• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.109-118
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• 1987

The production and decomposition rates of litters were studied in three mountains, Mt. Halla, Mt. So-back and Mt. Tae-back. The amounts of N, P, K, Ca and Na in the soils were measured and the relationships between the mineral nutrients and decay rates were reserched, The annual litter production was the most as $1, 077.3g/m^2$ and the least as $248.0g/m^2$ in a stand of Quercus acutissima at 820m of the Mt. So-back and at 1, 350m of the Mt. So-back among the study sites, respectively. The decay rates of litter was the highest as k=0.448 and the lowest as k=0.082 in a stand of Q. acutissima at 820m of the Mt. So-back and at 1, 450m of the Mt. Tae-back at 1, 450m of the Mt. Tae-back among the study sites. The higher altitude was, the slower the decay rates were. The annual contents of mineral nutrient and their amounts inputted into the forest soil were proportional to the decay rate of organic metters.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.489-493
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• 2003

Reproductive traits of sows are determined chiefly by the genetic background of the dam herself. Whether the breed of the serviced boars also contributes is not yet clear. A total of 8,946 litters of Landrace (L) sows from 68 farms were examined. Of these, 876, 1,260, and 6,810 litters were produced from natural mating with L, Yorkshire (Y), and Duroc (D) breeds, respectively. The birth litter size (BLS), weaning litter size (WLS), live born piglets (LBP), and survival rate % (SR), of every litter were recorded. A general linear-model procedure was followed to estimate the effects of boars' breed (B), parity (P) and B${\times}$P interaction on the reproductive traits of the sows. Results show that BLS, WLS, and LBP were all significantly (p<0.001) affected by B and P. SR% was significantly influenced by B but not by P. L sows crossbred with Y or purebred with L produced litters with higher BLS, WLS, and LBP values than those bred with D. Pure L breeding yielded litters with lower SR% than did crossbreeding with D, while the difference between SR% due to LY and that due to LD crossbreeding was not significant. The interaction of B with P was significant with respect to BLS, WLS, and LBP (p<0.001), but not SR%. No significant B effect on reproductive traits was measured in sows at their first parity; but at latter parities, LL or LY produced litters with similarly high BLS, WLS and LBP, which values were all significantly greater than those of LD litters. The breed of boar evidently affected the subsequent reproductive performance of L sows and this effect may be further manipulated by the parity effect. Breed differences in semen quality and the success of fetus development with different interactions of the genetic background with the uterus function of the sow that may contribute to these effects are discussed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2001

The effects of dietary protein and lysine levels on lactating multiparous sows and litter performance were studied. Sixty-two crossbred multiparous sows ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) were used. Thirty-three and twenty-nine sows were studied in their second parity and third parity respectively. The three dietary treatments were: (1) the control diet containing 15% CP and 0.75% lysine, (2) a diet containing 13% CP and 0.75% lysine (0.60% natural+0.15% synthetic), and (3) a diet containing 13% CP and 0.60% lysine. They were fed twice daily and allowed ad libitum access to food and water throughout a 28 day lactation from parturition until weaning. The results of this experiment showed that body weight and backfat losses of the sows from farrowing to weaning were significantly affected (p<0.01) by reducing dietary protein. Neither average daily feed intake nor weaning to estrus interval of sows were significantly different among treatments. Supplementing lower dietary protein with synthetic lysine could mitigate backfat losses, but could not prevent body weight losses in lactating multiparous sows. A corn-soybean meal diet containing 13% crude protein and 0.60% lysine did not significantly affect litter size and survival rate of weanling piglets compared with the 15% crude protein diet. There was a tendency towards decreased piglet weight at weaning (p<0.10) and reduced daily gain of piglets (p<0.11) when the multiparous sows were fed the 13% protein diet during lactation. We found a severe loss of body weight and backfat when reducing dietary protein for lactating multiparous sows.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 1986

