• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.879-890
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the use of Megasphaera elsdenii (M. elsdenii) as a probiotic on rumen fermentation, production performance, carcass traits and health of ruminants by integrating data from various related studies using meta-analysis. Methods: A total of 32 studies (consisted of 136 data points) were obtained and integrated into a database. The parameters integrated were fermentation products, rumen microbes, production performance, carcass quality, animal health, blood and urine metabolites. Statistical analysis of the compiled database used a mixed model methodology. Different studies were considered random effects, while M. elsdenii supplementation doses were considered fixed effects. p-values and the Akaike information criterion were employed as model statistics. The model was deemed significant at p<0.05 or had a tendency to be significant when p-value between 0.05<p<0.10. Results: Supplementation with M. elsdenii increased (p<0.05) some proportion of fermented rumen products such as propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and valerate, and significantly reduced (p<0.05) lactic acid concentration, acetate proportion, total bacterial population and methane emission. Furthermore, the probiotic supplementation enhanced (p<0.05) livestock production performance, especially in the average daily gain and body condition score. Regarding the carcass quality, hot carcass weight and carcass gain were elevated (p< 0.05) due to the M. elsdenii supplementation. Animal health also showed improvement as indicated by the lower (p<0.05) diarrhoea and bloat incidences as well as the liver abscess. However, M. elsdenii supplementation had negligible effects on blood and urine metabolites of ruminants. Conclusion: Supplementation of M. elsdenii is capable of decreasing ruminal lactic acid concentration, enhancing rumen health, elevating some favourable rumen fermentation products, and in turn, increasing production performance of ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.467-475
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• 2015

Improvement for carcass traits related to beef quality is the key concern in beef production. Recent reports found that epigenetics mediates the interaction of individuals with environment and nutrition. The present study was designed to analyze the genetic effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven epigenetic-related genes (DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, DNMT3L, Ago1, Ago2, and HDAC5) and two meat quality candidate genes (CAPN1 and PRKAG3) on fourteen carcass traits related to beef quality in a Snow Dragon beef population, and also to identify SNPs in a total of fourteen cattle populations. Sixteen SNPs were identified and genotyped in 383 individuals sampled from the 14 cattle breeds, which included 147 samples from the Snow Dragon beef population. Data analysis showed significant association of 8 SNPs within 4 genes related to carcass and/or meat quality traits in the beef populations. SNP1 (13154420A>G) in exon 17 of DNMT1 was significantly associated with rib-eye width and lean meat color score (p<0.05). A novel SNP (SNP4, 76198537A>G) of DNMT3a was significantly associated with six beef quality traits. Those individuals with the wild-type genotype AA of DNMT3a showed an increase in carcass weight, chilled carcass weight, flank thicknesses, chuck short rib thickness, chuck short rib score and in chuck flap weight in contrast to the GG genotype. Five out of six SNPs in DNMT3b gene were significantly associated with three beef quality traits. SNP15 (45219258C>T) in CAPN1 was significantly associated with chuck short rib thickness and lean meat color score (p<0.05). The significant effect of SNP15 on lean meat color score individually and in combination with each of other 14 SNPs qualify this SNP to be used as potential marker for improving the trait. In addition, the frequencies of most wild-type alleles were higher than those of the mutant alleles in the native and foreign cattle breeds. Seven SNPs were identified in the epigenetic-related genes. The SNP15 in CAPN1 could be used as a powerful genetic marker in selection programs for beef quality improvement in the Snow Dragon Beef population.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 1990

A procedure to standardize camel carcass fabrication is proposed. This includes a definitive method of jointing the carcass into wholesale neck, shoulder, brisket, rib, plate, loin, flank, rump and leg cuts. Carcass cutout data were collected from the right sides of 21 Najdi male camels averaging 8, 16 and 26 months of age in order to determine the influence of age on the weight of each wholesale cut. The weight of body, empty body, hot carcass, cold carcass, hump fat, kidney, pelvic and heart fat (KPH) and each wholesale cut increased (p < .01) with age. Except for percent shrinkage and wholesale rump weight, all studied traits increased (p < .01) linearly as the age increased. This change was most pronounced in wholesale flank and plate cuts, increasing by 4.2 and 3.4 times, respectively, while the rump and shoulder cuts changed the least, increasing by 1.8 and 1.9 times, respectively. Allometric growth coefficients indicated that as the camel grew, the weight of rib, brisket, plate and flank cuts increased relatively more rapidly than did cold carcass or empty body weight and that the weight of wholesale shoulder, neck, leg and rump increased less rapidly than did cold carcass or empty body weight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1504-1510
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• 2013

