• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.555-566
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to assess the genetic parameters and accuracy of genomic predictions for twenty-four linear body conformation traits and overall conformation scores in Korean Holstein dairy cows. Methods: A dataset of 2,206 Korean Holsteins was collected, and genotyping was performed using the Illumina Bovine 50K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. The traits investigated included body traits (stature, height at front end, chest width, body depth, angularity, body condition score, and locomotion), rump traits (rump angle, rump width, and loin strength), feet and leg traits (rear leg set, rear leg rear view, foot angle, heel depth, and bone quality), udder traits (udder depth, udder texture, udder support, fore udder attachment, front teat placement, front teat length, rear udder height, rear udder width, and rear teat placement), and overall conformation score. Accuracy of genomic predictions was assessed using the single-trait animal model genomic best linear unbiased prediction method implemented in the ASReml-SA v4.2 software. Results: Heritability estimates ranged from 0.10 to 0.50 for body traits, 0.21 to 0.35 for rump traits, 0.13 to 0.29 for feet and leg traits, and 0.05 to 0.46 for udder traits. Rump traits exhibited the highest average heritability (0.29), while feet and leg traits had the lowest estimates (0.21). Accuracy of genomic predictions varied among the twenty-four linear body conformation traits, ranging from 0.26 to 0.49. The heritability and prediction accuracy of genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) for the overall conformation score were 0.45 and 0.46, respectively. The GEBVs for body conformation traits in Korean Holstein cows had low accuracy, falling below the 50% threshold. Conclusion: The limited response to selection for body conformation traits in Korean Holsteins may be attributed to both the low heritability of these traits and the lower accuracy estimates for GEBVs. Further research is needed to enhance the accuracy of GEBVs and improve the selection response for these traits.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.840-850
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the polymorphisms of the dopa decarboxylase (DDC) gene and association analysis with lamb quality and expression quantification of the DDC gene in phenotypically divergent Indonesian sheep. Methods: The totals of 189 rams with an average body weight of 24.12 kg at 10 to 12 months were used to identify DDC gene polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Among 189 rams, several rams representing various sheep genotypes were used for an association study between genotypes and phenotypic traits with proc general linear model (GLM) analysis. In addition, the gene expression analysis of the DDC mRNA in the phenotypically divergent sheep population was analyzed using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Results: The DDC gene (g. 5377439 G>A) showed polymorphisms that indicated three genotypes: AA, AG, and GG. The DDC gene polymorphism was significantly associated (p≤0.05) with carcass characteristics including carcass percentage, carcass length, hot and cold carcass; physical properties of lamb quality including pH value; retail cut carcass; fatty acid composition such as fat content, pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), tricosylic acid (C23:0), lignoceric acid (C24:0), oleic acid (C18:1n9c), elaidic acid (C18:1n9t), nervonic acid (C24:1), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), cervonic acid (C22:6n3); and mineral content including potassium (K). The GG genotype of the DDC gene had the best association with lamb quality traits. The DDC gene expression analysis mRNA showed no significant difference (p≥0.05) between lamb quality traits. Conclusion: The DDC gene could be used as a potential candidate gene to improve lamb quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1090-1094
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• 2015

The aim of the study was to select traits that may constitute a prospective criterion for breeding value prediction of young horses. The results of 1,232 starts of 894 four-, five-, six-, and seven-year-old horses, obtained during jumping championships for young horses which had not been evaluated in, alternative to championships, training centres were analyed. Nine traits were chosen of those recorded: ranking in the championship, elimination (y/n), conformation, rating of style on day one, two, and three, and penalty points on day one, two, and three of a championship. (Co)variance components were estimated via the Gibbs sampling procedure and adequate (co)variance component ratios were calculated. Statistical classifications were trait dependent but all fitted random additive genetic and permanent environment effects. It was found that such characteristics as penalty points and jumping style are potential indicators of jumping ability, and the genetic variability of the traits was within the range of 14% to 27%. Given the low genetic correlations between the conformation and other results achieved on the parkour, the relevance of assessment of conformation in four-years-old horses has been questioned.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 1999

This study was conducted to make the utmost use of the good traits and to improve the poor traits of zoysiagrass through the production technology for mixed lines sod in addition to breeding. Mixed lines sod was produced by mixing broad or middle leaf line with narrow leaf line by volume, a ratio of 1 to 2. The mixed lines sod of zoysiagrass was superior to the single ling sod, which is used commonly, for the establishment rate, coverage rate, shoot density, texture, leaf color, dormancy period cnd color, and visual quality.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.98-103
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• 2019

We compared the functional traits of leaf blades and culms of common reed (Phragmites australis) in four habitat types of distinguished environments such as temperature, precipitation, water characteristics, and indices related to biomass production (montane fen, MF; riparian marsh, RM; lagoon, LG; and salt marsh, SM). We also examined the relationships between the functional traits within and among populations. Four populations showed remarkable differences in the functional traits of leaf blades and culms. MF and RM had relatively tall (> 300 cm) and thick (> 8 mm) culms bearing long leaf blades (> 40 cm), whereas LG and SM had relatively shorter and thinner culms bearing shorter leaf blades than MF and RM. Some relationships between the functional traits of leaf blades and culms showed negative or not significant correlations within the population, whereas most of the relationships between the functional traits showed positive correlations particularly when all the data from four populations was included into the correlation analysis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.653-658
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• 2012

