• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.145-156
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• 2022

The effect of paternal telomere length on reproductive performance, relationship between paternal and offspring telomere length, and association between paternal telomere length and offspring production performance were investigated in Korean native chickens. Using 22 paternal chickens and 329 offspring, the paternal reproductive performance such as fertility, embryo mortality, and hatchability, as well as the offspring production performance such as survival rate, body weight, and weight gain were analyzed. Telomere length was analyzed through quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization using lymphocytes. No significant differences were observed in fertility, embryo mortality, and hatchability between paternal chicken telomere lengths (P<0.05). These results indicate that paternal telomere length had a weak negative correlation with fertility and embryonic death rate but a weak positive correlation with hatchability. The correlation coefficient between paternal telomere length and offspring survival rate was r=0.17 (P>0.05). The group of offspring with long paternal telomeres showed relatively poor growth performance. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was estimated between paternal telomere length and offspring growth performance (P<0.05). The correlation coefficient between paternal and offspring telomere lengths was r=0.075 (P>0.05). In conclusion, there was a weak association between paternal telomere length and reproductive performance, offspring survival rate, and offspring telomere length, respectively. However, paternal telomere length and offspring growth performance showed a negative relationship. Such results could be due to the re-extension of telomere length by telomere reprogramming in the early embryonic stage and the different degree of telomere shortening between individuals with increasing age after birth.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2012

The method of sexing based on differences in the rate of feather growth provides a convenient and inexpensive approach. The locus of feather development gene (K) is located on the Z chromosome and can be utilized to produce phenotypes that distinguish between the sexes of chicks at hatching. To establish the auto-sexing native chicken strains, this study analyzed the genotype frequency of the feathering in domestic chicken breeds. The method of classification of slow- and rapid-feathering chickens was also investigated. In the slow-feathering chicks, the coverts were either the same length or longer than the primary wing feathers at hatching. However, the rapid-feathering chicks had the primary wing feathers that were longer than the coverts. The growth pattern of tail feather also distinctively differed between the rapid- and slow-feathering chicks after 5-days. The accuracy of wing feather sexing was about 98% compared with tail sexing. In domestic chicken breeds, Korean Black Cornish, Korean Rhode Island Red, and Korean Native Chicken-Red had both dominant (K) and recessive ($k^+$) feathering genes. The other breeds of chickens, Korean Brown Cornish, Ogol, White Leghorn, Korean Native Chicken-Yellow, -Gray, -White and -Black had only the recessive feathering gene ($k^+$). Consequently, feather sexing is available using the domestic chicken breeds. Establishing the maternal stock with dominant gene (K-) and paternal stock with recessive gene ($k^+k^+$), the slow-feathering characteristic is passed from mothers to their sons, and the rapid-feathering characteristic is inherited by daughters from their fathers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2021

Although feather-sexing using sex-linked genes related to feather development is a widely used chick sexing method in the poultry industry, the feather-sexing method has yet to be used for Korean native chickens (KNCs). The purpose of this study was to construct a KNC feather-sexing line using early-feathering (EF) and late-feathering (LF) genes for industrial application. Using 557 reddish-brown KNCs as the basal flock, frequencies of the EF (k) and LF (K) genes were estimated to be 0.814 and 0.186, respectively. This indicating that it would be feasible to construct a feather-sexing line using this chicken group, and we accordingly constructed EF paternal and LF maternal lines. On the basis of test-cross for the selection of LF homozygous (KK) males in the maternal line, we confirmed that three of 40 chickens were homozygous males. The survival rate, body weight, days at first egg-laying, hen-day egg production, and egg weight were analyzed to compare the production performance of EF and LF chickens. The results revealed that EF chickens were characterized by a superior survival rate, whereas LF chickens were superior in terms of egg production rate. However, no differences between LF and EF chickens were detected with respect to other production performance parameters. In addition, assessment of the fitness of sexed chicks produced in the established KNC feather-sexing lines revealed that the accuracy of sexing was 98.6%. Collectively, these findings indicate the feasibility of constructing effective KNC feather-sexing lines with potential industrial application.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 2020

This study investigated the effects of breed, laying age, and egg storage period on hatching performance. Eggs were collected from early laying period (27 to 29 weeks old) and late laying period (50 to 52 weeks old) in Hwanggalsaek Jaeraejong, Korean Rhode Island Red, and Korean White Leghorn chicken breeds. Eggs laid for each period were stored for 3, 7 and 14 days and then hatched. Fertility, hatchability, and embryonic mortality were observed to determine the hatching performance. The results showed that hatching performance was affected by breed, laying age, and egg storage period with independently or interactively. The Korean Rhode Island Red breed had the lowest hatching performance. Hatchability and early embryonic mortality rate increased in early laying period eggs compared to the late laying period, but the late embryonic mortality rate increased in late laying period eggs. Additionally, hatching performance decreased as the egg storage period increased. Using breed-specific hatching management techniques, avoiding late laying period eggs, and shortening the egg storage period to seven days after laying may improve the hatching performance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.193-206
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• 2021