Native chickens hold a significant share of the market in China. In response to the huge demand from the market, the productivity of Chinese native chickens needs to be improved. Cross breeding is an effective method to increase productivity, although it might affect meat quality. In this study, two pure lines (SD02 and SD03) of Erlang mountainous chickens were hybridized with a yellow feather and faster growing line (SD01). The effect of hybridization on carcass and meat quality (physiochemical and textural traits) was measured in the $F_1$ population at d 91 of age. The hybrids exhibited higher body weight and dressed weight, and amount of semi-eviscerated, eviscerated, breast muscle and abdominal fat (p<0.05). Abdominal fat yield also increased (p<0.05) compared to the offspring of the two pure-lines. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in meat quality traits except for the myofiber diameter and density and the shear force of the breast muscle. Overall, the offspring of cross-lines were similar to pure lines in meat color, pH value, inosinic acid, crude protein, crude fat, dry matter, moisture content and amino acid composition in the breast muscle. These results suggest that productivity can be improved via cross-breeding while maintaining meat quality of the Erlang mountainous chicken.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.414-427
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• 2012

Carcass characteristics and meat quality traits as a function of endpoint months of slaughter age (26 vs 32 mon) and chiller ageing (1 vs 10 d) were evaluated for m. longissmus of 26 Hanwoo steers fed with commercial diets including whole crop barley silage. Totally twenty six Hanwoo steers for 6 mon of age that were fed until 26 mon of age constituted the short term-fed group and fed until 32 mon of age constituted long-term fed group. Carcasses were chilled for 24 h and were graded. Strip loin samples were divided into two age groups (1 d and 10 d). Long-term feeding increased carcass weight, rib-eye area, yield grade, marbling score, firmness and quality grade of the meat. The feeding for 32 mon produced tender, juicy meat (p<0.01) with lower cooking loss and higher rating score (p<0.05) than short term feeding, while other quality traits were not influenced by the length of feeding. Intramuscular fat content and oxidative stability (TBARS value) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in beef from long-term feeding however the length of feeding did not alter the fatty acid composition. Chiller aging reduced instrumental tenderness (WBSF value), improved color, sensory tenderness, acceptability and rating of beef. The results of the present study mirrors that Hanwoo steers until 32 mon of age overall improved carcass traits and palatability compared to that for 26 mon. However, from the viewpoints of economical and environmental aspects, cost of the additional feeding for 6 mon for value-adding of eating quality was relatively high and the effects in turn were limited.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1019-1025
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• 2014

This study was conducted to observe the effects of crossbreeding and gender on the carcass traits and meat quality of Korean Native Black Pig (KNP) and $KNP{\times}Duroc$ crossbred ($KNP{\times}D$). A total of 50 pigs comprising seven KNP barrows, eight KNP gilts, twenty $KNP{\times}D$ barrows and fifteen $KNP{\times}D$ gilts were used in this study. Animals were reared in the same housing condition with same feed diet for six months prior to slaughter. After an overnight chilling, the carcasses were graded, and samples of Musculus longissimus dorsi were obtained for meat quality analysis. The slaughter and carcass weights and dressing percentage of $KNP{\times}D$ were higher (p<0.001) than those of KNP. The slaughter and carcass weights and backfat thickness of barrows were higher (p<0.01) than those of gilts. There were no significant difference in carcass conformation and quality grade between KNP and $KNP{\times}D$ as well as barrow and gilt. Fat content of $KNP{\times}D$ was higher (p<0.001) than that of KNP. Fat content of barrow was higher (p<0.001) than that of gilt. There was interaction between crossbreeding and gender on the fat content. KNP gilt showed higher fat content than KNP barrow whereas $KNP{\times}D$ barrow showed higher fat content than $KNP{\times}D$ gilt. Lightness, redness, yellowness, chroma and hue angle values and color preference of meat of $KNP{\times}D$ were lower (p<0.001) than those of KNP. Redness, yellowness and chroma values of meat of barrow were lower (p<0.05) than those of gilt. It is concluded that crossbreeding KNP with Duroc increases carcass productivity and meat fat but decreases meat color values and preference. Crossbreeding of KNP with Duroc produces a better fat deposition in meat of barrows than in gilts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.463-470
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• 1995

