• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.666-671
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• 2017

Objective: Aim of the current comparative study was to evaluate production outputs, reproduction efficiency and functional traits in dual-purpose Fleckvieh and Braunvieh cows, reared under temperate European conditions. Methods: A data-set from 414 Fleckvieh and 42 Braunvieh cows and 799 lactations was analysed. ID tag number, milk yield per milking session, number of steps/interval and milk conductivity were recorded and collected daily using AfiMilk 3.076 A-DU software (Afimilk Ltd., Kibbutz, Israel). Production and milk quality data were taken from the results of the official performance recordings and the reproductive outputs of cows were recorded by the research stations veterinarians. Comparisons between the two genotypes were carried out using the one way analysis of variance protocol, with categorical factor being considered the breed of cows. All the statistical inferences were carried out using Statistica software (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA). Results: Fleckvieh cows significantly outperformed ($p{\leq}0.05$) the Braunvieh herd, with average milk yields of $5,252.1{\pm}35.79kg$ and $4,897.6{\pm}128.94kg$, respectively. Age at first calving was significantly ($p{\leq}0.01$) influenced by the breed, with Fleckvieh heifers being more precocious ($32.8{\pm}0.29mo$) compared to those of Braunvieh breed ($35.7{\pm}0.84mo$). Reproduction efficiency as defined by the number of inseminations per gestation, calving interval, dystocia, days dry and days open, was not influenced by genotype (p>0.05). Incidences of sub-clinical mastitis, clinical mastitis, lameness and abortions were not influenced by the breed factor (p>0.05). Stay-ability of cows was significantly ($p{\leq}0.001$) influenced by genotype, with Braunvieh cows having an average age at culling of $117.88{\pm}11.78$ months compared to $90.88{\pm}2.89$ months in Fleckvieh. Conclusion: Overall, results have shown that genotype significantly influenced milk yield, age at first calving and longevity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2008

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of replacing a conventional concentrate with mixed cassava (Manihot esculenta) foliage and legume (Phaseolus calcaratus) foliage. In Exp. 1, three rumen fistulated crossbred cows were used for in sacco rumen degradability studies. In vitro gas production was also studied. In Exp. 2, 11 crossbred F2 heifers (Red Sindhi$\times$Holstein Friesian), with initial live weight of $129{\pm}6kg$ and aged six months, were allocated in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to evaluate a mixture (ratio 3:1) of cassava and legume foliage (CA-LE feed) as a protein source compared to a traditional concentrate feed (Control) in diets based on fresh elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and urea treated rice straw ad libitum. The Control feed was replaced by the CA-LE feed at levels of 0% (Control), 40% (CA-LE40), and 60% (CA-LE60) based on dry matter (DM). The in sacco degradation of CA-LE feed was higher than Control feed (p<0.05). After 48 h incubation the degradation of CA-LE feed and Control feed was 73% vs. 58% of DM and 83% vs. 65% of CP, respectively. The gas production of CA-LE feed was also significantly higher than of Control feed during the first 12 h of incubation. The results of the performance study (Exp. 2) showed that the level of CA-LE feed in the concentrate had no effect on total dry matter intake (p>0.05), but live weight gains (LWG) in CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 were significantly higher (551 and 609 g/d, respectively) than in the Control group (281 g/d). The intake of CP was higher (p<0.05) for the treatments CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 (556 and 590 g/d, respectively) compared to that of Control (458 g/d), while there was no significant difference in ME intake. The feed conversion ratio was 16.8, 9.0 and 7.9 kg DM/kg LWG in Control, CA-LE40 and CA-LE60, respectively. The feed cost of CA-LE40 and CA-LE60 corresponded to 43% and 35%, respectively, of the feed cost of Control feed. The best results were found when CA-LE feed replaced 60% of DM in Control feed and considerably decreased feed cost. It is concluded that feeding cassava foliage in combination with Phaseolus calcaratus legume as a protein supplement could be a potentially valuable strategy which leads to reduced feed costs and a more sustainable system in smallholder dairy production in Vietnam.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1189-1192
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• 2000

