• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2013

Two digestion trials, one with sheep and another with goats, were conducted to evaluate the long-term bias (LTB) of the indigestible dry matter (iDM), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) internal markers. The study used eight Santa In$\hat{e}$s castrated male sheep (average body weight of 16.6 kg) distributed in two $4{\times}4$ Latin squares and eight Saanen castrated male goats (average body weight of 22.6 kg) distributed in two $4{\times}4$ Latin squares. The experiments were conducted simultaneously, and the animals were housed in 1.2 $m^2$ individual pens with wood-battened floors equipped with individual feeders and drinkers. The animals received isonitrogenous diets that were offered ad libitum and contained 14% crude protein and 70% sugar cane (with 0, 0.75, 1.5 or 2.25% CaO, in natural matter percentage), corrected with 1% urea and 30% concentrate. The experiment consisted of four experimental periods of 14 d each, with the feed, leftovers and feces sampled on the last four days of each period. The marker concentrations in the feed, leftovers and fecal samples were estimated by an in situ ruminal incubation procedure with a duration 240 h. The relationship between the intake and excretion of the markers was obtained by adjusting a simple linear regression model, independently from the treatment (diets) fixed effects and Latin squares. For both the sheep and goats, a complete recovery of the iDM and iNDF markers was observed (p>0.05), indicating the absence of LTB for these markers. However, the iADF was not completely recovered, exhibiting an LTB of -9.12% (p<0.05) in the sheep evaluation and -3.02% (p<0.05) in the goat evaluation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2002

Data were collected from 1996 through 2000 on Korean Native Goats by the National Livestock Research Institute of Korea were used to estimate genetic parameters for birth, 3 month, and 6 month body weights. Estimates were obtained with MTDFREML. Model included animal and maternal genetic and residual effects. The model included sex, birth year-season, and feeding type as fixed factors. Average body weights and standard deviation were 1.78${\pm}$0.32 at birth of age, 7.99${\pm}$2.66 at 3 month of age, and 12.08${\pm}$3.20 kg at 6 month of age, respectively. Average body measurements were 36.46cm for withers height, 38.06cm for body length, and 45.56cm for heart girth at 3 month of age, and were 40.27cm for withers height, 42.01cm for body length, and 51.07cm for heart girth at 6 month of age, respectively. Estimates of heritability were 0.66 for birth weight, 0.34 for 3 month body weight, and 0.27 for 6 month body weight, respectively. Maternal effects would be important for birth and 3 month body weights and may not be needed in a model for 6 month body weight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1496-1502
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• 2007

The roles of melatonin in the control of deiodinase (MD) activity in cashmere goat skin and associated cashmere fibre growth were investigated. Eighteen half-sib Chinese Inner Mongolia cashmere wethers were allocated randomly to two groups (n = 9/group). One group was implanted subcutaneously with melatonin (2 mg/kg BW) at three 2-monthly intervals while the other group served as a control. All goats were maintained under natural photoperiodic conditions and were grazed on natural pasture. The plasma melatonin concentration showed a significant difference (p<0.01) between the implant group (M) and the control group (C) but plasma $T_4$ (or $T_3$) showed no significant difference (p>0.05). The monodeiodinase type II (MDII) activity in skin tended to increase gradually from the summer solstice to November. During July and August, the activity of MDII for the M group was higher (p<0.05) than that of the C group; also during this period, there was a significant positive correlation between MDII activity of skin and cashmere fibre growth rate. The monodeiodinase type III (MDIII) activity and the ratio of MDIII and MDII tended to decrease from the summer solstice to November. The ratio of MDIII and MDII for the M group was lower (p<0.05) than that of the C group in July and August. The cashmere fibre growth rate of the M group was significantly greater than that of the C group in July (p<0.01), August (p<0.001) and September (p<0.05). The cashmere fibre diameter and guard hair and body weight were not influenced (p>0.05) by melatonin implantation. The results demonstrate that melatonin plays an important role in the regulation of skin MD activity. Simultaneously, the cashmere fibre elongation stimulated by melatonin may result from enhanced MDII activity during a period of two months after melatonin treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1395-1403
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• 2008