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of chromium picolinate on growth performance, nutrient utilizability, carcass composition, serum traits and in vitro protein synthesis of 3 day old Arbor Acres broiler chickens when dietary crude protein levels were varying in diets. Six replicates of eight chicks each (average initial weitht = 59.4 g) were randomly assigned to three levels (low, medium, high) of dietary crude protein at two levels of chromium (0, 200 ppb Cr/kg diet) as chromium picolinate. Six chicks/treatment were randomly chosen for analyses of carcass composition, six additional chicks/treatment were randomly chosen for analyses of serum components, and a chick/treatment was chosen for in vitro culture of liver tissue. Chromium picolinate did not affect feed intake, protein and fat utilizability, regradless of dietary crude protein level. But feed/gain ratio were more improved in groups fed the low protein diets added with chromium picolinate compared with groups fed the medium and high protein diets with chromium picolinate. Carcass fat tended to decrease whereas carcass protein tended to increase when added with chromium picolinate. Broilers fed diets with chromium picolinate exhibited lower serum triglyceride and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations than those fed without chromium picolinate (p < 0.05). Both secreted and retained proteins in cultured acinar cell were higher in groups fed diets with chromium picolinate than those fed diets without chromium picolinate (p < 0.05). It could be suggested that chromium picolinate was effective in improving weight gain and nutrient utilizability when dietary crude protein was low (p < 0.05), and also effective in manipulating carcass fat when dietary crude protein level was high (p < 0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.843-845
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• 1999

To evaluate direct and maternal effects on calf market weight (CMW) and carcass weight (CW) in Japanese Black cattle under an animal model, genetic parameters were estimated using 51,320 records of CMW and 11,944 records of CW, respectively. Direct and maternal heritabilities, and direct-maternal genetic correlation were estimated to be 0.22, 0.06 and 0.27 for CMW, and 0.23, 0.12 and -0.40 for CW, respectively. Correlation coefficient between maternal breeding values for CMW and CW was 0.521 for 157 sires appeared in both CMW and CW data sets. These results suggest that the maternal genetic effect on pre-weaning growth carries over to carcass weight. Maternal breeding values for both calf market weight and carcass weight could be used as the indicator traits of maternal ability in Japanese Black cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.417-424
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to detect significant SNPs for carcass quality traits using DNA chips of high SNP density in Hanwoo populations. Carcass data of two hundred and eighty nine steers sired by 30 Korean proven sires were collected from two regions; the Hanwoo Improvement Center of National Agricultural Cooperative Federation in Seosan, Chungnam province and the commercial farms in Gyeongbuk province. The steers in Seosan were born between spring and fall of 2006 and those in Gyeonbuk between falls of 2004 and 2005. The former steers were slaughtered at approximately 24 months, while the latter steers were fed six months longer before slaughter. Among the 55,074 SNPs in the Illumina bovine 50K chip, a total of 32,756 available SNPs were selected for whole genome association study. After adjusting for the effects of sire, region and slaughter age, phenotypes were regressed on each SNP using a simple linear regression model. For the significance threshold, 0.1% point-wise p value from F distribution was used for each SNP test. Among the significant SNPs for a trait, the best set of SNP markers were selected using a stepwise regression procedure, and inclusion and exclusion of each SNP out of the model was determined at the p<0.001 level. A total of 118 SNPs were detected; 15, 20, 22, 28, 20, and 13 SNPs for final weight before slaughter, carcass weight, backfat thickness, weight index, longissimus dorsi muscle area, and marbling score, respectively. Among the significant SNPs, the best set of 44 SNPs was determined by stepwise regression procedures with 7, 9, 6, 9, 7, and 6 SNPs for the respective traits. Each set of SNPs per trait explained 20-40% of phenotypic variance. The number of detected SNPs per trait was not great in whole genome association tests, suggesting additional phenotype and genotype data are required to get more power to detect the trait-related SNPs with high accuracy for estimation of the SNP effect. These SNP markers could be applied to commercial Hanwoo populations via marker-assisted selection to verify the SNP effects and to improve genetic potentials in successive generations of the Hanwoo populations.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relationship between weaning weight (WW) and carcass traits. Carcass traits were eye muscle area(EMA), back fat thickness(BFT), marbling score 1(MS1) in 21 grade scales, marbling score 2(MS2) in 7 grade scales and meat color scores(Mcolor). Parameters were estimated by REML procedure with MTDFREML package. Models included contemporary group as defined by the same year-season-sex at birth, linear covariates of age(days) at weaning, age of dam(days) and age at slaughter(days) as fixed effects and animal random effects for all the traits. Heritability estimates of WW, EMA, BFT, MS1, MS2 and Mcolor were 0.25, 0.20, 0.20, 0.32, 0.32 and 0.22, respectively. Genetic(phenotypic) correlation coefficients of WW with EMA, BFT, MS1, MS2 and Mcolor were 0.75(0.16), 0.18(0.05), －0.41(－0.09), －0.40(0.11) and －0.07(0.05), respectively. Results from this study suggest that single trait selection for weaning weight would lead to progeny population having carcass with large EMA, thick BFT and decreased MS.