• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8_spc
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• pp.1284-1295
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• 2019

Considerable progress in reproduction of dairy goats has been made, with advances in reproductive technology accelerating dairy goat production since the 1980s. Reproduction in goats is described as seasonal. The onset and length of the breeding season is dependent on various factors such as breed, climate, physiological stage, male effect, breeding system, and photoperiod. The reproductive physiology of goats was investigated extensively, including hypothalamic and pituitary control of the ovary related to estrus behavior and cyclicity etc. Photoperiodic treatments coupled with the male effect allow hormone-free synchronization of ovulation, but the kidding rate is still less than for hormonal treatments. Different protocols have been developed to meet the needs and expectations of producers; dairy industries are subject to growing demands for year round production. Hormonal treatments for synchronization of estrus and ovulation in combination with artificial insemination (AI) or natural mating facilitate out-of-season breeding and the grouping of the kidding period. The AI with fresh or frozen semen has been increasingly adopted in the intensive production system, this is perhaps the most powerful tool that reproductive physiologists and geneticists have provided the dairy goat industry with for improving reproductive efficiency, genetic progress and genetic materials transportation. One of the most exciting developments in the reproduction of dairy animals is embryo transfer (ET), the so-called second generation reproductive biotechnology following AI. Multiple ovulation and ET (MOET) program in dairy goats combining with estrus synchronization (ES) and AI significantly increase annual genetic improvement by decreasing the generation interval. Based on the advances in reproduction technologies that have been utilized through experiments and investigation, this review will focus on the application of these technologies and how they can be used to promote the dairy goat research and industry development in the future.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1406-1415
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• 2013

The study was conducted to correlate the periparturient immune status in terms of neutrophil functions and cytokine expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture with impending postpartum reproductive disorders in buffaloes. Forty pregnant buffaloes were observed for occurrence of postpartum reproductive disorders (PRD), i.e., metritis, endometritis and delayed uterine involution etc., during one week prepartum to four weeks postpartum period. A representative number (n = 6) of buffaloes that did not develop any PRD were included in group I (healthy, control), while the animals which experienced PRD were assigned into group II (PRD, n = 8). The blood samples were collected at weekly interval from one week prepartum to four weeks postpartum period considering the day of calving as 'd 0'. Differential leucocytes counts, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production activity in isolated neutrophils and the mRNA expression profile of cytokines i.e., IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ in PBMC culture were studied in all the samples. A higher total leucocytes, neutrophil and band cells count along with impaired neutrophil functions i.e., lowered level of production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide before parturition and during early postpartum period were observed in buffaloes developing PRD. Further, a lower expression of IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 mRNA in PBMC culture was observed at calving in buffaloes that subsequently developed PRD at later postpartum. Thus, suppression in neutrophil function and cytokine expression at prepartum to early postpartum period predisposes the buffaloes to develop postpartum reproductive disorders. Hence, monitoring of neutrophils function and cytokine expression profile would be effective to predict certain reproductive disorders at late pregnancy or immediately after parturition in buffaloes. In future, this may be a novel approach for determining suitable management and therapeutic decisions for prevention of commonly occurring reproductive disorders in farm animals.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1619-1631
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• 2023

The objective of this review was to provide an overview of the effects of dietary fiber (DF) on reproductive performance in gestating sows. Dietary fibers have been suggested to modulate microbiota in the intestine and the immune system of gestating sows and to improve gut health. Thus, DF may help alleviate the adverse effects of the stressful production cycle of gestating sows. These benefits may subsequently result in improved reproductive performance of sows. Previous studies have reported changes in microbiota by providing gestating sows with DF, and the responses of microbiota varied depending on the source of DF. The responses by providing DF to gestating sows were inconsistent for antioxidative capacity, hormonal response, and inflammatory response among the studies. The effects of DF on reproductive performance were also inconsistent among the previous studies. Potential reasons contributing to these inconsistent results would include variability in reproductive performance data, insufficient replication, influence of other nutrients contained in the DF diets, characteristics of DF, and experimental periods. The present meta-analysis suggests that increasing the total DF concentration by 10 percentage units (e.g., 12% to 22% as-fed basis) in gestating sow diets compared to the control group improves the litter born alive by 0.49 pigs per litter. However, based on the present review, questions remain regarding the benefits of fibers in gestating sow diets. Further research is warranted to clarify the mode of action of fibers and the association with subsequent reproductive performance in gestating sows.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.194-198
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• 2007

