• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 1992

Litterfall, decomposition, and dynamics of n and p in decomposing litter were investigated for 2 years in red pine ( pinus densiflora) and chinese thuja( thuja orientalis)stands in the limestone area. Average litterfall in red pine and chinese thuja stands were 4, 535kgDM ha-1 yr-1 and 5, 010 kgDM ha-1 yr-1, respectively. Seasonal litterfall in red pine and chinese thuja stands showed peaks in November. concentrations of N and P in the needle litter were lowest in the winter when the greast litterfall occurred, and highest in the summer when the least litterfall occurred. However, those in chinese thuja scale leaf litter showed litter seasonal variation.amount of N and P returned to the forest floor through litterfall were 29.02kgN ha-1 yr-1 , 2.81 kg P ha-1 yr-1 for red pine stand, and 31.06 kg N ha-1 yr-1 , 2.86kgP ha-1 yr-1 for chinese thuja stand, respectively. After 21 mounts elapsed, needle and chinese thuja scale leaf litterbags lost 34.8% and 32.5% of the initial weight, respectively. N concentrations in the docomposing needle and chines thuja scale leaf litter decreased by 19% and 30%, respectively, after 1 month elapsed, and then gradually increased to exceed the initial concentration after 9 months elapsed and then gradually increased to exceed the initial concentration after 9 months elapsed in both of them, P in needle and chines thuja scale leaf litter decreased by 54% and 57% of the initial concentration, respectively, after 1 month elapsed. unlike N, P concentration in the decomposing litter did not exceed that of initial ones. Neyt immobilization period of N and P in decomposing litter did not occur over the study period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.159-162
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• 1995

Broilers were fed diets supplemented with various levels of a probiotic (mixture of the following direct-fed microorganisms: Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Streptococcus). Growth performance, abdominal fat, excreta, and litter ammonia level were determined. The results showed that birds fed the probiotic-supplemented diets had better weight gain (p < 0.01) and feed conversion (gain:feed;p < 0.12) when compared to the birds fed the unsupplemented diet. No differences in feed intake and abdominal fat were observed among birds fed the different experimental diets. Excreta (p < 0.05) and litter (p < 0.01) ammonia levels were reduced by dietary probiotic supplementation. A dosage of 0.25 g of the probiotic/kg of diet is needed to maiximize growth performance during both the starter and finisher periods. A higher dosage (approximate 0.5 g/kg) is needed to minimize litter ammonia production.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 1999

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of floor heating system on housing environment and performance in broiler production. PVC heating pipes(in 25cm spacing) were covered with concrete under the litter. Floor heating system was compared with conventional direct heating system. Each treatment had two replicates of 110 birds each. Litter moisture content was significantly reduced in floor heating system than conventional direct heating system(P〈0.05). Dust concentration was higher in floor heating system because of low litter moisture content. CO$_2$concentration was 2,900ppm and 1,500ppm on the direct heating system and floor heating system, respectively at the age of 1 week. Body weight was significantly higher in floor heating system at 7 weeks of age(P〈0.05). The results of the trial show that floor heating was useful heating system for broiler production.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2003

The present study was undertaken to find relationships of plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II concentrations to litter size and lactation performance. Sixty pure-bred Landrace and Yorkshire pigs having similar farrowing weeks which had been selected from a large number of pregnant gilts and sows were divided into low- (<${\mu}$－0.5SD) and high-litter size (>${\mu}$+0.5 SD) lines under a 2 (breed)${\times}$2 (line) factorial arrange of treatments. After adjusting the litter size to nine piglets per sow at farrowing, total litter weight was measured at three weeks postpartum at weaning as an index of milk yield. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein at day (d)-90 pregnancy (Px) and at d-15 postpartum. The litter size or the number of piglets born during the present experiment and the average litter size during the entire parities up to the present one were greater in the high-line than in the low-line by 3.7 and 2.4 piglets, respectively (P<0.01); effect of the breed on litter size was not significant. Plasma IGF-II concentration at d-90 Px was greater in the high-line than in the low-line. Litter size and d-90 Px IGF-I concentration were negatively correlated in Landrace (r=－0.46; P<0.05) and tended to be negatively correlated in Yorkshire (r=－0.31; P=0.09), which resulted in a significant negative correlation between these two variables in total animals (r=－0.35; P<0.01). Litter weight at weaning was not different between the two breeds or lines. Relationships between the litter weight and IGF concentration were not consistent across the breed ${\times}$ physiological stage combinations. Results suggest that d-90 Px IGF concentrations may be indicative of the litter size at impending farrowing.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.333-339
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• 2019

