• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.193-199
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• 2018

As animal welfare issue becomes important, the European Union bans conventional cages for laying hens from 2012. So the alternative housing systems like floor pens, aviaries or free range systems have been suggested. From 2011 to 2014, we monitored 20 welfare-oriented laying hen farms in South Korea to figure out serological status of major viral diseases. During this period, total 3,219 blood samples were collected from the randomly selected chickens to test and evaluate the hemagglutination inhibition titers for low pathogenic avian influenza, Newcastle disease and egg drop syndrome '76. A total of 2,926 blood samples were tested through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess the serological status of infectious bronchitis (IB). The distribution of ELISA titers for IB was various from almost 0 to 20,000 through the all weeks of age. Also, the antibody coefficient of variation for most of the diseases in this study was higher than those of typical cage layers. As this study was the first surveillance for major avian viral diseases of the animal welfare-oriented farms in South Korea, the results obtained from this study will help to determine what information and resources are needed to maintain better biosecurity and to improve the health and welfare of laying hen flocks.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.241-262
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• 2021

This paper reviewed the necessity of a information and communication technology (ICT)-based smart livestock system as a development strategy for the animal life industry in the future. It also predicted the trends of livestock and animal food until 2050, 30 years later. Worldwide, livestock raising and consumption of animal food are rapidly changing in response to population growth, aging, reduction of agriculture population, urbanization, and income growth. Climate change can change the environment and livestock's productivity and reproductive efficiencies. Livestock production can lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation, water pollution, animal welfare, and human health problems. To solve these issues, there is a need for a preemptive future response strategy to respond to climate change, improve productivity, animal welfare, and nutritional quality of animal foods, and prevent animal diseases using ICT-based smart livestock system fused with the 4th industrial revolution in various aspects of the animal life industry. The animal life industry of the future needs to integrate automation to improve sustainability and production efficiency. In the digital age, intelligent precision animal feeding with IoT (internet of things) and big data, ICT-based smart livestock system can collect, process, and analyze data from various sources in the animal life industry. It is composed of a digital system that can precisely remote control environmental parameters inside and outside the animal husbandry. The ICT-based smart livestock system can also be used for monitoring animal behavior and welfare, and feeding management of livestock using sensing technology for remote control through the Internet and mobile phones. It can be helpful in the collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of a wide range of information that farmers need. It can provide new information services to farmers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate animal welfare approved farms in three housing systems (open, windowless, and free-range). The survey was conducted in 25 animal welfare approved farms, and 10 farms were surveyed for distribution status. The main breed in all animal welfare approved farms of laying hens was Hy-Line Brown variety. In the case of open house, laying hens were bred in traditional and panel houses simultaneously; however, the ratio of panel house was 58.3%, which was higher than that of the traditional house. All the windowless houses were made of panels and more than 15,000 laying hens were housed in a single windowless house. In the case of free-range house, it was maintained on a small scale of less than 12,000 birds. Fifty-six percent of the surveyed farms were breeding at $7{\sim}8birds/m^2$. In terms of male and female ratios, most farms maintained 1 male:15 females, but there was a farmhouse that switched 17 or 20 females to 1 male. The daily dietary allowance was 110~170 g, and 32% of the surveyed farms provided feed of more than 150 g/day, which showed that forage feed was important. The age of at the first egg was 123 days, 122 days, and 120 days, and the peak percent was 91.8%, 94.9%, and 86.5% in open, windowless and free-range houses, respectively. The average egg production rate was 74.0%, 84.6%, and 72.7% in open, windowless, and free-range houses respectively, thus, there was no correlation between feed intake and hen-housed eggs. Distribution of welfare certified eggs was mainly a direct deal with the consumer or through contract production. The ratio of direct transactions between large-scale marts and eco-friendly specialty stores of welfare approved eggs was higher than that of conventional eggs. The rate of contract sales of eggs in both the barn and free-range systems was high, and the percentage of courier sales farms was also high. Excluding courier services, price of eggs in the barn system rose to more than 30 won/egg in the second half of 2017 (after AI). Price of eggs in the free-range system rose to more than 50 won/egg in the second half of 2017 (after AI). In the case of courier sales, the same price of 500 won was maintained before and after AI. In conclusion, the results of this study can be used as basic data for improving the animal welfare certification system for laying hens in Korea.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.128-141
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• 2022

