• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2012

The experiment involved observations of 2,514 Holstein-Friesian cows to determine the effects of environmental factors (cow's age, calving season, weight and sex of calves, housing system) and genetic factors on gestation length in dairy cattle and the correlation between gestation length and other reproductive traits (calving ease, stillbirth rates and placental expulsion). Genetic parameters were estimated based on the sires of calved cows (indirect effect) and the sires of live-born calves (direct effect). The following factors were found to contribute to prolonged gestation: increasing cow's age, male fetuses and growing fetus weight. Optimal gestation length was determined in the range of 275-277 days based on calving ease and stillbirth rates. The heritability of gestation length was estimated at 0.201-0.210 by the direct effect and 0.055-0.073 by the indirect effect. The resulting genetic correlations suggest that the efforts to optimize (prolong) gestation length could exert an adverse influence on the breeding value of bulls by increasing perinatal mortality and calving difficulty. The standard errors of the investigated parameters were relatively high, suggesting that any attempts to modify gestation length for the purpose of improving calving ease and reducing stillbirth rates should be introduced with great caution.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 1996

About 8 million tons of straw (dry matter) become rotten during the monsoon(June to August) season in Bangladesh. The possibility of preserving straw with urea, under wet condition during dry period (December to May) and its utilization by cattle has been studied. Five tons of fresh and wet(600g DM/kg material) rice straw were preserved for six months, with 5% urea(W/W) in either dome or rectangular shaped heap without any polythene cover. The preservation quality, acceptability and nutritive value of preserved straw were then comparted with that of dry straw in growing cattle. In both types of heaps, straw was excellently preserved having strong ammonia smell,dark brown in colour with no fungal infestation. Urea preservation of straw increased its CP and ADF content. Preserved straw was readily accepted by the animals and they were healthy throughout the experimental period. Compared to dry straw, urea preserved straw had nonsignificantly higher rumen degradability, straw intgake and growth rate. Similarly, digestibilities of DM(p<0.01), OM(p<0.01) & ADF(p<0.01) were significantly higher in the preserved than the dry straw. It was concluded that wet straw with relatively lower moisture(400 to 500 g/kg straw) content can be readily preserved by using urea without being covered with polythene. Whether the same phenomenon occurs in the preservation of fresh and weet rice straw with relatively higher moisture(600 to 700 g/kg straw) content is yet to be determined.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.973-980
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate nutritional value and in situ degradability of fruit-vegetable byproducts and their feeding effects on performance of growing Hanwoo steers. Methods: Nutritional value and in situ degradability of cabbage, Chinese cabbage and fruit-vegetable byproducts were assessed. In vivo feeding trial was also performed for 12 weeks. Thirty-six growing steers were randomly allocated into three groups according to body weight (BW) and age in 12 pens (4 replications/treatment) and assigned to one of the three dietary treatments: control (byproduct 0%), FV-B (fruit-vegetable byproduct 20%), and CA-B (cabbage peel 15% plus Chinese cabbage peel 15%, total byproduct 30%). Results: The crude protein contents of cabbage, Chinese cabbage and fruit-vegetable byproducts were 18.69%, 20.20%, and 10.07%, respectively. Concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were higher in cabbage (22.31%) and Chinese cabbage (28.83%) than fruit-vegetable (13.94%). Higher concentrations of non-fiber carbohydrate were observed for fruit-vegetable (66.72%) than cabbage (44.93%) and Chinese cabbage byproducts (24.69%). The effective degradability (ED) of both dry matter (DM) and NDF for fruit-vegetable byproduct (DM, 84.69%; NDF, 85.62%) was higher (p<0.05) than cabbage (DM, 68.47%; NDF, 55.97%) and Chinese cabbage byproducts (DM, 68.09%; NDF, 54.22%). The DM intake was not different among treatments because the amount of feed was kept constant according to the BW of growing steers to prevent overweight during the growing period. The average daily gain during the whole experimental period was not different among treatments (1.26, 1.25, and 1.34 kg/d for control, FV-B, and CA-B). The ED of both DM and NDF degradability of the total mixed ration (TMR) diets were very similar among treatments. Feed conversion ratio during the whole period showed no significant difference among treatments. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that fruit-vegetable and cabbage byproducts up to 20% and 30% (as fed basis), respectively can be included in TMR diets for growing beef cattle.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 1981

