• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.373-381
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• 2000

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on pregnant Korean Jindo bitches. Measurements of inner chorionic cavity diameter and fetal head diameter were made from pregnancy day 15 to parturition. These measurements were converted retrospectively based on the day of parturition (day 0). The data of inner chorionic cavity diameter obtained from day -42 to day -25 and fetal head diameter obtained from day -24 to day -1 were used to prediction of parturition day. Formulas for the prediction of parturition day using the method of least squares were derived. These formulas were then used to predict parturition dates based on single measurements of inner chorionic cavity diameter or fetal head diameter in 17 additional pregnant Korean Jindo bitches. Predicted date of parturition was then compared to actual whelping date. In the prediction of parturition based on inner chorionic cavity diameter, 7 of 10 bitches were coincided prediction date and actual whelping date, and the prediction was accurate to within 1 day in 3 of 10 bitches. The prediction of parturition based on fetal head diameter was accurate to within 1 day in 6 of 7 bitches and within 2 days in 1 of 7 bitches. In conclusion, the ultrasound measurement of inner chorionic cavity diameter and fetal head diameter are practical and accurate tool in the prediction of parturition.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2008

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed to establish a prediction table of parturition date in pregnant Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih-tzu and Miniature Schnauzer bitches. The inner chorionic cavity diameter and fetal head diameter in 45 pregnant bitches were converted retrospectively based on the day of parturition. The data of inner chorionic cavity diameter obtained from Day-44 to Day-25 and fetal head diameter obtained from Day-25 to Day-1 were used to compile a equations of prediction of parturition date. The 70 pregnant bitches with unknown mating time were examined to assess an accuracy of the equations established in this study. And these results were applied to the prediction of parturition date and compared to actual parturition date. The accuracy for parturition date within 0, $\pm$1, and $\pm$2 days interval using the equations of prediction of parturition date were 64.3%, 22.8% and 12.8%, respectively. The overall accuracy of prediction table of parturition day based on the ICCD and HD was 100% accurate within $\pm$2 days. Therefore, the prediction table seems to be a useful tool of the prediction of parturition day in practice.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to estimate of ovulation time and parturition day at the same time as breeding in small dog by vaginal cytology and to confirm the accuracy by comparing the expected parturition day and the real one. Characteristic features of vaginal cytology during the estrous cycle were the high proportion of large intermediate cell, superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythrocyte in proestrus, superficial cell and anuclear cell in estrus, parabasal cell, small intermediate cell, large intermediate cell and leukocyte in diestrus, parabasal cell and small intermediate in anestrus, respectively. When day 0 was the parturition day, the period of pregnancy is 67.45(64~75) days when the cornification index (CI) is over 90%. Also, on the basis of ovulation day, 63.65(59~66) days was confirmed, and 57.0(52~60) days was confirmed based on the first day of diestrus. There are the gap of 4 days between the day being over 90% in CI and ovulation day. On the basis of this, when expecting parturition day based on the day being over 90% in CI by vaginal cytology, 18.1% was produced in the same of the expected parturition day and the real one, 30.3% and 33.3% were produced in the gap of one day and two days, respectively so, the accuracy within two days was 81.7%. In addition, based on the first day of diestrus, it also was identified to 81.7% as the difference between the expected parturition day and the real one within 2 days. It demonstrated there are any difference between any expected parturition day by vaginal cytology. Thus on the basis of the day of being over 90% CI, it is fully thought to using clinically due to the possibility of prediction the parturition day at the same time as the determination of the proper time of the optimal mating time.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Information Technology
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.127-137
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• 2018

Parturition is an important event for farmers as it provides economic gains for the farms. Thus, the effective management of parturition is essential to farm management. In particular, the unit price of cattle is higher than other livestock and the productivity of cattle is closely associated to farm income. In addition, 42% of calving occurs in the nighttime so accurate parturition predictions are all the more important. In this paper, we propose a method that accurately predicts the calving date by applying core body temperature of cattle to deep learning. The body temperature of cattle can be measured without being influenced by the ambient environment by applying an ingestible bio-sensor in the cattle's rumen. By experiment on cattle, we confirmed this method to be more accurate for predicting calving dates than existing parturition prediction methods, showing an average of 3 hour 40 minute error. This proposed method is expected to reduce the economic damages of farms by accurately predicting calving times and assisting in successful parturitions.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.199-203
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• 2008

