• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.17-27
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• 2014

Wild boars are one of the major wild life animals of which the number has increased a lot because there has been any predator and/or competitor in the Korean ecosystem. The increase of their number was a cause damaging crops in farm lands during the growing season in South Korea. This study was done to recognize the spatial pattern of farm lands damaged by wild boars. Totally 2,342 farms were known damaged by wild boars in 2012, and used to statistically analyze the perspectives of the farm land damages by wild boars in ArcMap v. 9.3. Damages by wild boars frequently happened in the western part of Gyeongnam Province including Jinju city, Tongyoung city and Namhae county. Most farm lands damaged were located nearby large mountains in this area. It might cause the number of wild boars increased in this area, which could finally stimulate the increase of farm land damaged by the species. Farm land damages by wild boars were also coincident with the preference of wild boars on their food. They preferred crops (e.g., sweet potato and corn) in uplands and rice paddies and orchards. The reason of their preference on rice, upland crops and fruits was related to the efficiency of their getting much more energy in a unit area. Another reason for the species to come into a rice paddy would be that they enjoy mud bath in there for scraping off parasites such as ticks and lice. Wild boars were seemed much overcrowded during the period from July to October when most of crops and fruits get ripen. About three-quarters of total farm land damages happened in this period. This analysis also said that 1,915 fields (81.8% of total targets) appeared within the 100-meter buffer from boundaries of mountain areas. This meant that wild boars were more sensitive to the anthropogenic land uses than we expected. They seemed to conservatively try their feeding activities in farm lands with paying attention to the human activity.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of spring (March~May) and summer (June~August) influencing semen characteristics, frozen-thawed sperm viability and serum testosterone concentration in Duroc boars. Results of this study were as follows: 1. There were no significant differences in the semen volume, pH and sperm concentration of Duroc boars between spring and summer. 2. Sperm motility and normal acrosome of raw semen in Duroc boars did not differ significantly between spring and summer. However, motility and normal acrosome of frozen-thawed sperm were higher in spring season than in summer season(P＜0.05). 3. Serum testosterone concentrations in Duroc boars were 2.15 ng/$m\ell$ in spring and 0.65 ng/$m\ell$ in summer. Serum testosterone concentrations in spring were higher thin those in summer (P＜0.05). 4. In conclusion, when serum testosterone concentrations in Duroc boars were higher, frozen-thawed sperm viability were higher.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2017

It is very difficult to get the information about semen quality analysis in transgenic pigs because of limited numbers and research facilities. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed the semen quality of transgenic boars generated for xenotransplantation research. Briefly, the semen samples were collected from 5 homozygous ${\alpha}1,3$-Galactosyltransferase knock-out ($GalT^{-/-}$) transgenic boars and immediately transported to the laboratory. These semen samples were decupled with DPBS and conducted to analyze semen parameters by a computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system. The boar semen were examined all 12 parameters such as total motility (TM), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), and hyperactivated (HYP), etc. In results, among the 5 $GalT^{-/-}$ boars, three boars (#134, 144, and 170) showed normal range of semen parameters, but #199 and 171 boars showed abnormal ranges of semen parameters according to standard ranges of semen parameters. Unfortunately, #171 boar showed azoospermia symptom with rare sperm counts in the original semen. Conclusively, assessment of semen parameters by CASA system is useful to pre-screening of reproductively healthy boar prior to natural mating and artificial insemination for multiplication and breeding.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of spring (March~May) and summer (June~August) influencing semen characteristics, frozen-thawed sperm viability and serum testosterone concentration in Yorkshire boars. Results of this study were as follows: 1. There were no significant differences in the semen volume, pH and sperm concentration of sperm-poor fraction of Yorkshire boars between spring and summer. However, sperm concentrations of sperm-rich fractions in spring were higher than those in summer (P＜0.05). 2. Sperm motility and normal acrosome of raw semen in Yorkshire boars did not differ significantly between spring and summer, However, motility and normal acrosome of frozen-thawed sperm were higher in spring season than in summer season (P＜0.05). 3. Serum testosterone concentrations in Yorkshire boars were 4.04 ng/$m\ell$ in spring and 2.85 ng/$m\ell$ in summer. Serum testosterone concentrations in spring were higher than those in summer (P＜0.05). 4. In conclusion, when serum testosterone concentrations in Yorkshire boars were higher, frozen-thawed sperm viability was higher.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2017

