• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.970-984
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• 2022

Thermal stress is a tremendous health predicament encountered by poultry farmers with adverse effects on the performance, product stature, health condition, survival, and overall welfare of poultry birds, and so requires urgent dietary user-friendly strategy to curb. This study was conducted with 200-day old broilers for the purpose of investigating the potential of phytogenics in refining the negative effects of heat stress on broiler chicken. Moringa, Phyllanthus and mistletoe leaves were processed as phytogenic supplements and incorporated into standard ration for broilers as treatments B1 (control), B2, B3 and B4 diet during the peak of thermal discomfort in humid tropics. Growth and carcass indices were monitored in a 49-day trial and blood samples were harvested at the end of the ordeal period to assess haematology, serum biochemical and oxidative stress markers with the use of standard procedures. The results obtained showed that the prevailing environmental condition in the study site indicated that the birds were exposed to heat stress. Birds fed on moringa and mistletoe supplements had higher performance index than birds without supplementation during heat stress condition, while birds fed on mistletoe supplement had the highest survival rate across the treatments. The liveweight, slaughter weight, dressed weight and eviscerated weight of heat stressed birds fed on moringa, phyllanthus and mistletoe supplements were significantly higher than birds on control treatment. Heterophyl/lymphocyte ratio of heat stressed birds without supplement were higher than birds on phytogenic supplements, with least values recorded in phyllanthus and mistletoe fed birds. Birds on phytogenic supplement tend to have lower cholesterol profile, lipid peroxidation and better antioxidant profile than birds on control treatment during heat stress conditions. Mistletoe supplementation in broiler ration enhances the survival rate, as well as promotes growth indices better among the phytogenic supplements. However, phytogenic supplements did ameliorate the negative effects of thermal discomfort on performance, physiological and oxidative stress in heat-stressed broiler chicken.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1747-1753
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of early short-term temperature conditioning on metabolic rate and calpain/calpastatin system and to compare variations in metabolic rate and calpain/calpastatin system between Hanwoo and Holstein beef. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum of the right carcass from 3 Hanwoo and 3 Holstein bulls were removed within 30 min of exsanguinations, cut into three pieces, and then temperature conditioned until 3 h postmortem (PM) at 2, 16, and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. Rigor values (R-values; $R_248$, $R_250$, and $R_258$), pH, muscle temperature, glycogen content, $\mu$- and m-calpain activities, and calpastatin acitivity were measured at 1, 3, 9, and 24 h PM, respectively. Hanwoo beef had higher muscle temperature, faster metabolic rate at early PM stage in R-values, and lower $\mu$-calpain activity than Holstein beef (p<0.05). The $30^{\circ}C$ treatment maintained muscle temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ until 3 h PM and resulted in faster pH decline at 3 and 9 h PM (p<0.05) than other treatments. The $16^{\circ}C$ had higher (p<0.05) muscle temperature at 3 h PM than the $2^{\circ}C$, but no difference in all other traits was observed between the $2^{\circ}C$ and the $16^{\circ}C$. Early shortterm temperature treatment used in this study was not sufficient to effectively activate calpain/calpastatin system. Correlations among all traits except m-calpain and muscle temperature were generally high (r>0.60; p<0.001). Among R-values, $R_258$ had higher correlations with other metabolic traits than those of $R_248$ and $R_250$. These data suggest that early PM metabolic rate, $\mu$-calpain activity, and calpastatin activity may be closely related to each other. Variations in metabolic rate and $\mu$-calpain activity at early PM stage between Hanwoo and Holstein beef may imply variations in meat quality between both breeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.149-152
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• 1988

Postweaning performances of steer from 11 to 18 months of age under intensive feedlot condition were examined in Brahman and Santa Gertudis cattle breeds which have been established in Paraguay. Fitting of growth data in each breed to an empirical growth model with non-linear least square analysis resulted in the following age(t; months) - weight(w; kg) function made out each breed: w=638.26($1-2.341e^{-0.010965t}$) for Brahman and w=716.38($1-2.365e^{-0.10741t}$) for Santa Gertrudis. The estimated mature size of Brahman steers(638 kg) was 11% lower than that of Santa Gertrudis steers(716 kg). However, slightly larger k value (rate of maturing) of Brahman steer in the mechanistic model suggested relatively earlier maturing tendency in the breed. No significant differences in dressing percentage (Brahman, 59.3%; Santa Gertrudis, 58.8%) of chilled carcass weight to live-weight were observed between breed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.160-164
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• 2006

