• Title/Summary/Keyword: Current fed

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Performance and Meat Quality of Three-Crossbreed Korean Native Chickens (KNC) (한국토종닭 3원교배종의 생산성과 육질 특성)

  • Park, Mi-Na;Hong, Eui-Chul;Kang, Bo-Seok;HwangBo, Jong;Kim, Hak-Kyu
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.38 no.4
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    • pp.293-304
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    • 2011
  • The current work was carried out to investigate the effect of crossbred Korean native chickens (KNC) on performance and meat quality. A total of 720 chicks (1d of age) was used in this work and were divided into groups by crossbreds (A, B, C and D) and sex (male and female). Crossbreds were A) (KNC egg-meat type C strains ${\times}$ KNC meat type S strains) ${\times}$ Ross broiler, B) (KNC egg-meat type C strains ${\times}$ KNC meat type H strains) ${\times}$ KNC meat type S strains, C) (KNC native R strains${\times}$KNC meat type S strains)${\times}$KNC meat type H strains and D(White Semibroiler Chickens). Experimental diets consisted of 3 phases such as starter (0~5 weeks; CP 20.0%, ME 3,050 kcal/kg), earlier (5~8 weeks; CP 18.0%, ME 3,100 kcal/kg) and finisher (8~12 weeks; CP 16.0%, ME 3,150 kcal/kg). They were fed the broiler diets for 12 weeks at the flat house and thirty six chickens were slaughtered at week 5 and 10. There was no significant difference on the fertility of crossbred KNCs, and the hatchability of B crossbred was low compared to other crossbreds. On body weight (BW), D crossbred resulted in a higher BW after 5 weeks (P<0.05). Body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) of A crossbred were also significant higher compared to the other crossbreds for all periods. On carcass ratio (CR), A crossbred showed higher CR at 5 weeks, there was no significant among crossbreds at 10 weeks. The partial meat ratio(ala, breast, neck, leg) of C crossbred was the lowest among other crossbreds (P<0.05), but the back meat ratio was not difference among treatments at 5 and 10 weeks. pH of meats have no difference among crossbreds at 5 week, and A crossbred was high compared to other crossbreds at 10 week (P<0.05). The moisture content of D crossbred meat and the protein content of B crossbred meat were high compared to other crossbreds at 5 week. Chemical compositions of meats have no difference among crossbreds at 10 week. Lightness and redness have not significance among crossbreds at 5 week, and redness of A crossbred was the highest among all crossbreds (P<0.05). Shear force and cooking loss of A crossbred were high at 5 week, and cooking loss of A crossbred was low compared with other crossbreds at 10 week. These results suggested the basic data that needed to develope the new strains.

Effects of Dietary Chitosan Supplementation with Chitosan Feeding Levels and Feeding Forms on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Thigh Muscular in Broiler (키토산의 급여량과 급여 방법에 따른 육계의 성장 및 닭 다리육의 품질에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Y.J.;Kim, B.K.
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.36 no.1
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    • pp.29-37
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    • 2009
  • This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with chitosan feeding levels and feeding forms on the performance, proximate composition, pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), water holding capacity (WHC), shear force, meat color, and fatty acid of chicken thigh meat. Two hundred broilers (Arbor Acre Broiler, male) were randomly assigned to five groups and were fed for five weeks and slaughtered. Thigh muscle was evaluated in this experiment. The amounts of proximate composition, crude fat of control and T3 for the chitosan-treated groups were significantly higher as compared with T2 (P<0.05), but no significant effects were detected on moisture, crude protein, and crude ash. By comparison, pH was significantly increased when chitosan was included at 2% into diet or more than 1% into drinking water. TBARS was significantly lower at chitosan treated groups it was decreased with increasing chitosan level in the diets (P<0.05). Therefore, chitosan had the possibility to improve shelf life of chicken meat. Higher chitosan levels and feeding additive increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and reduced total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P<0.05). $L^*$ and $a^*$ of chitosan treated group was higher than the control. As the dietary chitosan levels increase, the composition of palmitic acid and oleic acid levels was increased, however, those but the rates of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were decreased. It is concluded that dietary chitosan has a positive effect on increasing HDL-C and oleic acid and decreasing total-C, LDL-C and TBARS values. Therefore, the treatment with the most significant effects in the current study was the high level of chitosan.