The experiment was conducted on 69 cows to identify the quantitative variations of some economic traits of five genetic groups as $Local{\times}Friesian $ $F_1$, $Local{\times}Sahiwal$ $F_1$, Local (indigenous zebu type), $Local{\times}Sindhi $ $F_1$, and $Local{\times}Hariana$ $F_1$. The traits studied were age at weaning, age at first heat, age at first conception, services per conception, daily milk yield, lactation length, lactation yield and post partum heat period. The records on milking and reproduction performances of cows and heifers were obtained from farm register and by interviewing the farmers. It was observed that the lowest age at weaning, age at first heat and age at first conception were $5.37{\pm}0.24$, $27.17{\pm}1.72$ and $27.83{\pm}1.82$ months respectively in $Local{\times}Hariana$ $F_1$. Services per conception were lowest in $Local{\times}Sahiwal$ $F_1$ $(1.08{\pm}0.18)$ although not significantly (p>0.05) affected by farms, genetic groups and $farm{\times}genetic$ groups interaction. Average daily milk yield was highest in $Local{\times}Friesian$ $F_1$ $(5.81 {\pm}0.40 kg)$. Lactation length and lactation yield were highest in $Local{\times}Sahiwal$ $F_1$ ($299.38{\times}9.74$ days and $1863.00{\pm}141.00kg $ respectively). Average post partum heat period was lowest in $Local{\times}Sindhi$ $F_1$ ($3.19{\pm}0.38$ months). Least squares ANOVA showed that farm had significant (p<0.001) effect on age at weaning, age at first heat, age at first conception and post partum heat period. There was insignificant (p>0.05) effect of farm on services per conception, daily milk yield, lactation length and lactation yield, whereas genetic groups had a significant effect for all the traits under review except services per conception. $Farm{\times}genetic$ groups interaction was insignificant for all of the traits under consideration except age at weaning.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1721-1728
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• 2018

Objective: The use of genetic markers can help to enhance reproduction in cattle, which is a very important trait for profitability in dairy production systems. This study evaluated the association between genotypes of leptin (LEP), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and chemokine receptor of interleukin 8 C-X-C motif (CXCR1) genes and fertility traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle. Methods: Phenotypic data from 786 Czech Fleckvieh cows raised on 5 farms in the Czech Republic were used, along with information from the 1st three parities. To determine genotype, the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used. Results: Except for LEP g.-963C>T, all studied genotype frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were distributed according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Two LEP SNPs (g.-963C>T and c.357C>T) were associated with the age at the 1st calving, days open (DO), pregnancy rate after 1st service (PR), and calving interval (CLI). In LEP g.-963C>T the TT genotype heifers firstly calved 24 days earlier than CC genotype and the CT genotype cow showed a tendency for shorter DO and higher PR. In LEP c.357C>T we observed longer CLI and DO period in TT cows. In general, we can propose the TT genotype of g.-963C>T as favorable and the TT genotype of c.357C>T as unfavorable for a cow's fertility. Heterozygotes in TLR4 c.-226C>G were significantly associated with shorter CLI, and presented a nonsignificant tendency to be associated with higher PR. In CXCR1 c.777 C>G, we did not observe any relationship of this SNP with reproduction. Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that LEP could be an effective marker for improving reproduction in Czech Fleckvieh cattle. This study also provides novel insights into the relationship between TLR4 and CXCR1 SNPs and reproduction in dual-purpose cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1678-1684
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• 2006