This study was conducted to determine the differences in the growth and milk production performance of Holstein Crossbreds (Korean Native Cattle(♀)${\times}$Holstein(♂)) and Korean Native Cattle produced at the Livestock Experiment Station of the Office of Rural Developement from 1973 to 1978. The number of heifers and cows used in this experiment were 15 head of Korean Native Cattle and 11 head pf Holstein Crossbreds Cattle. Body weight and body measurements were taken at birth, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of age, however, body measurements were not taken at birth. Milk production was checked from the 11 th day to 180th day after calving. The data was analyzed using the least square procedure in order to estimate the effect of the mating group, year of birth, calving season and parity. The results obtained from this study were as follows: 1. The body weights of the Holstein Crossbreds were heavier than the body weights of purebred Korean Native Cattle. The body weight of the Holstein Crossbreds averaged 28.09kg, 146.64kg, 254.48kg, 392.04kg and 454.46kg at birth, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of age, respectively. However, the body weights of purebreds Korean Native Cattle averaged 22.45kg, 132.82kg, 220.68kg, 363.54kg and 365.54kg at the same ages. 2. The year of birth affected on body weight at each point during the growing stage, except birth, heifers born in the spring and autumn were heavier than the others, but calving season did not affect on body weight during the growing stage except at birth and 6 months. 3. Parity showed significant differences on body weight in the growing stage. Calves from the 5th parity had a tendency to be heavier than the other calves. 4. The year of birth, calving season and parity at calving had no affect on the change of body measurements, but the wither height, hip height, chest depth, chest girth and hip width were significantly greater in the Holstein Crossbreds at 24 months of age. 5. Mating groups had a significant affect on milk production during the growing stage. Year of birth and calving season did not affect milk production, but parity was significant from 11 days after calving. 6. The least-squares means used to determine the daily milk production were 3.60 and 8.26kg/day for Korean Native Cattle and the Holstein Crossbreds, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2000

Fasting heat production (FHP) of growing buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) in the body weight range of 76 to 236 kg was determined using open circuit respiration chamber. The details of the chambers, calibration of gas analysers and operation of the systems are described. Animals were fasted for 96 hrs during which only water was provided. FHP was determined during next 24 hrs. The mean oxygen consumed, carbon dioxide and methane produced and urinary N excretion per 24 h was $17.03{\ell}$, $11.70{\ell}$, and $0.12{\ell}$ and 0.35 g respectively. The mean respiratory quotient ranged from 0.68 to 0.71, which indicated that post absorptive stage is reached after 96 hrs in growing buffalo calves previously fed ammoniated straw-based ration. Mean FHP of calves was $331.4kJ/kg\;W^{0.75}$. FHP of calves with range of mean body weights of 167 to 235 kg, although nonsignificant but, was almost 12% higher than of calves having mean body weight of 101 kg. Suitable exponent to body weight to describe FHP of buffalo calves was 0.87.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.372-377
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• 2016

The objectives of the trial were to investigate the effects of supplementing vitamin E (VE) on nutrient digestion, nitrogen (N) retention and plasma parameters of beef cattle in feedlot. Four growing Simmental bulls, fed with a total mixed ration composed of corn silage and concentrate mixture as basal ration, were used as the experimental animals. Four levels of VE product, i.e. 0, 150, 300, 600 mg/head/d (equivalent to 0, 75, 150, 300 IU VE/head/d), were supplemented to the basal ration (VE content 38 IU/kg dry matter) in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design as experimental treatments I, II, III and IV, respectively. Each experimental period lasted 15 days, of which the first 12 days were for pretreatment and the last 3 days for sampling. The results showed that supplementing VE did not affect the nutrient digestibility (p>0.05) whereas decreased the urinary N excretion (p<0.01), increased the N retention (p<0.05) and tended to increase the microbial N supply estimated based on the total urinary purine derivatives (p = 0.057). Supplementing VE increased the plasma concentrations of VE, glucose and triglycerol (TG) (p<0.05) and tended to increase the plasma concentration of total protein (p = 0.096) whereas did not affect the plasma antioxidant indices and other parameters (p>0.05). It was concluded that supplementing VE up to 300 IU/head/d did not affect the nutrient digestibility whereas supplementing VE at 150 or 300 IU/head/d increased the N retention and the plasma concentrations of VE and TG (p<0.05) of beef cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1187-1193
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• 2015

