• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1354-1361
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• 2015

The complement system is a part of the natural immune regulation mechanism against invading pathogens. Complement activation from three different pathways (classical, lectin, and alternative) leads to the formation of C5-convertase, an enzyme for cleavage of C5 into C5a and C5b, followed by C6, C7, C8, and C9 in membrane attack complex. The C9 is the last complement component of the terminal lytic pathway, which plays an important role in lysis of the target cells depending on its self-polymerization to form transmembrane channels. To address the association of C9 with traits related to disease resistance, the complete porcine C9 cDNA was comparatively sequenced to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pigs of the breeds Hampshire (HS), Duroc (DU), Berlin miniature pig (BMP), German Landrace (LR), Pietrain (PIE), and Muong Khuong (Vietnamese potbelly pig). Genotyping was performed in 417 $F_2$ animals of a resource population (DUMI: $DU{\times}BMP$) that were vaccinated with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Aujeszky diseases virus and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus at 6, 14 and 16 weeks of age, respectively. Two SNPs were detected within the third exon. One of them has an amino acid substitution. The European porcine breeds (LR and PIE) show higher allele frequency of these SNPs than Vietnamese porcine breed (MK). Association of the substitution SNP with hemolytic complement activity indicated statistically significant differences between genotypes in the classical pathway but not in the alternative pathway. The interactions between eight time points of measurement of complement activity before and after vaccinations and genotypes were significantly different. The difference in hemolytic complement activity in the both pathways depends on genotype, kind of vaccine, age and the interaction to the other complement components. These results promote the porcine C9 (pC9) as a candidate gene to improve general animal health in the future.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.506-512
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• 2011

This study was conducted to validate the theoretical feasibility of a technique to identify biomarkers in Korean native black pig (KNP) and a commercial Landrace breed. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis, we found six proteins (NADH dehydrogenase Fe-S protein 1, an unnamed protein product, similar to T-complex protein 1, annexin V = CaBP33 isoform, fatty acid-binding protein, and catechol O-methyltransferase), which appeared in KNP alone. We raised polyclonal antibodies (used as the primary antibody) for Western blotting to confirm the characteristics of the six KNP proteins. As a result, catechol O-methyltransferase, annexin V = CaBP33 isoform, and the unnamed protein product presented thicker bands in KNP than those in Landrace. Moreover, catechol O-methyltransferase was shown to be more feasible as a biomarker for KNP. However, cross-reactivity was observed with the polyclonal antibodies for KNP and the other three proteins (NADH dehydrogenase, a protein similar to T-complex protein 1, and fatty acid-binding protein). This study only showed limited results from a limited number of animals; however, our research suggests possibilities for future studies.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2002

The effects of housing and nutrition on the performance of growing gilts of the Nepalese Pakhribas breed were investigated. A total of 36 pigs were allocated according to a factorial design with 3 levels of nutrition, provided to achieve a target growth rate of 200, 300 or 400 g/day, and two types of housing, traditional or improved. The growth rate and body composition were monitored during the growing period and subsequent pregnancy. There was a significantly higher growth rate (p<0.01), greater $P_2$ backfat thickness (p<0.01), and greater eye muscle depth (p<0.01) at service in pigs given the higher level of nutrition. Similarly, there was a significantly higher growth rate (p<0.05), and greater eye muscle depth (p<0.10) with improved housing but no significant difference in $P_2$ backfat thickness. The conception rate was 90% at first service, with no difference between treatments. Gilts from the high plane of rearing produced a mean litter size of one piglet greater than those on the low plane, but this was not significant with the limited numbers. However, both improved plane of nutrition and reduced climatic penalty by improving housing resulted in increased birthweight of piglets (p<0.05). It is concluded that improvement in housing can give benefits equivalent to at least a 7% improvement in efficiency of feed use under traditional Nepalese circumstances for pig rearing.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.183-191
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• 2019

