• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.172-177
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• 2007

Thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating metabolism and can affect homeostasis of fat depots. The gene encoding thyroglobulin (TG), producing the precursor for thyroid hormones, has been proposed as a positional and functional candidate gene for a QTL with an effect on fat deposition. The SNP occurs in the 5' promoter region of the TG gene and is widely used in marker assisted selection (MAS) programs to improve the predictability of marbling level and eating quality in beef cattle. In this study, we identified three SNPs at the 5' promoter region of the TG gene in Korean cattle. Of the three SNPs identified in TG gene, the C257T and A335G were previously unreported new SNPs. The sequence data were submitted to GenBank (GenBank accession number: AY615525). The previously reported C422T SNP showed three genotypes, CC, CT and TT, by digestion with the restriction enzyme MflI using the PCR-RFLP method. A new allelic variant corresponding to the C${\rightarrow}$T and A${\rightarrow}$G mutations at positions 257 and 335, respectively, could be detected by the SSCP analysis. The gene-specific SNP marker association analysis indicated that the C422T SNP marker was significantly associated (p<0.05) with marbling score. Animals with the CC and CT genotypes had higher marbling score than those with the TT genotype. Results from this study suggest that TG gene-specific SNP may be a useful marker for meat quality traits in future MAS programs in Korean cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1592-1598
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding a trace minerals-fortified microbial culture (TMC) on the performance and carcass characteristics of late-fattening Hanwoo steers. A mixture of microbes (0.6% [v/w] of Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Saccharomyces sp.) was cultured with 99% feedstuff for ensiling and 0.4% trace minerals (zinc, selenium, copper, and cobalt). Sixteen late-fattening steers (mean age, 21.8 months) were allocated to two diets: a control diet (concentrate mix and rice straw) and a treated diet (control diet+3.3% TMC). At a mean age of 31.1 months, all the steers were slaughtered. The addition of TMC to the diet did not affect the average daily weight gain of the late fattening steers, compared with that of control steers. Moreover, consuming the TMC-supplemented diet did not affect cold carcass weight, yield traits such as back fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, yield index or yield grade, or quality traits such as meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, marbling score, or quality grade. However, consumption of a TMC-supplemented diet increased the concentrations of zinc, selenium, and sulfur (p<0.05) in the longissimus muscle. With respect to amino acids, animals consuming TMC showed increased (p<0.05) concentrations of lysine, leucine, and valine among essential amino acids and a decreased (p<0.05) concentration of proline among non-essential amino acids. In conclusion, the consumption of a TMC-supplemented diet during the late-fattening period elevated the concentrations of certain trace minerals and essential amino acids in the longissimus muscle, without any deleterious effects on performance and other carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1485-1489
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• 2007

Achaete-scute like 2 (ASCL2) gene encodes a member of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor which is essential for the maintenance of proliferating trophoblasts during placental development. ASCL2 gene preferentially expresses the maternal allele in the mouse. However, it escapes genomic imprinting in the human. In this study, the complete open reading frame consisting of 193 amino acids of ASCL2 gene was obtained. Sequence analysis indicated that a C-G mutation existed in the 3' region between Meishan and Large White pigs. The polymorphism was used to determine the monoallelic or biallelic expression with RT-PCR-RFLP in pigs of Large $White{\times}Meishan$ $F_1$ hybrids. Imprinting analysis indicated that the ASCL2 gene expression was biallelic in all the tested tissues (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, stomach, small intestine, skeletal muscle, fat, uterus, ovary and pituitary). PCR-RFLP was used to detect the polymorphism in 270 pigs of the "$Large\;White{\times}Meishan$" $F_2$ resource population. The statistical results showed highly significant associations of the genotypes and fat meat percentage (FMP), lean meat percentage (LMP) and ratio of lean to fat (RLF) (p<0.01), and significant associations of the genotypes and loin eye area (LEA) and internal fat rate (IFR) (p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different additives on the growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics in Holstein steers during 18month fattening periods. Twenty four Holstein steers, 5months of age and 176.6kg, were randomly allocated to 3 experimental groups 8 animals each for 18-months feeding trial. The groups were control (not additive), T1 (fed zinc, Vitamin C) and T2 (fed zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Selenium). According to feeding additives, final weight was not significantly different among the treatment groups, tended to be high at T2 group (827kg) compared to the other groups. Average daily gain was not different among the treatment groups during the experimental periods, but T2 group was significantly greater than T1 group in growing stage (p<0.05). The feed additives had no effects on DMI during experimental periods. Feed conversion ratio of T1 group in growing stage was significantly higher than those of other groups (p<0.05), average feed conversion ratio was tend to be decreased at T2 group rather compared with other groups. In the results of yield traits, carcass weight were relatively higher in T2 group than other groups (p<0.05). Rib-eye area, back fat thickness and yield index were similar between groups. In quality traits, marbling, meat color, fat color, texture and maturity were not significantly different among the groups. In economic efficiency, income was highest at T2 group as 91~393 thousand won among 3 groups.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.715-722
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• 2013

