• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.497-506
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to estimate the factors that can be used as a predictive indicator of antler productivity in elk. Body weight and antler data from 115 stags raised at the Animal Genetic Resources Research Center in Korea were used in this study. The function for the average antler weight was derived by age, which was $y=-3.4693+5.3747x-0.8x^2+0.0424x^3$, and $R^2$ was 0.991. The analysis of the relationship between body weight at birth and the 1st and 2nd year and the antler weight after the 2nd year showed a correlation between them. There was a correlation between the antler weight of 1 and 2 year old stags and the weight of 2 year old stags as well; especially, both antler weights for the 1st and 2nd year were highly correlated with the antler weight of the 4th year. However, there was no relationship between the antler main beam length for the 1st and 2nd year and the antler weight after the 3rd year. Therefore, it is expected that a large amount of antler will be obtained in the future if proper management is carried out for young deer from birth to 2 years old. Additionally, the results of this study are expected to be useful for the development of a deer breeding program and the deer industry.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2013

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary whole-crop barley silage on the daily feed intake, daily weight gain, velvet antler yield and economic efficacy in elk during growth. A total of 21 elk (average BW 303 kg, 5 years old) were allotted randomly to three treatments. The three treatments were T1 (hay diet), T2 (whole-crop barley silage), and T3 (50% hay + 50% whole-crop barley silage). The average daily weight gain of T3 was higher than the others throughout the entire experimental period. The average daily feed intake of elk in decreasing order was as follows; T1>T3>T2. The velvet antler yield was higher in T3 group (8,585 g) compared with T1 (8,037 g) and T2 (7,713 g). However, there were no significant differences in the average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, or velvet antler yield (p>0.05). In economic efficacy, T3 was gained about 29~43% more value than T1 or T2. In conclusion, the mixed feeding of 50% hay and 50% whole-crop barley silage was more effective than feeding hay of barley alone, in terms of average daily weight gain, velvet antler yield, and economic efficacy in elk.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementary feeding levels on livestck and forage productivity and grazing intensity in Elk stags (Cervus canadensis). A fifteen 2-year-old Elk stags about 195 kg were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments (five animals per treatment). The dietary treatments consisted of a feeding concentrate of 1.0% of body weight (T1), 1.5% of body weight (T2) and 2.0% of body weight. Total dry matter intake (TDMI) was increased with increased with an increasing supplementary feeding levels. Average daily gain (ADG) were significantly increased with an increasing supplementary feeding levels (p<0.05) and reached a maximum on July and was lower in spring than autumn. The velvet antler production was no differences among treatment groups. Forage productivity of pasture and crude protein content were highest on May and decreased thereafter, however, crude fiber content was the reversed. The grazing intensity of Elk stags was increased in spring (38 to 59 head per ha) than summer and autumn (13 to 32 head per ha). The average grazing intensity of Elk stags ranged from 21 to 34 head per ha, which is affected by supplementary feeding levels. This result suggests that feeding supplementary diet at 1.5 % of body weight was needed to maintain the stable wight gain in antler growing periods and control the proper grazing intensity of Elk deer stags.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2006

This study was carried out to evaluate the quality characteristics on the two different muscles (Loin; T1, Ham; T2) from the Cervus elaphus andadensis (Elk deer). The water content and shear force of T1 were lower than that of T2. The protein content and water holding capacity were lower in T2 compared to the T1. In meat color, $L^*,\;a^*\;and\;b^*$ values were not different between T1 and T2. In the texture properties, there were significantly (p<0.05) differences in hardness, adhesiveness, gumminess and brittleness, but cohesiveness and springiness were not different significantly (p<0.05). In fatty acid analysis, myristic acid and linoleic acid of T2 were high (p<0.05) as 5.06 and 10.37% respectively, while palmitoleic acid of T1 were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of T2. SFA and UFA were not different between the T1 and T2, although EFA of T1 was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of T2. In sensory evaluation, acceptability of T2 in fresh meat showed the slightly high, but that of T2 in cooked meat was slightly low score. All samples were not significantly different in overall acceptability.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

