• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.863-866
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• 2010

Myostatin, which is also known as growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), has been reported to act as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle development. Variation in the myostatin gene (MSTN) has been associated with variation in muscularity in certain "meaty" sheep breeds. Polymerase Chain Reaction-Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis was used to investigate allelic variation in the previously described g+6223G>A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of MSTN. The sheep studied were 79 New Zealand (NZ) Romney lambs derived from a single sire heterozyous for g+6223G>A, which is in itself notable as this polymorphism has not been described previously in this breed. Allelic variation was observed to be associated with an abnormal gender ratio (p = 0.046) in the progeny. The presence of allele A was observed to have an effect (p<0.05) on birth weight, mean loin yield, proportion yield loin and total muscle yield. Allelic variation did not significantly affect mean shoulder yield, leg yield, proportion yield shoulder and proportion yield leg. This preliminary result suggests that while the A allele at MSTN g+6223 appears to improve some valuable traits in NZ Romney sheep, further research is required to understand if and how it may affect other traits.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1569-1578
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of prolonged photoperiod on the serum lipids, carcass traits, and meat quality of Jinjiang cattle during winter. Methods: Thirty-four Jinjiang bulls aged between 14 and 16 months were randomly assigned to two groups that were alternatively subjected to either natural daylight +4 h supplemental light (long photoperiod, LP) or natural daylight (natural photoperiod, NP) for 96 days. The potential effects on the levels of serum lipids, carcass traits, meat quality, and genes regulating lipid metabolism in the intramuscular fat (IMF) of the cattle were evaluated. Results: Jinjiang cattle kept under LP showed significant increase in both dry matter intake and backfat thickness. the serum glucose and the plasma leptin levels were significantly reduced, while that of melatonin and insulin were observed to be increased. The crude fat contents of biceps femoris muscle and longissimus dorsi muscle were higher in LP than in NP group. In longissimus dorsi muscle, the proportions of C17:0 and C18:0 were significantly higher but that of the C16:1 was found to be significantly lower in LP group. The relative mRNA expressions in IMF of longissimus dorsi muscle, the lipid synthesis genes (proliferator-activated receptor gamma, fatty acid-binding protein) and the fatty acid synthesis genes (acetyl-coa carboxylase, fatty acid synthetase, 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase) were significantly up-regulated in LP group (p<0.05); whereas the hormone-sensitive lipase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 were significantly down-regulated in LP than in NP group. Conclusion: Prolonged photoperiod significantly altered the growth performance, hormonal levels, gene expression and fat deposition in Jinjiang cattle. It suggested that the LP improved the fat deposition by regulating the levels of different hormones and genes related to lipid metabolism, thereby improving the fattening of Jinjiang cattle during winter.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.443-449
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• 2013

To develop a diet for Hanwoo steers during the late fattening phase, three different feeding treatments were investigated: a group fed concentrate and rice straw separately (Formula feed), a group fed TMR during the whole late fattening period (TMR), and a group fed TMR plus concentrate (Formula-TMR). Thirty Hanwoo steers 20 months of age (average body weight = 445 kg) were allotted by a completely randomized design into three treatment groups (ten steers in each group). The impact of these treatments on the performance, carcass traits, and blood composition related to body fat synthesis was assessed. The average dry matter and TDN intake were greater in Formula-TMR compared to other treatments (p<0.05); however, body gain, carcass weight, meat production index, and fat color were not affected by dietary type. Blood characteristics, such as concentrations of retinol, insulin, and leptin were not affected by any of the treatments; however the marbling score of the longisimus muscle was significantly higher in Formula-TMR (p<0.05), which was relatively high in blood leptin concentration. The muscle texture, meat quantity index, and meat quality index were highest in the Formula feed, TMR, and Formula-TMR, respectively (p<0.05).

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.884-891
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• 2022

Objective: Free-range systems have been increasingly available to the consumer due to increased demand for more sustainable meat-products. In the current study, the effect of free-range (FR) and cage system (CS) was explored on growth performance, meat quality and oxidation products in Italian White breed rabbits during the growing-fattening phase (5 to 13 weeks of age). Methods: Forty rabbits were randomly allotted to two treatment groups according to the rearing system, and each treatment group was replicated five times with four subjects in each replicate (20 rabbits per treatment-group). All rabbits fed the same diet as pelleted, and under FR system, no additional feeds were available to animals. Results: Rearing system had significant effect on rabbit growth performance, where CS group resulted in higher final body weight (p<0.045) and gain (p<0.029) and better feed efficiency (p<0.025) compared to FR rabbits. Most carcass traits were not affected by rearing system; however, a reduction of abdominal fat content (p<0.015) and meat lipids (p<0.034) was observed in FR rabbits. Rearing system had no effects on meat fatty acid profile, whereas meat from FR rabbits resulted less susceptible to lipid and protein oxidation compared to caged animals. Conclusion: In overall, FR system could be suggested as a substitute for conventional caged system because of FR system preserved rabbit meat from oxidation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2009

Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type 1 (IP3R1) is a $Ca^{2+}$ release channel that responds to the second messenger IP3 and that modulates diverse cellular functions such as contraction/excitation, secretion, gene expression and cellular growth. We discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within IP3R1 gene and analyzed associations between gene polymorphisms and carcass traits in Korean cattle (Hanwoo) in order to develop novel DNA markers at genomic level. Three SNPs were detected at the position of g.1428617A>G, g.1418843C>T and g.1414377C>T with 24 unrelated Hanwoo samples by direct sequencing of the PCR products. We found that genotype of g.1414377C>T SNP was associated with live weight (P<0.05) and carcass weight (P<0.01) using the general linear model of SAS package. These results suggest that polymorphism of IP3R1 gene was associated with weight-related traits in Hanwoo.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2007

Pituitary-specific transcription factor (PIT1) 유전자는 동물의 성장을 조절하고 근육 형성에 관여하는 유전자로서 최근에는 단일염기다형성 변이가 한우를 비롯한 동물에서 관찰되었으며, 한우의 경제 형질과 연관성이 보고되었다. 본 연구는 PIT1 유전자의 단일염기다형성 변이가 한우에서 성장 인자에 미치는 영향과 경제 형질에 대한 유전자형간 육종가와의 상관성에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 도체 성적을 보유하고 있는 한우 후보종모우 집단 268두를 대상으로 PIT1 유전자 A1256G 다형성을 조사하여 유전자형의 빈도를 분석하였고 각각의 유전형에 따른 기본적인 검정 성적을 바탕으로 경제 형질과의 연관성을 비교 분석하였다. 268두의 한우에서 PIT1 유전자의 A1256G 유전자형 빈도는 MseI 제한 효소를 사용했을 때 A 유전자 빈도(0.37)보다 G 유전자 빈도(0.62)가 높게 나타났다. 통계적 분석을 통하여 각 유전자형에 대한 경제 형질과의 관련성을 분석한 결과, 각 유전자형 간에 12개월령 체중 (body weight 12, BW12)에서 유의한 차이를 보였고, 등지방 두께 육종가 (Backfat thickness-estimated breeding value, BF-EBV)와도 유의한 차이가 있었지만 (p<0.05), marbling score (MS), carcass weight (CW), M. longissimus dorsi area (LDA) 등 다른 경제 형질과는 통계학적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. PIT1 유전자의 A1256G 다형성은 한우의 성장과 도체체중에 관여하는 인자로 작용하는 것으로 보여진다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1717-1725
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• 2000

The objective was to determine the relationship between feed intake levels and patterns, and growth performance and body composition of barrows and gilts using automatic feed intake recording equipment (F.I.R.E.). This system records the time of visits to the feeder and the duration and size of meals for individual animals housed in groups. Ninety-six crossbred pigs were grown from $33.4{\pm}0.51$ to $109.7{\pm}1.39kg$ live weight over a 13-week period. Eight mixed-sex groups of 12 pigs were used and 4 dietary treatments were compared giving 2 pens per treatment. The dietary treatments consisted of corn-soybean meal diets with differing protein levels which ranged from 14.7% to 19% between 30 to 55 kg, from 13.3% to 16.9% between 56 and 85 kg, and from 12.3% to 16.8% for the remainder of the study. Animals were ultrasonically scanned to measure loin-eye area and backfat thickness to estimate carcass fat-free lean content at the beginning and end of the study. Barrows had higher daily feed intake than gilts (2.67 vs. 2.46 kg resp. p<0.05) which was the result of a longer feeder occupation time per visit (4.77 vs. 4.54 min, resp. p<0.05), higher feed consumption rates (30.4 vs. 29.0 g/min, resp. p<0.05), and higher feed intakes per visit (136.9 vs. 126.8 g, resp. p<0.01). Gilts had less backfat and greater loin-eye area than barrows (p<0.05). Diet had no significant effect on growth performance and had limited impact on feeding patterns. Body weight showed high correlations with ADG (r=0.74), feed intake per visit (r=0.51) and feed consumption rate (r=0.69). Positive correlation were also found between daily feed intake and feed intake per visit (r=0.45), feeder occupation time per day (r=0.56), and feed consumption rate (r=0.55), and between daily feed intake and backfat thickness (r=0.32) and feed consumption rate and loin-eye area (r=0.32). There were negative correlations between number of feeder visit per day and daily feed intake (r=-0.54), and between feed intake per visit and number of feeder visits per day (r=-0.43). However, correlations between feed intake traits and carcass traits were generally low. Visits to the feeder were greatest during the morning (0700 to 1100 h) and lowest during the evening and nighttime. These results highlight limited variation among the sexes in feeding patterns and suggest important relationships between feeding behavior and feed intake.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.952-959
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate growth, behavior and carcass traits of fattening Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) steers managed in different group sizes. A total of 48 animals, 6 months of age, were allocated to one of three group sizes and the experiment was conducted from 12 to 30 months of age. Groups were balanced for weight and the group sizes consisted of 4, 8, or 12 steers which were named 4sG, 8sG and 12sG, respectively. When animals were 12 months of age, initial fasted body weight (BW, $304.51{\pm}12.40\;kg$) was measured. All animals were housed at a constant space allowance of $8.82\;m^2$ per animal, and a feeder and drinker were provided per 4 animals. The whole fattening stage was divided into three phases: phase I (from 12 to 18 month of age), phase II (from 19 to 24 month of age), and phase III (from 25 to 30 month of age). Steers managed in 12sG showed low (p<0.05) growth rate and feed conversion rate (FCR) in phase I and phase II when compared to other treatment groups. However, this difference was not observed for the whole fattening phase (p>0.05). Steers managed in 4sG had a thick (p<0.05) ultrasound back fat thickness at 15 and 18 months of age. However, group size had no effect on meat yield and quality traits of area and marbling score. Animals managed in 8sG yielded a better meat grade of "A" than the "B" grade in other treatment group sizes. Lean color, fat color, firmness and maturity scores did not differ among group sizes. Hanwoo steers housed under 12sG spent less time on eating concentrate, relevant higher eating rate, less frequency of allogrooming, and more time on walking (p<0.05). It could be concluded that a large group size retarded growth rate and back fat thickness in the fattening stage, which was mainly focused on 15 and 18 months of age.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1594-1599
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• 2005