A Study For Optimizing Input Waveforms In Radiofrequency Liver Tumor Ablation Using Finite Element Analysis (유한 요소 해석을 이용한 고주파 간 종양 절제술의 입력 파형 최적화를 위한 연구)

  • Lim, Do-Hyung;NamGung, Bum-Seok;Lee, Tae-Woo;Choi, Jin-Seung;Tack, Gye-Rae;Kim, Han-Sung
    • Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.235-243
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    • 2007
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma is significant worldwide public health problem with an estimated annually mortality of 1,000,000 people. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is an interventional technique that in recent years has come to be used for treatment of the hepatocellualr carcinoma, by destructing tumor tissues in high temperatures. Numerous studies have been attempted to prove excellence of RF ablation and to improve its efficiency by various methods. However, the attempts are sometimes paradox to advantages of a minimum invasive characteristic and an operative simplicity in RF ablation. The aim of the current study is, therefore, to suggest an improved RF ablation technique by identifying an optimum RF pattern, which is one of important factors capable of controlling the extent of high temperature region in lossless of the advantages of RF ablation. Three-dimensional finite element (FE) model was developed and validated comparing with the results reported by literature. Four representative Rf patterns (sine, square, exponential, and simulated RF waves), which were corresponding to currents fed during simulated RF ablation, were investigated. Following parameters for each RF pattern were analyzed to identify which is the most optimum in eliminating effectively tumor tissues. 1) maximum temperature, 2) a degree of alteration of maximum temperature in a constant time range (30-40 second), 3) a domain of temperature over $47^{\circ}C$ isothermal temperature (IT), and 4) a domain inducing over 63% cell damage. Here, heat transfer characteristics within the tissues were determined by Bioheat Governing Equation. Developed FE model showed 90-95% accuracy approximately in prediction of maximum temperature and domain of interests achieved during RF ablation. Maximum temperatures for sine, square, exponential, and simulated RF waves were $69.0^{\circ}C,\;66.9^{\circ}C,\;65.4^{\circ}C,\;and\;51.8^{\circ}C$, respectively. While the maximum temperatures were decreased in the constant time range, average time intervals for sine, square, exponential, and simulated RE waves were $0.49{\pm}0.14,\;1.00{\pm}0.00,\;1.65{\pm}0.02,\;and\;1.66{\pm}0.02$ seconds, respectively. Average magnitudes of the decreased maximum temperatures in the time range were $0.45{\pm}0.15^{\circ}C$ for sine wave, $1.93{\pm}0.02^{\circ}C$ for square wave, $2.94{\pm}0.05^{\circ}C$ for exponential wave, and $1.53{\pm}0.06^{\circ}C$ for simulated RF wave. Volumes of temperature domain over $47^{\circ}C$ IT for sine, square, exponential, and simulated RF waves were 1480mm3, 1440mm3, 1380mm3, and 395mm3, respectively. Volumes inducing over 63% cell damage for sine, square, exponential, and simulated RF waves were 114mm3, 62mm3, 17mm3, and 0mm3, respectively. These results support that applying sine wave during RF ablation may be generally the most optimum in destructing effectively tumor tissues, compared with other RF patterns.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Ginkgo Leaf and Pumpkin on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Microflora, Blood Biochemical Profile and Antioxidant Status in Broiler Chickens (사료 내 은행잎과 호박 첨가 급여가 육계의 성장, 소장 내 미생물 균총, 혈액 생화학 분석 및 체조직 내 항산화 작용에 미치는 영향)

