• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.161-165
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• 2005

Bisphenol A (SPA), a environmental endocrine disruptor, is considered to bind to estrogen receptors and to regulate the expressions of estrogen responsive genes. This study was to evaluate the effect of SPA administration on body weight, sex ratio and litter size on 18 days in prenatal periods, the effect of reproductive organ weight and blood hematological values on 24 days postpartum in pregnant mice. The female mice was administrated to low doses of SPA (0, 0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 mg/kg B.W.) by intraperitoneal injection in gestation days $0\~15$ with 5 times at 3 days interval. The maternal body weight, litter size and sex ratios were similar to in all experimental groups, but body weights of male and female offspring was significantly lower in 5.0mg SPA group when compared to any other groups (P<0.05). No treatment-related effects on body weight, ovary weight and blood hematological values were observed in dams on 24 days after delivery. The uterine weight in 5.0mg SPA group was slightly higher than those of any other groups, but not significantly difference. The histological evaluation of ovary in dam mice on 24 days after dilivery was not difference in all experimental groups, but the endometriosis of uterus in dam mice were significantly increased in 0.5mg SPA group when compared to control group. These results indicates that low concentration of SPA should not be considered as a selective reproductive toxicant.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.5_3
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• pp.649-663
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• 1998

The clarify the ecological properties, and to predict change of understory vegetation of mt. Nam Park, population dynamics and interspecific competition of D. smilacinum and D. viridescens, which grow in understory of deciduous broad-leaved forest and pseudo-annuals, were studied from May 20 to May 30 1998. The depth of litter layer, soil moisture content, soil organic matter and soil texture were surveyed in 18 populations (15 D. smilacinum populations and 3 D. viridescens populations). Mean litter layer of d. smilacimum population was thinner than that of D. viridescens populations). Mean litter layer of D. smilacnum population was thinner than that of D. viridescens population. The contents of soil moisture and organic matter of D. smilacinum population were lower than that of D. viridescens population. The D. smilacinum growed in broad range of soil texture but D. viridescens in loamy soil. Because D. smilacinum could tolerate more broad range of soil moisture and soil texture than D. viridescens, the former covered the herb layer in earlier stage and the latter introduced in later stage when rhizome could grow easily. The numbers of individual in two marginal parts were smaller than that in center in same D. smilacinum patch. And the total numbers of individuals grown in (10 ${\times}$ 10)cm were from 0 to 12. The rhizome (subterranean runner) weight, rhizome length, root weight, shoot weight, lea weight and leaf number per subquadrat (cell) increased along the number of individual, that is, increased from marginal part to center. But rhizome weight and rhizome length per individual were vice versa. Therefore, the individuals in marginal part reproduced longer and stronger asexual propagules than that in center. The distribution pattern of D. smilacinum was contageous and that of D. viridescens was random or regular. Therefore, population growth of former was independent on density and that of latter was dependent on density. The distributions of size-class showed normal curves in two population, but the curves based on data of total dry weight showed positive skewness and those of leaf number showed negative skewness The correlation coefficient (CC) values between the properties of each organ were high in two population and significant at 0.1% level. The CC values of D. viridescens were higher of the two. Therefore, the former allocated the energy to each organ stable. The rhizome depth of d. viridescens was 2 times deeper than that of D. smilacinum. And rhizome length and weight of D. viridescens were longer (2 times) or heavier (4 times) than those of D. smilacinum. The patch size of D. viridescens increased 60 cm per year and that of D. smilacinum 30 cm. On this results, the intrinsic increase velocity of d. viridescens patch was 2 times faster than that of d. smilacinum, therefore, on the competition, the former had an advantage over D. smilacinum. The reason why d. viridescens defeated D. smilacinum resulted from that the leaf area of former was 4 times broader than that of latter. in Mt. Nam Park, it was thought that two disporum Population would change with the 3 thpes of environmental change as followings. First, no human impact and increase of soil moisture content resulted in increase of D. viridescens population. Second, mild human impact and similar condition of soil moisture content resulted in slow increase or no changes of D. smilacinum and d. viridescens population. Third, severe human impact and dry condition resulted in decrease or vanishment of two disporum populations.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.271-280
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aspergillus niger-derived multi-enzyme complex supplementation to feedrestricted lactating sows on performances, milk yield, blood profiles, and manure excretion as compared with ad libitum-fed sows without supplementation of enzyme. Fifty multiparous lactating Berkshire sows were allotted to 5 treatments of 10 sows per treatment during a 28-d lactation period and litter per sow was standardized to 9 suckling piglets. Treatments were ad libitum-fed sows without enzyme and feed-restricted sows supplemented with four increasing levels (0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.08%) of multi-enzyme complex derived from Aspergillus niger. Blood samples from all sows were collected to determine serum metabolite concentrations before the morning feeding on d 27 of lactation. Litter body weight and a piglet weight at weaning, and litter weight gain significantly (P<0.05) increased with increasing levels of multi-enzyme complex, but there was no significant difference between ad libitum-fed sows without enzyme and feed-restricted sows supplemented with multi-enzyme complex. Body condition score and backfat depth at weaning significantly (P<0.05) increased as multi-enzyme complex level increased. Lactational backfat depth tended (P>0.05) to less decrease with increasing levels of enzyme complex. Serum inorganic phosphorus and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations significantly (P<0.05) increased with increasing levels of enzyme complex. Daily milk yield was not significantly different across treatments, but milk fat yield significantly (P<0.05) increased as multi-enzyme complex level increased. Manure output was significantly (P<0.01) higher for ad libitum-fed sows than for feed-restricted sows, but there was no significant difference among feed-restricted sows supplemented with increasing levels of multi-enzyme complex. Fecal phosphorus amount significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increasing levels of multi-enzyme complex. Feed costs of sows per litter weight gain were reduced by 1.25% to 9.67% with increasing levels of multi-enzyme complex as compared with ad libitum-fed sows without enzyme. The results indicated that multi-enzyme supplementation to feed-restricted lactating sows not only increased litter performances, but also was comparable to ad libitum-fed sows, resulting in reduced feed costs. Moreover, the reduction of fecal phosphorus amount with increasing levels of enzyme complex would contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.179-183
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• 2002