The objective of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters for economic traits in Markhoz goats. Data collected from 1993 to 2006 by the Markhoz goat Performance Testing Station in Sanandaj, Iran, were analyzed. The traits recorded as body weight performance at birth (BW), weaning (WW), six month (6MW), nine month (9MW), yearling (YW) and yearling fleece weight (YFW) were investigated. Least square analyses were used for estimation of environmental effects. Genetic parameters were estimated with single and multi trait analysis using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedures, under animal models. By ignoring or including maternal additive genetic effects and maternal permanent environmental effects, five different models were fitted for each trait. The effects of sex, type of birth, age of dam and year of birth on the all body weights were significant (p<0.01), but had no effects on YFW except year of birth. Age of kids had significant influences on WW and 6MW (p<0.01). A log likelihood ratio test was carried out for choosing the most suitable model for each trait. Total heritability estimates for YFW and growth traits varied from 0.16 for YFW and WW to 0.41 for YW. For all traits, maternal heritability was lower than direct heritability, ranging from 0.06 for BW to 0.01 for 6MW and 9MW. The magnitude of $c^2$ was more substantial for BW than the others, and relative importance was reduced from 0.12 for BW to 0.04 for 9MW. The direct additive genetic correlations estimates were positive and varied from 0.21 between BW-YW to 0.96 between WW-6MW. Direct additive genetic correlations between YFW and body weight traits were positive and ranged from 0.14 between BW-YFW to 0.67 between 6MW-YFW. For all traits, the corresponding estimates for phenotypic correlation were positive and lower than genetic correlations. The maternal additive genetic correlations between various traits were varied and ranged from -0.19 between 9MW-YFW to 0.96 between 6MW-9MW. The estimates of the maternal permanent environmental correlations between various traits were positive and ranged from 0.33 between WW-YFW to 0.93 between WW-6MW. Also, the environmental correlations between various traits ranged from 0.01 between BW-YFW and WW-YFW to 0.70 between 9MW-YW. Estimates of genetic parameters for various traits in this study confirm that selection should be applied on WW for genetic improvement in Markhoz goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1022-1027
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• 2010

Effects of increasing dietary rice straw on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, and fibrolytic enzyme activity in growing goats were investigated in a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square experiment. The goats were offered four diets with an increasing proportion of rice straw (i.e. 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively, on dry matter basis). Increasing level of rice straw increased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.05) the time spent on eating, ruminating, and chewing. The ruminal pH and acetate: propionate ratio were increased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.05), while the $NH_3$-N concentration was decreased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.01). Increasing level of rice straw in the diet increased ($P_{linear\;effect}{\leq}0.01$) molar proportion of acetate and isovalerate, and decreased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.01) molar proportion of propionate. The CMCase, xylanase and cellobiase activities in the rumen were decreased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.05) with increasing level of dietary rice straw, whereas the avicelase activity was increased ($P_{linear\;effect}$ <0.01). In summary, increased level of rice straw elevated the dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content in the diet and had a great impact on chewing activity and ruminal fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 1984

