• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.57-71
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• 2009

Crop-livestock mixed farming systems depend on the efficiency with which nutrients are conserved and recycled. Home-grown forage is used as animal feed and animal excretions are applied to cultivated crop lands as manure. The objective of this study was to develop a mixed farming system model for dairy cattle in Japan. The model consisted of four sub-models: the nutrient requirement model, based on the Japanese Feeding Standards to determine requirements for energy, crude protein, dry matter intake, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin A; the optimum diet formulation model for determining the optimum diets that satisfy nutrient requirements at lowest cost, using linear programming; the herd dynamic model to calculate the numbers of cows in each reproductive cycle; and the whole farm optimization model to evaluate whole farm management from economic and environmental viewpoints and to optimize strategies for the target farm or system. To examine the model' validity, its predictions were compared against best practices for dairy farm management. Sensitivity analyses indicated that higher yielding cows lead to better economic results but higher emvironmental load in dairy cattle systems integrated with forage crop production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.782-787
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• 2015

The myogenic regulatory factors is a family of transcription factors that play a key role in the development of skeletal muscle fibers, which are the main factors to affect the meat taste and texture. In the present study, we performed candidate gene analysis to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the MyoD, Myf5, MyoG, and Mrf4 genes using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism in 360 Erlang Mountain Chickens from three different housing systems (cage, pen, and free-range). The general linear model procedure was used to estimate the statistical significance of association between combined genotypes and muscle fiber traits of chickens. Two polymorphisms (g.39928301T>G and g.11579368C>T) were detected in the Mrf4 and MyoD gene, respectively. The diameters of thigh and pectoralis muscle fibers were higher in birds with the combined genotypes of GG-TT and TTCT (p<0.05). Moreover, the interaction between housing system and combined genotypes has no significant effect on the traits of muscle fiber (p>0.05). Our findings suggest that the combined genotypes of TT-CT and GG-TT might be advantageous for muscle fiber traits, and could be the potential genetic markers for breeding program in Erlang Mountain Chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권8호
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• pp.1031-1040
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to characterize factors influencing genetic improvement of dairy cattle for milk production at farm level. Data were accumulated from 305-day milk yields and pedigree information from 1,921 first-lactation dairy cows that calved from 1990 to 2007 on 161 farms in Central Thailand. Variance components were estimated using average information restricted maximum likelihood procedures. Animal breeding values were predicted by an animal model that contained herd-year-season, calving age, and regression additive genetic group as fixed effects, and cow and residual as random effects. Estimated breeding values from cows that calved in a particular month were used to estimate genetic trends for each individual farm. Within-farm genetic trends (b, regression coefficient of farm milk production per month) were used to classify farms into 3 groups: i) farms with negative genetic trend (b<-0.5 kg/mo), ii) farms with no genetic trend (-0.5 kg/$mo{\leq}b{\leq}0.5$ kg/mo), and iii) farms with positive genetic trend (b>0.5 kg/mo). Questionnaires were used to gather information from individual farmers on educational background, herd characteristics, farm management, decision making practices, and opinion on dairy farming. Farmer's responses to the questionnaire were used to test the association between these factors and farm groups using Fisher's exact test. Estimated genetic trend for the complete population was $0.29{\pm}1.02$ kg/year for cows. At farm level, most farms (40%) had positive genetic trend ($0.63{\pm}4.67$ to $230.79{\pm}166.63$ kg/mo) followed by farms with negative genetic trend (35%; $-173.68{\pm}39.63$ to $-0.62{\pm}2.57$ kg/mo) and those with no genetic trend (25%; $-0.52{\pm}3.52$ to $0.55{\pm}2.68$ kg/mo). Except for educational background (p<0.05), all other factors were not significantly associated with farm group.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.73-82
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• 2024

