• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.1080-1084
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• 2002

Carcass characteristics of 241 crossbred pigs (Korean wild boars ${\times}$ Landrace sows) were analyzed to examine variations in fasted body weight (FASTWT), carcass weight (CARCWT), dressing percentage (DP), back fat thickness (BFT) and longissimus muscle weight (LMW), and to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters using three different slaughter-end points. Covariates in the least squares full sib model were slaughter age, fasted body weight and back fat thickness of the carcass. Coefficient of variation was highest for BFT followed by LMW, CARCWT, FASTWT and DP in magnitude. Regressions of three covariates on traits were all linear. However, slaughter age was not significant as a linear covariate for five traits while FASTWT was significant for CARCWT and LMW and BFT was significant for all remaining traits. Genetic and phenotypic variation was considerably reduced by regressing FASTWT or BFT in the model. Heritability estimates of FASTWT, CARCWT, DP and BFT were 0.68, 0.61, 0.11 and 0.49, respectively, using slaughter age as covariate (model 1). Those of CARCWT, DP, BFT and LMW were 0.15, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.11, respectively, using FASTWT as covariate (model 2). Heritability estimates of the traits using LMW as covariate (model 3) were similar to the estimates from Model 1 except that the estimate of CARCWT was reduced to 0.39. Genetic or phenotypic correlations among FASTWT, CARCWT and BFT were all positive and moderate to high. Those between BFT and LMW were also positive and low to moderate. However, genetic and phenotypic correlations between DP and CARCWT were positive while those between DP and FASTWT were negative. It was suggested from this study that differences in carcass yield traits be determined using slaughter age or back fat thickness as slaughter-end point and carcass quality traits using fasted body weight as slaughter-end point.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.109-114
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of environments (farms born, testing groups, age at the tests, date at slaughter, ages at slaughter) on body weights at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of ages, body type measurements at 18 months of age and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steer populations that were collected from commercial farms and reared in a progeny testing station. Performances of a total of 1,838 steer calves set for tests from 2004 to 2008 were recorded. Carcass characteristics were the carcass grading results evaluated and data collected slaughter scores at 24 months of age. For growth traits of all age classes and body type traits measured at 18 months of age, farms born, test group and linear covariate of age at test were fit in the models. For carcass traits, date at slaughter and linear covariate of ages at slaughter were fit in the models. Effect of farm at birth was not significant for body weight at 24 months of age. Carcass weight, eye muscle area, yield score and back fat thickness were affected by dates at slaughter but not by the ages at slaughter. Marbling score, however, was affected by these two effects. Farms at birth did not seem to affect body type measures greatly. This study will be utilized for Hanwoo Steers genetic evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.297-306
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• 1995

The present study was conducted to investigate the incidence of Streptococcus suis infection in the pneumonic lungs of slaughter pigs from December 1992 to April 1994 and to examine the biochemical and cultural properties, the antimicrobial susceptibility and serotype of the isolates. Fifty-six(7.95%) strains of S suis was isolated from 704 pneumonic lungs of slaughter pigs, of which 33 cultures were isolated alone, while remaining 18 were complicated wide Pasteurella multocida. Of the 56 S suis isolates, 18(32.1%) were serotype 2, 5(8.9%) were serotype 1/2, 2 were serotype 1, 1 each for serotype 3 & 5, and the remaining 29 were untypable. The twenty five strains(44.6%) of all isolates produced hyaluronidase while 15 strains(88.3%) of 18 serotype 2 isolates were hyaluronidase producers. All of isolates were highly susceptible to ampicillin, amoxicillin, ceftiofur, cephalothin, ciprofloxacin and penicillin G, although the majority of them were resistant to kanamycin, colistin, erythromycin, oxytetracycline.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.244-252
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• 1999