Tick is one of the most important arthropods in the transmission of vector-borne diseases. In this study, we investigated the abundance and species of ticks associated with swine and their habitats to assess the risk of spread of tick-borne diseases in host species, such as wild boars. Ticks were collected from 24 grazing or traditionally reared domestic pig farms and 8 habitats of wild boars in 8 provinces and 1 city in the Republic of Korea, by using the dragging and flagging methods. Ticks were also collected directly from 49 wild boars by using fine forceps. A total of 9,846 hard ticks were collected, including 4,977 Haemaphysalis longicornis, 4,313 Haemaphysalis flava, 508 Ixodes nipponensis, 1 Ixodes turdus, and 47 Amblyomma testudinarium. A total of 240 hard ticks were collected from 49 wild boars, including 109 H. flava, 84 H. longicornis, and 47 A. testudinarium. A total of 578 hard ticks were collected from areas around domestic pig farms. Only 2 hard tick species, 546 H. longicornis and 32 H. flava, were collected from these areas. A total of 9,028 hard ticks were collected from wild boars of 8 habitats, including 4,347 H. longicornis, 4,172 H. flava, 508 I. nipponensis, and 1 I. turdus. A. testudinarium was collected only from wild boars, and I. nipponensis and I. turdus were collected only from the habitats of wild boars.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1610-1615
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• 2001

Three studies were conducted to determine the effect of sex on pre- and post-weaning performance of pigs. These studies were conducted in response to observations that female pigs appear to grow faster than male pigs after weaning. In addition, female pigs have been found to grow faster than male pigs when supplied with supplemental milk before weaning. The aims of the present work were to further characterise the ontogeny of sex differences growth of nursing and growing pigs. In the first study, piglets sucking 32 sows were crossfostered to produce litters of 10 boars (n=9), 10 gilts (n=l 1) or 5 boars and 5 gilts (n=12). Liveweight of the sucking pigs was then measured weekly until weaning at 4 weeks of age. In the second study, 80 boars and 80 gilts were weaned at 26 days of age and growth performance measured until 21 days post-weaning. In the third experiment, 40 boars and 40 gilts were weaned into groups of 5 pigs at either 17 or 25 days of age and pigs were weighed until they were approximately 90 kg liveweight. All-boar litters grew more slowly than the all-gilt and mixed litters such that by 14 days of age the all-boar litters were 10% lighter than the all-gilt or mixed litters (39 vs. 43.8 kg, p=0.050). The proportional difference in litter weight appeared to be maintained at 21 days of age (53.9 vs. 59.4 kg, p=0.063) but was diminished by 28 days of age (66.5 vs. 70.8 kg, p=0.28). In the second study, gilts grew more quickly than boars over the first 7 and 21 days post-weaning and as a consequence were 10% heavier than boars at 21 days after weaning (13.7 vs 12.48 kg, p=0.001). In the third study, gilts grew more quickly than boars in the immediate 7 days post-weaning (40 vs. 5 g/day, p=0.014) whereas from 7 until 35 days post-weaning there was no significant difference in growth rate (381 vs. 360 g/day, p=0.19). Gilts also grew more quickly than boars over the 14 days after being moved into the grower (631 vs. 570 g/day, p=0.013) and finisher (749 vs. 688 g/day, p=0.038) sheds. However, these differences were not maintained over the entire period in each shed. These data support the hypotheses that gilts handle the stresses of weaning and other transitions better than boars.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.227-230
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• 1991

A comparative study was conducted in total thirty six large while weaner pigs of about 15 kg body weight namely boars, barrows and gilts to evaluate best sex and economic slaughter weight with one standard ration. In 159 days study period feed consumption, growth, feed conversion ratio and carcass quality were judged in all sexes of pigs at 50, 70 and 90 kg body weight. It was noted that upto 70 kg body weight the growth in boars and gills 46.0 and 49.0 kg and feed conversion ratio 4.83 and 4.81 were superior and economical over the barrows, which were 45.5 kg and 4.95. Later on there were too many fluctuations in growth and feed conversion ratio in all sexes of pigs, which would be uneconomical. Carcass quality was also better in boars and gilts than barrows, No boar taint was noted in most of the boar carcasses. Hence it is concluded that boars and gilts can be raised upto the 70 kg body weight for economic pork production.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.611-618
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• 2015