육계의 장내 미생물 균총은 전반적인 건강을 유지하고 사육 생산성에 영향을 미치는 중요한 요소이다. 하지만 한국의 여름철 고온 환경과 밀집 사육 시스템은 육계에게 스트레스를 유발하여 장내 미생물 균총의 불균형을 유발할 수 있다. 이러한 배경으로 본 연구는 한국의 복지형 농가와 일반 농가에서 봄과 여름철 육계의 장내 미생물 균총을 비교분석하기 위해 수행되었다. 19일령 육계 총 31수를 공시하였으며, 봄철 일반농가(n = 8); 여름철 일반농가(n = 8); 봄철 복지농가(n = 7); 여름철 복지농가(n = 8)에 각각 할당되었다. 계절 간 일반 농가와 복지 농가 육계의 맹장내 미생물 조성 차이를 분석하기 위해 Beta diversity 분석을 수행하였으며, 일반 농가와 복지 농가 모두 맹장내 미생물 구성이 뚜렷한 차이를 보였다. 일반 농가에서 맹장내 미생물 균총 분포를 문 수준에서 분석한 결과, Bacteroidetes의 비율은 봄철이 여름철과 비교해 높은 풍부도를 보였다. 속 수준에서 분석한 결과, 봄철 육계는 Bacteroides와 Alistipes의 비율이 여름철과 비교해 높은 풍부도를 보였다. 복지 농가에서 맹장내 미생물 균총 분포를 문 수준에서 분석한 결과, 봄철과 여름철 모두에서 Firmicutes와 Bacteroidota가 우점하였다. 하지만, LEfSe 분석 결과, 미생물 균총 구성의 차이는 일반 농가와 비교해 상대적으로 적었다. 결론적으로 우리의 결과는 고온 스트레스가 육계의 맹장내 미생물 균총에 악영향을 줄 수 있지만, 주거 환경의 개선이 고온 스트레스의 영향을 완화시켜줄 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 한국유기농업학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.415-427
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• 2021

본 연구는 육계에서 동물복지농장의 스트레스 저감효과를 과학적인 지표를 통해 확인하고자 시행되었다. 농장 내 gas 농도를 비교한 결과 일반농장에서 육계에 부정적인 영향을 미칠 수 있는 CO₂와 NH₃의 농도가 높았다. PCO₂는 일반농장에서, PO₂는 동물복지농장에서 유의하게 높았다. 일반농장의 육계에서 혈중 CREA, GLU, AST, CK가 유의적으로 높았으며, TP, GLOB는 유의하게 낮았다. 또한 혈중 corticosterone과 norepinephrine이 일반농장에서 유의하게 높은 값을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과를 통해 동물복지농장에 비해 일반농장 육계의 스트레스 수치가 더 높은 것으로 판단되며, 동물복지농장이 스트레스가 감소된 사양 환경을 제공하고 있다는 것을 의미한다.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.536-546
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• 2024