Intensive selection for muscle development and against fat deposition in pigs during the last 50 years has contributed to the increased incidence of porcine stress syndrome (PSS) and pale soft exudative pork (PSE). Genetics, nutrition and management, preslaughter animal handling, stunning, dehairing and carcass chilling influence the incidence and magnitude of the PSE condition. The normal incidence of PSE has been reported to range from 10 to 30%, but in some isolated instances is up to 60%. The elimination of halothane-positive pigs in breeding programs has reduced PSS and PSE. Further improvements in meat quality by terminal sire evaluation and selection can be achieved within halothane-negative populations because around 20% of the variation in meat color and water binding capacity seems to be genetically related. Pre-slaughter handling on the farm, during transit to the packing plant and at the packing plant can greatly influence the meat quality, contributing 10 to 25% of the variation. An effective stunning method, skinning instead of scalding/dehairing and rapid post-slaughter chilling further reduce the incidence of PSE pork. In addition to proper care and handling a carcass-merit based marketing system, that reflected the value differential between desirable and undesirable meat quality in the pricing system for pigs, would provide a great incentive to change pork production systems in order to improve meat quality, thus improving the image and usefulness of pork as food.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of extract from mesenteric lymph nodes as an alternative to serum for ELISA to detect Salmonella antibodies in slaughter pigs. Among 324 slaughter pigs, 65 (20.1 %) were positive in the serum ELISA and 76 (23.5%) were positive in the ELISA with extract from lymph nodes. A total of 24 (7.4%) Salmonella representing 6 serotypes were isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes and 35 (10.8%) Salmonella belonging to 2 serotypes were also recovered from cecal contents of slaughter pig samples, respectively. The most prevalent serogroup was B (55.9% of isolates) and serotype was Typhimurium (52.5% of isolates). In the comparison of the results of between the serum ELISA and Salmonella isolation, kappa value was 0.28 with mesenteric lymph nodes and 0.37 with cecal contents, respectively. However, the extract ELISA had sensitivity of 98.5%, specificity of 95.4% and kappa value of 0.88 as compared with the serum ELISA. Because high degree of concordance between the serum ELISA and the extract ELISA was observed (P=0.24), extract from lymph nodes could be used as an alternative to serum for the detection of Salmonella antibodies in the ELISA.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.717-725
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• 2014

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of animal related factors on bruising in slaughter cattle, creatine kinase (CK) and beef quality. Three hundred and twenty one cattle from three breeds (108 Bonsmara, 130 Beefmaster and 83 Brahman) were used in this study. The animals were grouped as follows: Group 1 (16 months old), Group 2 (18 months old) and Group 3 (24 months old). At exsanguinations, blood samples for CK determination were collected using disposable vacutainer tubes. Muscularis longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) was collected 24 h after slaughter to determine the colour ($L^*$, $a^*$, and $b^*$) and ultimate pH ($pH_u$) of beef. Breed, sex and age had significant effects (p<0.05) on bruising score, CK levels and beef quality. Bonsmara breed had the highest (80%) bruising score percentage, CK ($705.3{\pm}80.57U/L$) and $pH_u$ ($6.3{\pm}0.05$) values while the Bonsmara had the highest $L^*$ ($24.8{\pm}0.78$) $a^*$ ($17.5{\pm}0.53$) and $b^*$ ($12.8{\pm}0.53$) values. Higher CK levels were also observed in winter compared to summer, spring and autumn respectively. Therefore, animal factors (sex, breed and animal age at slaughter) contribute to the development of bruises and have an effect on the levels of CK and meat quality. It was also concluded that there is no significant relationship between meat parameters (L,* $a^*$, and $b^*$) and CK levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1252-1258
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• 2015

The Liangshan pig is a traditional Chinese small-sized breed; it has a relatively long feeding period and low meat production ability but superior meat quality. This study utilized three non-linear growth models (Von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and logistic) to fit the growth curve of Liangshan pigs from an unselected, random-bred pig population and estimate the pigs most suitable slaughter weight. The growth development data at 20 time points of 275 Liangshan pigs (from birth to 250 d) were collected. To analyze the relative gene expression related to development, seven slaughter weight phases (50, 58, 66, 74, 82, 90, and 98 kg) (20 pigs per phase) were examined. We found that the Liangshan pig growth curve fit the typical S-curve well and that their growth turning point was 193.4 days at a weight of 62.5 kg, according to the best fit Von Bertalanffy model based on the goodness of fit criteria. Furthermore, we estimated that the most suitable slaughter weight was 62.5 to 74.9 kg based on the growth curve and the relative expression levels of growth-related genes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.611-616
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• 1995