The production and decomposition of litters and nutrient cycling of forests were studied at the pine forests such as Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus rigida, Pinus thunbergii, Abies holophylla and Larix kaempfer. The annual litter production of the P. densiflora forest was the most on Mt. Mudeung which was 620.75g/$m^2$ and the least on Mt. Halla which was 155.00g/$m^2$. The decay rate of litters was the highest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Mudeung which was k=0.256 and the lowest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Halla and A. holophylla on Mt. Jiri which were k=0.099. The half time of decomposition of litters was shortest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Mudeung and the longest at the P. densiflora on Mt. Halla and A. holophylla forests on Mt. Jiri. The average decay rate of the L. kaempferi forests which was k=0.204 was the highest and that of the A. holophylla forests which was k=0.122 was the lowest. The decay rate tended to decrease against increasing the altitude. The annual production of litterr, the contents of mineral nutrients and the amounts of mineral nutrients inputted into the forest soil tended to increase in proportion to the decay rate, k.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2024

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of different concentrations of gelatin supplementation in long-term semen extender on boar semen quality during storage for 10 days at 17℃. Additionally, oxytocin was added to stored semen to enhance fertility. Methods: In Experiment 1, boar semen was collected, diluted with gelatin at concentrations between 0% and 2.5% (w/v) and mixed with a semen extender. Then, it was kept in a refrigerator at 17℃ and stored for 10 days. In Experiment 2, the sperm quality was examined after adding 0, 5, and 10 IU oxytocin per artificial insemination dose to the most effective semen extender from Experiment 1 and placing it in a refrigerator at 17℃ for 10 days. In Experiment 3, the fertility potential in terms of non-return rate and litter size was determined using the most effective solid-stored semen supplemented with oxytocin. Results: The results indicated that sperm quality decreased with increasing storage time (p<0.05). The sperm quality in terms of total motility, progressive motility, and viable sperm with intact acrosomes and high mitochondrial potential was the highest with 1.5% gelatin supplementation (p<0.001) on all days of storage. Treatment with oxytocin did not affect sperm quality (p>0.05). The non-return rate and litter size after insemination with semen supplemented with 1.5% gelatin and 10 IU of oxytocin after 8 to 10 days of storage were comparable to those of the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: A semen extender as a solid medium supplemented with 1.5% gelatin successfully preserved boar semen for a long storage duration. Treatment with oxytocin did not affect sperm quality. In addition, the fertility capacity using 1.5% gelatin with 10 IU oxytocin and stored for 8 to 10 days was acceptable and comparable to that of short-term storage.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2000

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of extension of grazing duration in late autumn on grass growth in following spring, in order to improve the rate of self-sufficiency for roughage feed. Plant height, total biomass and litter production of herbage were increased when the grazing was finished early in late autumn. The proportions of clover and litter, and amounts of animal intake were decreased, with extended grazing duration in late autumn. But when the grazing was finished late in autumn, the contents of crude protein (CP, %) of herbage were increased, contents of acid detergent fiber (ADF, %), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, %) and crude ash (%) were decreased in pasture after grazing, therefore the contents of total digestible nutrients (TDN, %) and relative feed value (RFV) of herbage were improved. The early end grazing showed that plant height, total biomass and litter production of herbage in following spring were higher than those in late end grazing. However, increased yields were not significantly different among end grazing treatments (0.12-0.15 tonha), except for the final end grazing in late autumn (0.01 tonha). With extended grazing duration in late autumn, the contents of CP of herbage in following spring were increased, contents of ADF, were decreased, and RFV were improved. (Key words : Extension of grazing duration, Plant height, Biomass, Amount of intake, Increased yield, Crude protein, TDN) rll\ulcorner c# qiil x i 9 ~ 1 a% * (College of Natural Resources, Taegu Univ., Kyongsan, 71 2-714, Korea) * $4 4 qiil 34 qq(Co1lege of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Yonsei Univ., Wonju, 220-701, Korea) '* 8 * jL@%ft@ &@%(Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Univ., Sapporo, 060 Japan)

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2004

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of applying three different chemical additives to the litter (rice hull) on broiler performance, ammonia and carbon dioxide gas reduction in a poultry house at 6 weeks. A total of 96 broiler chicks (6 treatments$\times$4 replicates$\times$4 birds) were fed the experimental diets for 6 weeks. The chemical additives were applies as a top dressing to the litter at a rate of 200 g ferrous sulfate $(FeSO_4)$, 200 g aluminum chloride $(AlCl_3)$ + 50 g calcium carbonate $(CaCO_3)$ and 20 g potassium permanganate $(KMnO_4)$ per kg litter, while the control group did not have the three different chemicals added to the litter. There were no significant differences in broiler performance between the three chemical additives and control group. $FeSO_4\;and\;AlCl_3\;+\;CaCO_3$ treatment reduced ammonia production from the litter at 6 weeks by as much as 91 and $53\%$, respectively (P<0.05). $KMnO_4$ treatment decreased ammonia production at 6 weeks up to $69\%$ compared to the controls (P<0.05). Poultry litter amended with $AlCl_3\;+\;CaCO_3\;and\;KMnO_4$ also caused a decrease (P<0.01) in carbon dioxide productions at 6 weeks (59 and $65\%$, respectively). In conclusion, although broiler performance was not affected by the three chemical additives and control group, these results indicate that $FeSO_4,\;AlCl_3\;+\;CaCO_3\;and\;KMnO_4$ application to litter in a poultry house resulted in a significant reduction in atmospheric ammonia and carbon dioxide gas.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1379-1382
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• 2005