Currently, boars selected for commercial use as AI sires are evaluated on grow-finish performance and carcass characteristics. If AI sires were also evaluated and selected on semen production, it may be possible to reduce the number of boars required to service sows, thereby improving the productivity and profitability of the boar stud. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between production and semen traits in the boar: average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF) and muscle depth (MD) as production traits, and total sperm cells (TSC), total concentration (TC), volume collected (SV), number of extended doses (ND), and acceptance rate of ejaculates (AR) as semen traits. Semen collection records and performance data for 843 boars and two generations of pedigree data were provided by Smithfield Premium Genetics. Backfat thickness and MD were measured by real-time ultrasound. Genetic parameters were estimated from five four-trait and one five-trait animal models using MTDFREML. Average heritability estimates were 0.39 for ADG, 0.32 for BF, 0.15 for MD, and repeatability estimates were 0.38 for SV, 0.37 for TSC, 0.09 for TC, 0.39 for ND, and 0.16 for AR. Semen traits showed a strong negative genetic correlation with MD and positive genetic correlation with BF. Genetic correlations between semen traits and ADG were low. Therefore, current AI boar selection practices may be having a detrimental effect on semen production.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.869-881
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• 2023

A genetic improvement program in Korea was implemented to improve the performance of Hanwoo cattle by generating livestock with genetically desirable economic characteristics. In particular, in response to external changes, such as the expansion of Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the livestock genetic improvement program has increased farm income by improving the productivity and quality of Hanwoo cattle. Using production cost data from Statistics Korea, the total input and output indices of Hanwoo feeding cattle from 2008 - 2021 were estimated and the growth and productivity changes were analyzed. The productivity change measures results were used to estimate the cumulative effects of the Hanwoo genetic improvement program on quality improvement, another purpose of the program, using a finite distributed lag model. The average annual increase in output (market weight) of Hanwoo was 0.9%. However, total input increased by 1.6%, resulting in a 0.6% decline in total factor productivity. In contrast, the Hanwoo genetic improvement program contributed significantly to the production of high quality beef, rather than contributing to improved productivity of the cattle. Hanwoo carcass weight, which is used as a performance indicator for the livestock genetic improvement program, has significantly improved and is projected to increase at a slower rate. The collective findings indicate the need for new performance indicators that can comprehensively indicate the performance of the genetic improvement of Hanwoo.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.327-340
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of domestic clay minerals on feed efficiency, meat quantity, meat quality and economic traits in 24 head of Hanwoo steers(166.1kg in body weight) for 540 days from six to 24 months in age. Feeding trial was conducted with 4 treatment(six heads/treatment) which were T1(Control), T2(Control+Kaolinite), T3(Control+Bentonite), T4(Control+Illite). The results obtained are summarized as follows; The range of average daily gains were 0.682 to 0.713, 0.669 to 0.714, 0.690 to 0.840 and 0.699 to 0.756kg in growing, fattening, finishing and over-all period, respectively, and the gains were high in T1 for growing and fattening period but in clay mineral groups for finishing and over-all period, especially it was high in Illite and Bentonite groups. Concentrates and TDN intakes per unit of kg gains were lower in clay mineral groups than in control and was lower especially in Bentonite groups. In carcass characteristics, dressed carcass and fresh meat and retailed cut percent were not apparently difference by treatments, and yield index was 69.3, 68.9, 68.8 and 68.6 in T3, T2, T4 and T1, respectively. Marbling scores were 5.1, 4.6, 4.4 and 3.3 in T3, T2, T4 and T1, respectively, and the range of shear force by treatment was from 3.51 to 6.02kg/cm2. and were improved with significant difference(P<0.05) in clay mineral groups than in control. Also in palatability traits, panel test scores of juiciness, tenderness and flavor were improved in clay mineral feeding groups, especially the flavor was improved with highly significant difference(P<0.01) in clay mineral groups than in control. In total fatty acid contents, the rate of SFA(saturated fatty acid) in longissimus muscle of beef was higher in the order of T2, T3, T1 and T4 while the rate of MUFA(monounsaturated fatty acid) was high in the order of T4, T3, T1 and T2. The content of oleic acid which is major influential factor at the flavor of beef was higher in Illite groups than in any other groups. In composition of amino acids in longissimus muscles of beef, the rate of essential amino acids was high in the order of T1, T2, T3 and T4. and the rate of amino acids in clay mineral groups was smaller than in control.In chemical component in Gom-Tang(soup of bone) made by Hanwoo steer’s leg-bone, the ranges of crude protein, ether extract, and crude ash was 0.81 to 1.24, 0.17 to 0.35 and 0.07 to 0.09%, respectively. In mineral composition, the ranges of Ca, P, Na and Mg was 14.01 to 15.77, 11.45 to 16.40, 37.92 to 49.99 and 0.26 to 0.46ppm, respectively. Chemical composition were not apparently different but mineral composition was increased in clay mineral groups than in control. Income by treatments was 967,096 to 1,524,055 Won per head for 540 days and income of clay mineral groups in comparison with control’s increased by 23.7 to 57.6 percent, and especially it was higher in bentonite and(or) Illite groups than others. According to the above results it may be concluded that clay mineral to growing-fattening Hanwoo steers can be improved the meat quantity, meat quality and income. Especially the effect of bentonite and illite is large and can be recommended for usage to improve animal performance as feed additives of growing-fattening Hanwoo steers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.503-508
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• 2004