Claw lesion is one of the major causes of lameness in sows and the lameness is one of the reasons for culling of sows from the swine herd. This survey was conducted on sows in total of 8 farms with a total of 684 pigs. The lesions observed in the study were horizontal and vertical claw cracks (CWH & CWV), differences in the length of toes (T) and/or in the length of dew claws (DC) according to crates, breeds and parity of sows. Scores of claw lesions were assigned on 0, 1, 2, and 3 at each foot depending on the severity of the claw lesions. The sows' parity was classified into 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 8. Prevalence rate of claw lesions in sows raised on punched plastic crate was higher than that in sows raised on tribar crate. In prevlence rate by breeds, inbreed Landrace sows showed higher than that of Yorkshire sows. According to 4 claw lesions, the length of DC was the highest at parity 3~4 and CWV was the lowest at parity 3~4 in F1 crossbred sows raised on punched plastic crates, respectively. In Yorkshire breeds raised on punched plastic crates, the length of DC at parity 5~8 was the lowest and CWH was the highest at parity 3~4, respectively. In Landrace breeds raised on tribar crates, CWH was the highest at parity 1~2 and CWV was the lowest at parity 3~4, respectively. The high parity in F1 crossbred sows showed high prevalence rate of claw lesions than that of low parity and other inbreed sows, respectively. These results may be useful as elementary data in establishment of welfare quality protocol and preventive measures to reduce economic losses from craw lesions in sows.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.247-251
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• 2010

This study compared the instrument performance and tissue healing of a steel scalpel with a $CO_2$ laser in an animal urinary bladder surgery model. Landrace and Yorkshire mixed breed pigs were used. Two symmetrical incisions were made in urinary bladder of each pig. One incision was made on the left side of ventral aspect on urinary bladder using a steel scalpel, while the other incision was performed on the right side using a $CO_2$ laser with an 8W output power. Each instrument was evaluated clinically for speed, ease of incision, and extent of bleeding. At 7 and 21 days after initial wounding, each wound was taken for histological observations. The scalpel was an easier instrument to use in the confines of the urinary bladder tissue, compared with the laser. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The amount of bleeding was less in the laser group but the time of the incisions was shorter with the scalpel. Scalpel incisions showed complete restoration of the epithelium and muscularis. On the other hand, the laser incisions showed incomplete restoration of the epithelium and muscularis. However, most of wound healing in the laser incisions was accomplished according to the time lapse. Although the scalpel produced less damage to the urinary bladder tissue and was easier to handle than the $CO_2$ laser, it did not provide hemostasis that was helpful for use on highly vascular tissue. The $CO_2$ laser provided good hemostasis, but delayed wound healing. In conclusion, the $CO_2$ laser provided better hemostasis and better surgical field than the scalpel. The $CO_2$ laser was used effectively in urinary bladder incision.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 2014

The increasing importance of meat quality has implications for animal breeding programs. Research has revealed much about the genetic background of pigs, and many studies have revealed the importance of various genetic factors. Since meat quality is a complex trait which is affected by many factors, consideration of the overall phenotype is very useful to study meat quality. For integrating the phenotypes, we used principle component analysis (PCA). The significant SNPs refer to results of the GRAMMAR method against PC1, PC2 and PC3 of 14 meat quality traits of 181 Duroc pigs. The Genome-wide association study (GWAS) found 26 potential SNPs affecting various meat quality traits. The loci identified are located in or near 23 genes. The SNPs associated with meat quality are in or near five genes (ANK1, BMP6, SHH, PIP4K2A, and FOXN2) and have been reported previously. Twenty-five of the significant SNPs also located in meat quality-related QTL regions, these result supported the QTL effect indirectly. Each single gene typically affects multiple traits. Therefore, it is a useful approach to use integrated traits for the various traits at the same time. This innovative approach using integrated traits could be applied on other GWAS of complex-traits including meat-quality, and the results will contribute to improving meat-quality of pork.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.458-462
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• 2005

The study was aimed at detecting polymorphism of the fifth intron in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene and analyzing association between the polymorphism and productive traits. A pair of primers was designed for amplifying the fifth intron. Sequence analysis indicated that a G1171C substitution existed in Large White breed. The mutation was detected by PCR-AfaI-RFLP. Polymorphism analysis in a pig resource family showed that there existed significant effects on carcass and meat quality traits. Thoraxwaist fat thickness of BB genotype was significantly higher (14.2%, p<0.05) than that of AA on carcass traits, while BB genotype was significantly lower (3.6% p<0.01, 4.1% p<0.01; 2.3% p<0.01, 1.9% p<0.01; 1.8% p<0.01, 1.4% p<0.05) than AA and AB genotype in pH of m. Longissimus Dorsi (LD), m. Biceps Femoris (BF), m. Semipinali Capitis (SC). The allelic frequencies were also significantly different between indigenous Chinese breeds and exotic breeds. Data analyzed revealed that the mutation locus affected production traits mostly by additive effects. Based on these results, it is necessary to do more studies on LPL gene before making the LPL locus into the application of marker-assisted selection (MAS) programs.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.235-240
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• 2015