The fragment in intron I of FSH-${\beta}$ gene was amplified by PCR. According to the polymorphism, we analyzed the distribution of FSH-${\beta}$ retroposon in different pig breeds; its inheritance pattern in Large White${\times}$Meishan reference family; and the association of FSH-${\beta}$ retroposon with litter size, female reproductive organs measurement, ultrasonic backfat and other traits. The results showed that almost each Chinese indigenous pig had the retroposon, while foreign pig breeds rarely had; the frequencies of porcine FSH-${\beta}$ retroposon were strongly associated with breeds (p<0.01); the pattern of inheritance was consistent with Mendelian fashion; total number born (TNB) and number born alive (NBA) were increased per FSH-${\beta}$ retroposon (p<0.01) with additive effects of 1.2-1.8 and 1.4-1.8 pigs/litter, respectively; between the FSH-${\beta}$ retroposon carriers and non-carriers, there was an insignificant difference in the measurement of female reproductive organs, body weight at birth, backfat thickness, loin meat height, lean meat percentage, teat number, days to 100 kg, and average daily gain.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.537-545
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• 2012

Decay rate and nutrient dynamics during leaf litter decomposition of deciduous Quercus acutissima were compared between Gongju and Jinju for 33 months from December 2008 through March 2011. Percent remaining weight of Q. acutissima leaf litter after 33 months elapsed in Gongju and in Jinju was $41.2{\pm}0.4%$ and $28.3{\pm}0.6%$, and decay constant (k) was 0.39 and 0.61, respectively. Decomposition in Jinju was significantly faster than that in Gongju. This seemed to be related to higher temperature and precipitation in Jinju than those in Gongju during the experimental period. Initial C/N and C/P ratio of Q. acutissima leaf litter was 46.8 and 270.9, respectively. After 33 months elapsed, C/N and C/P ratios in Gongju decreased to 22.0 and 106.8, and those in Jinju decreased to 19.2 and 170.2, respectively. Initial concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in Q. acutissima leaf litter was 8.31, 0.44, 4.18, 9.38, 1.37 mg/g, respectively. After 33 month elapsed, remaining N, P, K, Ca and Mg were 91.0, 85.4, 30.2, 47.9, 11.7% in Gongju, and 67.0, 54.2, 19.9, 30.0, 40.8% in Jinju, respectively. Except for Mg, remaining nutrients of decomposing leaf litter in Jinju were lower than those in Gongju. In case of N and P, initial immobilization was observed, however, only mineralization was observed in K, Ca and Mg during the whole experimental period.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.3.1-3.9
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• 2018