In order to investigate the physiological properties of velvet antler of elk (Cervus e. canadensis) raised in Korea, antlers (n=378) were collected from deer in 8 provinces including Gyeonggi-do (n=53), Gangwon-do (n=49), Chungcheongbuk-do (n=62), Chungcheongnam-do (n=68), Jeollabuk-do (n=52), Jeollanam-do (n=15), Gyeongsangbuk-do (n=30) and Gyeongsangnam-do (n=49). The exterior characteristics (weight, length, girth and crown) of all antlers were measured, and 18 antler samples were randomly selected for measurement of interior characteristics such as specific gravity, capacity and diameter of cross section. The mean antler weight, length of the main beam and mean length of upper section were $4.87{\pm}1.79\;kg$, $83.7{\pm}13.2\;cm$ and $40.6{\pm}11.4\;cm$, respectively. Mean girth of the top, middle and base of the main beam were $27.1{\pm}5.9\;cm$, $22.1{\pm}3.6\;cm$ and $22.9{\pm}3.6\;cm$ respectively, indicating a slight narrowing in the middle of the antler. In each of the tines, the girth at the base was markedly thicker compared to the top. The depth of the crown at the top of the antler, and the average number of crowns and tines were $14.1{\pm}7.0\;cm$, $2.1{\pm}0.6$ and $3.0{\pm}0.5$, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in mean specific gravity between top and base, mean specific gravity of main beam tended to increase from top to base of the antler with decreasing capacity. Additionally, the inner diameter of the base of the antler was significantly reduced compared to that of the top, indicating a greater integumental thickening due to mineralization. Information on the morphological and physiological properties of elk antlers is scarce. Therefore, these results may be useful in providing basic information for the physiological properties of antler, and encourage further studies on antler morphology in other deer species showing species specific differences.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the antler induction rate and production by artificial induction of antlerogenesis using $CaCl_2$ injection on both periosteum around area of horn development for the frontal bone of a female elk deer which do not have an antler. The results obtained from eleven deers for verifying effect of the female's antler induction on reproduction are as follows: The antler development induction by $CaCl_2$injection is higher on the treatments of 30 and 50% of $CaCl_2$ injection than those on the treatments of 15 %. The antler production is higher on the 30 % $CaCl_2$ injection than those of 15 and 50 % $CaCl_2$ injection. For 30 % $CaCl_2$ injection, the antler production is higher in 1.5 and 2.0 ml of % $CaCl_2$ injection than the other injection level. After the induction of antler development, the birth rate is not changed as of 75~100 %, while the regeneration rate of the antler which was not constant in approximately 45 % for five among eleven female deer. With these results, we assume that the injection concentration and amount of $CaCl_2$ injection are around 30 % and 1.5 and 2.0 ml level which can be not only most effective conditions for the antler induction rate and production, but also these conditions do not influence the reproduction during the period of the female elk's antler development induction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2004

Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) results in cell death by activation of complex signal pathways for cell death and survival. Hypothermia is a robust neuroprotectant, and its effect has often been attributed to various mechanisms, but it is not yet clear. Upstream from the cell death promoters and executioners are several enzymes that may activate several transcription factors involved in cell death and survival. In this study, we immunohistochemically examined the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase during early period of the ischemic injury, following 2 hours (h) of transient MCAO. Increased phosphorylation of ERK and p38 was observed in the vessels at 3 h, neuron-like cells at 6 and 12 h and glia-like cells at 12 h. Activation of JNK was not remarkable, and a few cells showed active JNK following ischemia. Phosphorylation of Elk-1, a transcription factor, was reduced by ischemic insult. Hypothermia attenuated the activation of ERK, p38 and JNK, and inhibited reduction of Elk-1. These data suggest that signals via different MAPK family members converge on the cell damage process and hypothermia protects the brain by interfering with these pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.452-457
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• 2011

The Egr-1 is an immediate early response gene encoding a transcription factor that functions in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Estrogen has diverse physiological effects, including cellular proliferation and neuroprotection against brain injury. There are two types of estrogen receptors (ERs), $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$. $ER{\alpha}$-induced Egr-1 expression has been extensively studied; however, the role of $ER{\beta}$ is yet not known. In the present study, we investigated whether or not $ER{\beta}$ induces Egr-1 expression in C6 rat glioma cells, which express $ER{\beta}$ but not $ER{\alpha}$. Our results show that $ER{\beta}$ promoted up-regulation of Egr-1 expression via a non-genomic mechanism involving the Raf/MEK1/Erk/Elk-1 signaling cascade.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.162-170
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• 1998

Present experiments were undertaken in order to determine the normal hematological and blood chemical values of elks raised in Korea. Blood samples were collected from 22 healthy adult (5~10 years old) male elks raised in Kyung-pook prefecture and examined for 9 hematological and 15 blood chemical parameters using automatic blood cell counter and automatic blood chemical analyzer. The mean hematological values were determined as PCV : 34.23%, RBC count : $6.70{\times}10^{6}/{\mu}l, Hb : 12.15g/61, WBC count : 3.17{\times}10^{3}/{\mu}l$, neutrophil : 54.09%, eosinophil : 12.27%, Iymphocyte : 28.86%, monocyte : 5.23%, and platelet : $39.94$\times$10^{5}/{\mu}l$

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.496-500
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• 2004

This study has been performed for physico-chemical property and composition of sinew, testes, tail, blood and velvet antler in Elk. Amino acid contents in the sinew taurine, alanine, histidine, and lysine were high contained, histidine, glutamic acid, taurine, and lysine were high contained in testes, glutamic acid, lysine, alanine, glycine, and phenylalanine were high contained in tail, histidine, glycine, and lysine were high contained in blood, glutamic acid, lysine, taurine, alanine, and glycine were high contained in velvet antler. And, based on the amount of mineral, $K^{+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $P^{+}$ were 444.8, 166.6 and 242.9mg per 100g in sinew, respectively. $K^{+}$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $P^{+}$ were 294.4, 330.5, and 514.3 mg per 100g in testes, respectively, $K^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $P^{+}$ were 1420.6, 118.4, and 1105.2mg per 100 mg in tail, respectively. Fe3+,-K+, and P+ were 344.1, 1023.6 and 157.2 mg per 100 mg in blood, respectively and $K^{+}$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $P^{+}$ were 888.4, l1533.1 and 14722.0 in velvet antler, respectively. Finaly, difference were found in comparison of composition of free mwtal ion (N $a^{+}$, $K^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and $Ca^2$) bwteen blood, tail, tests, sinew and velvet antler, and composition of free metal in blood higher than those othersd higher than those others.