This study was conducted to find out the changes of progesterone and estradiol-17$\beta$ levels in the serum of female Korean native goats during the reproductive stages such as the estrous cycle, pregnancy and periparturient period. Nine heads of female Korean native goats of 3 year old in average and weighing 35.7$\pm$1.4 kg were offered for the experiment. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 18 and 19 days after onset of estrus, and 1, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 149 days of pregnancy, and -5, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2 and +5 days of periparturient period where minus figures denote the days before paturition. The progesterone, estradiol-17$\beta$ in the serum samples were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods. The results of this study are summarized as follow: 1. The progesterone levels during the estrous cycles reached a peak level of 0.98$\pm$0.60ng/ml at 13 days after onset of estrus and decreased thereafter and were lower than 0.09$\pm$0.02mg/ml on the first day of estrus. 2. The estradioe17$\beta$ levels during the estrous cycles showed a peak level of 15.97$\pm$1.72pg/ml at onest of estrus, and decreased (5.41$\pm$0.51pg/ml-9.09$\pm$1.82pg/ml) during luteal phase. 3. The progesterone levels during the gestation period increased from day 1 and peaked at 90 days after mating and then decreased until 149 days. The peak level was 6.27$\pm$0.23ng/ml at 90 days. 4. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels during the gestation period showed gradual increase, which were 9.03$\pm$0.88, 32.96$\pm$2.85, 46.03$\pm$2.42, and 54.06$\pm$1.64pg/ml on 30, 60, 90 and 120 dyas after mating respectively. 5. The progesterone levels measured from 5 days before the parturition to 5 days after showed the highest level at the shart of measurement (4.46$\pm$0.31ng/ml) and decreased gradually and bottomed out at one day post-partum and thereafter (0.24$\pm$0.02-0.45$\pm$0.06ng/ml). 6. The estradiol-17$\beta$ levels measured during the same periparturient period as progesterone showed increase to reach the peak level at 1 day before parturition and decreased rapidly thereafter (-5 dyas 69.46$\pm$3.62, -2 days 107.07$\pm$1.91, -1 days 137.83$\pm$7.54, 0 days 50.06$\pm$6.71 and +1 to +5 days 3.21-4.72 pg/ml).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.733-741
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• 2007

The effects of intra-duodenal infusion of methionine (Met), lysine (Lys) and leucine (Leu) on dry matter intake (DMI), the concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH) and insulin in plasma, and liver IGF-I mRNA level were investigated in two experiments for Liuyang Black growing wether goats. In Experiment 1, three goats ($10.0{\pm}0.1$ kg) were fitted with ruminal, proximal duodenal and terminal ileal fistulaes to determine the infusion amounts of Met, Lys and Leu at the duodenum according to essential amino acid flows into the duodenum and their apparent digestibility. The infusion amounts were 0.77 g/d, 0.91 g/d and 0.58 g/d respectively. In Experiment 2, 4 groups of goats (($10.0{\pm}0.2$ kg) for each group, were cannulated at the duodenum, and were infused with a mixture of Met, Lys and Leu (Control), or mixtures with 21% Met, Lys or Leu replaced with glutamate respectively on a nitrogenous basis. The replacement of 21% Met, Lys or Leu with glutamate did not affect intakes of maize stover, concentrate or both (p>0.05) when compared with the control. The replacement of 21% Met or Lys significantly (p<0.05) reduced plasma GH, insulin and IGF-I concentrations and liver IGF-I mRNA level. The replacement of 21% Leu with glutamate reduced (p<0.05) plasma IGF-I concentration only, but not plasma insulin and GH, as well as liver IGF-I mRNA level (p>0.05). The close relationships between supplying Met and Lys in the lumen of the duodenum and plasma IGF-I, GH and insulin concentrations, as well as liver IGF-I mRNA level in this study indicate that the effects of the limiting amino acids on nutrition of animals are likely intermediated via their effects on these hormones, and these hormone profiles could be used as intermediate markers for the limiting order of amino acids.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.486-494
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• 2017