Reproductive traits of Palaemon gravieri such as embryo size, number of embryo (fecundity), incubation period, larval development mode, larval development period, larval survival and larval growth were described and compared to analyze the correlation among those traits. Embryo volume is a primary factor determining other ensuing reproductive features. Egg volume was $0.042mm^3$ in the first developmental stage. Embryo volume in P. gravieri was comparatively small which is indicative of great number of embryo (y = 3.0161x + 0.0185 $R^2$ = 0.74 positive isometric relationship) and relatively long incubation period. Larvae survived from zoea 1 to post-larvae and it took 45 days at $22^{\circ}C$. Survival rate of the larvae was rather great in the early stage and thereafter steadily decreased. Daily growth rate of larvae in P. gravieri at $22^{\circ}C$ was 0.0195 mm on average. They grew steadily as time went by. Incubation period was between 10-14 days at $22^{\circ}C$. Larval development mode was almost complete planktotrophic. PNR (point of no return) appeared to be the third day on average. Survival rate of larvae without feeding declined rapidly between 3 and 4 days. Larval development period and stage frequency were 23-30 days and 11 stages which imply prolonged larval period and high mortality. The pattern of brood production followed fast successive parturial pattern. Most ovigerous female had mature ovary when they performed parturial molt soon after hatching (larval release).

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.367-373
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• 1997

The effects of salinity on the growth and production of rice were studied at Seosan reclaimed land from July to October, 1995. The plant height, the number of living aleaves, dead leaves and total leaves, the number of the grains and the dry weight of the grains per individual, and the dry weight of above the ground in $25cm{\times}25cm$ quadrat were investigated on 5 plots whers were different salinity. The plant height, the number of living leaves and total leaves and the number of grains and the dry weight of grains per individual, and the dry weight of above the ground decreased as the salinity of water increase and the number of dead leaves of rice increased as the salinity of water decrease. The effect of salinity on the reproductive production is severer than the vegetative production. Because of the salinity, the growth and the production of the rice at Seosan reclaimed land are worse than the normal rice field.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.231-241
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• 1995

I examined the relationship between allocations to plant size components such as plant height, total leaf weight, and nuber of branches and to reproductive components such as the number and weight of male and female fowers in three populations of the monoecious, wind-pollinated Ambrosia artemisiifolia. In particular, the two types of gender of plants, phenotypic and functional gender, were related to resource allocation. Mean values of all plant size and reproductive components differed significantly among the three populations. Such inter-population differences did not exist for both photosynthetic and reproductive efforts, Plant size components were mostly positively correlated with reproductive components among plants. However, the relationships between photosynthetic effort and reproductive components were largely negative and inconsistent among populations. The phenotypic gender was much lover than 0.5 in all of the three populations. Pairwise correlations between functional gender and each allocation measurement such as plant size components, reproductive components, photosynthetic effort, and reproductive effort were not consistent across the three populations. These results suggest that the gender of A. artemisiifolia measured as flower production responds sensitively to environmental conditions which might differ whithin as well as among populations.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 1999

Dry weights of leaves, stem and floral organs of 15-year-old Tilia amurensis RUPR., were measured twice on 1 June and 20 August 1995 to examine the difference in biomass production between the reproductive and vegetative twigs which are morphologically neighboring and alternative. The following results were obtained : (1) The biomass of the reproductive twigs was greater than that of the vegetative twigs in both June and August. (2) The ratio of stem to total biomass in the reproductive and the vegetative twigs was greater in August than that in June, while the ratio of leaf biomass was greater in June than that in August. The ratio of floral organ to the total biomass in the reproductive twigs was 14.6% and 27.1% in June and August, respectively. (3) The total twig biomass per leaf biomass was greater in the reproductive twigs than that in the vegetative twigs in both June and August. (4) Net assimilation rate in the floral organs showed 21% of that in the leaves in June and 37% in August.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.240-244
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• 1997

