• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2008

The present study investigated the efficient methods to produce in vitro Hanwoo embryos, and to improve the pregnancy rate. The developmental rate, total cell number and ICM ratio of in vitro embryos were compared amongst different culture media. Comparisons were also made on the status of recipients, pregnancy rate along with day of transfer after the estrus. Development of embryos into blastocyst stage in IVMD101 supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) group was significantly higher (34.2%) than that of TCM-199 supplemented with 5% FBS (26.8%) and IVMD101 without FBS (25.9%) (p<0.05). The development rate to blastocyst stage was significantly faster in IVMD101(5% FBS) than that of other groups ($0.2{\sim}2.3%$) (p<0.05). The average number of inner cell mass and trophectoderm were similar among treatment groups, which were $36.0{\sim}44.7$ and $83.3{\sim}106.7$. However, total cell number in IVMD101(5% FBS and 0% FBS) was significantly higher than that of TCM199(5% FBS). There were no differences in the pregnancy rate among treatment groups (32.0%, 33.9% and 28.6%, respectively). However, the pregnancy rate of Day 6 embryos cultured in IVMD101(5% FBS) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than IVMD101 without FBS and TCM-199 + 5% FBS (38.0% vs. 17.2% and 32.4%, respectively). No significant difference was observed for the pregnancy rate between heifer and cow transferred with Day 6 embryos cultured in IVMD 101(5% FBS) (42.7% and 39.3%, respectively). However, there was a significant difference of pregnancy rate (p<0.05) in heifer between one and two embryos transferred (31.4% and 41.9%). There was no difference of pregnancy rate among transfer days after estrus between heifer and cow, but the pregnancy rate of transfer to heifer with day 6 after estrus was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of day 7 and 8 (22.2% vs. 49.0% and 38.7% respectively). Based on the above findings, there is a possibility to produce in vitro produced embryos cultured in IVMD101(5% FBS) showed higher blastocyst rate and the increased cell number. In terms of the pregnancy rate of in vitro produced embryos, the highest pregnancy rate was observed when two embryos were cultured in IVMD101(5% FBS) and transferred.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.667-672
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• 2011

This study was carried out to increase the breeding rate using sustained recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) and examine the reproductive disorder and disease prevalencies of cow and calf, respectively. Sixty cows were allotted randomly to three groups in randomized complete block design; (1) No treatment, (2) 500 mg bST two times + 250 mg bST SC injection five times from 3 weeks before to 9 weeks after parturition every two weeks, (3) 500 mg bST two times before 3 weeks parturition + 250 mg bST SC injection three times from five to 9 weeks after parturition every two weeks. Developmental data of birth weight, weaning weight, total gain and average daily gain in control was $22.9{\mu}0.45$ kg, $88.0{\mu}1.13$ kg, $65.1{\mu}0.74$ kg and $0.54{\mu}0.08$ kg, respectively. There is no significant difference between Group 1 and 3 in the examined factors. However, there is significant difference between Group 1 and 2 in the birth weight ($24.4{\mu}0.88$ kg), weaning weight ($101.0{\mu}1.77$ kg), total gain ($76.7{\mu}0.9$ kg) and average daily gain ($76.7{\mu}0.9$ kg). Total gain was showed higher in Group 2 and 3 than Group 1 in the >2nd parity, and in Group 2 than Group 1 and 3 in the 1st parity. There is no significant difference in the BCS, no return days and disease occurrence of cow and calf by bST treatment. Number of service per conception was slightly increased in the Group 3 compared to Group 1 and 2. To increase the breeding ability of Hanwoo, it is recommended that 500 mg bST two times + 250 mg bST injection five times from 3 weeks before to 9 weeks after parturition every two weeks.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.720-734
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• 2023

In Korea, Korea Proven Bulls (KPN) program has been well-developed. Breeding and evaluation of cows are also an essential factor to increase earnings and genetic gain. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of cow breeding value by using three methods (pedigree index [PI], pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction [PBLUP], and genomic-BLUP [GBLUP]). The reference population (n = 16,971) was used to estimate breeding values for 481 females as a test population. The accuracy of GBLUP was 0.63, 0.66, 0.62 and 0.63 for carcass weight (CWT), eye muscle area (EMA), back-fat thickness (BFT), and marbling score (MS), respectively. As for the PBLUP method, accuracy of prediction was 0.43 for CWT, 0.45 for EMA, 0.43 for MS, and 0.44 for BFT. Accuracy of PI method was the lowest (0.28 to 0.29 for carcass traits). The increase by approximate 20% in accuracy of GBLUP method than other methods could be because genomic information may explain Mendelian sampling error that pedigree information cannot detect. Bias can cause reducing accuracy of estimated breeding value (EBV) for selected animals. Regression coefficient between true breeding value (TBV) and GBLUP EBV, PBLUP EBV, and PI EBV were 0.78, 0.625, and 0.35, respectively for CWT. This showed that genomic EBV (GEBV) is less biased than PBLUP and PI EBV in this study. In addition, number of effective chromosome segments (M_e) statistic that indicates the independent loci is one of the important factors affecting the accuracy of BLUP. The correlation between M_e and the accuracy of GBLUP is related to the genetic relationship between reference and test population. The correlations between M_e and accuracy were -0.74 in CWT, -0.75 in EMA, -0.73 in MS, and -0.75 in BF, which were strongly negative. These results proved that the estimation of genetic ability using genomic data is the most effective, and the smaller the M_e, the higher the accuracy of EBV.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.408-411
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• 2005

