• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2015

The study was conducted to analyze the genetic parameters of somatic cell score (SCS) of Holstein cows, which is an important indicator to udder health. Test-day records of somatic cell counts (SCC) of 305-day lactation design from first to fifth lactations were collected on Holsteins in Korea during 2000 to 2012. Records of animals within 18 to 42 months, 30 to 54 months, 42 to 66 months, 54 to 78 months, and 66 to 90 months of age at the first, second, third, fourth and fifth parities were analyzed, respectively. Somatic cell scores were calculated, and adjusted for lactation production stages by Wilmink's function. Lactation averages of SCS ($LSCS_1$ through $LSCS_5$) were derived by further adjustments of each test-day SCS for five age groups in particular lactations. Two datasets were prepared through restrictions on number of sires/herd and dams/herd, progenies/sire, and number of parities/cow to reduce data size and attain better relationships among animals. All LSCS traits were treated as individual trait and, analyzed through multiple-trait sire models and single trait animal models via VCE 6.0 software package. Herd-year was fitted as a random effect. Age at calving was regressed as a fixed covariate. The mean LSCS of five lactations were between 3.507 and 4.322 that corresponded to a SCC range between 71,000 and 125,000 cells/mL; with coefficient of variation from 28.2% to 29.9%. Heritability estimates from sire models were within the range of 0.10 to 0.16 for all LSCS. Heritability was the highest at lactation 2 from both datasets (0.14/0.16) and lowest at lactation 5 (0.11/0.10) using sire model. Heritabilities from single trait animal model analyses were slightly higher than sire models. Genetic correlations between LSCS traits were strong (0.62 to 0.99). Very strong associations (0.96 to 0.99) were present between successive records of later lactations. Phenotypic correlations were relatively weaker (<0.55). All correlations became weaker at distant lactations. The estimated breeding values (EBVs) of LSCS traits were somewhat similar over the years for a particular lactation, but increased with lactation number increment. The lowest EBV in first lactation indicated that selection for SCS (mastitis resistance) might be better with later lactation records. It is expected that results obtained from these multi-trait lactation model analyses, being the first large scale SCS data analysis in Korea, would create a good starting step for application of advanced statistical tools for future genomic studies focusing on selection for mastitis resistance in Holsteins of Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.429-434
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• 1999

In this study the financial performance of small scale dairy farms participating in the government subsidy programme and the impact of this government intervention on the number of animals owned, production and consumption of milk and labour employment in the farm households have been examined. After receiving the subsidy, dairy farmers expanded their herd size. The major changes occurred in the ownership of calves, heifers and cows in all categories of farms. Significant increases in production and consumption of milk as well as in labour employment were observed. The rates of increase for all the parameters studied were much higher in farms adopting cross breeding compared to those in only local-breed farms. The analysis showed that dairying was a profitable business. However, profitability was greater with cross-bred than with local-bred animals.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 1997

Hokkaido, as center of Japanese dairying, 3.48 million tons of raw milk which was about 40% of total production in Japan were produced from 11,400 farms in 1996. The average herd size and the annual volume of milking per head in Hokkaido were 78 head, 7,200kg, and the quality of raw milk also is much better than that of other area in Japan. Raw milk having less than 100,000/ml in viable count and less than 300,000/ml of somatic cell count were 99.6%, 93% respectively. In spite of producing large amount of high quality milk, only 26% of total amount was processed as market milk and 76% was used for making dairy products like butter, cheese and milk powder. Therefore, because of big difference in price between the raw milk for market milk and for dairy products. the income of dairy farms are much less comparing to other parts of Japan, where most of the raw milk are consumed as market milk.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.125-143
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• 2015

When studying the film industry, researchers have seldom addressed the dynamic interaction between marketing information and word of mouth in the motion picture industry mainly because of the limitation of traditional research methodologies. This study explores integration and competition among important variables influencing on audience's choice on movie selection, particularly by using a new method of agent-based modeling including competitive environment. Decision process of moviegoer composed of transition probability based on multinomial logit model, considering marketing and box-office information, critique, and word of mouth from other moviegoers. After validating the fitness of market share among released movies, this study conducted a set of simulation experiments considering several variables such as market size, change of weight between variables, and movie performance under competition. Propositions are derived from the simulation results is also suggested for future research.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2007

