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영어

This study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementary levels of dietary betaine and energy on nutrient digestibility and physiological responses in growing pigs exposed to heat stress. A total of 12 barrows (L×Y×D; initial BW, 67.1±0.98 kg) were allocated into individual metabolic crates. Experimental design was a 4×4 Latin square with dietary energy and betaine levels (3,300 and 3,400 kcal/kg; 0 and 0.5%, respectively) and the experimental period (n=4). Feeding trial was performed during summer season (July and August). Digestibility of crude fat was higher (p<0.01) in the ME 3,400 kcal/kg than the ME 3,300 kcal/kg, but did not differ by betaine (p>0.05). Blood corpuscles and biochemical components were not influenced by dietary energy and betaine levels (p>0.05). Serum IgG was greater (p<0.05) in the ME 3,400 kcal/kg than the ME 3,300 kcal/kg, but cortisol was not differ among the treatment groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, our results showed positive effects by energy levels rather than betaine. Thus, further study need investigation of effects of high energy level in the pigs exposed to heat stress.