The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters and sire breeding values for average daily gain (ADG) and carcass traits using sire-maternal grandsire model with REML approach, sire model with REML approach, sire model without relationships among sires and with REML and ANOVA approach, and to investigate advantages and disadvantages of these methods. Data were collected from 42,325 Japanese Black steers and heifers finished and slaughtered from 1991 to 2004. Traits analyzed in this study were average daily gain (ADG) during the fattening period, live weight at slaughter (LW), cold carcass weight (CW), estimated lean yield percentage (LYE), longissimus muscle area (LMA), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), rib thickness (RT), and marbling score (BMS). Bivariate analyses were also performed to obtain genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients among traits. Estimated breeding values were obtained from each model, and simple and rank correlations among breeding values from each model were calculated. Estimates of heritability using the four models ranged from 0.25 to 0.31 in ADG, from 0.21 to 0.24 in LW, from 0.23 to 0.27 in CW, from 0.10 to 0.17 in DP, from 0.40 to 0.42 in LYE, from 0.19 to 0.31 in LMA, from 0.31 to 0.34 in SFT, from 0.26 to 0.33 in RT, and from 0.18 to 0.44 in BMS. The differences in heritability estimates using the four models seemed to be feasible in ADG, CW, DP, LMA, RT, and BMS. Genetic correlation coefficients of ADG with CW, SFT, RT and BMS were moderate to high and positive while the genetic correlation coefficients between ADG and LYE was low and negative. Correlation coefficients of BMS with SFT were negligible for both genetic and phenotypic correlations. The correlations of estimates evaluated from sire models with those from sire-maternal grandsire model were not large enough to convincing that breeding values using a sire model were corresponding to those using a sire-maternal grand sire model. If information of maternal grand sires are not available, the sire model with incomplete pedigree information included only sire of sire (Model 2) is optimal among the sire models evaluated in this study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.343-348
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• 2004

The objective of the present study was to determine the plasma level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in relation to mammary blood flow and milk yield including biological variables of relevance to milk synthesis in two different types of crossbred Holstein cattle at 3 different stages of lactation. Eight heifers were 87.5% HF and eight 50% HF animals were selected for the experiments. The three stages of lactation tested were: early lactation (30 days postpartum), mid-lactation (120 days postpartum) and late lactation (210 days postpartum). Animals in each group were fed a concentrate and rice straw treated with 5% urea as the source of roughage throughout the experiments. In early lactation, mammary blood flow and milk yield of 87.5% HF animals were significantly higher than those of 50% HF animals. In mid- and late lactation, both mammary blood flow and milk yield showed a proportional decrease from the early lactating period of 87.5% HF animals. The trends for persistency were observed in 50% HF animals as for udder blood flow and milk yield throughout the experimental periods. The plasma glucose level of the 50% HF animals was significantly higher than those of 87.5% HF animals in both early and mid-lactation. The concentrations of arterial plasma free fatty acids ($C_{16}\;to\;C_{18}$) were higher in 50% HF animals as compared with 87.5% HF animals in all periods of study. In early lactation, the concentration of plasma growth hormone (GH) of 87.5% HF animals was higher than those of the 50% HF animals, thereafter the mean level of plasma growth hormone declined in both mid- and late lactation. The concentration of plasma IGF-I of 50% HF animals was significantly higher than those of 87.5% HF animals in all stages of lactation. There were no differences among stages of lactation for the levels of plasma IGF-I, insulin and growth hormone in 50% HF animals. In 87.5% HF animals, the plasma levels of both IGF-I and insulin were lower in early lactating period while it showed an increase during mid- and late lactation. The present results indicated that the regulatory role for the higher mammary blood flow and milk yield during lactation in 87.5% HF are not mediated via the higher level of circulating IGF-I. Differences in mammary blood flow and milk yield between 50% HF and 87.5% HF animals are in part due to a higher concentration of circulating growth hormone. The lower level of circulating growth hormone in 50% HF animals would be regulated by higher levels of IGF-I, free fatty acid and glucose in plasma.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.37-43
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• 2001

