA: diet with FM and crystalline amino acids (L-Lys, L-Thr, L-Trp, DL-Met, L-Val, and L-Ile); 3) WPC-AA: diet with WPC and crystalline amino acid; and 4) AA: diet with crystalline amino acid. Pigs in FM-AA, WPC-AA, and AA had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and gain:feed than pigs in FM-WPC during wk 1 (phase 1). Plasma insulin concentration of pigs in AA tended to be greater (P = 0.064) than that of FM-WPC at the end of wk 1(phase 1). Plasma concentrations of IgG in AA was lower (P < 0.05) compared with WPC-AA and FW, and FM-AA had lower (P < 0.05) IgG concentration than WPC-AA at the end of wk 1 (phase 1). Concentration of acetate in cecum digesta in FM-AA tended to be greater (P = 0.054) than that of FM-WPC and WPC-AA. Concentration of isovalerate in cecum digesta of pigs in FM-AA was greater (P < 0.05) than that of FW and WPC-AA. This study indicates that use of 6 supplemental amino acids can replace fish meal and/or whey protein concentrate without adverse effects on growth performance, immune status, and gut health of pigs at d 21 to 49 of age. Positive response with the use of 6 supplemental amino acids in growth during the first week of post-weaning may due to increased plasma insulin potentially improving uptake of nutrients for protein synthesis and energy utilization. The replacement of fish meal and/or whey protein concentrate with 6 supplemental amino acids could decrease the crude protein level in nursery diets, and potentially lead to substantial cost savings in expensive nursery diets.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY}, publisher={BioMed Central}, author={Zhao, Yan and Weaver, Alexandra C. and Fellner, Vivek and Payne, Robert L. and Kim, Sung Woo}, year={2014}, month={Dec} }