Heugu (Korea Black Cattle) is one of the indigenous cattle breeds in Korea; however there has been severe lack of genomic studies on the breed. In this study, we report the first whole genome resequencing of Heugu at higher sequence coverage using Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. More than 153.6 Giga base pairs sequence was obtained, of which 97% of the reads were mapped to the bovine reference sequence assembly (UMD 3.1). The number of non-redundantly mapped sequence reads corresponds to approximately 28.9-fold coverage across the genome. From these data, we identified a total of over six million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of which 29.4% were found to be novel using the single nucleotide polymorphism database build 137. Extensive annotation was performed on all the detected SNPs, showing that most of SNPs were located in intergenic regions (70.7%), which is well corresponded with previous studies. Of the total SNPs, we identified substantial numbers of non-synonymous SNPs (13,979) in 5,999 genes, which could potentially affect meat quality traits in cattle. These results provide genome-wide SNPs that can serve as useful genetic tools and as candidates in searches for phenotype-altering DNA difference implicated with meat quality traits in cattle. The importance of this study can be further pronounced with the first whole genome sequencing of the valuable local genetic resource to be used in further genomic comparison studies with diverse cattle breeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.418-424
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to explore the efficacy of lacquer (Rhus verniciflua) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits and serum biochemical values in commercial broilers. Eight hundred and forty Hubbard broiler chicks (1d old) were randomly distributed and allotted to four dietary treatments for five weeks. Each treatment had 5 replicates with 42 birds each. The dietary treatments were (1) control (2) 1% lacquer, (3) 2% lacquer and 4) 4% lacquer supplied as meal in the diet. Supplementation with lacquer improved weight gain (p = 0.0960) showing a linear trend during the starter phase (0-3 wk), but weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio remained unaffected at the finisher phase (4-5 wk) and overall (0-5 wk). The nutrient digestibility studies conducted after 18 and 35 days of experimental feeding showed a linear (p<0.05) increase in digestibility of CP and ether extract at both measurement timess. The carcass studies were conducted on two birds per replicate (10 per treatment) at the end of both 3 and 5 wk. The dressing percentage, liver weight, heart weight, abdominal fat and the breast meat expressed as a percentage of live weight, did not differ significantly due to treatments at both phases. The serum cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) showed a linear decrease (p = 0.0683 and p = 0.0322, respectively) as the level of supplementation increased at 3 wk; at 5 wk serum cholesterol, HDL and triglyceride levels decreased significantly showing a positive linear effect of lacquer on fat metabolism. The meat color values such as lightness, redness and yellowness did not reveal any significant trend. Overall, it could be concluded that lacquer supplementation at higher levels did not affect growth performance, but had a positive impact on fat metabolism by influencing fat digestibility and reducing serum cholesterol and triglyceride.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2010

A total of 96 non-lean-type (Yorkshire $\times$ Landrace) $\times$ Duroc gilts and barrows weighing approximately 80 kg were randomly allocated to 24 pens under a 2 (sex) $\times$ 3 [diet; 3.4, 3.2, and 3.0 Mcal DE/kg {'high'-, 'medium'-, and 'low'-energy diets (HE, ME, and LE), respectively}] factorial arrangement of treatments. All animals were slaughtered approximately at 115 kg, after which carcass quality traits and grades and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the loin related to meat quality were analyzed. The ADG and gain:feed were not affected by the sex or dietary treatment, whereas ADFI was greater in the ME vs HE group. Backfat thickness was greater in barrows vs gilts and also in ME and HE vs LE only in barrows. Enumerated carcass marbling and quality grade, which were highly correlated (r=0.56; P<0.01), were greater in barrows vs gilts. Physicochemical characteristics including the color, pH, drip loss and contents of moisture, protein, and fat of fresh loin, as well as sensory characteristics of fresh and cooked loin, were not affected by the sex or dietary treatment, except for shear force for cooked loin which was greater (P<0.05) in LE and ME vs HE. In conclusion, it is thought that ME is comparable to HE in terms of the effect on growth and carcass quality of finishing pigs, but that the relative effect of LE vs ME needs to be further studied.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.614-625
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• 2021