To establish a statistically reliable sampling strategy for serological surveillance of classical swinefever (CSF) in Korea, antibody test data from CSF surveillance conducted during year 2005 were analyzed.The most appropriate sampling method was determined to be stratified multi-stage random sampling strategy,in which the primary sampling unit is a pig farm and the secondary are the pigs by the strata of breedersand finishers in the selected farm. The optimum sample size was 5 to 19 including 1 to 2 breeders accordingto the number of pigs in the farm. The optimum sampling strategy demonstrated in this study was veryFindings of our study provide practical guidelines for surveillance of herd immunity level to CSF in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the reproductive status and the effect of progesterone treatment on the recovery of reproductive disorders in Hanwoo. Hanwoo farms were surveyed the general management status, such as the type of barn, the feed intake, the incidence of reproductive disorders. The reproductive disorder cattle were treated 7 days insertion of control internal drug releasing for cattle (CIDR) and injection of PGF$_2$$\alpha$ at 1 day before removal. The recovery of reproductive disorders was assessed by determining the pregnancy following artificial insemination. The total number of surveyed Hanwoo farms was 127, and the total incidence rate of reproductive disorders was 19.7% (209/1,061). Compared to the herd size, the incidence rates of reproductive disorders in less than 10 heads (37.5%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in 10 to 20 heads (14.7%) and more than 20 heads (13.6%) of herd size per farm. The incidence rate of reproductive disorders in tie stall barn was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in free stall barn (30.4% vs. 14.7%), and even in free stall barn, that tended to decrease as the floor area was larger. The incidence rate of reproductive disorder by the parity was highest in heifer (50.7%), and that tended to decrease as the parity was increased. The distribution rate of the case of reproductive disorder in anestrus, recovery rate of reproductive disorders fellowing CIDR treatment was 75.1% (157/209). In the recovery rate of reproductive disorders by body condition score (BCS), BCS 1, 2 and 3 was significantly (P<0.05) higher pregnancy rate (85.7, 84.9 and 86.8%), and gross recovery rate in emaciated cattle was better than in obese cattle (BCS 4, 5). In conclusion, the incidence rate of reproductive disorders in Hanwoo raised in Youngju province area was 19.7%, and that tended to decrease as the herd size was increase because of increased farmer's attentions, and the floor area was larger. The majority of the case of reproductive disorders was anestrus. The recovery rate of reproductive disorders following CIDR treatment was 75.1%, and to optimize the recovery rate of reproductive disorders, cows and heifers were maintained BCS 1, 2 and 3 by moderate management.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.103-114
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• 2011

The present survey was conducted to investigate effects of weaning age on market weights of steers and calf mortality in Hanwoo. Eight hundred and sixty-two Hanwoo cow-calf operations from all nine provinces were surveyed via personal interviews. The number of farms categorized by herd (heifer plus cow) size were 188, 364, 227 and 83 for <20 heads, 20~49 heads, 50~99 heads and >100 heads, respectively. Approximate 40% of farms surveyed weaned calves at three months of age. The percentages of farms weaning calves over three months of age were 53.5%, 37.5%, 43.7% and 39.0% for <20 heads, 20~49 heads, 50~99 heads and >100 heads, respectively. The herd size did not affect market weights of Hanwoo steers. However weaning age was negatively correlated to carcass weight of Hanwoo steers, showing that as weaning age decreased, carcass weights of Hanwoo steers increased. The average calf mortality was 5.6% and the herd size did not affect calf mortality. But weaning age was shown to be positively correlated to calf mortality and the rate of diarrhea that caused calf death, suggesting that as weaning age decreased, calf mortality and the rate of diarrhea decreased. Overall, the results of present study suggest that a decrease of calf weaning age in Hanwoo can increase the profit of Hanwoo cow-calf operations by increasing carcass weight of Hanwoo steers and by decreasing calf mortality.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.1333-1344
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• 2024