A study was conducted which demonstrated that Dhofari cattle responded well to intensive management systems in terms of growth rates and carcass yields. Twenty-four Omani Dhofari bulls and steers (12 of each) were reared from birth until slaughter at 110, 160 and 210 kg body weight (for of each sex at each slaughter weight). Calves were fed ad libitum a diet of concentrate (16.5% CP) and Rhodesgrass hay (8.8% CP). Bulls and steers reached the predetermined slaughter weights of 110, 160 and 210 kg at 154 and 164; 219 and 233; 273 and 310 days of age, respectively. Respective mean pre and post-weaning daily body weight gains for bulls and steers were 581 and 530; 796 and 706 g averaging 645 and 596 g over 36 weeks. At 210 kg, the heaviest weight of the study, dressing-out percentage (DO) was 54.5 and 56.9 yielding carcasses of 115.9 and 118.5 kg which contained 60.4 and 61.5% muscle; 11.6 and 11.4% bone and 24.5 and 22.9% fat for bulls and steers, respectively. Proportion of bone in the carcass decreased, that of fat increased, whereas that of muscle remained unchanged between slaughter weights of 110 to 210 kg. That resulted in increased muscle : bone and decreased muscle : fat ratios. At 160 kg body weight, bulls had less fat and more muscle and bone than steers but there were no sex differences in carcass composition at 210 kg slaughter weight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.723-731
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• 2013

This study provides a comparative analysis of the effects of pre-slaughter penetrative and non-penetrative stunning and post-slaughter stunning on meat quality attributes in longissimus lumborum (LL) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles in heifers. Ten animals were assigned to each of four treatment groups: i) animals were subjected to conventional Halal slaughter (a clean incision through the structures at the front of the upper neck - the trachea, oesophagus, carotid arteries and jugular veins) and post-cut penetrating mechanical stun within 10 to 20 s of the neck cut (Unstunned; US); ii) high power non-penetrating mechanical stunning followed by the neck cut (HPNP); iii) low power non-penetrating mechanical stunning followed by the neck cut (LPNP); and iv) penetrative stunning using a captive bolt pistol followed by the neck cut (P). For each carcass, muscle samples were removed within 45 min of slaughter, portioned and analysed for pH, cooking loss, water holding capacity (WHC), tenderness (WBS), lipid oxidation (TBARS) and color, over a two week storage period. Stunning did not affect pH and cooking loss. Significant differences in water holding capacity, tenderness, lipid oxidation and color were present at different storage time points. HPNP stunning resulted in lower WHC and color values, particularly lightness ($L^*$), higher TBARS values and peak force values compared with those stunned using LPNP, P and US. These adverse effects on quality were mostly encountered in the ST muscle. In conclusion, the meat quality achieved using P, LPNP and US treatments was comparable, and no treatment stood out as considerably better than another.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2015

Objectives: The seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among high-risk groups overseas is high, but studies in these groups are rare in South Korea. We conducted the present study from April to November 2012 to obtain data on the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for HEV among slaughterhouse workers in South Korea. Methods: Slaughterhouse workers from 80 workplaces nationwide were surveyed in South Korea in 2012. The subjects comprised 1848 cases: 1434 slaughter workers and 414 residual products handlers. By visiting 80 slaughterhouses, which were mixed with 75 of which also performed residual products handling, we conducted a questionnaire survey for risk factors and obtained blood samples in order to determine the seropositivity and seroprevalence of HEV. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM were measured using HEV IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunospecific assay kits and HEV antigen was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: The seropositivity of anti-HEV IgG was 33.5% (slaughter workers 32.8% and residual products handlers 36.2%), and among the seropositive individuals the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgM was 0.5% (slaughter workers 0.5%, residual products handlers 0.7%). The response rate of HEV-antigen as measured by RT-PCR was 0.2%. Risk factors significantly related to anti-HEV IgG seropositivity were age, sex, and working duration (slaughter workers only). Conclusions: There were significant risk factors (sex, age, and working duration) for HEV identified in our study. All three positive cases for HEV-antigen by RT-PCR were related to pig slaughter but without statistical significance. To prevent HEV, an educational program and working guidelines may be needed for high risk groups.