• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1824-1836
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• 2020

Objective: On the hypothesis that grazing of cattle prompts organs to secrete or internalize circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) in parallel with changes in energy metabolism, we aimed to clarify biological events in adipose, skeletal muscle, and liver tissues in grazing Japanese Shorthorn (JSH) steers by a transcriptomic approach. Methods: The subcutaneous fat (SCF), biceps femoris muscle (BFM), and liver in JSH steers after three months of grazing or housing were analyzed using microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), followed by gene ontology (GO) and functional annotation analyses. Results: The results of transcriptomics indicated that SCF was highly responsive to grazing compared to BFM and liver tissues. The 'Exosome', 'Carbohydrate metabolism' and 'Lipid metabolism' were extracted as the relevant GO terms in SCF and BFM, and/or liver from the >1.5-fold-altered mRNAs in grazing steers. The qPCR analyses showed a trend of upregulated gene expression related to exosome secretion and internalization (charged multivesicular body protein 4A, vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 4B, vesicle associated membrane protein 7, caveolin 1) in the BFM and SCF, as well as upregulation of lipolysis-associated mRNAs (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, hormone-sensitive lipase, perilipin 1, adipose triglyceride lipase, fatty acid binding protein 4) and most of the microRNAs (miRNAs) in SCF. Moreover, gene expression related to fatty acid uptake and inter-organ signaling (solute carrier family 27 member 4 and angiopoietin-like 4) was upregulated in BFM, suggesting activation of SCF-BFM organ crosstalk for energy metabolism. Meanwhile, expression of plasma exosomal miR-16a, miR-19b, miR-21-5p, and miR-142-5p was reduced. According to bioinformatic analyses, the c-miRNA target genes are associated with the terms 'Endosome', 'Caveola', 'Endocytosis', 'Carbohydrate metabolism', and with pathways related to environmental information processing and the endocrine system. Conclusion: Exosome and fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression was altered in SCF of grazing cattle, which could be regulated by miRNA such as miR-142-5p. These changes occurred coordinately in both the SCF and BFM, suggesting involvement of exosome in the SCF-BFM organ crosstalk to modulate energy metabolism.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.345-349
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pasture grazing and barn feeding system on the growth performance, weight gain and velvet antler productivity in Elk. Twelve 5-year-old elk stags about 273 kg were stratified by weight and randomly assigned by feeding system (a pasture grazing and a barn feeding, n=6). The average feed intake were not signigicant difference between two groups. Average daily gain for grazing and barn feeding group was 0.25 g and 0.29 g respectively, showing no significant difference. Velvet antler yield for grazing and barn feeding group was 7,700 g and 6, 960 g respectively, with no significant difference. In conclusion grazing group was better than barn feeding group in feed intake, body weight gain and velvet antler productivity. However, there were no statistical significant difference between the two group. These results may serve as the basis for further study of deer feeding system in Korea and further study needed to examine the grazing intensity and economic efficiency.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2012

Biomass changes, net primary production and transfer dynamics of dry matter in four subtropical humid montane grasslands at Ebbenadu, Korakundah, Thiashola and Wenlockdown in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), the Western Ghats, India, were investigated. Despite the early report of a higher density and dominance of $C_4$ species over $C_3$ species in these grasslands, no functional study of matter production had previously been carried out. Therefore, in order to determine the roles played by these two groups of species, the present study was attempted. The study revealed that the dry matter and net primary production contributed by $C_4$ species were much greater than those of its $C_3$ counterpart in all the grasslands. The turnover rate of aboveground dry matter for both $C_3$ and $C_4$ species was generally rapid, whereas it was slow for belowground parts, and litter components of $C_3$ and $C_4$ species together. In all grasslands, generally about 60% and 10% of the input were channeled to aboveground and belowground parts, respectively, by the $C_4$ species, whereas the $C_3$ species transferred only about 22% and 8% of dry matter to aboveground and belowground parts, respectively. The total disappearance of dry matter was 2.73, 2.10, 3.19, and $1.96\;g\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$ in Ebbenadu, Korakundah, Thiashola and Wenlockdown grasslands, which was 48.83%, 44.30%, 54.81%, and 41.09% of the total input, respectively, in these grasslands. This resulted in a considerable surplus dry matter production in all the grasslands studied. This balance sheet of dry matter in community function indicates that all the four studied grasslands were supporting the existing wild animals adequately in terms of pasture supply. The study further revealed that the stronger establishment of $C_4$ species rather than their $C_3$ counterparts, in terms of higher density and dominance, has driven them to play major roles in matter dynamics and system transfer functions in all the four grasslands studied. This fact evidenced that pasture from $C_4$ species for wild animals was determined to be higher in comparison to that of $C_3$ species.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2012