Background: Poultry breeding has increased by 306% in Korea, inevitably increasing the production of manure which may contribute to environmental pollution. The nutrients (NP) in the manure are essential for crop cultivation and soil fertility when applied as compost. Excess nutrients from manure can be accumulated on the land and can lead to eutrophication. Therefore, a nutrient load on the finite land should be calculated. Methods: This study calculates the nutrient production from Korean poultry by investigating 11 broiler and 16 laying hen farms. The broiler manure was composted using deep litter composting while for layer deep litter composting, drying, and simple static pile were in practice. The effect of weight reduction and storing period during composting was checked. Three weight reduction cases of compost were constructed to calculate nutrient loading coefficients (NLCs) using data from; i) farm investigation, ii) theoretical P changes (${\Delta}P=0$), and iii) dry basis. Results: During farm investigation of broiler and layer with deep litter composting, there was a 68 and 21% N loss whereas 77 and 33% P loss was found, respectively. In case of layer composting, a loss of 10-56% N and a 52% P loss was observed. Drying manure increased the P concentrations therefore NLCs calculated using dry basis that showed quite higher reductions (67% N; 53% P). Nutrient loss from farm investigation was much higher than reported by Korean Ministry of Environment (ME). Conclusions: Nutrients in manure are decreased when undergo storing or composting process due to microbial action, drying, and leaching. The nutrient load applied to soil is less than the fresh manure, hence the livestock manure management and conservation of environment would be facilitated.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.536-546
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• 2024

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare status at two commercial broiler welfare-certified farms. Methods: Production and welfare indicators were assessed at two farms (designated Farm A and B). Both farms had two windowless houses with forced tunnel-type ventilation and housed broilers at stocking densities of approximately 16.7 birds/m² (Farm A) and 16.8 birds/m² (Farm B). Each house was divided into two or three equal sections and was provided with or without pecking blocks. Grain-based pecking blocks, measuring 25 × 25 × 25 cm, were given to broilers in both farms at 1 block per 1,000 birds. Various parameters including productivity (body weight and flock uniformity), corticosterone levels (in fecal droppings and feathers), footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather dirtiness, gait score, litter quality, body surface temperature, and volatile fatty acids in fecal samples were assessed at 26 days of age, whereas litter quality was analyzed at 13 and 26 days of age. Results: There were no significant effects of providing pecking blocks on productivity (body weight and uniformity), fecal and feather corticosterone, welfare indicators (i.e., footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather cleanliness, and gait score), and litter quality (i.e., moisture, nitrogen, and pH). No differences in body surface temperature between the control and enrichment treatments were noted in Farm B, but body surface temperatures of the head (p = 0.029) and legs (p = 0.011) in the enrichment vs. control group were elevated in Farm A. Butyrate concentration in the enrichment vs control group was higher in Farm B (p = 0.023), but this effect was not detected in Farm A. Conclusion: It is concluded that grain-based pecking blocks did not affect performance and welfare indicators. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential impact of grain-based pecking blocks on gut health indicators.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1351-1356
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to compare body weight, ADG, and feed:gain ratio of antibiotic-free pigs from Yorkshire dams and sired by Yorkshire (YY), Berkshire (BY), Large Black (LBY) or Tamworth (TY) boars. All the crossbred pigs in each of three trials were raised as one group from weaning to finishing in the same deep-bedded hoop, providing a comfortable environment for the animals which allowed rooting and other natural behaviors. Birth, weaning and litter weights were measured and recorded. From approximately 50 kg to market weight (125 kg), feed intake and body weights were recorded manually (body weight) or using a FIRE (Feed Intake Recording Equipment, Osborne Industries Inc. Osborne, Kansas) system with eight individual feeding stations. Feed intake data for 106 finishing pigs between 140 and 210 d of age and the resulting weights and feed conversion ratios were analyzed by breed type. Least square means for body weights (birth, weaning and to 240 d) were estimated with Proc Mixed in SAS 9.2 for fixed effects such as crossbreed and days of age within the sire breed. The differences within fixed effects were compared using least significant differences with DIFF option. Individual birth weights and weaning weights were influenced by sire breed (p<0.05). For birth weight, BY pigs were the lightest, TY and YY pigs were the heaviest but similar to each other and LBY pigs were intermediate. For weaning weights, BY and LBY pigs were heavier than TY and YY pigs. However, litter birth and weaning weights were not influenced by sire breed, and average daily gain was also not significantly different among breed types. Tamworth sired pigs had lower overall body weight gain, and feed conversion was lower in TY and YY groups than BY and LBY groups (p<0.05), however, number of observations was somewhat limited for feed conversion and for Tamworth pigs. Overall, no convincing differences among breed types were noted for this study, but growth performance in the outdoor environment was satisfactory.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-37
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• 1973