High prolificacy in Garole sheep is due to existence of FecB mutation in an autosomal gene, bone morphogenetic protein receptor. The mutation enhances ovulation rate and in turn litter size in Garole sheep. Garole sires were crossed with non-prolific Malpura ewes with the aim to introduce prolificacy into Garole${\times}$Malpura (G${\times}$M) crosses through FecB introgression programme. In the present study, the effect of carrying booroola allele on litter size and live body weight was analyzed. The average litter size at birth was found to be 1.87 and 1.48 in the Garole and the G${\times}$M crosses, respectively. At weaning, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month of age, body weights were not affected by the presence of booroola allele (p>0.05); however, a significant effect (p<0.05) was found on body weight at birth in G${\times}$M crosses. In Garole sheep, no significant effect of FecB was observed on live weights in any age group. The interaction between the genetic group and the FecB genotype was also found to be non-significant.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2010

It has been well established that leaf longevity is linked to the carbon economy of plants. We used this relationship to predict leaf lifetime carbon gains from leaf lifespan, and estimated the gross primary production (GPP) of a young deciduous forest of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) located in central Japan. The light-saturated photosynthetic rates of the leaves were measured repeatedly during the growing season. We used the leaf lifespan to calculate the conversion coefficient from the light-saturated photosynthetic rate into the realized leaf lifetime carbon gain under field conditions. The leaf turnover rate was estimated using litter traps. GPP was estimated as the product of lifetime carbon gain per unit of leaf mass, and the annual leaf turnover rate. The GPP of the forest in 2007 was estimated to be $1.2{\times}10^3gCm^{-2}y^{-1}$, which was within the range of previously reported GPP values of beech forests in Japan, and was close to the GPP of a European beech forest, as estimated by eddy flux measurements.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1479-1488
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• 2022

Objective: This work was to determine coat inheritance and evaluate production performance for crossbred pigs from Berkshire×Chenghua (BC) compared with Chinese indigenous Chenghua (CH) pigs. Methods: The coat color phenotypes were recorded for more than 16,000 pigs, and the genotypes of melanocortin 1 receptor (MCIR) gene were identified by sequencing. The reproductive performance of 927 crossbred BC F4 gilts and 320 purebred CH gilts was recorded. Sixty pigs of each breed were randomly selected at approximately 60 days of age to determine growth performance during fattening period, which lasted for 150 days for BC pigs and 240 days for CH pigs. At the end of the fattening period, 30 pigs of each breed were slaughtered to determine carcass composition and meat quality. Results: The coat color of BC pigs exhibits a "dominant black" hereditary pattern, and all piglets derived from boars or sows genotyped E^D1 E^D1 homozygous for MC1R gene showed a uniform black coat phenotype. The BC F4 gilts displayed a good reproductive performance, showing a higher litter and tear size and were heavier at farrowing litter and at weaning litter than the CH gilts, but they reached puberty later than the CH gilts. BC F4 pigs exhibited improved growth and carcass characteristics with a higher average daily live weight gain, lower feed-to-gain ratio, and higher carcass lean meat rate than CH pigs. Like CH pigs, BC F4 pigs produced superior meat-quality characteristics, showing ideal pH and meat-color values, high intramuscular fat content and water-holding capacity, and acceptable muscle-fiber parameters. C18:1, C16:0, C18:0, and C18:2 were the main fatty acids in M. longissimus lumborum in the two breeds, and a remarkably high polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio of ~0.39 was observed in the BC F4 pigs. Conclusion: The BC F4 pigs exhibit a uniform black coat pattern and acceptable total production performance.