1. About fifty thousand of cattle embryos were transferred and 16000 ET-calves were born in 1999. Eighty percents of embryos were collected from Japanese Black beef donors and transferred to dairy Holstein heifers and cows. Since 1985, we have achieved in bovine in vitro fertilization using immature oocytes Collected from ovaries of slaughterhouse. Now over 8000 embryos fertilized by Japanese Black bull, as Kitaguni 7 -8 or Mitsufuku, famousbulls as high marbling score of progeny tests were sold to dairy farmers and transferred to their dairy cattle every year. 2. Embryo splitting for identical twins is demonstrated an useful tool to supply a bull for semen collection and a steer for beef performance test. According to the data of Dr.Hashiyada (2001), 296 pairs of split-half-embryos were transferred to recipients and 98 gave births of 112 calves (23 pairs of identical twins and 66 singletons). 3. A blastomere-nuclear-transferred cloned calf was born in 1990 by a joint research with Drs.Tsunoda, National Institute of Animal Industry (NIAI) and Ushijima, Chiba Prefectural Farm Animal Center. The fruits of this technology were applied to the production of a calf from a cell of long-term-cultured inner cell mass (1998, Itoh et al, ZEN-NOH Central Research Institute for Feed and Livestock) and a cloned calf from three-successive-cloning (1997, Tsunoda et al.). According to the survey of MAFF of Japan, over 500 calves were born until this year and a half of them were already brought to the market for beef. 4. After the report of "Dolly", in February 1997, the first somatic cell clone female calves were born in July 1998 as the fruits of the joint research organized by Dr. Tsunoda in Kinki University (Kato et al, 2000). The male calves were born in August and September 1998 by the collaboration with NIAI and Kagoshima Prefecture. Then 244 calves, four pigs and a kid of goat were now born in 36 institutes of Japan. 5. Somatic cell cloning in farm animal production will bring us an effective reproductive method of elite-dairy- cows, super-cows and excellent bulls. The effect of making copy farm animal is also related to the reservation of genetic resources and re-creation of a male bull from a castrated steer of excellent marbling beef. Cloning of genetically modified animals is most promising to making pig organs transplant to people and providing protein drugs in milk of pig, goat and cattle.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 1992

Sixty Four fresh and 142 frozen embryos of dairy cattle were transferred to synchronized dairy, beef or Korean Native Cattle nonsurgically at National Animal Breeding Institute from 1985 to 1990. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. The pregnancy rate of fresh embryos(39.1%) was higher than that of frozen embryos(32.4%) and average pregnancy rate was 34.5%. 2. The pregnancy rate of grade 1 embryos was higher than that of grade 2 embryos for both fresh(41.3% vs 33.3%) and frozen embryos(35.4% vs 25.6%). 3. The pregnancy rate according to development stage of fresh embryos was increased with maturity as 29.2%, 33.3%, 50.0% and 54.5% for morula, early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst, respectively. For frozen embryos, the pregnancy rate of blastocyst(44.4%) was higher than those of morula(31.3%) and early blastocyst(28.0%). 4. The pregnancy rate according go recipient-donor synchrony for fresh embryos was higher when the recipients exhibited estrus 1 day earlier than the donors(43.8%) than when the recipients exhibited estrus 1 day later than the donors(38.1%) or when the recipients and donors exhibited estrus at the same time(37.0%). For forzen embryos, the pregnancy rate was decreased when the recipients and donors exhibited estrus at the same time(37.9%), when the recipients exhibited estrus 1 day later than the donors(32.0%) and when the recipients exhibited estrus 1 day earlier than the donors(23.5%), in sequence. 5. The pregnancy rate of heifers was higher than that of cows for both fresh(50.5% vs 37.9%) and frozen embryos(39.7% vs 25.7%). 6. The pregnancy rate according to recipient breed for fresh embryos was higher in dairy cattle(42.1%) and beef cattle(40.%) than in Korean Native Cattle(33.3%). For frozen embryos, the pregnancy rate was decreased beef cattle(39.1%), dairy cattle(30.3%) and Korean Native Cattle(14.3%), in sequence. 7. The pregnancy rate according to equilibrium steps of glycerol and freezing rate was higher when transferred after 3-steps equilibrium and freezing by the rate of $0.3^{\circ}C$/min from $-6^{\circ}C$ to $-35^{\circ}C$ and $0.1^{\circ}C$/min to $-38^{\circ}C$(39.4%) than when transferred after 6-steps equilibrium and freezing by the rate of $0.5^{\circ}C/min$ from $-6^{\circ}C$ to $-30^{\circ}C$(30.3%).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.131-139
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• 1998