Schistosomus reflexus is the most common monstrosity found in cases of bovine dystocia and it occurs mostly in cattle. Caesarian section performed and retracted abnormal foetus from dystocia in Holstein cow. It was the first observed schistosomus reflexus Holstein calf in Korea. The body and chest walls were bent laterally and dorsally leaving the thoracic and abdominal viscera exposed. Clefts of the sternum from part of the defect in which there is, simultaneously, lordosis, dorsal reflection of the ribs and complete eventration of viscera, severe ventral curvature of the spinal column, non-union of the pelvic symphysis and dorsal reflection of the pelvic bones with the occiput of the head lying near the sacrum. The limbs are usually ankylosed. The liver was abnormal in shape and cystic in nature. The lung was smaller and thymus were bigger than those of the normal calf, The ruminant stomach was normal, however, abomasum distended with amnionic fluid. The other organ including heart, spleen and internal organ have normal shape.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 2012

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the pregnancy rate (PR) according to the state of the ovaries and uterus, according to the number of embryos transferred from cows and heifers and to investigate the method of artificial twin induction with Hanwoo $in$ $vitro$ fertilized (IVF) embryos by embryo transfer (ET). Looking at the PR according to the condition of the ovaries and uterus, the result was not influenced by the condition of the ovaries, but was significantly influenced by the state of the uterus. The PR according to the number of embryos transferred from cows was 36.8%, 53.0%, 50.5% for 1, 2, and 3 embryos respectively, and although there was a higher frequency of twin calves with 3 embryos than with 2, the calving rate was the highest with 2 embryos. In case of heifers, the transfer of 1 embryo showed the best pregnancy and calving rate, and although the PR was similar with 2 embryos (67.7 versus 66.4), in case of 2 embryos transferred there was high frequency of embryonic loss( 6.1%) occurred when a cow was diagnosed at 28 and 53 d after ET, total loss (21.3%; sum of fetal death, abortion and stillbirth after pregnant diagnosis at 60 day).

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2012

The purpose of this experiment was to compare the pregnancy rate (PR) according to the state of the ovaries and uterus, according to the number of embryos transferred from cows and heifers and to investigate the method of artificial twin induction with Hanwoo in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos by embryo transfer (ET). Looking at the PR according to the condition of the ovaries and uterus, the result was not influenced by the condition of the ovaries, but was significantly influenced by the state of the uterus. The PR according to the number of embryos transferred from cows was 36.8%, 53.0%, 50.5% for 1, 2, and 3 embryos, respectively and although there was a higher frequency of twin calves with 3 embryos than 2, the calving rate was the highest with 2 embryos. In case of heifers, the transfer of 1 embryo showed the best pregnancy and calving rate, and although the PR was similar with 2 embryos (67.7 versus 66.4), in case of 2 embryos transferred there was high frequency of embryonic loss (6.1%) occurred when a cow was diagnosed at 28 and 53 d after ET, total loss (21.3%); sum of fetal death, abortion and stillbirth after pregnant diagnosis at 60 day.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.810-819
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• 2012

This study investigated the chemical composition, meat quality and volatile flavor compounds in loin and top round of Hanwoo beef (n=126) depending on different age groups (G1, <5; G2, 6-8; G3, >9 years old). The intramuscular fat content (%) was higher for loin and top round of G1 (p<0.05) than that in the other groups. There was no difference in age groups for the top round; however, the loin of G1 had lower protein content (p>0.05). Total collagen content was lower in the top round of G3 (p<0.05). The loin and top round muscles of G1 had higher $a^*$ values and lower Warner Bratzler shear force values than that in the other age groups (p<0.05). The loin muscles of G1 were lower in percentage of cooking loss and higher in the water holding capacity than the loin in the other groups (p<0.05). The loin of G1 had lower total content of saturated fatty acids, whereas the top round of G1 had higher total content of monounsaturated fatty acids and lower total content of polyunsaturated fatty acids than that in the other age groups (p<0.05). Alanine was the highest free amino acid in the loin of Hanwoo beef, followed by glutamine, glycine, isoleucine and proline. The loin of G1 had higher contents of threonine, alanine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, leucine and lysine than those in the other groups (p<0.05). The loin of G3 contained higher 3-methylbutanal, furfural, octanal, 1-(acetyloxy)-2-propanone, 1-octanol, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine and 2-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine in volatile flavor components than the loin in G1(p<0.05).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2014