This study describes the first record of Globocephalus samoensis (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae) recovered in wild boars from southwestern regions of Korea. Gastrointestinal tracts of 111 Korean wild boars (Sus scrofa coreanus) hunted from mountains in Suncheon-si, Gwangyang-si, and Boseong-gun between 2009 and 2012 were examined for their visceral helminths. G. samoensis, as identified by morphological characteristics of the head and tail, were recovered from the small intestine of 51 (45.9%) wild boars. Worms were found from 7 of 28 wild boars (25.0%) from Suncheon-si, 40 of 79 (50.6%) from Gwangyang-si, and all 4 (100%) from Boseong-gun. The length of adult females was $7.2{\pm}0.5mm$, and the thickest part of the body measured the average $0.47{\pm}0.03mm$, while those of males were $6.52{\pm}0.19$ and $0.37{\pm}0.02mm$, respectively. The buccal cavity was equipped with a pair of large and bicuspid subventral lancets near the base of the capsule. The average length of spicules of males was $0.45{\pm}0.02mm$. By the present study, G. samoensis is recorded for the first time in southwestern regions of Korea. Additionally, morphological characteristics and identification keys provided in the present study will be helpful in the faunistic and taxonomic studies for strongylid nematodes in both domestic and wild pigs. The infection of G. samoensis apparently did not elicit pathologic lesions, as revealed by macroscopic observation during the autopsy of all wild boars in this study.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2022

Background: In South Korea, African swine fever virus (ASFV) has spread among wild boars through Gangwon-do to Dangyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do on the southern border of Gangwon-do. To prevent the spread of ASFV to African swine fever (ASF)-free areas, it is necessary to identify areas with a high probability of finding ASFV-infected carcasses and to reduce the density of wild boars in those areas. In this study, we described the propagation trend of ASFV among wild boars, constructed the habitat suitability maps for ASFV-infected carcasses, and suggested areas with a high probability of finding ASFV-infected carcasses and an important route of ASFV transmission. Results: Despite the active quarantine policies in Korea to prevent the spread of ASFV through wild boars, there was no significant difference in the monthly average of number of ASFV-infected carcasses observed between 2020 and 2021. The ASFV-infected carcasses were found more in winter and spring (January to April). Since the first ASF outbreak in wild boars on October 2, 2019, the maximum width of ASFV-infected carcass distribution area was 222.7 km for about 26 months till November 20, 2021. The habitat suitability map, based on GPS coordinates of ASFV-infected wild boar carcasses, shows that highly detectable areas of ASFV-infected carcasses were sporadically dispersed in western and southwestern parts of Gangwon-do, and ranged from north to south of the province along the Baekdudaegan Mountains, whereas poorly detectable areas ranged along the north to the south in the middle parts of the province. Conclusions: Our suitability model, based on the GPS coordinates of ASFV-infected carcasses, identifies potential habitats where ASFV-infected carcasses are likely to be found and ponential routes where ASFV is likely to spread. Among ASF-free areas, the areas with high suitability predicted in this study should be given priority as survey areas to find ASFV-infected carcasses and hunting areas to reduce wild boar populations.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2009

Prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ ($PGF_2{\alpha}$) can facilitate release of epinephrine from the adrenal gland. The objective was to extend these findings and determine the effects of $PGF_2{\alpha}$ on sexual activity and semen collection training in sexually inexperienced boars. Boars (n=32; $281{\pm}18$ days of age) were moved individually once weekly to a semen collection room equipped with an artificial sow. Before entering the semen collection room, boar received i.m. treatments of $PGF_2{\alpha}$ at doses of 5 (n=8), 10 (n=8), or 20 (n=8), and control boar (n=8) were not treated. Reaction time (elapsed time after entering collection pen until the start of mounting) for boars receiving 5mg ($3.3{\pm}0.9\;min$), 10mg ($3.3{\pm}0.8\;min$) $PGF_2{\alpha}$ was shorter (p<0.05) than for controls ($6.7{\pm}0.9min$). Duration of ejaculation (min) per session was longer (p<0.05) for $PGF_2{\alpha}$ (10 mg, 20 mg)-treated boars ($7.3{\pm}0.7\;min$, $6.9{\pm}0.7\;min$), compared to control ($3.4{\pm}0.8\;min$). The number of training session per boars was less (p=0.056) for $PGF_2{\alpha}$ 10mg-treated boars ($1.0{\pm}0.4$), compared to control ($2.0{\pm}0.4$). Semen characteristic such as volume, concentration, the number of total ejaculated sperm, were similar for $PGF_2{\alpha}$-treated and controls. There was no apparent difference on sperm movement characteristics (Mot: motility, VCL : curve linear velocity, VSL : straight line velocity, VAP : average path velocity, LIN : linearity) after semen preservation by collected with or without $PGF_2{\alpha}$ treatment. In summary, administration of $PGF_2{\alpha}$ in boars increased the sexual activity and facilitated the training boars to mount an artificial sow for semen collection, but did not affect semen characteristic.