The effects of long-term feeding of diets based on bermudagrass hay supplemented with lucerne hay cube (LH) or fermented bagasse feed (FBF) on the growth rate, feed efficiency, behaviour, gut development, carcass characteristics and meat quality of goats were investigated. Six spring-born 8-month-old male crossbred (Japanese Saanen${\times}$Tokara native goats) bucks weighing mean 21.6 kg were allotted to 2 treatment groups (3 animals each) and each animal had ad libitum access to feeds, i.e. bermudagrass hay (basal diet)+LH or FBF throughout the experiment. The FBF was produced by the solid-state fermentation of substrates containing dried sugarcane bagasse mixed with wheat bran in a ratio of 1:3 (w/w DM) with Aspergillus sojae. The live body weight, final weight and average daily gain were not different between treatments. Average basal diet intake of goats fed FBF diet was significantly higher than that fed LH diet (p<0.05), but average dry matter intake (DMI; g/day and g/$W^{0.75}$), feed conversion ratio, digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) intake of experimental diets were not significantly different between treatments. Goats fed on LH and FBF diets had similar eating, rumination, resting and drinking behaviours, and blood constituents except for phosphorus content. Slaughter and carcass weights, net meat percentage [(total meat/carcass weight)${\times}$100], loin ratio [(loin/total meat)${\times}$100] and rib-eye area were not different between treatments. However, goats fed FBF diet had lower dressing percentage and higher bone/muscle ratio compared with goats fed LH diet (p<0.01). Empty gut and guts fill of goats fed FBF diet were significantly greater (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) than those fed LH diet. The weights of rumen and abomasum were also significantly heavier in goats fed FBF diet (p<0.05), but the length and density of papillae of rumen in goats were not different between treatments. Although meat composition of loin was not different in both groups, the meat of goats fed FBF diet was superior to that of LH diet in flavor, aroma and overall quality of loin (p<0.01). In conclusion, the nature of the diet consumed voluntarily did not affect subsequent growth, nutrient intake and behaviour of goats but had an influence on carcass traits and sensory evaluation of meat partly, when either of LH or FBF was fed with bermudagrass hay.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2012

A total of 800 one-day-old chickens (Cobb 500) were obtained from a local hatchery and allocated randomly to five dietary treatments. This study conducted for 42 d. Treatment groups included 1) CON (control), 2) T0.3 (0.3% of thyme extract), 3) T0.6 (0.6% of thyme extract), 4) G0.3 (0.3% of garlic extract) and 5) G0.6 (0.6% of garlic extract). Thyme extract included $90{\mu}g/ml$ Carvacrol and 400 mg/ml thymol while garlic extract included 100 mg/ml elastin. There were no significant effects among the treatments on weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio over the entire trial. Also, no significant differences were observed between CON group and other treatments in plasma parameters (cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL) and hematocrit. Sex of chickens had no effect on blood parameters. Supplementation of herb extracts did not affect carcass characteristics including carcass yield, breast, thigh and abdominal fat. There were no significant differences observed in carcass characteristics between males and females fed with different levels of herb extracts. In conclusion, supplementation of garlic and thyme extracts as feed additives at two levels of 3 and 6% in the present study did not improve performance and carcass traits of broiler chicks.