This study investigates how visual appearance of pork cuts affects consumer preference. Images of pork belly, Boston butt, and loin were chosen on the basis of visible fattiness and used to analyze consumers' perception of the appearance of each pork cut. Meat color and visible fat proportion of images of pork cuts were analyzed by the researchers before conducting the survey. A total of 211 pork eaters evaluated the pork cuts based on appearance (lightness of color, redness, visible fat proportion, and fat distribution), preferability, and overall acceptability. Also, muscle pieces from different pork cuts were taken and the relative area composition of muscle fibers was measured. Based on survey results, correlation between visual traits and preferences of each pork cut was analyzed. The survey results showed that preferred pork appearance varied as per each individual's favorite pork cut. Also, the respondents evaluated visual characteristics and preference for each pork cut differently possibly due to the different visual characteristics of each cut. Correlation analysis between visual traits and preference indicated that overall acceptability of pork cuts was mainly influenced by fat preference, followed by color preference. Fat and color preferences for each pork cut were affected by various visual attributes including redness, lightness of color, visible fat proportion, and fat distribution, but their effects were considerably varied among different pork cuts. Thus, Korean consumers perceived and assessed pork appearance using various quality cues but the evaluation depended on which cut was being observed.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.24 no.5 s.83
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• pp.53-68
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• 2006

This study examines Korean and American undergraduate students' intimacy toward the grandmother and their attitudes toward the elderly and aging. The study also identifies the variances that influence undergraduate students' attitudes. The subjects were 397 Korean and 364 America undergraduates. Statistical analysis was conducted to examine frequency, percentage, meat standard deviation, Cronbach's ${\alpha}$, t-test, Duncan test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression. The results of this study were as follows; 1) Both Korean and American undergraduates' attitudes were mid-range, but their intimacy level toward their grandmother was high. 2) The Korean undergraduates' intimacy level differed significantly according to sex and religion, and it showed a significant correlation with attitudes toward the elderly and aging traits, when the student had lived with and had frequent contact with the grandmother. The American undergraduates' intimacy level, however, was significantly different according to the presence of the grandmother. There was also had a significant correlation with the undergraduate students' attitudes toward the elderly and aging traits, frequency of contact with the grandmother and year. 3) The variables that affect the Korean undergraduates' intimacy level toward the grandmother were attitude, cohabitation with her, gender, frequency of contact with the grandmother, and religion, which explained about 21% of total variance. Attitudes toward the elderly and aging traits were very important variables for Korean undergraduates' intimacy with their grandmother. The American undergraduates' intimacy was affected by the variables of attitude, frequency of contact with the grandmother, year, and the presence of the grandmother, which explained about 19% of the total variance. Attitude toward the elderly and aging traits were the most important variables for American undergraduates' intimacy with their grandmother.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 1995

Two hundred eighty weaned Targhee lambs were grazed on annual grass-subclover pastures for 84 d under continuous and rotational defoliation grazing system. At the end of the grazing season, twenty lambs weighing 44 kg were slaughtered directly off the pasture, whereas two groups of 20 lambs each were fed either a alfalfa pellet or a 50% alfalfa/50 concentrate pellet for additional 6 wk until they reached an average live weight of 50 kg. Carcass traits and loin chop palatability were compared. Lambs slaughtered directly off the pasture were lighter than desirable market weight and some lambs had less than adequate fat cover and approximately half of them were graded U.S. Good in quality. Overall conformation and leg muscling was inferior and loin chops were less tender, less juicy and less flavorful. The lambs on alfalfa pellets for 6 wk appeared to be ideal in terms of carcass quality (all Choice except one), fat cover and yield grade. They had better taste panel scores in all palatability traits than off-the-pasture lambs, and most loin chops were acceptable. The lambs on a 50% concentrate diet for 6 wk had a higher conformation score and a greater muscling in the legs. Loin chops had more marbling and better palatability than other groups. However, some lambs had an excessive fat cover and lower yield of retail cuts. It was concluded that additional feeding for 6 wk on alfalfa pellets until the live weight reached 50 kg(for Targhee lambs) was the best way of finishing lambs at the end of grazing season in the California rangeland.