This study was conducted to estimate the potential acid production value (PAPV) of major diets and to determine the relationship between dietary PAPV and dairy production traits. Estimation of PAPV of major cattle feeds was based on an in vitro technique, which determined the degree of Ca dissociation from $CaCO_3$. Data on feeds and production traits were collected on 744 multiparous lactating Holstein dairy cows from five different farms. Grains had high PAPV with variable protein sources and by-products. High PAPV feedstuffs had a higher total gas production and lower pH compared to those with low PAPV. Dietary PAPV had a positive correlation with intake of dry matter, NDF, ADF, milk yield and milk solid production but a negative correlation with milk protein and milk fat concentration. Current results indicate that dietary PAPV can be utilized in predicting dairy production traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2016

Twenty crossbred steers ($400{\pm}40.1kg$ of initial body weight) were used to assess the effects of a dietary supplementation with crude glycerin (CG) as a substitute for corn grain on performance, carcass traits, and meat quality. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were offered to the experimental animals (5 steers per treatment) for 121 days using randomized complete block design. The steers individually received dietary treatments containing 0%, 7%, 14%, and 21% of CG (88.91% pure) on a dry matter (DM) basis. The diets were offered ad libitum as total mixed rations twice daily. Weight gain and carcass traits were determined. At the end of the experimental period, the harvest data and carcass characteristics of the steers were recorded, and meat quality was determined. No significant effect of CG inclusion was observed in any of the growth performance and carcass characteristics traits studied. Also, there were no apparent effects of diets (p>0.05) on meat quality (pH, water holding capacity, drip losses, and cooking losses). The study concluded that CG could be used as a substitute for corn grain up to the level of approximately 21% of DM in the diets of finishing steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1560-1564
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• 2003

The study was carried out in Sahiwal, Holstein Friesian, Jersey and crossbred cattle to find out the effect of genotype of beta-lactoglobulin gene on milk production traits. The polymorphism at beta-lactoglobulin gene was identified by conducting PCRRFLP studies. A 398 bp fragment of the gene was amplified and digested with Hae III restriction enzyme. The two alleles A and B and three genotypes AA, AB and BB were identified in all cattle breeds. The frequency of B allele was comparatively higher than that of A allele. The AA genotype produced significantly higher milk yield in Sahiwal cattle whereas BB genotype yielded higher milk in Holstein friesian cattle. In other cattle breeds the genotypic effect was non-significant. In conclusion it may be stated that the genotype with significantly higher milk yield may be favoured in the farm along with other conventional selection criteria to enhance the milk production of animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2001

Additive and dominance genetic variances were estimated for purebred Landrace selected with line breeding from 1989 to 1995 at Miyazaki Livestock Experiment Station, Kawaminami Branch. Ten body measurements, two reproductive traits and fifteen carcass traits were analyzed with single-trait mixed model analysis. The estimates of narrow-sense heritabilities by additive model were in the range of 0.07 to 0.46 for body measurements, 0.05 to 0.14 for reproductive traits, and 0.05 to 0.68 for carcass traits. The additive model tended to slightly overestimate the narrow-sense heritabilities as compared to the additive and dominance model. The proportion of the dominance variance to total genetic variance ranged from 0.11 to 0.91 for body measurements, 0.00 to 0.65 for reproductive traits, and 0.00 to 0.86 for carcass traits. Large differences among traits were found in the ratio of dominance to total genetic variance. These results suggested that dominance effect would affect the expression of all ten body measurements, one reproductive trait, and nine carcass traits. It is justified to consider the dominance effects in genetic evaluation of the selected lines for those traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify environmental factors strongly associated with and to estimate genetic parameters of reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers. Methods: Data included reproduction records of Japanese Black heifers born between 2004 and 2014. First service non-return rate (NRR) to 56 days from first to successful insemination (FS), number of services per conception (IN), age at first calving (AFC) and gestation length were analyzed with the use of the general linear model. Genetic parameters were estimated with the use of the univariate animal model of the residual maximum likelihood. Results: Averages of reproductive traits over eleven years were assessed, and the effects of farm, year, month, artificial insemination technician and interaction of farm×year on the traits were determined. Estimated heritability of FS was very low and that of AFC was higher than that of the other traits. A close genetic relation was observed among NRR, IN, and FS; however, their heritabilities were very low. AFC shows favorable genetic correlation with IN and FS. Conclusion: Low heritabilities of most reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers are strongly influenced by farm management practices, and that large residual variances make genetic evaluation difficult. Among the reproductive traits, AFC is potentially more useful for genetic improvement of heifer reproductive traits because it has high heritability and favorable genetic correlations with IN and FS.