• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권10호
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• pp.1643-1653
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• 2018

Objective: This study investigated the effect of dietary crude protein (CP) supplementation on nutrient intake, nitrogen (N) utilisation, blood metabolites, ruminal fermentation and growth performance of young Holstein bulls. Methods: Twenty-one young bulls weighing $277{\pm}11.2kg$ were equally divided into three groups and were offered diets formulated with low CP (LCP; 10.21% CP and 4.22% rumen degradable protein [RDP]), medium CP (MCP; 12.35% CP and 5.17% RDP) and high CP (HCP; 14.24% CP and 6.03% RDP). Yellow corn silage was used as a unique forage source and was mixed with concentrate. This mixed feed was given ad libitum to the young bulls included in the study. Results: Results showed that CP intake, blood urea nitrogen, N intake, total N excretion and N balance increased linearly with an increase in dietary CP level (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in nutrient digestibility among the bulls receiving the different diets. Ruminal pH (p<0.05) and ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3-N$) concentration (p<0.01) were significantly higher in the bulls receiving the MCP and HCP diets than in those receiving the LCP diet. The bulls receiving the HCP diet showed significantly higher ruminal bacterial protein level, propionate, acetate and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentrations than bulls receiving the LCP diet (p<0.05). Moreover, dietary CP level exerted a significant positive effect on the final body weight, average daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio of the bulls (p<0.05). Conclusion: High dietary CP level is optimal for achieving maximum growth and high profitability without exerting a negative effect on the physiology of growing Holstein bulls.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.184-188
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• 2001

In a summer study during May to July, involving 12 young Murrah buffalo bulls at forty months of average age, the effects of multiple shower vs single shower body cooling and vitamin A, D and E supplementation on the sexual behaviour, semen quality and freezability were investigated. The animals were divided into two groups (6 animals in each group) and housed in a half-walled shed with proper spacing, the feeding management being identical. The bulls in the control group were given a single shower at 1000 h, whereas the experimental bulls were given four showers at 10,12,14 and 16 h. In addition, the experimental bulls were given vitamin A, D and E injections at fifteen day intervals. The sexual behaviour of bulls was observed in terms of reaction time, sexual aggressiveness and ejaculatory thrust. Semen quality of all the bulls was assessed in terms of volume, mass activity, live-dead sperm and sperm concentration, sperm motility and morphology, and acrosomal abnormality. The sexual behaviour did not vary significantly between the groups, whereas semen quality differed significantly for volume, per cent live sperms, total sperms per ejaculate and total live sperm per ejaculate between groups. It can be concluded that sexual behaviour was not influenced by the thermal comfort treatment coupled with periodic vitamin A, D and E injections. But the treatments improved most of the seminal traits in the experimental group of bulls. However, benefit of treatment was not reflected in the freezability traits of the semen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.497-507
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• 1993

Four truncation selection schemes (SSs) were framed to predict and compare the age structures and genetic responses under the influence of various factor employing the scheme-specific algorithms. Two paths of selection, sires (bulls' sires) and dams (bulls' dams) to breed young bulls were considered. Among variable factors, four levels (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) of precision of evaluation, five levels (0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 genetic standard deviation) of genetic differences among age classes and 4 levels of proportions selected (for bulls' sire, 0.05, 0.10, 0.125, 0.25, and for bulls' dams 0.02, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.10) contemplated on both paths of selection. The number of age classes for bulls' dams and bulls' sires were 4 or 8 and 2 or 4, respectively. The stayability across age classes for bulls' dams was assumed to be 0.80 or 0.60. The candidates for selection for bulls' sires were equally distributed (0.5 or 0.25) across the age classes. The SS1 (selection on same proportions as candidates' distribution) revealed longest generation lengths and lowest yearly genetic responses. The average ages were youngest and yearly genetic responses were highest in SS4 (selection at each age-specific truncation point with the same average genetic superiority of selected parents across the ages) and followed by SS3 (selection at each agespecific truncation point with same predicted genetic values) and SS2 (selection at common truncation point on phenotypic values) in a population with overlapping generations. The results revealed the importance of choosing suitable selection scheme to acquire maximum yearly genetic responses especially when the genetic differences among age classes are large and the precision of evaluation is relatively low.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권10호
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• pp.1452-1460
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• 2014

The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutritional parameters of young bulls supplemented with different ratios of protein: carbohydrate on tropical pastures from 4 until 18 months old. Fifty-five non-castrated beef calves ($138.3{\pm}3.4kg$, 90 to 150 d of age) were used. The calves (young bulls) were subjected to a 430-d experimental period encompassing 4 seasons. The treatments were as follows: control, only mineral mixture; HPHC, high protein and high carbohydrate supplement; HPLC, high protein and low carbohydrate supplement; LPHC, low protein and high carbohydrate supplement; and LPLC, low protein and low carbohydrate supplement. The amount of supplement was adjusted every 28 d. Dry matter (DM) intake was higher in the dry-to-rainy transition and rainy seasons for all nutritional plans. Non-supplemented animals had lower intakes of DM and total digestible nutrients (TDN) than supplemented young bulls in all seasons. Although differences in DM intake were not observed between supplemented animals, the supplements with high carbohydrate (HPHC and LPHC) had lower forage intake during suckling (rainy-to-dry transition season) and in the rainy season. However, the HPHC treatment animals had higher intake and digestibility of neutral detergent fiber. It can be concluded that supplementation with high protein levels (supplying 50% of the crude protein requirement) provide the best nutritional parameters for grazing young bulls in most seasons, increasing intake and digestibility of diet, and these effects are more intense when associated with high carbohydrate levels level (supplying 30% TDN requirement).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권7호
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• pp.1054-1059
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• 2009