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare status at two commercial broiler welfare-certified farms. Methods: Production and welfare indicators were assessed at two farms (designated Farm A and B). Both farms had two windowless houses with forced tunnel-type ventilation and housed broilers at stocking densities of approximately 16.7 birds/m² (Farm A) and 16.8 birds/m² (Farm B). Each house was divided into two or three equal sections and was provided with or without pecking blocks. Grain-based pecking blocks, measuring 25 × 25 × 25 cm, were given to broilers in both farms at 1 block per 1,000 birds. Various parameters including productivity (body weight and flock uniformity), corticosterone levels (in fecal droppings and feathers), footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather dirtiness, gait score, litter quality, body surface temperature, and volatile fatty acids in fecal samples were assessed at 26 days of age, whereas litter quality was analyzed at 13 and 26 days of age. Results: There were no significant effects of providing pecking blocks on productivity (body weight and uniformity), fecal and feather corticosterone, welfare indicators (i.e., footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather cleanliness, and gait score), and litter quality (i.e., moisture, nitrogen, and pH). No differences in body surface temperature between the control and enrichment treatments were noted in Farm B, but body surface temperatures of the head (p = 0.029) and legs (p = 0.011) in the enrichment vs. control group were elevated in Farm A. Butyrate concentration in the enrichment vs control group was higher in Farm B (p = 0.023), but this effect was not detected in Farm A. Conclusion: It is concluded that grain-based pecking blocks did not affect performance and welfare indicators. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential impact of grain-based pecking blocks on gut health indicators.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a key molecule in the Krebs cycle determining the overall rate of the citric acid cycle of the organism. It is a nitrogen scavenger and a source of glutamate and glutamine that stimulates protein synthesis and inhibits protein degradation in muscles. AKG as a precursor of glutamate and glutamine is a central metabolic fuel for cells of the gastrointestinal tract as well. AKG can decrease protein catabolism and increase protein synthesis to enhance bone tissue formation in the skeletal muscles and can be used in clinical applications. In addition to these health benefits, a recent study has shown that AKG can extend the lifespan of adult Caenorhabditis elegans by inhibiting ATP synthase and TOR. AKG not only extends lifespan, but also delays age-related disease. In this review, we will summarize the advances in AKG research field, in the content of its physiological functions and applications.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.112-114
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• 2017

Two one-month-old dairy calves which have Eimeria oocysts in their bloody diarrhea died acutely a few days after showing the first clinical signs. At necropsy, hemorrhagic and congestive gastrointestinal organs were observed in both calves, and abomasal ulcerations existed. As a prevalent agent in all of the collected intra-intestinal specimens, Clostridium perfringens was isolated and the strain was identified as type A possessing alpha and beta2-toxins. In these clinical cases, intercurrent infection by C. perfringens type A and Eimeria through contaminated environment may be responsible for acute hemorrhagic enteritis.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.38-43
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• 2022

A 5-month-old Holstein downer calf was presented, and bovine viral diarrhea virus was detected in the feces and the cerebrospinal fluid. Combined treatment of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) administration and standing rehabilitation had been performed for two months, and the calf could maintain the standing position for a while. However, the symptoms were not improved, and the calf died due to ruminal tympany and aspiration pneumonia. Megaesophagus, abomasal ulcer, and a normal-sized but softened cerebellum were observed in clinical necropsy. Improvement of symptoms was confirmed by rBST, but was not reached the complete recovery of gait and standing position.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.763-770
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• 2015

Improved meat quality and greater muscle yield are highly sought after in high-quality chicken breeding programs. Past studies indicated that polymorphisms of the Perilipin gene (PLIN1) are highly associated with adiposity in mammals and are potential molecular markers for improving meat quality and carcass traits in chickens. In the present study, we screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all exons of the PLIN1 gene with a direct sequencing method in six populations with different genetic backgrounds (total 240 individuals). We evaluated the association between the polymorphisms and carcass and meat quality traits. We identified three SNPs, located on the 5' flanking region and exon 1 of PLIN1 on chromosome 10 (rs315831750, rs313726543, and rs80724063, respectively). Eight main haplotypes were constructed based on these SNPs. We calculated the allelic and genotypic frequencies, and genetic diversity parameters of the three SNPs. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.2768 to 0.3750, which reflected an intermediate genetic diversity for all chickens. The CC, CT, and TT genotypes influenced the percentage of breast muscle (PBM), percentage of leg muscle (PLM) and percentage of abdominal fat at rs315831750 (p<0.05). Diplotypes (haplotype pairs) affected the percentage of eviscerated weight (PEW) and PBM (p<0.05). Compared with chickens carrying other diplotypes, H3H7 had the greatest PEW and H2H2 had the greatest PBM, and those with diplotype H7H7 had the smallest PEW and PBM. We conclude that PLIN1 gene polymorphisms may affect broiler carcass and breast muscle yields, and diplotypes H3H7 and H2H2 could be positive molecular markers to enhance PEW and PBM in chickens.