This experiment was carried out to determine the harvesting day after heading of barley for highest total forage yield in double cropping with corn at paddy field in middle region. The fresh barley yield was the highest at the harvest of 20 days after heading, but the dry matter yield and TDN yield were the highest at the harvest of 25 days after heading because of higher dry matter rate. The dry matter yield of corn after the harvest of 25 days after heading was decreased about 16 percent than that of the check, sowing on april 25. But total fresh yield of corn monoculture was lower about 31 percent, and decreased 28 percent of dry matter and 23 percent of TDN yield, respectively, than that of the double cropping system with corn and barley. In double cropping system at paddy field, the total forage yield was the highest at the harvest of 25 days after heading of barley and grew corn subsequently. Although yield of corn was reduced by late sowing, the total forage yield was increased by double cropping system compared with corn monoculture.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.592-598
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• 2019

Objective: Autophagy is a bulk degradation system for intracellular proteins which contributes to skeletal muscle homeostasis, according to previous studies in humans and rodents. However, there is a lack of information on the physiological role of autophagy in the skeletal muscle of meat animals. This study was planned as a pilot study to investigate changes in expression of two major autophagy-related genes, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain $3{\beta}$ (MAP1LC3B) and autophagy related 7 (ATG7) in fattening beef cattle, and to compare them with skeletal muscle growth. Methods: Six castrated Japanese Black cattle (initial body weight: $503{\pm}20kg$) were enrolled in this study and fattened for 7 months. Three skeletal muscles, M. longissimus, M. gluteus medius, and M. semimembranosus, were collected by needle biopsy three times during the observation period, and mRNA levels of MAP1LC3B and ATG7 were determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of genes associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system, another proteolytic mechanism, were also analyzed for comparison with autophagy-related genes. In addition, ultrasonic scanning was repeatedly performed to measure M. longissimus area as an index of muscle growth. Results: Our results showed that both MAP1LC3B and ATG7 expression increased over the observation period in all three skeletal muscles. Interestingly, the increase in expression of these two genes in M. longissimus was highly correlated with ultrasonic M. longissimus area and body weight. On the other hand, the expression of genes associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system was unchanged during the same period. Conclusion: These findings suggest that autophagy plays an important role in the growth of skeletal muscle of fattening beef cattle and imply that autophagic activity affects meat productivity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1437-1440
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the use of urinary catecholamines to monitor changes in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and to determine the relationship of urinary cortisol and catecholamines in Japanese Shorthorn cows in response to social isolation. One cow was isolated from its group, which consisted of 14 cows (457 to 756 kg BW, 2 to 12 years old), for three days. The isolated cow was in contact with the other cows visually only at meal times. This isolation was repeated for 6 cows. Spontaneously voided urine samples were collected from the experimental animals once a day, before the treatment and on days 1, 2, and 3. Urinary cortisol and adrenaline levels were significantly increased compared with pre-isolation levels on the first day, and then declined to the basal levels during the next two days. Urinary noradrenaline levels changed in the same way as cortisol and adrenaline levels, but the difference was not significant. Urinary cortisol levels tended to be correlated with those of urinary adrenaline, but not noradrenaline. This study suggests that the urinary adrenaline levels can be a non-invasive indicator of stress and that the change of urinary adrenaline is similar to that of urinary cortisol.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1431-1441
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effects of replacing rice straw with different proportions of cassava pulp on growth performance, feed intake, digestibility, rumen microbial population, energy partitioning and efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization in beef cattle. Methods: Eighteen yearling Thai native beef cattle (Bos indicus) with an average initial body weight (BW) of $98.3{\pm}12.8kg$ were allocated to one of three dietary treatments and fed ad libitum for 149 days in a randomized complete block design. Three dietary treatments using different proportions of cassava pulp (100, 300, and 500 g/kg dry matter basis) instead of rice straw as a base in a fermented total mixed ration were applied. Animals were placed in a metabolic pen equipped with a ventilated head box respiration system to determine total digestibility and energy balance. Results: The average daily weight gain, digestible intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and non-fiber carbohydrate, total protozoa, energy intake, energy retention and energy efficiency increased linearly (p<0.05) with an increasing proportion of cassava pulp in the diet, whereas the three main types of fibrolytic bacteria and energy excretion in the urine (p<0.05) decreased. The metabolizable energy requirement for the maintenance of yearling Thai native cattle, determined by a linear regression analysis, was $399kJ/kg\;BW^{0.75}$, with an efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization for growth of 0.86. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that increasing the proportion of cassava pulp up to 500 g/kg of dry matter as a base in a fermented total mixed ration is an effective strategy for improving productivity in zebu cattle.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of manure and chemical fertilizer on the forage yield and quality of oat at no-tillage. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. The three treatments were: chemical fertilizer, manure fertilizer, and chemical and manure mixture. Seedling vigor was higher at chemical fertilizer than manure, but more greener at manure application than chemical fertilizer. Dry matter (DM) content of oat at manure was higher than chemical and mixture fertilizer (p<0.05). There was no difference in DM yield, TDN (total digestible nutrients) yield, and CP (crude protein) yield of oat at no-tillage system, but the fresh yield was significantly higher in chemical fertilizer compared to manure. The CP content for oat was significantly higher in manure than chemical fertilizer. However, no significant effects were observed for NDF (neutral detergent fiber), ADF (acid detergent fiber), TDN and RFV (relative feed value) in different fertilizer application. Based on the results of this study, manure don't affected forage production and quality of no-till oat except CP content because forage oat is used off-season crop.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2006