This study aimed to identify the growth performance of Korean indigenous chicken pure-line by sex and twelve strains conserved in Poultry Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration. The effect of sex and strain on body weight was significantly different in every period, with males being heavier in all periods than females. In the case of biweekly weight gain, the tendency to increase rapidly from birth to six weeks old, and to decrease in the period from twelve to fourteen weeks old was common across all sex and strains. Depending on sex and strain, there were significant differences in age and the number of peaks. Regardless of sex and strain, the determination coefficient and adjusted determination coefficient showed high goodness of fit (99.1~99.9%) to growth functions. However, for each model, the goodness-of-fit had variations by sex and strains. von Betalanffy function had the best fit to growth curves in all the female strains except strain D. On the other hand, Gompertz function had the best fit for all the male strains except strain C. Logistic function showed the lowest goodness-of-fit in all sex and strains. Mature weights were in the order of von bertalanffy, Gompertz, and Logistic models, while growth ratio and maturing rate followed the order of logistic, gompertz, and von bertalanffy functions. This information could be useful for Korean indigenous chicken management and designing crossbreeding tests and breeding programs.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2020

This study presents the production characteristics and physiological characteristics of five Korean native chicken (KNC) breeds consisting of Hwanggalsaek Jaeraejong (HJ), Korean Rhode Island Red (KR), Korean White Leghorn (KL), Korean Brown Cornish (KC), and Korean Ogye (KO). We investigated their production performances, vitalities, and stress responses. We measured the survival rate, body weight, age at first egg-laying, hen-day egg production, egg weight, amount of telomeric DNA, heterophil-lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio), and heat shock protein (HSP)-70, HSP-90α and HSP-90β gene expression levels for 493 KNCs. The survival rate was highest in KR, and lowest in KO. Body weights were steadily high in the order of KC, KR, HJ, KO and KL. Average hen-day egg production was highest in KL, and lowest in KC. While the amount of telomeric DNA was highest in KR, and lowest in KC. Furthermore, both the H/L ratio and the HSP-90β gene expression level were highest in KC, and lowest in KR. These results indicated that the KR breed was highly resistant to stress, whereas KC was more susceptible to stress. Taken together, it is considered that with improvements the KC breed would be more suited to be used as a Korean broiler breed while KL would be more appropriately used as a Korean layer breed. In addition, it is considered that the KR breed is appropriate to be used as a maternal chicken breeder based on good production capacity and excellent robustness, while the HJ breed is desirable to be improved as a high-quality Korean meat breed based on its excellent meat quality.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.133-141
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• 2023

We conducted a 5 × 5 diallel cross-combination test using 1,060 chickens from pure lines of Korean Rhode-C, -D, Korean Leghorn-F, -K, and Korean Native Yellowish-brown chicken (KNC-Y) to develop a new Korean native chicken layer breeder. The laying performance and combining ability, including livability, body weight, age of first egg-laying, hen-day egg production, and egg weight, were analyzed. The livability from birth to 48 weeks was 72.1±24.0%, with the highest observed in the YC and the lowest in the DK combination (P<0.01). The YC combination exhibited the highest general combining ability (GCA), while the YD combination showed the highest specific combining ability (SCA). Regarding body weight, combinations involving Leghorn showed lighter weights compared to combinations with Rhode and KNC-Y (P<0.01). Additionally, the offspring from the KNC-Y combination reached sexual maturity earlier than those from the Rhode combination. The hen-day egg production was 70.7±12.0%, with the highest seen in the CK combination at 86% (P<0.01). The effects of GCA and SCA on hen-day egg production were similar, with the SCA being highest in the YD combination and the GCA being highest in the Rhode-C. Significant differences in egg weight were observed among the combinations, with the eggs from Rhode and Leghorn combinations being heavier than those from combinations with KNC-Y (P<0.01). In conclusion, the YC and YD combinations, characterized by excellent livability, are highly desirable paternal strains, while the CF and CK combinations, with excellent laying performance and moderate egg weight, are preferred maternal strains for Korean native chicken layer breeders.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 2017