This study was conducted to estimate the growth curve parameters of crossbreds between Korean native boars and Landrace sows and their relationships with meat qualities. The data used were weight-age data and carcass data from 131 males and 122 females raised at N.L.R.I in Korea. Growth curve parameters were estimated from nonlinear regression using Gompertz model individually. Average mature weight(A), average maturing rate(k), and average inflection point(u) showing maximum growth rate estimated were 179.54${\pm}$6.06kg, 0.3154${\pm}$0.0059, and 5.50${\pm}$0.11 months in females, and 179.84${\pm}$6.33kg, 0.3049${\pm}$0.0061, and 5.24${\pm}$0.13 months in males, respectively. For the growth curve parameters and derived statistics, the phenotypic correlations of maturing rate with gain rate at inflection, mature weight, and inflection point were - .30, - .77, and - .93 in male, and - .31, - .78 and - .94 in female, respectively. Matrure weight was positively correlated to the inflection point as + .89 in both male and female, indicating that late maturing pigs with lower k had longer maturing period with increasing gain rate and reached point of inflection later than early maturing pigs with higher k, and grew to larger mature weight. Backfat thickness and erode fat contents were correlated with mature weight positively in male and negatively in female, and correlated with gain rate at inflection point positively in both male and female, of which coefficients were as high as .42 and .50 in male, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.185-191
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• 1996

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of skip-a-day feeding program in early growing stage of male broiler chicks on the compensatory growth, and development of visceral organs during the later realimentation period. Day-old 328 male broiler chickens( Avian x Avian) were divided into control(ad libitum feeding) and skip-a-day feeding(limited feeding) treatments. Each treatment was consisted of 4 pens( replicates) of 41 birds each. Chickens on the skip-a-day program were fasted every other day during the second wk of age(8~15 d of age). During the starter period(0~4 wk), chickens were fed a commercial crumble diet. A commercial pellet diet was fed to chickens during the finishing period( 5~8 wk). Chickens were group-weighed every week, and one bird was selected from each pen to measure carcass characteristics. The skip-a-day program delayed the growth rate of male broilers up to 4 wk of age(P

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.410-415
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• 2009

The weekly liveweight gain, growing and stress parameters of quails bred using two different types of lighting for 6 weeks following hatching were examined in this study. The first type of lighting was 23 L:1 D, continuous lighting (CL), widely used in the commercial system and the second was a self-photoperiod (SP) system consisting of a continuously lit chamber and a dark chamber the quails could move to as they wished. On the first 15 days, no difference was found in liveweight gain between the two breeding systems. On the $6^{th}$ week when the trial was completed, the liveweight of the male quails upon which CL lighting was used was 159.03 g while the weight of males in the SP group was 174.43 g; these values in female quails of the CL group were 179.15 g and in the SP group were 200.68 g. The CL group had lower testis volume (TVOM, $cm^{3}$) and testis weight (TW, g) than the SP group, however there was no difference between the groups in testis weight/body weight rate (BWTW %). In female quails, the ovary weight (OW, g) and the ovary weight/body weight rate (BWOW, %) values were higher in the SP group. The CL light regime was concluded to cause stress in male quails (CL, Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio (H/L): 0.27; SP, H/L: 0.17). In conclusion; the SP system allowing the quails to regulate their light periods increased liveweight gain and enabled sexual maturity to be gained at an earlier period than in quail on the CL system and improved their welfare.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.634-639
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of heating of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine before injection, on the incidence of lesions at the injection site (pork butt), amount of discarded meat, and economical benefit. Methods: In total, 101,086 piglets raised in 30 farms, were vaccinated in the neck with 2 mL of FMD vaccine at 56 d and 84 d of age using a commercial syringe. The heat treatment group (48,511 pigs) was injected with the FMD vaccine after it had been heated in a water bath at 40℃ for 20 min. After slaughter, the incidence of lesions on the pork butt was inspected, and the subsequent amount of discarded meat was recorded. Results: Heat treatment of FMD vaccine reduced the incident rate of lesions on the pork butt (p<0.01). Overall, 17.81% of the pigs in the heat treatment group had lesions, while the incident rate in the control group was 21.70%. The amount of discarded meat per head of total pigs and per head of pigs with lesions were significantly lower in the heat treatment group than the control group (p<0.01). Thus, the proportion of discarded meat to dressed carcass was lower in the heat treatment group (0.249%) compared with the control group (0.338%) (p<0.01). Farms that rear 1,000 sows can gain 1,863,289 KRW (1,600 USD) in one year when they adopt heat treatment of FMD vaccine before injection. Conclusion: Heat treatment of FMD vaccine using simple heat equipment (water bath) can be effective in reducing lesions caused by FMD vaccination and increase the economic benefits in pig farms.