The present experiment aimed to observe the effects of tea catechin added to the feed on the performance and immune capacity of fattening pigs during the fattening period. Twelve castrated pigs were classified into the following 3 groups of 4 pigs each: commercial formula feed (control group), 0.2% tea catechin-added feed group (0.2% group), and a 0.4% tea catechin-added feed group (0.4% group). Fattening tests were carried out when body weight reached 75 to 110 kg. Digestibility tests were carried out 5 days after one month from the start of this study. Blood was collected when examinations began and when the average weight was 90 kg and examinations finished. Carcass character and meat quality were observed after slaughtering. Dairy feed intake and weight gain showed no significant difference. Digestibility also showed no significant difference, but digestibility of crude fiber tended to increase as the addition ratio of tea catechin increased (P=0.22). Concentrations of IgG and IgA in the 0.4% group were significantly lower than the other groups at the end. Meat quality showed no significant difference.

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Transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovum pick up (OPU) has been widely utilized as a noninvasive and reliable technique that enables repeated retrieval of oocytes from live animals. To our knowledge, however, there are few reports of attempts to improve the follicle aspiration system for OPU in pigs. In this study, we examined the effects of different aspiration vacuum pressures and the phases of estrous cycle on oocyte recovery, the morphology of cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), and blastocyst formation in Berkshire pigs. Firstly, three different vacuum pressures were used (60, 90 and 120 mmHg) and retrieved oocytes were classified based on their morphology of cumulus cells. There were no differences in the oocyte recovery rate among the aspiration vacuum pressures (5.3, 7.1 and 5.8 oocytes/head, respectively), however, the proportion of grade A oocytes (oocytes with several compact cumulus layers) in 90 mmHg (27.2%) was significantly higher (p<0.01) than in 120 mmHg (5.2%). Secondly, three phases of the estrous cycle (Day 2-5, Day 6-10 and Day 11-16; the final day of estrus was designed as Day 0 of the estrous cycle) were examined and there were no differences in the oocyte recovery rate among the estrous cycle phases (6.8, 6.3 and 8.3 oocytes/head, respectively). When all retrieved COCs were subjected to in vitro maturation-in vitro fertilization-in vitro culture, there were no differences in cleavage and blastocyst formation rates per oocyte retrieval in the estrous cycle phase, and blastocysts were produced by retrieved COCs from every stage of estrous. These results show that grade A oocytes are effectively retrieved with 90 mmHg of aspiration vacuum pressure and that application of the OPU technique enables us repeatedly to obtain embryos from highly valuable live pigs.

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The objective of the present study was to characterize production efficiency and management procedures in large commercial breeding herds in Japan, by comparing the efficiency and procedures among different herd size groups. Questionnaire forms were sent to 115 herds that used the same recording system to obtain data regarding management procedures for breeding female pigs (female pigs) and piglets. Data from 96 (83.5%) returned and completed questionnaires were coordinated with respective herd reproductive data from the recording system. The participating herds were classified into three herd size groups on the basis of the upper and lower 25th percentiles of average female inventory:large (394 or more female pigs), intermediate (167-393 female pigs) or small (166 or fewer female pigs) herds. Analysis of variance was used to compare production efficiency measurements and the surveyed procedures between the three herd groups. Mean herd size (±SEM) in large herds was 1,032±188.0 female inventories. With regard to herd performance, large herds had 2.6 more pigs weaned per mated female per year and 4.0 kg heavier adjusted 21-day litter weights than small herds (P<0.05). There were no differences between the three herd size groups for gilt pool size, replacement rate, culling rate or death rate. In terms of herd management efficiency large herds had 112.8 more female inventories per farm worker and 2.8 more litters weaned per farrowing crate than small herds (P<0.05). More large herds had home-grown gilts and used real-time ultrasound devices than small herds (P<0.05). Also, large herds had 42.9% higher farrowing-induced sows than small herds (P<0.05). However, there were no differences between the three herd size groups for feeding procedures for gestating female pigs, and management procedures for piglets. Therefore, large herds appear to have higher reproductive productivity with higher employee efficiency, higher facility utilization efficiency and advanced technology than small herds.

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