To evaluate the unit load generation and discharge, pig cage test was conducted. Feed intake, drink amount, and urine generation increased growth stage (heavy weight) of the pig more great. However, the sum of the urine and manure did not show a significant difference in the growth stages of pigs. Because of the limit of the experiment, e.g., research period, high pigpen temperature, breed-related stress and etc., it could not be derived the results of the four seasons. Therefore, in order to generalize the results, the feed intakes were calibrated using a NRC (National Research and nutritional requirements of pigs from the Commission) standards. The finalized unit load generation and generation amounts of manure and urine were estimated at BOD 104.1 g/head/d, T-N 21.2 g/head/d, T-P 4.9 g/head/d, manure 0.96 L/d, urine 1.66 L/d with consideration of revised feed intake. Compare to the former research results of MOE (Ministry of Environment, 1999) and NIAS (National Institute of Animal Science, 2008), the generation amounts of manure and urine were similar to the NIAS's values. In case of unit load generation, BOD and T-N were almost similar in all of them. However, the T-P unit load generation of MOE was more difference, e.g., 2.5 times high, compare to this study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1816-1825
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• 2019

Objective: We tried to analyze allele-specific expression in the pig neocortex using bioinformatic analysis of high-throughput sequencing results from the parental genomes and offspring transcriptomes from reciprocal crosses between Korean Native and Landrace pigs. Methods: We carried out sequencing of parental genomes and offspring transcriptomes using next generation sequencing. We subsequently carried out genome scale identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two different ways using either individual genome mapping or joint genome mapping of the same breed parents that were used for the reciprocal crosses. Using parent-specific SNPs, allele-specifically expressed genes were analyzed. Results: Because of the low genome coverage (${\sim}4{\times}$) of the sequencing results, most SNPs were non-informative for parental lineage determination of the expressed alleles in the offspring and were thus excluded from our analysis. Consequently, 436 SNPs covering 336 genes were applicable to measure the imbalanced expression of paternal alleles in the offspring. By calculating the read ratios of parental alleles in the offspring, we identified seven genes showing allele-biased expression (p<0.05) including three previously reported and four newly identified genes in this study. Conclusion: The newly identified allele-specifically expressing genes in the neocortex of pigs should contribute to improving our knowledge on genomic imprinting in pigs. To our knowledge, this is the first study of allelic imbalance using high throughput analysis of both parental genomes and offspring transcriptomes of the reciprocal cross in outbred animals. Our study also showed the effect of the number of informative animals on the genome level investigation of allele-specific expression using RNA-seq analysis in livestock species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1843-1851
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• 2018

Objective: We aimed to characterize linkage disequilibrium (LD) and effective population size ($N_e$) in a Korean Yorkshire population using genomic data from thousands of individuals. Methods: We genotyped 2,470 Yorkshire individuals from four major Grand-Grand-Parent farms in Korea using the Illumina PorcineSNP60 version2 BeadChip, which covers >61,565 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located across all chromosomes and mitochondria. We estimated the expected LD and inferred current $N_e$ as well as ancestral $N_e$. Results: We identified 61,565 SNP from autosomes, mitochondria, and sex chromosomes and characterized the LD of the Yorkshire population, which was relatively high between closely linked markers (>0.55 at 50 kb) and declined with increasing genetic distance. The current $N_e$ of this Korean Yorkshire population was 122.87 (106.90; 138.84), while the historical $N_e$ of Yorkshire pigs suggests that the ancestor $N_e$ has decreased by 99.6% over the last 10,000 generations. Conclusion: To maintain genetic diversity of a domesticated animal population, we must carefully consider appropriate breed management methods to avoid inbreeding. Although attenuated selection can affect short-term genetic gain, it is essential for maintaining the long-term genetic variability of the Korean Yorkshire population. Continuous and long-term monitoring would also be needed to maintain the pig population to avoid an unintended reduction of $N_e$. The best way to preserve a sustainable population is to maintain a sufficient $N_e$.