This study determined the effects of dietary restriction on growth and the expression of lipid metabolism and growth hormone signaling genes in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of Korean cattle. Thirty-one Korean cattle steers (average age 10.5 months) were allocated to normal (N; n = 16) or dietary restriction (DR; n = 15) groups. The feeding trial consisted of two stages: for the 8-month growing period, the DR group was fed 80% of the food intake of the normal diet, and for the 6-month growth-finishing period, the DR group was fed a DR total mixed ration with 78.4% of the crude protein and 64% of the net energy for gain of the normal diet. The LM was biopsied 5 months (period 1 [P1] at 15.5 months of age) and 14 months (period 2 [P2] at 24.5 months of age) after the start of feeding. The mRNA levels were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Body weight, daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency were lower in the DR group compared with the normal group at both P1 and P2. At P1, the lipogenic fatty acid synthase (FASN) mRNA levels were lower (p<0.05) in the DR group compared with the normal group. The DR group tended (p = 0.06) to have higher of levels of growth hormone receptor (GHR) mRNA than the normal group. At P2, the DR group tended to have lower (p = 0.06) androgen receptor (AR) mRNA levels than the normal group. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that dietary restriction partially decreases the transcription of lipogenic FASN and growth hormone signaling AR genes, but increases transcription of the GHR gene. These changes in gene transcription might affect body fat accumulation and the growth of the animals.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2000

The sensitivity analysis of input parameters for a dynamic food chain model DYNACON was conducted as a function of deposition date for the long-lived radionuclides $(^{137}Cs,\;^{90}Sr)$. Also, the influence of input parameters for the short and long-terms contamination of selected foodstuffs (cereals, leafy vegetables, milk) was investigated. The input parameters were sampled using the LHS technique, and their sensitivity indices represented as PRCC. The sensitivity index was strongly dependent on contamination period as well as deposition date. In case of deposition during the growing stages of plants, the input parameters associated with contamination by foliar absorption were relatively important in long-term contamination as well as short-term contamination. They were also important in short-term contamination in case of deposition during the non-growing stages. In long-term contamination, the influence of input parameters associated with foliar absorption decreased, while the influence of input parameters associated with root uptake increased. These phenomena were more remarkable in case of the deposition of non-growing stages than growing stages, and in case of $^{90}Sr$ deposition than $^{137}Cs$ deposition. In case of deposition during growing stages of pasture, the input parameters associated with the characteristics of cattle such as feed-milk transfer factor and daily intake rate of cattle were relatively important in contamination of milk.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 1993

Sixteen Korean native bulls weighing about 211 kg were randomly allotted to investigate the effect of different dietary calcium levels on performance. Feeding period was divided into growing period and fattening period for 180 days. Four calcium levels (0.44, 0.58, 0.72 and 0.86%) were used to each period. Bulls fed the diet containing 0.72% calcium had greater body weight gain and consumed more feed than bulls fed diets containing 0.44, 0.58 and 0.86% calcium and improved in feed efficiency. Bulls fed the diet containing 0.44% calcium were worst in performance. It can be concluded that Korean native bulls in growing and fattening period required no more than 0.72% calcium in diet that contained 0.55% phosphorus, and appeared that when ratio of calcium to phosphorus intake was 1.45, performance of Korean native bulls was most beneficial.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.975-985
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• 2021

The sufficient amount of protein supply is crucial for improving the growth performance of growing beef cattle. In addition, due to the improvement in the genetic potential of the carcass weight of Hanwoo steers, dietary protein requirements may be increased during the rapid growth period. Accordingly, the dietary crude protein (CP) level in growing Hanwoo steers has been increasing in the field. However, little scientific evidence is available in relation to this. Therefore, this study was conducted to test whether a higher dietary CP level than convention would improve the growth performance and body metabolism in growing Hanwoo steers. Fifty growing Hanwoo steers were randomly divided into two groups and fed either a commercial diet (CON) or a higher CP (HCP) concentrate mix, provided with a similar level of dietary energy. Tall fescue hay was provided ad libitum. The dietary CP level did not affect growth performance and blood metabolite. Nitrogen intake, predicted nitrogen excretion, and retained nitrogen were higher in the HCP group than in the CON group (p < 0.01). Although there was no difference in the nitrogen utilization efficiency, the growth efficiency per retained nitrogen decreased in the HCP group (p = 0.02). A higher dietary CP level may increase nitrogen retention in growing Hanwoo steers without improving growth performance, which leads to reduced growth efficiency per retained nitrogen. Furthermore, considering the high price of feed protein and increased nitrogen excretion to the environment, a further increase in the protein level may not be sustainable.