  • Ko, Young-Hyun;Lee, Seong-Sil;Jang, In-Surk
    • Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.23-33
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    • 2010
  • The current study was performed to develop natural bio-active substances as additives for the production of high quality broiler chickens. A total of 120 male 3 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to CON (control), GK2.5 (ginkgo leaf 2.5%), GK5.0 (ginkgo leaf 5.0%), PK2.5 (pumpkin 2.5%) and PK5.0 (pumpkin 5.0%) of five groups in cages (24 birds per group). All birds were fed corresponding diets from 3 to 35 d of age and determined growth performance and biological parameters including blood biochemical profiles, antioxidant status and intestinal microflora. During the entire feeding trial, GK5.0 and PK5.0 groups resulted in a significantly (P<0.05) higher FCR than GK2.5 and PK2.5 groups. Plasma triglyceride significantly (P<0.05) increased in GK5.0 group compared with the other groups, and the level of alanine transaminase (ALT) increased (P<0.05) in GK5.0 and PK5.0 groups compared with that in PK2.5 group. Dietary addition of ginkgo leaf and pumpkin significantly (P<0.05) increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the small intestine. Also, the addition of 2.5% ginkgo leaf significantly (P<0.05) increased the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the liver. Futhermore, muscle GST activity significantly (P<0.05) enhanced by dietary addition of ginko leaf and pumpkin. However, the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA) in the small intestine and muscle turned to be higher (P<0.05) in PK5.0 group. The colony forming units (CFU) of E. coli in intestinal digesta significantly (P<0.05) decreased in both ginko leaf and pumpkin supplemented groups compared with CON group. In conclusion, dietary addition of 2.5% ginko leaf and pumpkin as dietary sources can be applicable for the production of high quality broiler chickens.

Effects of Dietary Cholesterol on Male Reproductive Tracts by Regulating PCSK9 Gene (콜레스테롤 식이가 Pcsk9 유전자 조절을 통해 남성 생식기관에 미치는 영향)

  • Lim, Whasun;Bae, Hyocheol;Song, Gwonhwa
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.113-118
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    • 2016
  • Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), is a protein mainly secreted by a liver. The PCSK9 plays an important role in low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism acting as a repressor of LDL receptor through transportation of the LDLR to the lysosome for degradation. Thus, the PCSK9 inhibitor suppresses PCSK9-regulated degradation of the LDL receptor as a LDL-lowering medicine. However, little is known about the role of PCSK9 in the reproductive system. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated Pcsk9 expression in male reproductive tracts including penises, prostates and testes using rats in response to their diets between a normal diet and a high-fat diet with cholesterol. Based on our previous study, the high-fat diet elevates concentration of total cholesterol and LDL in serum whereas it reduces the concentration of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL). In addition, it dramatically affects to morphological changes of the male reproductive organs. Consistent with these results, the expression of Pcsk9 was substantially decreased in the penile tissues (P < 0.001) from rats fed a high fat diet as compared to a normal diet. Moreover, it slightly reduced in the prostate and testes (P < 0.05) of rats in response to a high fat diet. Localization of Pcsk9 was predominantly detected in urethral epithelium of penises, cylinder-shaped cells of prostate glands, and spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatid of testes of rats. Collectively, results of current study provide invaluable insights into the Pcsk9 gene with respect to its tissue- and cell-specific expression by a high fat diet with cholesterol.

Growth Efficiency, Carcass Quality Characteristics and Profitability of Finishing Pigs Slaughtered at 130 vs. 110Kg (110kg 대비 130kg에 도축된 비육돈의 성장효율, 도체 품질 특성 및 수익성)

  • 이철영;권오천;하덕민;신호원;이제룡;하영주;이진희;하승호;김원기;김광위;김두환
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.48 no.4
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    • pp.493-502
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    • 2006
  • The slaughter weight (wt) is a most important economic factor in swine roduction. The present study was undertaken to determine if it is feasible to increase the slaughter wt of finishing pigs to 130kg without significantly affecting the growth efficiency and carcass quality. One hundred and sixty gilts and 160 barrows born from lean-type Yorkshire×Landrace (YL)-dam and Duroc (D)-sire lines, which are most widely used for terminal breeding for pork production in Gyeongsangnam-do, were randomly allocated into 16 pens under a 2 (sex)×2 (slaughter wt; 110 vs. 130kg) factorial arrangement of treatments. The animals were fed ad libitum a diet containing 3,200kcal DE/kg and 15.5% crude protein. After slaughter at the predetermined wt, yields of trimmed primal cuts and physicochemical characteristics of the longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) were measured or analyzed. Average daily gain was greater (P<0.01) in barrows than in gilts (0.86 vs. 0.79kg), but it was not different between the 110- and 130-kg slaughter wt groups (P>0.05). Backfat thickness was greater in the 130- vs. 110-kg group in both sexes (gilts: 21.6 vs. 17.6 mm, barrows: 25.1 vs. 20.8 mm). The yield percentage of belly was greater in barrows than in gilts (21.2 vs. 20.5%) and also in the 130-kg vs. 110-kg group (21.4 vs. 20.2%). Major physicochemical characteristics of LD including the color, percentage of 48-h drip loss, 24-h pH and percentages of crude protein and fat were not influenced by slaughter wt. Marginal profit of the 130-kg vs. 110-kg market pig was approximately 󰠏20,000 won/head, which resulted primarily from the heavy carcass weight of the former exceeding the upper limit of the A- or B-grade. However, if it had not been for the carcass weight limit of the current grading system, a 130-kg market pig would have had a potential marginal profit greater than 20,000 won. Results suggest that slaughter wt of lean-line finishing pigs can be increased to 130kg without significantly compromising the growth efficiency and carcass quality and accordingly, the upper weight limit of the ‘good-grade’ carcass needs to be increased or abolished to accommodate the larger market pigs.