This work was carried out to study the chemical and fatty acid composition of Longissimus muscle (LM) of crossbred young bulls finished in a feedlot. After weaning (at 8 months old), the bulls were kept in a feedlot for 180 days. The bulls were kept in individual pens and fed (twice daily) with corn silage, soybean hulls, cracked corn, limestone, urea and mineral salt. The bulls were slaughtered with a final weight of 464 kg. Forty bulls were used: 10 Caracu (CAR), 10 Canchim (CAN), 10 Caracu vs. Charolais (CCH) and 10 Canchim vs. Aberdeen Angus (CAA). The percentages of moisture, ash, crude protein, total lipids, as well as the fatty acid composition, were measured in the LM. The moisture percentage was lower (p<0.05) for bulls from CAA genetic group (71.2%) in comparison to bulls from CAR (74.2%), CAN (74.9%) and CCH (74.7%) genetic groups. On the other hand, there was no difference (p>0.05) among bulls from CAR, CAN and CCH genetic groups. Ash percentage was lower (p<0.05) for CAR bulls (0.96%) in comparison with the other genetic groups. There was no difference (p>0.05) among CAN, CCH and CAA genetic groups. Similarly, there was no difference (p>0.05) in crude protein among the different genetic groups. Total lipids percentage was higher (p<0.05) for CAA bulls (5.35%) and lower (p<0.05) for CAN (1.85%) and CCH (1.41%) genetic groups. Genetic group has little effect on the fatty acid composition of Longissimus muscle of bulls. However, CLA (C 18:2 c-9 t-11) percentage was higher (p<0.05) for CAR (0.33%) and CCH (0.37%) in comparison to CAN (0.27%) and CAA (0.29%) genetic groups. Saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-6 and n-3 percentages did not differ (p>0.05) among genetic groups. PUFA/SFA ratio ranged from 0.10 to 0.15, with no difference (p>0.05) among genetic groups. Similarly, n-6/n-3 ratio ranged from 12.6 to 16.3, without difference (p>0.05) among genetic groups.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.382-389
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to test the efficiency of genomic selection for milk production traits in a Korean Holstein cattle population. Methods: A total of 506,481 milk production records from 293,855 animals (2,090 heads with single nucleotide polymorphism information) were used to estimate breeding value by single step best linear unbiased prediction. Results: The heritability estimates for milk, fat, and protein yields in the first parity were 0.28, 0.26, and 0.23, respectively. As the parity increased, the heritability decreased for all milk production traits. The estimated generation intervals of sire for the production of bulls (L_SB) and that for the production of cows (L_SC) were 7.9 and 8.1 years, respectively, and the estimated generation intervals of dams for the production of bulls (L_DB) and cows (L_DC) were 4.9 and 4.2 years, respectively. In the overall data set, the reliability of genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) increased by 9% on average over that of estimated breeding value (EBV), and increased by 7% in cows with test records, about 4% in bulls with progeny records, and 13% in heifers without test records. The difference in the reliability between GEBV and EBV was especially significant for the data from young bulls, i.e. 17% on average for milk (39% vs 22%), fat (39% vs 22%), and protein (37% vs 22%) yields, respectively. When selected for the milk yield using GEBV, the genetic gain increased about 7.1% over the gain with the EBV in the cows with test records, and by 2.9% in bulls with progeny records, while the genetic gain increased by about 24.2% in heifers without test records and by 35% in young bulls without progeny records. Conclusion: More genetic gains can be expected through the use of GEBV than EBV, and genomic selection was more effective in the selection of young bulls and heifers without test records.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.297-302
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• 2011

본 연구는 지금까지 보증 및 후보씨수소로 선발된 씨수소에 대하여 연도별 평균 근교 및 혈연계수를 추정하고 씨수소의 유효집단크기를 추정하여 현재 한우개량 체계의 문제를 도출하여 발전된 대안을 제시하고자 실시하였다. 분석에 이용된 자료는 한우개량사업소로부터 1983년부터 2008년까지 1,128두의 당 후대검정 씨수소자료와 한국종축개량협회로부터 3,760두에 대한 혈통자료를 받아 이용하였다. 보증 및 후보씨수소의 평균 근교계수는 0.04에서 0.97%의 분포로 추정되었으며, 평균 혈연계수는 0.10에서 6.82%의 분포로 추정되었다. 유효집단 크기는 1983년부터 2008년까지 26년간 평균 근교비율을 이용하였을 때 220두로 추정되었다. 근교수준은 최근 2년간 급격히 증가하였고, 평균 혈연계수 역시 점차 증가하는 추세이다. 유효집단크기도 최근 5년의 근교비율로 추정하였을 때 47두로 작게 추정되었다. 보증씨수소 선발시 후대검정우의 도체성적에 의한 유전능력평가 자료의 활용뿐만 아니라, 근교 및 혈연계수를 고려하고 한우의 유전적 다양성의 보존과 근교를 피하기 위하여 현행의 보증씨수소 두수를 증가시켜 유효집단크기를 높여야 될 필요성이 있다고 사료된다.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권12호
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• pp.1831-1841
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• 2023