This study was performed to analyze the characterization of plasma hormonal levels during pregnancy in the Hanwoo recipients pregnant by artificial insemination (AI) or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. The synchronized recipients pregnant by SCNT embryos produced by Hanwoo fetal fibroblast cells (n=8) and by AI (control, n=5) were used. The plasma hormonal levels were measured by RIA (P4 and E2) and ELISA (cortisol), respectively. In control, the increase of E2 and the decrease of P4 were occurred immediately before the initiation of parturition. The expression pattern of plasma P4 was similar in both groups from 50 to 10 days before parturition, however, it did not decrease even at the expected date of labor in the SCNT recipients. The plasma cortisol was expressed a lower level during pregnancy in the SCNT recipients. But, the cortisol was increased in the cow aborted around 100 days of pregnancy (n=1). Based on these results, it can be postulated that the failure of the hormonal changes immediately before parturition in the SCNT recipients may be one of the most important reasons for a delayed parturition in clone calving.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.29-32
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• 2002

Studies till date suggest the existence of a fetal biological clock in suprachiasmatic nuclei entrained by the circadian signal from mother. Melatonin from maternal pineal gland reaches to the fetus by crossing every biological barrier including placenta, hence fetuses were exposed to similar melatonin variation as their mother. Experimental modulations of maternal pineal gland activity of pregnant females either by exposing the them to different photoperiodic schedules or by exogenous melatonin treatments till the date of parturition, regulated the fetal plasma level of melatonin, thereby the prenatal (fetal) growth and development. This clearly suggests the maternal transport of melatonin to their fetus through placenta since fetal retina-hypothalamic tract was incomplete. An extension of experimental schedules till 60 days of post-partum period regulated the neonatal pineal gland activity and gonadal maturation along with their plasma levels of melatonin and sex steroids suggesting clearly the phenomenon of maternal transfer of melatonin to their young ones during the post-natal period, when the neonates were solely dependent on the mother's milk for their nutrition and energetic demands. On the basis of above observations we may suggest that the maternal pineal gland activity regulate the prenatal development by passing its melatonin to fetus via placenta and post-natal growth and sexual maturation by passing maternal melatonin to neonates via milk. Hence, the photoperiod perceived by mother is translated into the maternal plasma level of melatonin which not only regulates the prenatal but also the post-natal growth and sexual maturation of neonates.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the correlations between steroids and TGF-${\beta}_1$ levels and delayed parturition in SCNT clone calving. The recipients pregnant by AI were used as control (AI-R). All AI-R were labored by natural delivery (n=5, day $284{\pm}0.71$ of pregnancy). The recipients pregnant by SCNT embryo (SCNT-R) showing no signs of delivery about 10 days after expected date were operated by Caesarean section (n=5, day 292). The blood and placentome samples were obtained and weighed at parturition. The concentrations of plasma progesterone (P4) and Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The levels of plasma and placental TGF-${\beta}_1$ levels were examined by ELISA. The placentomes from SCNT-R were overweight (p<0.05) compared to those of AI-R. The plasma P4 (p<0.01) level in SCNT-R at parturition was significantly higher compared to that of AI-R. In contrast, the plasma E2 level in the SCNT-R was significantly lower compared to that of AI-R (p<0.05). The plasma and placental TGF-${\beta}_1$ protein levels in the SCNT-R were significantly higher than those of AI-R at parturition, respectively (p<0.01). Based on these results, aberrant expressions of steroid hormones and high levels of plasma and placental TGF-${\beta}_1$ protein at parturition may be one of the key indicators on delayed parturition of SCNT clone calving.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2007