The current status and control measures of BSE in the worldwide (국내, 외 광우병의 발생 현황과 대응 방안)

  • Yoo, Han-Sang
    • 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2009.07a
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    • pp.273-282
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    • 2009
  • The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) disease group are fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting a wide range of hosts. The group includes kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, scrapie in sheep and goats and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. The exact nature of the infectious agent involved in the transmission of these diseases remains controversial. However, a central event in their pathogenesis is the accumulation in infected tissues of an abnormal form of a host-encoded protein, the prion protein (PrP). Whereas the normal cellular protein is fully sensitive to protease ($PrP^{sen}$), the disease-associated prion protein ($PrP^d$) is only partly degraded ($PrP^{res}$), its amino-terminal end being removed. BSE was first reported in the mid-80s in the UK. Ten years later, a new form of human prion disease, variant CJD (vCJD) developed in the wake of the BSE epidemic, and there is now strong scientific evidence that vCJD was initiated by the exposure of humans to BSE-infected tissues, thus indicating a zoonotic disease. However, the ban on the feeding of animal-derived proteins to ruminants, and the apparent lack of vertical transmission of BSE, have led to a decline in the incidence of the disease within cattle herd and therefore, an assumed decreased risk for human contacting vCJD. The origin of the original case(s) of BSE still remains an enigma even though three hypotheses have been raised. Hypotheses are i) sheep- or goat-derived scrapie-infected tissues included in meat and bone meal fed to cattle, ii) a previously undetected sporadic or genetic bovine TSE contaminating cattle feed or iii) originating from a human TSE through animal feed contaminated with human remains. A host cellular membrane protein ($PrP^C$), which is abundant in central nervous system tissue, appear to be conformationally altered in the diseased host into a prion protein ($PrP^{Sc}$). This $PrP^{Sc}$ is detergent insoluble and partially protease-resistant ($PrP^{res}$). The term $PrP^{res}$ is normally used to describe the protein detected after protease treatment, in techniques such as Western immunoblotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay using fresh/frozen tissue. Immunohistochemistry may performed with formalin-fixed tissues. Also, clinical signs of the BSE are one of the major diagnostic indicators. Recently, atypical forms (known as H- and L-type) of BSE have appeared in several European countries, Japan, Canada and the United States. An unusual case was also reported in a miniature zebu. The atypical BSE fall into two groups based on the relative molecular mass (Mm) of the unglycosylated $PrP^{res}$ band relative to that of classical BSE, one of the higher Mm (H-type) and the other lower (L-type). Both types have been detected worldwide as rare cases in older animals, at a low prevalence consistent with the possibility of sporadic forms of prion diseases in cattle. This raises the unwelcome possibility that vCJD could increase in the human population. Now, active surveillance program against BSE is going on in Korea. In regional veterinary service lab, ELISA is applied to screen the BSE in slaughter and confirmatory tests by Western immunoblotting and immunohistochemisty are carried out if there are positive or suspect in the screening test. Also, the ruminant feed ban is rigorously enforced. Removal of specified risk materials such as brain and spinal cord from cattle is mandatory process at slaughter to prevent the infected material from entering the human food chain.