This paper presents the effect of chronic administration of psychotropic drugs on rats. The experimental animals were litter mates (average initial body weight $47{\pm}1.1g$) whose mother were bred at our laboratory. Each litter mate was treated as one group. Control animals were treated with tap water and each experimental group was treated with caffeine citrate 0.1%, nialamide 0.1%, ethyl alcohol 2.5%, phenobarbital sod. 0.1%, diphenylhydantoin 0.1%, chlorpromazine 0.1%, reserpine 0.005%, diazepam 0.01%, chlorpheniramine 0.01% solutions respectively in drinking water over a period of ten weeks. All rats were allowed food and drinking water ad libitum. The mortality rate and the per cent increase of body weight were recorded weekly throughout the course of the experiment. The effects of above agents on the pentobarbital sleeping time, gastric secretion, and brain and liver weights were studied at the end of ten weeks treatment. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1. Mortality rate was highest in the groups treated with phenobarbital and chlorpromazine respectively. Through the experimental period (ten weeks), the mortality rate was higher in earlier stage than in the later period. 2. During the period of prolonged administration of psychotropic drugs, only diazepam treated group showed remarkable difference in per cent increase of body weight from the control group of rats. 3. Acute treatment with psychotropic drugs delayed the onset of pentobarbital sleeping time. In contrast, the sleeping time was significantly shortened (p<0.001) when the rats were treated chronically with those agents. 4. The effects of chronic treatment with phenobarbital or diphenylhydantoin on the gastric secretion are as follows: the total acidity was remarkably decreased while the pH was increased. 5. The brain weight was significantly decreased in the ethyl alchol and in the chlorpheniramine treated groups, in the mean time, there was no change in liver weight treated with any psychotropic drugs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.555-559
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• 2012

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is a by-product from processing corn to produce bio-ethanol, and it contains almost three times higher protein, fat, and fiber than corn. Intake of higher amount of nutrients originated from corn in lactating sows may contribute to changes in milk composition and thus alter the growth of suckling piglets. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate effect of supplementing DDGS in the diet of lactating sows on variation in the body weight of piglets. A total of 50 sows with parities of 3 to 5 were usedand allottedinto one of four treatments which included 0 (CON), 10% (DDGS10), 20% (DDGS20), or 30% (DDGS30) DDGS in the diet. Diets were fed to sows during the whole lactation period. Individual body weights of piglets were measured within 24 h after farrowing and at weaning. No significant differences were observed inthe coefficient of variation (CV) for body weight of piglets within a litter after farrowing and at weaning among the treatments (p>0.05). There was, however, a tendency of decreases in the CV for body weight of piglets within a litter at weaning compared with that after farrowingin the DDGS10 and DDGS20 treatments. At weaning, the percentage of the number of piglets weighing less than 4.5 kg in DDGS20 (4.86%, 7 out of 144; p<0.05) or DDGS30 (5.04%, 6 out of 119; p=0.059) was lower than that in CON (12.41%; 17 out of 137) although this pattern was not observed in DDGS10. In conclusion, addition of DDGS in lactating sow diets improved piglet performance by reducing the number piglets weighing less than 4.5 kg.