The callipyge mutation in sheep is a polar overdominant mutation that results in post-natal muscle hypertrophy in the loin and hindquarters of paternal heterozygotes (+/CLPG). Sheep that are homozygous for the callipyge allele (CLPG/CLPG) do not express the muscle hypertrophy phenotype, but serve as carriers for the mutation. Callipyge sheep are characterized by improved feed efficiencies and leaner carcasses. Leptin is a protein hormone secreted from adipose tissue and has been found to affect appetite and serve as an indicator of body fat mass. To date, very little knowledge is available as to the effect of the callipyge mutation on circulating leptin levels. Due to the interaction of leptin with feed intake and energy availability, and the fact that the majority of fetal growth occurs in late gestation, it is important to understand if the callipyge mutation interacts with leptin production in late gestational ewes. Therefore, our objective was to characterize serum concentrations of leptin in late gestational callipyge ewes vs. non-callipyge ewes. We evaluated genetically verified callipyge (n=6), homozygous (n=8) and normal (n=8) ewes weekly during the last eight wks of gestation through one wk post-partum. Weights were taken and body condition scores were assigned by trained personnel weekly. Blood was collected via jugular venipuncture on each sampling date and subjected to an ovine-specific leptin RIA. Genotype influences on peripheral concentrations of leptin were found to be highly significant (p=0.0005). Total leptin means for +/CLPG were 5.41${\pm}$0.40 ng/ml, CLPG/CLPG 8.11${\pm}$0.70 ng/ml, and +/+ 9.13${\pm}$0.93 ng/ml. Sampling date was also significant (p=0.0098) with all ewes showing a decrease in leptin levels throughout gestation and parturition. Using repeated measures, we were able to detect lower levels of plasma leptin in callipyge ewes, which may be indicative of their lower overall body fat content. These results indicate that the callipyge phenotype decreases the levels of adipose tissue and leptin production in gestating ewes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.182-187
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• 2000

Forty-two Holstein cows (21 multiparous) were assigned by calving date and parity to three dietary sequences to evaluate the effect of time of initiating fat supplementation to diets on lactation and reproductive performance. The dietary sequences were: 1) control, no supplemental fat from 1 to 98 days in milk (DIM) ; 2) control diet from 1 to 28 DIM then 3% supplemental fat (calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids) from 29 to 98 DIM; or 3) 3% supplemental fat from 1 to 98 DIM. Feeding supplemental fat did not enhance mean milk and 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) yields, but efficiency of FCM production was higher for cows fed supplemental fat. Milk fat percentage was unchanged whereas milk protein percentage was depressed with fat supplementation. Feeding supplemental fat reduced DMI and energy balance but there were no differences among treatments on time to resumption of ovarian cyclicity or conception rate to first service. Concentrations of progesterone during the first two ovulatory cycles tended to be greater in the fat-supplemented groups. Feeding supplemental fat starting at either parturition or 29 DIM increased efficiency of FCM production, but did not greatly enhance reproductive performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.329-333
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• 2000

Data of 15 multiparous Holstein cows kept at Ibaraki Prefectural Animal Experiment Station were collected from 10 weeks prepartum to 20 weeks postpartum. Cows were assigned randomly to a soybean meal (S8M) diet or a fish meal (FM) diet from 4 weeks before expected calving date to 20 weeks postpartum. Each diet was formulated to contain similar amounts of CP, ADF, and NDF. In the FM diet, 2.5 and 5% of fish meal were supplemented as total mixed rations in prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively. Compared to the SBM diet, undegraded intake protein (UIP) and Met were higher in the FM diet, but Lys was low. Body weight and dry matter intake were not affected by supplemental FM, and dry matter intake increased by 6 weeks postpartum and maintained constant after 7 weeks postpartum. Cows in the FM diet remained high milk production during the experimental period, but milk yield in the SBM diet decreased gradually after 6 weeks postpartum. Supplemental FM increased milk yield and protein yield from 10 to 20 weeks postpartum when FM intake was 1.19 kg/d, although milk protein was not improved. There were no significance differences in fat content and fat yield between FM and SBM diets. Supplemental FM had no effect on plasma glucose and urea-N at parturition and 7 weeks postpartum. Thus, the increased milk and protein yield may be due to the combination of carryover effect of supplemental UIP or Met in FM from 4 weeks prepartum to 10 weeks postpartum and direct effect of supplemental FM.