• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1484-1490
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• 2004

Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes from the displacement-loop (D-loop) region (436 bp) were genotyped and sequenced in Japanese Black beef cattle raised in the same herd. Correlation coefficients between mitochondrial DNA haplotypes, maternal lineage, birth weight, preweaning average daily gain, weaning weight, post weaning average daily gain and yearling weight were computed. The objective was to study the relationship between maternal and postnatal growth traits and to investigate if postnatal growth of calves to yearling age could be accurately predicted from mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. Results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed 17 maternal lineages and four mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. There were strong, positive and highly significant (p<0.001) correlations among maternal traits ranging from 0.52 to 0.98. Similarly, among postnatal growth traits, most of the correlations were also strong, positive and highly significant (p<0.001); the highest correlation of 0.94 was between preweaning average daily gain and weaning weight. However, correlations between mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and postnatal growth traits were very low, mostly negative and non-significant (p>0.05) ranging from -0.05 to 0.1. Prediction of postnatal growth from mitochondrial DNA yielded very low $R^{2}$ values ranging from 0.002 to 0.019. It was concluded that mitochondrial DNA polymorphism has no significant association with postnatal growth from birth to yearling age, and by implication, nuclear rather than cytoplasmic DNA, accounts for most of the genetic variation observed in postnatal growth of Japanese Black cattle. Therefore, mitochondrial DNA genotyping at an early age has no bearing on the accurate prediction of the future growth performance of calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.633-639
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• 2008

The genetic relationship of gestation length (GL) with birth and weaning weight (BW, WW) was investigated using data collected from the Hanwoo Experiment Station, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Republic of Korea. Analytical mixed models including birth year‐season, sex of calf, linear and quadratic covariates of age of dam (days) and linear covariate of age at weaning (days) as fixed effects were used. Corresponding restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and Bayesian estimates of variance components and heritability were obtained with two models; Model 1 included only direct genetic effect and Model 2 included direct genetic, maternal genetic and permanent environmental effect. All the genetic parameter estimates from REML were corresponding to the Bayesian estimates. Direct heritability estimates for GL, BW, and WW were 0.48, 0.33 and 0.25 by Model 1. From Model 2, direct and maternal heritability estimates were 0.38 and 0.03 for GL, 0.14 and 0.05 for BW, and 0.08 and 0.05 for WW. Genetic correlation estimates between direct and maternal effects were 0.05 for GL, 0.59 for BW, and 0.52 for WW. Estimates of direct genetic correlation between GL and BW (WW) were 0.44 (0.21). Positive genetic correlation of GL with BW and WW imply that selection for greater BW or WW would lead to prolonged gestation length.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1524-1528
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• 2003

The present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of dietary fiber on the activities of malic enzyme and citrate lyase involved in fatty acid metabolism in the colon epithelium of pigs. Thirty-six weaned 5 weeks old crossbred (Yorkshire${\times}$Swedish Landrace) piglets originating from twelve litters were randomly assigned to either a low fiber diet containing 10% non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), a control diet containing 14.7% NSP or a high fiber diet containing 20% NSP. The activity of malic enzyme in the colonic epithelium of pigs significantly (p<0.05) increased with age during the suckling-weaning transition. There was a tendency (p<0.10) of decreased malic enzyme activity in the colonic epithelium of pigs fed on the high fiber diet. At week 6, a lowered (p<0.01) activity of malic enzyme in pigs fed on the low fiber diet compared with that in pigs fed on the high fiber and the control diets. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in the activity of citrate lyase observed either between pigs with different ages or between pigs fed with various diets. The current data suggest that piglets during the suckling-weaning transition have a limited capacity to synthesize fatty acids from carbohydrate derivatives in the coloncytes. In addition, lipogenesis in coloncytes was enhanced with age during the suckling-weaning transition. A tendency (p<0.10) to an increased capacity to utilize acetyl-CoA in coloncytes of pigs has been observed for the high fiber diet. Moreover, the present work indicated that dietary fiber resulted in a lowered rate of lipogenesis and a reduced activity of malic enzyme.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2013