The present study investigated the litter performance of multiparous sows had different feeding frequencies during summer season. A total of 60 crossbred multiparous sows was allotted to one of two treatments based on body weight (BW) according to a completely randomized design. Two different feeding frequencies based on NRC (National Research Council) were applied as conventional feeding (T1; 2 kg per meal at 06:00, 11:00, and 17:00) and night feeding (T2; 1.5 kg per meal at 06:00, 11:00, 17:00, and 2 kg at 22:00). Sows in T2 treatment had lower (p < 0.05) BW changes during lactation. The backfat thickness change of sows was decreased in T2 treatment during lactation (p < 0.05). The daily feed intake differed significantly between T1 and T2 with increased feed intake of the T2 group at 5.47 kg/d to 5.14 kg/d in the T1 group (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in total weight of weaned piglets between T1 (70.50 kg) and T2 (74.34 kg). A greater total litter weight gain was observed in sows in T2 treatment. Night feeding is suggested for lactating sows with significant beneficial effects on litter growth during summer season.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.432-442
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of light colour on rabbit reproductive performance and the expression of key follicular development genes. Rabbits (n = 1,068, 5 months old, 3.6-4.4 kg live body weight) were divided randomly into four groups, housed individually in wire mesh cages and exposed to red, green, blue, and white light-emitting diode (LED) light (control). The lighting schedule was 16 L : 8 D-15 d / 150 lx / 6:00 am-22:00 pm (3 d preartificial insemination to 12 d postartificial insemination). Red light and white light affected the conception rate and kindling rate and increased the total litter size at birth (p < 0.05). The effects of red light on litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning, and individual weight at weaning increased compared with the green and blue groups. The effects of red light on live litter size at birth were increased compared with those in the blue group (p < 0.05). Compared to white light, green and blue light reduced the number of secondary follicles (p < 0.05). Compared to red light, green and blue light reduced the number of tertiary follicles (p < 0.05). Compared with white light, red LED light resulted in greater ovarian follicle stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor mRNA expression (p < 0.05). Compared with green and blue LED light, red LED light resulted in greater B-cell lymphom-2 mRNA expression (p < 0.05). Compared with green LED light, red LED light inhibited FOXO1 mRNA expression in rabbit ovaries (p < 0.05). Red light can affect the reproductive performance of female rabbits and the expression of key genes for follicular development.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of breed, age of boar, season, parity and mating system on boar semen characteristics and fertilizing capacity. A total of 4181 sows and 199 boars of Durocs (D), Landraces (L), and Yorkshires (Y) were used for this experiment at Darby Artificicial Insemination Center from 1996 through 1999. Semen volume per ejaculate was largest in Landrace (266.8 $m\ell$), followed by Yorkshire, and was smallest in Duroc. Sperm motility did not show significant differences among the above breeds. Sperm concentration was lowest in Landrace (4.7$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$) and was highest in Duroc (5.7$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$). Semen volume per ejaculate according to the age of boars was largest at the age of 2 years, followed by the age of 4 and 3 years, and was smallest at the age of I year. Semen volume per ejaculate according to the season in boars was largest in winter (228.6 $m\ell$), followed by autumn and summer, and was smallest in spring. Sperm concentration was highest in spring (5.9$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$), followed by summer and winter, and was lowest in autumn. The average litter weight at birth did not show any differences according to the mating type. But the number of pigs born alive per litter was largest (9.5 pigs) in the natural mating ＋ artificial insemination group, followed by the artificial insemination group (9.2 pigs), and was smallest (8.9 pigs) in the natural mating group (P＜0.01). The average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter did not show any differences between the natural mating and artificial insemination. The L (♀)$\times$Y (♂) and L (♀)$\times$L (♂) matings show $\varepsilon$ d higher average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter than the Y (♀) $\times$ Y (♂) and Y (♀) $\times$ L (♂) matings. The pigs in the 2~6th parities had higher average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter than those in the 1 st and 7~9th parities.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1309-1313
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• 2015