Objective: An experiment was conducted to determine the nutrient intake, digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, haemato-biochemical attributes, immune response and growth performance of Gaddi kids fed with oat fodder based basal diet supplemented with either tea seed or tea seed saponin (TSS) extract. Methods: Eighteen male kids, $7.03{\pm}0.16$ months of age and $19.72{\pm}0.64kg$ body weight, were distributed into three groups, $T_0$ (control), $T_1$, and $T_2$, consisting of 6 animals each in a completely randomized design. The kids were fed a basal diet consisting of concentrate mixture and oat fodder (50:50). Animals in group III ($T_2$) were supplemented with TSS at 0.4% of dry matter intake (DMI), and group II ($T_1$) were supplemented with tea seed at 2.6% of DMI to provide equivalent dose of TSS as in $T_2$. Two metabolism trials were conducted, 1st after 21 days and 2nd after 90 days of feeding to evaluate the short term and long term effects of supplementation. Results: The tea seed ($T_1$) or TSS ($T_2$) supplementation did not affect DMI as well as the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre. Nutritive value of diet and plane of nutrition were also comparable for both the periods. However, the average daily gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved (p<0.05) for $T_1$ and $T_2$ as compared to $T_0$. The microbial protein supply was also higher (p<0.05) for $T_1$ and $T_2$ for both the periods. There was no effect of supplementation on most blood parameters. However, the triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased (p<0.05) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level increased (p<0.05) in $T_2$ as compared with $T_0$ and $T_1$. Supplementation also did not affect the cell mediated and humoral immune response in goats. Conclusion: Tea seed at 2.6% of DMI and TSS at 0.4% DMI can be fed to Gaddi goats to improve growth rate, FCR and microbial protein synthesis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is present in this country and to analyze the Global BSE Risk (GBR) status in Bangladesh. A total of 2,000 brain samples were collected from cattle older than 30 months of age, slaughtered for human consumption in the district slaughter houses from 2005 to 2006. The brainstem (obex), Pyriform lobe, cerebrum and cerebellum were subjected to histopathological study. Samples that showed some nonspecific lesions were subjected to immunohistochemistry and only brain stem to ELISA for the detection of abnormal prion protein $PrP^{sc}$. In passive surveillance, annual overall diseases of cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats in Bangladesh were collected from Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Dhaka to investigate the occurrences of neurological diseases. Import related data were collected from "National Export Promotion Bureau" Kawran Bazar, Bangladesh Bank and DLS to analyze the importing products of animal origin (cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats) from different countries to find whether or not the imported products posed any risk for the BSE. In an actire surveillance conducted in slaughter house, histopathologically BSE specific lesions were not detected in any of the brain samples, but other nonspecific lesions were observed. No $PrP^{sc}$ was detected from the samples by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. DLS report also supported the absence of BSE in cattle and buffalo and scrapie in sheep and goats in Bangladesh. It was also clearly recorded that Bangladesh imported livestock products from countries in GBR level I and II but not from countries in GBR level III and IV. From this study it apparently seems that BSE is not currently present in the indigenous animals in Bangladesh and poses no or negligible risk to human and animal health.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.587-594
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• 2000

At present embryonic stem (ES) cells with confirmed pluripotential properties are only available in the mouse. Recently, we were able to isolate, culture and genetically transform primordial germ cell (PGC)-derived cells from pig embryos and demonstrate their ability to contribute to chimera development in the pig. In order to determine whether the system we developed could be used to isolate embryonic germ (EG) cells from other mammalian species, we placed isolated PGCs from cattle, goats, rabbits and rats in culture. Briefly, PGCs were isolated from fetuses of cow (day 30-50), goat (day 25), rabbit (day 15-18) and rat (day 11-12), and plated on STO feeder cells in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM): Ham's F10 medium (1:1) supplemented with 0.01 mM nonessential amino acids, 2 mM L-glutamine, 0.1 mM $\beta$ - mercaptoethnol, soluble recombinant human stem cell factor (SCF; 40ng/ml), human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF; 20ng/ml) and human leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF; 20ng/ml). For maintenance of the cells, colonies were passed to fresh feeders every 7-10 days. In all species tested, we were able to obtain and maintain colonies with ES-like morphology. Their developmental potential was tested by alkaline phosphatase (AP) staining and in vitro differentiation assay. For genetic transformation, cells were electroporated with a construct containing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. GFP-expressing colonies were detected in cattle, rabbits and rats. These results suggest that PGC-derived cells from cattle, goats, rabbits and rats can be isolated, cultured, and genetically transformed, and provide the basis for analyzing their developmental potential and their possible use for the precise genetic modification of these species.