Objective: Litter size and piglet loss at birth significantly impact piglet production and are closely associated with sow parity. Understanding how these traits vary across different parities is crucial for effective herd management. This study investigates the patterns of the number of born alive piglets (NBA), number of piglet losses (NPL), and the proportion of piglet losses (PPL) at birth in Landrace sows under tropical conditions. Additionally, it aims to identify the most suitable model for describing these patterns. Methods: A dataset comprising 2,322 consecutive reproductive records from 258 Landrace sows, spanning parities from 1 to 9, was analyzed. Modeling approaches including 2nd and 3rd degree polynomial models, the Wood gamma function, and a longitudinal model were applied at the individual level to predict NBA, NPL, and PPL. The choice of the best-fitting model was determined based on the lowest mean and standard deviation of the difference between predicted and actual values, Akaike information criterion (AIC), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC). Results: Sow parity significantly influenced NBA, NPL, and PPL (p<0.0001). NBA increased until the 4th parity and then declined. In contrast, NPL and PPL decreased until the 2nd parity and then steadily increased until the 8th parity. The 2nd and 3rd degree polynomials, and longitudinal models showed no significant differences in predicting NBA, NPL, and PPL (p>0.05). The 3rd degree polynomial model had the lowest prediction standard deviation and yielded the smallest AIC and BIC. Conclusion: The 3rd degree polynomial model offers the most suitable description of NBA, NPL, and PPL patterns. It holds promise for applications in genetic evaluations to enhance litter size and reduce piglet loss at birth in sows. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for sow parity effects in swine breeding programs, particularly in tropical conditions, to optimize piglet production and sow performance.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.345-351
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• 2010

Toxoplasma gondii is a species of parasitic protozoa in the genus Toxoplasma. The definitive host of T. gondii is the cat, but the parasite can be carried by the vast majority of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It is often found in the tissues of food animals including pigs and sheep. To determine the regional prevalence of infection with T. gondii, bloods (n=300) from domestic pigs and tissues (n=200) from slaughter pigs in Gyeongnam province were tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of antibody and antigen. A total of 115 sero-positive pigs were identified for a prevalence rate of 38.3%. Of the 50 herds from domestic pigs tested, 34 had at least one sero-positive pig for a herd prevalence rate of 68.0%. Sero-positive rates of pigs in fattening farm were higher than that of pigs in breeding company. Sero-positive rates of sows were higher than that of growing pigs. Seasonally, sero-positive rates of pigs were highest in winter (80.0%) and lowest in spring (23.8%). According to farm size, sero-positive rates of pigs were higher in small size farms (${\leq}$2,000) than that of big size farms (>2,000). However, none of the bloods (n=300) from domestic pigs and tissues (n=200) from slaughter pigs were positive for T. gondii specific DNA by PCR.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.961-967
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• 2018

Lao-native beef cattle are primarily Bos indicus, and most ruminant production in Laos is still dominated by small-scale or backyard producers that use traditional practices, resulting in low productivity. The cattle herd size in Laos has grown by an average of 5 percent per year from 1.52 million in 2010/11 to 1.81 million in 2014/15. In 2016, the Laos cattle population was 1.88 million head, with smallholder farmers representing 98% of production despite efforts by the Laos government to develop commercial-scale farms. There were 170 commercial cattle farms in 2016, with 56 percent in the Central region of Laos. Although, overall, ruminant meat production has tended to increase but with consumption at 7.29 kg/capita/yr in 2013, it remains insufficient to meet demand. Crop residues and agro-industrial by-products used in ruminant diets include rice straw, cassava pulp and wet brewers' grains as roughage, energy and protein sources, respectively. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013 will connect China closely with all countries in Southeast Asia. This initiative will change landlocked Laos to land linked for investors who will benefit from convenient transport at a lower cost, promoting agricultural production in Laos.