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The Influence of Food Habits on Body Stature of Children (어린이의 식습관(食習慣)이 체위(體位)에 미치는 영향(影響)에 관한 연구(硏究))

  • Lee, Mi-Suk;Mo, Su-Mi
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.7-15
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    • 1976
  • The Purpose of this study was to determine every possible correlation between food habits and body statures of primary school children, aged ten years old. This study was conducted from July to October of 1975. In July, prepared questionaires concerning life style, anthropometry, food preference, and food behavior were distributed through school teachers to 425 children; 219 boys and 206 girls, in the 5th grade of three elementary schools in the city of Seoul. Then, in October, when subjects had been classified into underweight/obese by statistical analysis, mothers of obese or underweight children were interviewed by the authors to determine weaning history, daily food consumption of their children, and opinions of various snacks for children. Analysis of results in terms of correlation coefficient, chisquare test and percentage calculations, are as follows: 1. Physical growth and development Boys Girls Height (cm) $134.8{\pm}5.74\;134.4{\pm}5.97$ Weight (kg) $30.0{\pm}4.27\;29.5{\pm}5.16$ Chestgirth (cm) $64.1{\pm}3.59\;63.3{\pm}3.81$ Arm circumference (cm) $18.3{\pm}1.61\;18.2{\pm}1.70$ Triceps skinfold thickness (mm) $10.9{\pm}5.13\;12.7{\pm}4.86$ Various indices of nutrition such as relative weight, relative chestgirth, $R{\ddot{o}}hrer's$ index, Kaup index, Vervaeck index were determined. 2. Food habits 1) Food $preference{\cdots}{\cdots}A$ varying number of foods were selected from 60 items were accepted. It was found that the food which children liked best was fruit and snacks were popular one. Lowest ranking among LIKED foods were from strongly flavored vegetables and organ meat. In general, girls had more food dislikes than did boys. Selected as liked foods were fruits, rice noodle soup, biscuits, and peanuts. Disliked foods were liver, green onions, onions, green pepper, mushrooms, oysters, shellfish, and pork. Items which children never ate before were liver, mushrooms, fish cake, boiled rice mixed with sorghum, mayonnaise, and fresh water firsh. Reasons which children gave for dislike were undesirable flavor and odor. 2) Food $behavior{\cdots}{\cdots}It$ was found that boys liked sweet and salty flavors more than did the girls who more often liked sour flavor. The majority of children enjoyed evening meals more than lunch and breakfast. A number of children skipped breakfast because of lack of appetite or lack of time before going to school. Snacks were the most popular food, especially among girls. Their snacking habits were formed by the encouragement of the mother, and the relieve boredom. Educational backgrounds of mothers and family economical levels of children were remarkable correlated with mothers' attitudes toward feeding of children. There were several interesting findings relating body stature to some other responses; such as that the obese child has a small number of brothers, higher birth order, higher educated mothers and higher family cultural background. It was also discovered that food perference, except for fat and oil group foods was not related to body stature. Sweet taste was liked best and pepperly taste was mostly disliked. Sour taste was popular in the group of underweight. Underweight children were more finicky, disliked snacking, and didn't get much attention from their mothers. 3) Correlation between body stature and nutrition during their infancy. The majority of children, both from obese and underweight, were breast fed as infant. Twenty five per cent of obese children and 17.4 per cent of underwight children started weaning at $1{\sim}6$ months old. The most popular supplemental food of weaning was cereal gruel for the obese group, while boiled white rice and cereal gruel were most common for the underweight group. Highly significant relationships were found between stature of parents and their children. In the obese group 47.8 per cent of fathers and 45.9 per cent of mothers were overweight; however, none of the fathers and only one mother was found to be underweight. In daily food consumption patterns, meals consisting of bread or noodle were popular in the obese group but disliked by the underweight group. The study found clear contrast in that the obese group liked meat and fish while the underweight group liked fruits and vegetables, especially kimchee. The obese children desired to eat cereal foods, milk and milk products, and fat foods while the underweight group desired to eat fruits and vegetables. Frequency of snacks per day was much greater in the obese group. Foods which mothers believed to be good for the health were carrots, cucumbers, fruits, milk, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and breads, while sweet foods such as candies, drinks. chocolate were considered not good for the teeth. Watching television was not significantly related to statures of children. Most significant relationships were found beween frequencies of family guest meals/and eating-out, and children's statures. Nutritional problems which have been considered for the malnourished children in addition to those of children who have a tendency toward obesity, must be taken into consideration in the development of proper nutrition education through the channels of regular school teaching and teaching by parents in the homes. Korean standards of anthropometric measurements for children should be revised, current measurements show much higher figures than present Korean standards.