This study was conducted in North Sulawesi, Indonesia to identify the factors affecting reproductive efficiency and to determine the contribution of each factor in reproductive efficiency of Indonesian native cows. Records of reproductive efficiency, body size (hip height, body weight, body length, heart girth) as well as age on one hundred and sixty seven Indonesian native cows (seventy six cows of the Bali breed and ninety one cows of the synthetic breed from unknown proportion of th Madura, the Sumba and the Ongole breeds) of 58 farmers were available in this research. The data were analyzed by covariance analysis using SAS package including reproductive efficiency as a dependent variable and breed, body size (hip height, body weight, body length, heart girth) and age of cows as independent variables. The contribution of each independent factor to dependent variable was estimated as the percentage of the sum of square in the corrected total sum of squares. The results showed that body weight and body size of cows would be considered as th most important factors affecting reproductive efficiency of Indonesian native cows. Therefore, the reproductive efficiency could be increased by 1) using cows that reached a target weight of at least 250 kg, 2) using cows with relatively well developed height at hip of at least 117 cm, heart girth of at least 150 cm, and body length of at least 125 cm, 3) keeping breeding cows that reach a target age of 24 months old with the maximum interval between postpartum and next breeding season of 90 days for each year, and 4) using good nutritional feeding to reach the optimum weight and body condition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1516-1519
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• 2001

The data consisted of 369 lactation records for calvings over a sixteen-year period (1972-1987) and included only cows that had normal milk records. The data were analysed using a linear model containing the fixed effects of parity, year of calving and season of calving. The least squares means${\pm}$S.E. were $1,273{\pm}58.4kg$ for milk yield, and for post-partum body weight (kg) at 2, 3 and 4 months after calving were $343.40{\pm}3.96$, $346.10{\pm}4.10$ and $352.54{\pm}4.26$, respectively. With the exception of season of calving, the effects of parity and year of calving were significant (p<0.01) on the performance of the animals. Thus, the mean-milk yields 1162, 1351 and 1350, were similar for pre-, peak- and post rainy seasons, respectively. On the other hand, as parity increased from 1 to 3, milk yield also increased, but thereafter, there was a gradual decline in milk yield. Similarly, post-partum body weight also increased with parity. However, no consistent pattern for year effect was observed which probably was a reflection of the variation in climatic conditions, or forage quality and/or availability. The phenotypic correlations between milk yield and post-partum body weights were negative and small (ranging from -0.01 to -0.08). However, high milk production in cows was associated with longer calving interval. The implications from the phenotypic correlations are suggestive of one or two possibilities. Firstly, selection for increased body weight may actually result in decreased milk yield. Also, a substantial genetic antagonism may exist between milk yield and fertility in the crossbred cows. Therefore, it is important that selection to improve milk production should take into consideration the reproductive performance of the cows.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.1221-1227
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• 2023

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary lutein on egg production, follicles, reproductive hormones, fertility, hatchability, and oxidative injury indexes of hens. Methods: Treatments consisted of a control diet (CON) and three lutein-supplementing diets at 25 (L1), 50 (L2), or 75 (L3) mg/kg of diet. Egg production was measured using 576 Arbor Acres breeder hens at 61 to 65 wk and follicles grades, reproductive hormones, fertility, hatchability, tissue lutein contents, and oxidative injury indexes were determined at 65 wk. Results: The results showed that at 65 wk, lutein- supplementing diets increased (p<0.05) egg production, follicular grades, fertility, hatchability, estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone, progesterone (PROG), lutein content in the serum and yolk, compared to CON. L2 and L3 showed more pronounced (p<0.05) effects on egg production, PROG, and yolk lutein content than L1. With the increase of lutein doses from 25 to 75 mg/kg, there were linear increases (p<0.05) in egg production, lutein content, and PROG, and a quadratic trend (p<0.05) in E2. For the oxidative injury products, lutein-supplementing diets decreased (p<0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) in the serum, MDA and 8-hydroxy 2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the yolk. There were linear decreases (p<0.05) in 8-OHdG in the serum, MDA, PCO, and 8-OHdG in the yolk, a quadratic trend (p<0.05) on serum 8-OHdG. Conclusion: It is concluded that lutein supplementation can improve egg production and fertility by beneficially regulating reproductive hormones and oxidative status in aged hens.