This study was conducted to establish new synthetic lines of Korean Native Chicken. We performed $5{\times}5$ diallel crossings with GPS lines of Korean Native Chicken for the selection of parent stock. The production traits including viability, body weight, age at first egg laying, egg weight, hen-day egg production, and hen-housed egg production were measured and analyzed for 25 crosses with 1,157 hens. The heterosis effects of these traits were also estimated. The results showed that the average survival rate during laying periods was 67.7% in the pure lines and 77.1% in the crosses. The 25 cross combinations were shown to be distinctly divided into three groups according to body weight; nine crosses in the high-weight group, 12 crosses in the medium-weight group and four crosses in the light-weight group. The average body weight at 12 weeks of age was $1,873.8{\pm}43.0g$ in the high group, $1,595.4{\pm}56.6g$ in the medium group and $1,152.7{\pm}24.7g$ in the light group, and $1,560.2{\pm}339.3g$ in the pure lines and $1,640.9{\pm}213.7g$ in the crosses. In terms of egg production performance, the age at first egg laying was $139.7{\pm}4.9$ days in the pure lines and $135.8{\pm}5.1$ days in the crosses. The average egg weight was $52.3{\pm}1.6g$ in the pure line and $53.0{\pm}1.6g$ in the crosses. The average hen-housed egg production from 20 to 40 weeks was $58.3{\pm}12.9$ eggs in the pure line and $69.2{\pm}10.4$ eggs in the crosses. The average heterosis effect was 16.9% for survival rate, 5.4% for body weight at 12 weeks, -2.7% for age at first egg laying, 1.3% for egg weight, and 14.3% for hen-day egg production. Generally, the heterosis effect for viability and egg production traits was higher than that for growth trait. On the basis of these results, it is expected that the selection of the HF combination, which had excellent growth performance, is the most desirable as the paternal strain, and the selection of GW and FW combinations, which had excellent laying performance, are preferable as the maternal strain.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop a new synthetic breed of Korean native chicken. The combining ability and reciprocal effects for production traits were estimated on 1,157 hens from a $5{\times}5$ diallel cross-mating design using grand parent stock (GPS) lines of Korean native chicken. Body weight, viability, age at first egg laying, egg weight, and hen-day egg production were measured and analyzed. The results showed that the general combining ability (GCA) of the survival rate during laying periods was -9.6 to 11.1, with the highest value obtained in the W strain. Additionally, the GCA of the body weight at 12 weeks was -209.7 to 162.2, with the highest value obtained in the F strain. The GCA for age at fist egg laying was estimated to be -2.8 to 3.7, while the GCA of egg weight was -0.91 to 0.96, and the GCA of hen-day egg production was -4.9 to 6.0. In the estimation of specific combining ability, the YW combination showed the highest survival rate, FW showed the highest body weight at 12 weeks, and GW showed the highest hen-day egg production. The reciprocal effects were significantly different among crosses for almost all productivity traits. In identical breeding combinations, differences in ability were observed when the maternal or paternal breeds were switched. The mean value based on combining ability was higher in WY, WF, and GW combinations for survival rate; GF, HG, and HF combinations for body weight at 12 weeks; and GW, YW, and FW combinations for hen-day egg production. It is concluded that the GF and HF combinations, which have excellent growth performance and moderate survival rate, are the most desirable paternal parent stock (PS) strains, and the GW and FW combinations, which have great laying performance and moderate body weight, are the most desirable maternal PS strains.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2016

To establish a new synthetic Korean meat chicken breed, we tested $5{\times}5$ diallel cross mating experiment with domestic chicken breeds. Comparing stress responses among diallel crossed chicken breeds, we analyzed telomere length, DNA damage and expressions of heat shock protein genes (HSPs) as the markers of the stress response. The telomere length was measured by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization on the nuclei of lymphocytes. The expression levels of HSP-70, $HSP-90{\alpha}$ and $HSP-90{\beta}$ genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in lymphocytes. The DNA damage rate of lymphocytes was quantified by the comet assay known as the single cell gel electrophoresis. In results, there were significant differences in the values of the stress markers such as telomere length, HSPs and DNA damage rate, and also were significant differences in viabilities and body weights among the $5{\times}5$ diallel crossed chicken breeds. The telomere shortening rate, expression values of HSPs and DNA damage rate were significant low in W and Y crossed chickens compare to the others, but GG pure breed showed the highest values in the 25 crossed chickens. Estimating correlation coefficient, the survival rate positively correlated to telomere length, but negatively correlated to the expression levels of HSP-70, $HSP-90{\alpha}$, $HSP-90{\beta}$ genes and to the value of % DNA in tail as DNA damage rate. The expression levels of HSP-70, $HSP-90{\alpha}$ and $HSP-90{\beta}$ genes of dead chickens had significantly higher than those of survival chickens. According to the results on the stress marker analysis, it would be considered that the crossed breeds had more stress resistant than the pure breeds, and the crossed chickens with a light strain such as W or Y were relatively resistant to stress, but the crossed chickens with a heavy strain such as G, H, F were susceptible to stress.