An efficient transformation system for the production of transgenic plants has been developed for tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of seed-derived callus. From the point of morphogenetic capacity, three types of callus were selected. High frequency of plant regeneration was obtained by selection of type II callus, and the plant regeneration frequency was 52.6% when embryogenic callus were cultured on the regeneration medium. Supplementation of the media with 10 mg/L $AgNO_3$ and 40 mg/L cysteine enhanced frequencies of plant regeneration up to 65.3%. The highest transformation efficiency was also obtained when type II callus were inoculated with Agrobacterium. Southern blot analysis of PCR products of transgenic plants demonstrated that transgenes were successfully integrated into the genome of tall fescue. Efficient regeneration system and transformation established in this study will be useful for molecular breeding of tall fescue through genetic transformation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-446
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• 2012

As a part of establishing suitability classification for forage production, use of the national soil and climate database was attempted for Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., IRG) in Gangwon Province. The soil data base were from Heugtoram of the National Academy of Agricultural Science, and the climate data base were from the National Center for Agro-Meteorology, respectively. Soil physical properties including soil texture, drainage, slope available depth and surface rock contents, and soil chemical properties including soil acidity and salinity, organic matter content were selected as soil factors. The crieria and weighting factors of these elements were scored. Climate factors including average daily minimum temperature, average temperature from March to May, the number of days of which average temperature was higher than $5^{\circ}C$ from September to December, the number of days of precipitation and its amount from October to May of the following year were selected, and criteria and weighting factors were scored. The electronic maps were developed with these scores using the national data base of soil and climate. Based on soil scores, the area of Goseong, Sogcho, Gangreung, and Samcheog in east coastal region with gentle slope were classified as the possible and/or the proper area for IRG cultivation in Gangwon Province. The lands with gentle or moderate slope of Cheolwon, Yanggu, Chuncheon, Hweongseong, Pyungchang and Jeongsun in west side slope of Taebaeg mountains were classified as the possible and/or proper area as well. Based on climate score, the east coastal area of Goseong, Sogcho, Yangyang, Gangreung and Samcheog could be classified as the possible or proper area. Most area located on west side of the Taebaeg mountains were classified as not suitable for IRG production. In scattered area in Chuncheon and Weonju, where the scores exceeded 60, the IRG cultivation should be carefully managed for good production. For better application of electronic maps.