• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.200-206
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• 2005

We previously pointed out that the polluted sediment elutriate manifestly affected the early events of reproductive outputs in the Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. A serial dilution of priority xenobiotic sediment elutriates determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were exposed to gametes of the oyster with different stress burdens to detail the maternal stress transfer to its reproductive outputs. There was an apparent critical concentration over which survival and morphogenesis were significantly affected with more profound damage in morphogenesis. The critical concentration which drives mortality and abnormal morphogenesis of the larvae corresponded to a dilution between 10 and 20% of our elutriate. The adverse effects of the early lives by the xenobiotic exposure over the critical concentration were magnified by the maternal stress from the exposed benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), one of the priority polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the maturation condition. These results indicate that maternal transfer of the xenobiotic compounds from oysters living in the contaminated location might represent a significant adverse effect to their larval population of wild seeds.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2005

This is a subsequent study to our previous finding that Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, gained a so-called upper plateau concentration, around 30,000 ng/g dry weight digestive gland for benzo(a)pyrene, showed reproductive behavior but produced their ensuing reproductive outputs damaged. A serial dilution of sediment elutriates from Jinhae Bay, Korea, where pollution was progressive, were exposed to gametes of the Pacific oyster for 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min to detail the pollutant effects on very young specimens. There was an apparent critical dilution over which adverse effects are evident. This was $10\%$ of the present sediment elutriate, corresponding to 0.3 ng/g on the basis of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for the oyster. Within the dilution the embryonic development was not influenced by the duration of exposure to its gamete stage. At higher dilutions over the critical dilution, occurrence of abnormality increased dependent on the pollutant dilution and the duration of exposure. Similar trends were also found in larval mortality. However, overall, the chemical toxicity was more significant to morphogenesis than to survival, suggesting a potential recruitment of the pollutants-induced abnormal larvae in the wild population to threaten the population integrity.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-84
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• 2007

We studied two research items that can be undetermined issues in the artificial seed production of the Japanese scallops, Patinopecten yessoensis, batch-specific quality of the reproductive outputs and nursery acclimation, in the embayed waters of Yangyang, Gangwon, Korea. The first batch of the spawner showed better results in terms of survival, growth, and resistance against parasitic ciliate infection over the second batch that was obtained in 5 days after first batch from the same spawner. The early attached spats directly placed in the farming ground (the unacclimated) were resistant against the water current of the open environment, by showing survival of about 80% for a month, a normal survival compared with other results. However, the spat survival during the nursery acclimation was significantly lowered in comparison with that in the unacclimated condition (P<0.01). We discussed the research results of the two items, particularly focusing on their availability for mass seed production for aquaculture in the Korean coastal waters of the East Sea (Sea of Japan).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.408-415
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• 1997

Data from 5,311 ewes and 13,076 lambing from 1977 through 1994 were used to analyse both annual and cumulative outputs in terms on total number of lambs born, total lamb weight weaned and total wool produced per ewe for ewe longevity 1 to 8 depending on their productive life in the flock. Ewes at Khushab produced 0.08 more lambs per parturition than ewes at Khizerabad; however, 0.39 less lambs were weaned at Khushab than at Khizerabad. Similarly, cumulative number of lambs born was more at Khushab flock than Khizerabad flock (p < .01). However, total weight of lambs weaned was greater at Khizerabad than Khushab flock (p < .01) for each ewe longevity. Most ewes (35%) were sold/replaced just after their first parturition (i. e. ewe longevity 1). The overall mean for annual sale/replacement was 32 and 23% at Khushab and Khizerabad, respectively. Distribution of growth and reproductive traits from 1977-94 did not show upward or downward trend inspite of heavy sale/replacement except yearly variation. Lack of any genetic progress over the year suggested that random breeding was employed without any scientific selection programme. Annual means for lambs born, lambs weaned and weight of lambs weaned per ewe present in the flock were the highest for ewe longevity 2 compared with other ewe longevity groups. Relative efficiency in terms of net income was highest for ewe longevity 5 followed by ewe longevity 4 and 6 in both flocks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.666-671
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• 2017

Objective: Aim of the current comparative study was to evaluate production outputs, reproduction efficiency and functional traits in dual-purpose Fleckvieh and Braunvieh cows, reared under temperate European conditions. Methods: A data-set from 414 Fleckvieh and 42 Braunvieh cows and 799 lactations was analysed. ID tag number, milk yield per milking session, number of steps/interval and milk conductivity were recorded and collected daily using AfiMilk 3.076 A-DU software (Afimilk Ltd., Kibbutz, Israel). Production and milk quality data were taken from the results of the official performance recordings and the reproductive outputs of cows were recorded by the research stations veterinarians. Comparisons between the two genotypes were carried out using the one way analysis of variance protocol, with categorical factor being considered the breed of cows. All the statistical inferences were carried out using Statistica software (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA). Results: Fleckvieh cows significantly outperformed ($p{\leq}0.05$) the Braunvieh herd, with average milk yields of $5,252.1{\pm}35.79kg$ and $4,897.6{\pm}128.94kg$, respectively. Age at first calving was significantly ($p{\leq}0.01$) influenced by the breed, with Fleckvieh heifers being more precocious ($32.8{\pm}0.29mo$) compared to those of Braunvieh breed ($35.7{\pm}0.84mo$). Reproduction efficiency as defined by the number of inseminations per gestation, calving interval, dystocia, days dry and days open, was not influenced by genotype (p>0.05). Incidences of sub-clinical mastitis, clinical mastitis, lameness and abortions were not influenced by the breed factor (p>0.05). Stay-ability of cows was significantly ($p{\leq}0.001$) influenced by genotype, with Braunvieh cows having an average age at culling of $117.88{\pm}11.78$ months compared to $90.88{\pm}2.89$ months in Fleckvieh. Conclusion: Overall, results have shown that genotype significantly influenced milk yield, age at first calving and longevity.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.844-854
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• 2021

Objective: The potential of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), betaine (BET), and ginger (GIN), as natural antioxidants, in reducing negative effects of heat stress on physiological responses, antioxidant capacity, semen quality and fertility of bucks under heat stress were investigated. Methods: Forty adult Animal Production Research Institute line rabbit bucks were distributed randomly into four experimental treatments of ten rabbits each. The first treatment was fed the commercial pellet diet (CPD) without supplementation and served as a control. The other three treatments were fed CPD supplemented with EVOO (300 mg), BET (1,000 mg), and GIN (200 mg) per kg diet for 3 consecutive months during the summer season. Results: Supplementation of EVOO, BET, or GIN improved (p<0.05) the sexual desire, progressive motility, vitality, intact acrosome and membrane integrity, sperm cell concentration, sperm outputs and fertility. Seminal plasma total proteins, globulin, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione and glutathione S-transferase, and initial fructose increased (p<0.05), while total lipids, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and malondialdehyde decreased (p<0.05) compared with the control. In comparing the natural antioxidants treatments, GIN evoked the largest improvement. Conclusion: The inclusion of GIN (200 mg/kg diet) appeared to improve the sexual desire, semen quality and oxidative stress of bucks. This may be a beneficial supplement for the management of rabbit bucks used in natural mating or artificial insemination.