Progesterone을 함유하고 있는 CIDR(Controlled Internal Drug Release)의 질내삽 입은 황체기를 인위적으로 연장시킬 수 있다. CIDR의 삽입이,삽입시 존재했던 우세난포 (dominant follicle)의 반응과 난포의 발육반응 그리고 2회 또는 3회의 난포주기를 가지고 있는 처려우에서 CIDR의 삽입기간동안 난포의 성장 및 발육에 어떠한 영향을 미치는가를 비교검 토하기 위하여 배란후 16일째의 처녀우 4마리에 7일동안 CIDR를 삽입하였다. CIDR의 삽입 은 발정의 발현을 억제시켰으며 그리고 발정주기의 길이를 정상 발정주기보다 유의성있게 연 장시켰다($26.3{\pm} 0.5 vs 20.8{\pm}$ 1.5일, p<0.05). CIDR의 삽입시 혈장 progesterone 농도는 $3.6{\pm}$ 2.7 ng/ml 이었으며, 17일과 23일 사이에는 2.1-4.4 ng/ml($3.6{\pm}1.2 ng/ml$) 사이를 유지했다. 혈 장 estradiol-179의 농도는 난포의 발육 및 배란전 배란난포의 성숙을 나타내는 특징적인 변화 양상을 나타래었다. 4마리의 처녀우중 2마리는 CIDR 삽입전 발정주기당 2회의 난포주기를 가진 반면, 나머지 2마리는 주기당 3회의 난포주기를 가졌다. 그렇지만 CIDR의 삽입기간동안 모든 처녀우는 주기당 3회의 발정주기를 가졌다. CIDR의 삽입전 발정주기당 3회의 난포주기 를 갖는 처녀우에서 CRR의 삽입은 세 번째 난포주기에서 배란성 우세난포의 우세기 (dominant phase)를 연장시켰다. 3회의 난포주기를 갖는 2마리에서 CIDR의 삽입후 배란난포 는 존속시간과 우세기가 유의성있게 연장되었다. CIDR의 삽입전 발정주기당 2회의 난포주기 를 갖는 다른 2마리의 처녀우에서 CIDR의 삽입후 우세난포는 곧바로 퇴행되었고 새로운 난 포주기를 형성하였으며, 우세난포의 우세기와 배란난포의 존속기간을 연장시키지 않았다. CRR의 삽입은 CIDR의 삽입후 이어지는 발정주기동안 난포의 발육 및 성장에 영향을 미치 지 않았으며 발정주기의 길이, 난포주기, 혈장 progesterone 및 estradiol-179 농도에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 결과적으로 황체기 후반부에 CIDR의 삽입은 CIDR삽입전 발정주기동안 3회 의 난포주기를 갖는 처녀우에서 배란성 우세난포의 발육과 배란까지의 기간을 연장시켰고 2회 난포주기를 갖는 처녀우에서는 우세난포를 곧바로 퇴행시킨후, 새로운 난포주기를 형성 하였다.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.321-327
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• 2010

The effect of cattle sex (cow, bull, and steer) on carcass traits of quality grade factors, physicochemical, and sensory traits of Longissimus Dorsi in Hanwoo was evaluated. Carcass traits of 42,113 heads were collected nation-wide and 257 heads were slaughtered to analyze beef quality. Sex affected significantly marbling score, meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, and quality grade of Hanwoo (p<0.05). Hanwoo steer carcasses had the highest marbling score (5.02), maturity (2.17), and texture (1.31) than those of cows and heifers. Crude fat of steers was higher than that of other cows and bulls. Steers showed the highest $L^*$(39.01), Warner-Bratzler shear force (4.03 kg), and water holding capacity (57.08%), however, there was no significant differences between those of cows and bulls. Ultimate$pH_{24}$ was shown difference among sex (5.58-5.69), however, the values remained within normal range. In sensory evaluation analyses, sex affected significantly tenderness, juiciness, and flavor (p<0.05). Also, the over all acceptability of steer beef was significantly higher than that of cow and bull beef. These results could be used as fundamental data set for further research activities to elevate Hanwoo beef qualities (p<0.05).