Compared to the conventional farms (CF) rearing of broilers, the rearing management of animal welfare-certified farms (AF) must provide low stocking density, perch, air regulation, and feeding plant-based protein. This study aimed to compare the effects of rearing management in CF and AF on blood parameters, meat quality, and bioactive compound content in Ross 308 broiler chickens at the farm level before transportation to slaughterhouses. Blood and meat samples were obtained at 28-35-dayold chickens from three CF and three AF. In blood samples, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05), triglyceride (p<0.001), glucose (p<0.01), total protein (p<0.001), albumin (p<0.01), and white blood cell (p<0.001) levels as well as the heterophil/ lymphocyte ratio [stress index (SI), p<0.001] were lower in broilers from AF than in CF. In meat samples, shear force (p<0.001, p<0.05), and carnosine contents (p<0.001, p<0.05) in both breast and thigh meat from AF were higher than those in meat from CF. The contents of linoleic acid (p<0.001), α-linolenic acid (p<0.001), and eicosapentaenoic acid (p<0.05) were higher in the samples from AF than those from CF. This study reveals that such differences are influenced by the different rearing factors in nutrition, housing, and management practices between CF and AF. Supplementation of plant-based protein and enough space to move due to lower stocking density accounts for the large differences between them. These results can be used as preliminary data showing that the AF system reduces the SI and enhances carnosine and polyunsaturated fatty acids levels in chicken meat at the farm level before transportation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.388-394
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• 2020

This study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the status of animal welfare, environmental level, and sow behavior, by including two farmhouses with sow group housing but having different floor types, viz., litter floor and slat floor. Animal welfare level was evaluated for body and vulval wounds of sows. The environmental level was measured for a total of 4 months, assessing the concentrations of H2S, NH3 and CO2 inside the pig house, once a month. Results of this study indicate that the level of animal welfare, with respect to body and vulval wounds, was better in the concrete slat floor farmhouse (H) than in the litter floor farmhouse (K). Environmental levels obtained (in ppm) were: H2S (H, 1.0; K, 0.0), NH3 (H, 45.4; K, 1.3), and CO2 (H, 1102.3; K, 258.8), indicating higher levels in the H than in K farmhouse. Aggressive behavior was mainly encountered in the H farmhouse. These results indicate that the same group housing system, but with different flooring, results in changes pertaining to aggressive behavior and environmental levels. It is therefore necessary to study the behavior changes, welfare, and environmental levels while deliberating different floor types.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2017

The purpose of this survey was to collect basic data on breeding systems of animal welfare-approved laying hen farms in Korea. Questionnaires were mailed to 64 animal welfare-approved farms, and 20 questionnaires (31.3%) were returned. The housing systems were fabric coverlet (4 farms, representing 20%), naturally farmed (Yamagisi, 7 farms, 35%), and steel panel-framed housing (9 farms, 45%). The 20 farms had stocking densities of $2{\sim}3birds/m^2$ (2 farms; 10%), $4{\sim}5birds/m^2$ (10 farms; 50%), and $6{\sim}7birds/m^2$ (8 farms; 40%). Breeding methods were floor-housed (14 farms; 70%), free-range (3 farms; 15%), and floor plus free-range (3 farms; 15%). Stocking density was $4{\sim}6birds/m^2$ at most of the farms with fabric coverlet and naturally farmed housing and $6{\sim}7birds/m^2$ at seven farms (of 9 farms) with a steel panel-framed housing. The daily feed intake of 11 farms (55%) was between 120 and 130 g, which included 3 farms (15%) with fabric coverlet, 3 farms (15%) with naturally farmed housing, and 5 farms (25%) with steel panel-framed housing. The age of peak production was 24~28 weeks overall 20 farms. Over 80% of production on fabric coverlet, naturally farmed, and steel panel-framed house farms was on 3, 4 and 6 farms, respectively. Respiratory disease on the 20 farms represented 55% of total disease incidence, and of each housing type represented 75% (fabric coverlet), 70% (naturally farmed) and 33% (steel panel-framed). E. coli disease was only found in the steel panel-framed housing. Most of the animal welfare-approved eggs were sold at large markets or a real sale markets. Egg price was 200~250 won per egg. These results indicate the current situation of animal welfare-approved farms and could be caused that windowless poultry house was applied to animal welfare approved farms.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 2015