The effects of Houttuynia cordata powder on the growth performance of ducks were investigated. Ninety ducks were assigned into one of three dietary treatments as a completely randomized design for 6 weeks: feeds supplemented with 1% or 2% H. cordata and a control group. No significant difference was observed in feed conversion among the three groups (p > 0.05), but addition of H. cordata had a significantly positive effect (p < 0.05) on initial and final body weight, weight gain, and feed intake of the ducks. Furthermore, the effects of chemical treatment (comprising 50 g and 100 g aluminum chloride [$AlCl_3$] per kilogram litter) on the ammonia ($NH_3$) flux in duck litters were also investigated. Duck litter was treated with $AlCl_3$ at a depth of 8 cm by top-dressing; this resulted in a significant difference on $NH_3$ flux (p < 0.05) during the experimental period (but not at 2 weeks). $NH_3$ flux at 6 weeks were reduced by 25.4% and 37.5% by treatment with 1% and 2% H. cordata, respectively, compared with the control groups. In conclusion, enriching the diets of the ducks with 2% H. cordata and adding 100 g $AlCl_3$ to their litter has beneficial effects on increasing their growth performance and reducing $NH_3$ flux in their environment.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.3
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• pp.158-165
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• 1985

The study was conducted to obtain some genetic information for breeding of mice. Average performance, heterosis and genetic variance were estimated with 362 progenies from a full diallel cross of four lines of mice (BALB/c, CBA, C3H and C57BL). The progenies were reared at the Experimental Animal Farm. College of Agriculture, Kyungpook National University from November, 1984 to February, 1985. Data for litter size. sex ratio, body weight and weaning rate were analyzed into heterosis effects, and genetic variance with Hayman's model. The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. Average performance was 7.54 in litter size, 53.20 % in sex ratio, 1.55 g in birth weight, 10.45 g in weaning weight and 94.13 % in weaning rate. 2. The estimated heterois was 6.97% in litter size, 7.26 % in sex ratio, 6.08% in birth weight, 3.54% in weaning weight and 2.05% in weaning rate, respectively. 3. Additive gene effects were not observed in litter size, sex ratio, birth weight, weaning weight and weaning rate. In litter size and weaning weight, dominance effects were observed, which were shown due to individual crosses in litter size and were shown mean dominance effects of parental line in weaning weight. Mat-Maternal effects appeared in birth weight and weaning weight, and reciprocal effects were observed in weaning weight.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.121-139
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• 2019

Decomposition of litter is a function of various interrelated variables, both biotic and abiotic factors. Litter decomposition acts like a natural fertilizer play a prime role in maintaining the productivity and nutrient cycling in agroforestry systems. There are few studies of decomposition carried out in agroforestry systems with coffee; so it is necessary to perform more research work to fill the research gap, which will allow a better understanding of the management of the coffee agroforestry systems. This paper is based on the theoretical and conceptual aspects of leaf litter decomposition in agroforestry systems, emphasizing the combination with coffee cultivation and critically examined the role of the different factors involved in the decomposition. This study made a comparison of different investigations with regards to weight loss, decomposition rates (k), initial chemical composition, and release of the main nutrients. This study suggested that it is necessary to implement studies of decomposition and mineralization, and the microflora and fauna associated with these processes, so that serves as an important tool to develop a model for enabling a description of the short, medium, and long-term dynamics of soil nutrients in coffee agroforestry systems.