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Effects of Fibrolytic Enzyme Addition on Ruminal Fermentation, Milk Yield and Milk Composition of Dairy Cows (Fibrolytic Enzyme 첨가가 반추위 발효 성상 및 착유우의 유량 및 유성분에 미치는 영향)

  • Ahn, J. H.;Kim, Y. J.;Kim, H. J.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.45 no.1
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    • pp.131-142
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    • 2003
  • We evaluated the effects of adding fibrolytic enzyme into ruminant diets on ruminal fermentation (in vitro) and lactational performances of dairy cows (in vivo). Through the in vitro experiment that was carried out with different contents of NDF (34, 38, 43%) in diets, digestibilities of NDF in the rumen appeared not significantly different by the addition of enzyme but were different by NDF content in diets showing higher digestibility in NDF 43% diet. It could be attributed by the relatively higher amount of hemicellulose in the current experimental diets than in conventional diets that might have been digested easily by the addition of fibrolytic enzyme in the rumen. The addition of fibrolytic enzyme tended to increase NDF digestibilities to a little extent both in 0.05 and 0.1% enzyme levels. Ruminal pH, NH3-N concentrations and VFA production in the rumen were not affected by the addition of fibrolytic enzyme. Activities of CMCase and xylanase were higher in enzyme treated diets of both NDF 34 and 38%. In particular, the activities of xylanase that slowly decreased from 0 to 12 hr but rapidly after 24 hr indicates that the major action of the enzyme in the rumen occurs in early period of incubation. Through an in vivo experiment, fibrolytic enzyme addition into the diets of dairy cows indeed affected lactational performance of milk yield. The cows fed enzyme treated diets produced 8% (1.9kg/d) more amounts of milk than with no enzyme addition. Milk composition of milk fat and protein was not affected by enzyme addition. Overall, the results of this in vivo study indicates that fibrolytic enzyme can be used to improve milk production in lactating cows. In respect that animals in different treatments of this study had the same amounts of intake, the increased milk yield with enzyme addition may be attributed to the improved utilization of nutrients in the digestive tract.

A Study on Infant Weaning Practices Based on Maternal Education and Income Levels (양육인의 교육 및 수입정도에 따른 이유기 식생활관리에 대한 실태조사)

  • Kim, Song-Suk
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.34 no.7
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    • pp.1000-1007
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    • 2005
  • The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship of maternal factors such as knowledge, attitude and practice of weaning with infant feeding. The subjects were 103 mothers visiting a public health center in Gumi, Kyungbook who filled out self-administered Questionnaires. First of all, about $90\%$ of the participants recognized the importance of complementary foods and proper weaning practices. The response for the recognition of the importance of infant weaning process showed a significant difference by education levels. Concerning an appropriate time for the introduction of weaning foods, $53\%$ of mothers had commenced weaning at age $4\~6$ months, while $38\%$ had done so at age $6\~8$ months. Approximately $76\%$ of mothers fed their babies without the knowledge of age-related weaning method and type of weaning foods. There were no statistical differences in maternal weaning knowledges between levels of education and house income. Mothers with higher levels of education and family income tended to show high perception scores regarding possibility of food allergies caused by baby foods. A demand for reliable sources and education related to nutritious weaning foods and weaning practices were strong in the group with higher education. Knowledge of weaning method and baby foods were obtained by 59 of the 103 mothers from mass media, 35 from friends caring babies, and 9 obtained advice from health professionals or family. Advice from the heath professionals was not the main influence on their decision to introduce weaning foods. Although commercial baby foods are the most commonly used as first weaning foods, those with higher education groups considered commercial baby food are not nutritionally better than home-maid foods. The current findings suggest to us that to improve weaning process, mothers should be educated on the selection and preparation of nutritious, balanced weaning foods and on good weaning practices. It is advised that supportive health professionals from community public health centers should lead the education of infant feeding practices based on maternal characteristics and on basic food and nutritional knowledge.