Domestic fowl still tend to exhibit very similar behavior such as perching, nesting and dust-bathing to their ancestor, Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus), even though they have been domesticated for 8,000 years. If given the opportunity, they choose high place for staying at night, a dark place for laying eggs and do dust bath in litter area. Therefore, these behaviors are considered for very important role in improving the welfare of laying hens. In EU and some countries, farmers must provide perches, nests and litter for the housing of laying hens. An understanding of behavior can lead to enhance physical health, emotional condition and welfare of laying hens. Unfortunately, there is little information on behavior of laying hens in Korea. Therefore, we researched the literature on certain behavior of laying hens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.291-298
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• 2008

For many years beak trimming has been a controversial subject, particularly since the 1980's when the practice came under close scrutiny by animal welfare groups. In Australia it is considered an essential practice, averting losses of AUD$17.5m annually by reducing mortality from cannibalism. While mortality in flocks from cannibalism can be reduced from 25% of the flock to virtually nil, the beak trimming procedure is considered traumatic for the bird. This study examined if chronic pain in the beak was evident in birds 10, 20 and 60 weeks after being trimmed at hatch and in another group of birds, 8 and 52 weeks after being re-trimmed at 14 weeks. Chronic pain was assessed by measuring pecking behaviour and beak sensitivity responses. Pecking behaviour studies completed after beak trimming and re-trimming showed no evidence to indicate that birds were suffering severe chronic pain in the beak. Beak trimmed pullets pecked more at the cage and had more toe pecks, yet overall pecks made at the feed and the environment were no different than untrimmed controls. While the beak sensitivity studies provided evidence that the beak of birds trimmed at hatch and also re-trimmed at 14 weeks may be more sensitive there was no evidence that re-trimming resulted in a more sensitive beak than birds trimmed at hatch only. These studies have shown that birds which are beak trimmed and re-trimmed return to apparently normal feeding and pecking behaviour in the long term. However, there was limited evidence that beaks of trimmed birds have an altered threshold to potentially painful stimuli.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.253-257
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• 2015

Bull-boxing in South Korea is a form of competitions in which bulls measure their strength with each other in the form of pushing by putting their heads together. Bull-boxing has been admitted after being designated as a play culture by the government because it does not cause great injuries to animals' bodies and has strong positive aspects such as contributing to livestock farmers' leisure activities, encouragement of animal husbandry, and communities' economic development. However, bull-boxing sometimes causes damage to the head and horns due to the heavy bodies. According to the results of examinations of these damage cases, damage that caused irregular shapes of the base of horns was identified in 31.5% of fighting bulls. The damage to horns is thought to have been caused by the great forces of fighting bulls repeatedly imposed to each other's horns during bull-boxing that caused minute fractures leading to damage to the blood vessels inside the horns resulting in the blocking of delivery of nutrients to the horns causing the deformation of the horns into abnormal shapes. Since bulls' bodies are injured during bull-boxing although the injuries are small as bull-boxing is mainly conducted by pushing, animal protection groups regard bull-boxing as cruelty to animals and request to stop bull-boxing. The present study aims to develop animal welfare type headgears that can protect bulls' horns and heads in order to protect fighting bulls during bull-boxing in terms of animal protection and welfare.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.143-155
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• 2023

Based on the theory of planned behavior, this study aims to examine the structural equation model among consumers' concerns and purchase intentions for alternative meats. Data were collected from 300 adults living in Kyeonggi Province. Results show that animal welfare, environmental concern, and health concern all have a direct and significant effect on purchase intention of alternative meat, and the mediation effect is also significant, indicating a partial mediation effect. The image of a company as caring about animal welfare and contributing to public causes can help sell alternative meats. Media publicity focusing on animal welfare for alternative meats can improve the attitudes of domestic consumers as well as their intention to purchase alternative meat products.