Oxygen consumption is a useful parameter for evaluating mammalian embryo quality, since individual bovine embryos was noninvasively quantified by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Recently, several approaches have been used to measure the oxygen consumption rates of individual embryos, but relationship between oxygen consumption and pregnancy rates of Hanwoo following embryo transfer has not yet been reported. In this study, we measured to investigate the correlation between oxygen consumption rate and pregnancy rates of Hanwoo embryo using a SECM. In addition to, the expression of pluripotent gene and anti-oxidant enzyme was determined using real-time PCR by extracting RNA according to the oxygen consumption of in vivo embryo. First, we found that the oxygen consumption significantly increased in blastocyst-stage embryos (blastocyst) compared to early blastocyst stage embryos, indicating that oxygen consumption reflects the embryo quality (Grade I). Oxygen consumption of blastocyst was measured using a SECM and total cell number of in vitro blastocyst was enumerated by counting cells stained by propidium iodide. The oxygen consumption or GI blastocysts were significantly higher than those of GII blastocysts ($10.2{\times}10^{15}/mols^{-1}$ versus $6.4{\times}10^{15}/mols^{-1}$, p<0.05). Total cell numbers of in vitro blastocysts were 74.8, 90.7 and 110.2 in the oxygen consumption of below 10.0, 10.0~12.0 and over $12.0{\sim}10^{15}/mols^{-1}$, respectively. Pregnant rate in recipient cow was 0, 60 and 80% in the transplantation of embryo with the oxygen consumption of below 10.0, 10.0~12.0 and over $12.0{\times}10^{15}/mols^{-1}$, respectively. GPX1 and SOD1 were significantly increased in over -10.0 group than below 10.0 groups but in catalase gene, there was no significant difference. On the other hand, In OCT-4 and Sox2, pluripotent gene, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the below-10.0 ($0.98{\pm}0.1$) and over 10.0 ($1.79{\pm}0.2$). In conclusion, these results suggest that measurement of oxygen consumption maybe help increase the pregnant rate of Hanwoo embryos.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.663-669
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• 2017

This study were estimated the contribution of carcass traits to unit price, to analyze the marbling score as a categorical variable rather than a numerical variable, and to develop an optimal model that also includes the holiday effect and the raising period. The data for this study were acquired from the Quality Evaluation of the Korea Institute for Animal Products, and consisted of the trading records of 1,613,699 heads at 12 wholesale markets from 2010 to 2014. The unit price of a cow was estimated from the following parameters: -52.50 Won/mm, $8.93Won/cm^2$, 7.20 Won/kg, and -1.04 Won/day for backfat thickness, eye muscle area, carcass weight, and raising period, respectively. Parameters for the dummy variables of marbling scores varied from 0 to 8328.74 Won/kg, which means that each marbling score grade had a different price value. The unit price of a steer was estimated from the following parameters: - 92.12 Won/mm, $20.22Won/cm^2$, 1.30 Won/kg, and -1.72 Won/day for backfat thickness, eye muscle area, carcass weights, and raising period, respectively. Parameters for dummy variables of marbling scores varied from 0 to 7338.80 Won/kg, which means that the grades of each marbling score had different price values. The unit price of sales during traditional holidays was significantly higher (827.71 Won/kg for cows, and 645.15 Won/kg for steers) than during non-holidays.We conclude that the use of categorical values for marbling scores would be needed to evaluate the price of Hanwoo beef using multiple regression analysis based on carcass traits and environmental factors.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of abnormal ovarian cycles after superovulation treatment of Hanwoo donors. Thirty six, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received a CIDR. Four days later, the animals were superovulated with a total of 28AU FSH (Antorin, 2AU=1 ml) administered twice daily in constant doses over 4 days. On the 3th administration of FSH, CIDR was withdrawn and 25 mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ was administered. Cows were artificially inseminated twice after estrous detection at 12 hr intervals. The cows received $100\;{\mu}g$ GnRH at the time of Ind insemination. Embryos were recovered 7 or 8 days after the 1st insemination. The cows were considered to have resumed ovarian cyclicity on the day of ovulation if followed by regular ovarian cycles. 50.0 percentage of the cows (18/36) had normal resumption of ovarian cyclicity (resumption within 40 days after superovulation), and 50.0% (18/36) had delayed resumption(resumption did not occur until>40 days after superovulation). Delayed resumption Type II (first ovulation did not occur until $\geq$ 40 days after superovulation, i.e. delayed first ovulation 33.3%) were the most common types of delayed resumptions. The mean numbers of total ova from < 10 and 10$\leq$ of corpora lutea (CL) was 7.3 and 13.9, respectively. The number of transferable embryos differed between < 10 and 10$\leq$ CL was 4.2 and 5.1, respectively. 11.1 percentage of the cows (4/36) did not resumption their ovarian cyclicity until 60 days after superovulation treatment.