Objective: This study was realized to evaluate the effects of supplementation with blends of water and fat-soluble vitamins on animal performance and carcass traits of young Nellore bulls. Methods: Forty-three Nellore bulls, with an initial weight of 261±27.3 kg and a mean age of 8±1.0 months, were used. Five animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (reference group), to determine the initial empty body weight of the bulls that remained in the experiment. The remaining 38 bulls were fed ad libitum and distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2×2 factorial scheme, with or without supplementation of water-soluble (B-blend+ or B-blend-) and fat-soluble (ADE+ or ADE-) vitamin blends. Diets were isonitrogenous (120 g of crude protein/kg dry matter [DM] of total mixed ration) and consisted of a roughage:concentrate rate of 30:70 based on total DM of diet. The experiment lasted 170 days, with 30 days of adaptation and 140 days for data collection. At the beginning and end of the experimental period, the bulls were weighed to determine the average daily gain. To estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients and microbial efficiency, spot collections of feces and urine were performed for five consecutive days. Results: DM, ashes, organic matter, crude protein, ethereal extract, neutral detergent fiber corrected for residual ash and residual nitrogenous, and N intake and apparent digestibility were not influenced by vitamin supplementation, but total digestible nutrients intake and non-fibrous carbohydrates digestibility were influenced by B complex vitamin supplementation. Nitrogen balance, microbial efficiency, and performance data were not influenced (p>0.05) by vitamin supplementation. Conclusion: Vitamin supplementation (a blend of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins or their combinations) does not influence the animal performance and carcass traits of young Nellore bulls.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.109-116
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• 2016

The recovery of epididymal sperm in animals is considered as one of the important tools to preserve high value or endangered species. However, there are no appropriate castrating indicators such as months of age in bull, sperm morphology, and motility, particularly in young Korean native bull (Hanwoo). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate sperm number, morphology, and motility of sperm in the epididymis tail of young Hanwoo bulls at 8 and 15 months of age. After castration, epididymal tails were collected and minced with blades to recover sperm. In experiments 1 and 2, sperm number, morphology, and motility were examined. Total number of sperm and percentage of normal sperm from bulls at 8 months of age was lower than that of bulls at 15 months of age after collection (P<0.05). Percentage of abnormal head, tail, proximal cytoplasmic droplet, dead and damaged acrosome of sperm from bulls at 8 months of age were higher than those of bulls at 15 months of age (P<0.05). In experiment 3, sperm motility from bulls at 8 and 15 months of age were examined before freezing and after thawing. Frozen-thawed sperm at 8 months of age showed low total motility and motile sperm with ${\geq}25{\mu}m/sec$ compared to those at 15 months of age and commercially-used sperm (P<0.05). In conclusion, sperm derived from the epididymal tail of bulls at 8 months of age showed high abnormal morphology and poor motility, which are not adequate for AI and IVF. On the other hand, sperm derived from the epididymal tail of bulls at 15 months of age showed high normal morphology and motility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권9호
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• pp.1309-1316
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• 2015

In this paper, weight, carcass dressing, weights of the primary cuts, weights of the physical components of the primary cuts, and weights of the main commercial cuts of 66 $Purun{\tilde{a}}$ animals, of which 33 were bulls and 33 were steers were evaluated. These animals, with an average age of 19 months at the beginning of the experiment, were finished in a feedlot system during 116 days, and were fed with diets containing three levels of concentrate (0.8%, 1.1%, and 1.4% of body weight). The concentrate was formulated with 25% soybean meal, 73% ground corn grain, 1% of a mineral mix, and 1% of limestone. The interaction between sexual groups and the concentrate level was not significant for any of the variables. Likewise, no effect of the concentrate level was detected on the same variable traits. The bulls demonstrated higher hot carcass weights (265.1 vs 221.7 kg) and a higher proportion of forequarter (38.4% vs 36.1%) however the steers presented with higher proportions of side (19.7% vs 18.5%) and hindquarter (44.2% vs 43.1%). The bulls produced higher yields of muscle in the three primary cuts, there by resulting in higher yields of edible portions of the carcass. The bulls also produced higher weights of tenderloin, knuckle, topside, flat, eye round, rump, and rump cover. The finishing of young bulls in feedlot is to be recommended, since the animals produce carcasses with higher amounts of edible meat and higher yields of commercial cuts, thus allowing for a better price for the carcass. Low concentrate level could be used due to the lower cost of production for farmers.