Purpose: Iron deficiency remains a very common nutritional problem despite the improvement in nutrition and increased understanding of methods for its prevention. Thus, we try to create a new method for screening iron nutrition through infant nutrition history. Methods: Among the children who visited Inha University Hospital from March 2006 to July 2012, 181 children with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and 52 children without IDA ranging from 6 to 36 months of age were reviewed in this study. We used the age when they began to wean food, the type of sort weaning foods, the time required for successful weaning, iron content in weaning foods, and the duration of breastfeeding for scoring infant nutrition history based on a questionnaire. Results: The mean score of the IDA group was $7.8{\pm}2.6$ points, which was significantly higher than that of the control group ($5.6{\pm}2.1$) (p=0.000). If we set up the cutoff value at 6 points, this screening has 86.8% sensitivity and 36% specificity. In addition, as the IDA score increased, there was a falling trend of hemoglobin. Conclusion: The IDA score does not have high specificity or high sensitivity. However, this study conveys that those patients who record a high score have low hemoglobin. Therefore, we suggest this score system for screening more IDA patients via nonpainful techniques.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1263-1272
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• 1999

The effects of carnitine in diets with or without added fat (5% lard or soybean oil) were evaluated in 72 Large White ${\times}$ Landrace ${\times}$ Duroc pigs weaned at 35 days of age. Pigs were fed a 1.30% lysine corn-soybean basal diet+15% dried whey+4% fish meal with carnitine at 0 or 50 mg/kg and either 0% added fat, 5% soybean oil or 5% lard for 6 weeks in a $2{\times}3$ factorial trial (6 treatments, 3 pens per treatment, 4 pigs per pen). Addition of carnitine increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the second two weeks of the six-week trial and overall, but had no significant effect on feed per gain (F/G). Lard alone depressed ADG (p<0.05) in the last two weeks of the trial and overall, but the ADG for pigs fed lard+carnitine was similar to the control. Lard reduced feed intake in the first two weeks of the trial (p<0.05). Carnitine reduced the percentage of pigs with poor (ADG<375 g/d) growth (15 vs 40%; p<0.05). The greater uniformity of growth was most evident in low-weaning-weight pigs in the second period (16 vs 62%, p<0.005). Addition of fat did not produce any positive effect on uniformity and had no interaction with carnitine on uniformity. Carnitine addition increased serum total carnitione and short-chain acyl-carnitine levels (p<0.05), but did not modify free carnitine levels. Serum carnitine levels were lower at weaning than at 14, 28, or 39 days after weaning (p<0.05). Carnitine increased serum protein levels on day 14 (p<0.05). Addition of fat in the form of soybean oil or lard did not improve piglet growth performance. Addition of 50 mg/kg of carnitine to the diet of weanling pigs enhanced postweaning performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 1996

Two experiments were conducted to search factor(s) affecting the plasma allantoin concentration in infant calves. In experiment 1, five male Holstein calves aged 1 week were given only milk replacer free from nucleic acids for 28 days Plasma allantoin concentration varied in a reverse proportion to daily amounts of milk replacer, and the concentration when calves received 750 g/d of milk replacer was significantly lower than that when they received 250 g/d. Contrary to plasma allantoin concentration, glomerular filtration rate(GFR) was directly proportional to daily amounts of milk replacer, leading to a constant filtration of allantoin across the glomeruli. Renal handling of allantion was also unaffected by the amount of milk replacer, resulting in the constant urinary excretion of allantoin. These results suggested that GFR, which was affected by the nutritional status, could affect plasma allantoin concentration. In experiment 2, the effect of age-related changes in nutritional status after weaning on GFR was examined in eight calves weaned at 5 weeks of age. The GFR expressed as body weight basis was lower immediately after weaning, but linearly increased up to the 19th week post-weaning. The present results suggested that the changes in GFR in response to nutritional status would be one of the possible causes of atypical plasma allantoin concentration immediately after weaning. We conclude that plasma allantoin concentration would not be a proper estimator of intestinal flow of microbial protein in cattle.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.285-293
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to verify the best mating age of gilts at the first parity. Gilts (n = 86) were divided into nine groups in a factorial arrangement with three Ages (AG1, ${\leq}220d$; AG2, 220 to 240 d; AG3, $240{\leq}d$), and three weights (WT1 ${\leq}140kg$; WT2, 140 to 149 kg; WT3, $150{\leq}kg$). A higher body weight gain in AG2 sows during gestation. Sows in AG2 group showed a higher body weight gain at first parity and backfat gain in the parity 2 and 3 during gestation. A greater insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was observed in AG1 sows compared with AG3 sows at weaning in the second parity. Sows in WT1 group showed a significant positive effect on the plasma IGF-1 at breeding and weaning time in parity 2. Sows in AG3 group showed a higher plasma leptin at breeding, farrowing, and weaning in the parity 1, and at farrowing in parity 2. Sows in WT3 group showed a higher plasma leptin at breeding, farrowing, and weaning in the parities 1 and 2. Considering the insignificant longevity results, the most efficient time for gilts insemination can be at 220 d when their body weight is 140 kg or lower.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.249-254
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of dietary level of CLA and the duration of feeding CLAcontaining diets on reproductive performance in sows and piglet growth rate. Tallow (3% in gestation diet and 5% in lactation diet, respectively) was incorporated as a fat source in control diet, and each 50% (dietary CLA level of 0.75% in gestation diet, and 1.50% in lactation diet, respectively) or 100% (dietary CLA level of 1.50% in gestation diet, and 2.50% in lactation diet, respectively) of tallow was replaced by a commercial CLA preparation containing 50% CLA isomers. Diets containing CLA were fed either from d 15 premating to weaning or d 74 post-mating to weaning. The level of dietary CLA and feeding duration did not affect litter size. High dietary level of CLA, however, decreased piglet weights at birth (p<0.01) and tended to decrease backfat thickness of sows at weaning. Longterm feeding of CLA-containing diets decreased piglet weights at weaning (p<0.05) and backfat thickness of sows at weaning (p<0.05). CLA supplemented in sow diet was transferred to fetus and piglets during pregnancy and nursing period, respectively. CLA contents of femoral muscle of piglets were 2.08 to 2.57 mg per g of fat at birth, and 2.36 to 4.47 mg at 10 days of age in CLA groups, while CLA was not detected in the control group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of CLA tended to lower backfat thickness of sow and piglets' weight at birth or weaning, but did not affect total litter size. Dietary CLA was transferred efficiently during prenatal and postnatal periods of time through the placenta and milk, respectively.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.7.1-7.7
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• 2014

The recognition that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) possess potent anti-inflammatory properties in human models has prompted studies investigating their efficacy for animal growth and immunity. This study examined the effect of feeding an n-3 PUFA-enriched diet on growth and immune response of weanling piglets. Newly weaned pigs (averaging $27{\pm}2$ days of age and $8.1{\pm}0.7kg$ of body weight) were assigned randomly to receive a control (3% vegetable oil, n = 20) or n-3 PUFA-supplemented (3% marine n-3 PUFA, n = 20) diet for 28 day after weaning. Female pigs consuming the n-3 PUFA-enriched diet were lighter at week 4 post-weaning than those fed the vegetable oil supplement. Weanling pigs gained more weight, consumed more feed and had better growth to feed ratios between days 14 and 28 than between days 0 and 14 post-weaning. Plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) decreased between days 0 ($87.2{\pm}17.0ng/mL$) and 14 ($68.3{\pm}21.1ng/mL$) after weaning and then increased again by day 28 ($155.2{\pm}20.9ng/mL$). In piglets consuming the vegetable oil-enriched diet, plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) increased from $37.6{\pm}14.5$ to $102.9{\pm}16.6pg/mL$ between days 0 and 14 post-weaning and remained high through day 28 ($99.0{\pm}17.2pg/mL$). The TNF-${\alpha}$ increase detected in the piglets fed vegetable oil was not observed in the piglets fed n-3 PUFA. Results indicate that weaning induces considerable immune stress in piglets and that this stress can be mitigated by dietary supplementation of n-3 PUFA.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.383-393
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate the infant feeding and weaning practices in multicultural families. We surveyed 159 married female immigrants in Jeonbuk province from April 2010 to April 2011. They are from Vietnam (49.7%), China (25.8%), Cambodia (8.8%), Japan (8.2%), and the Philippines (7.5%). The average rate of colostrum feeding of all the subjects was 91% and there were significant differences between nationalities (p<.05), family types (p<.01), and delivery methods (p<.001). 41.5% of those answered did breast feeding, while 49.1% combined breast and bottle feeding, and 9.4% did bottle feeding only. The reason for bottle feeding is either because they are unable to produce enough breast milk or because they think the formula is better than breast milk. Average period of breast feeding was 10.3 months. There were significant differences of breast feeding duration between maternal age (p<.05) and economic level (p<.001). The mean onset time of weaning was 7.8 months, and there were significant differences between nationalities (p<.05), family types (p<.05), and feeding methods (p<.05). There was no significant difference in methods of supplementary food preparation between nationalities, family types, jobs, and education levels. The mean onset time of commercial milk was 12.8 months, and there were significant differences between nationalities (p<.05), the duration of marriages (p<.05), education levels (p<.05) and feeding methods (p<.001).