• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2018

Objective: Piglet pre-weaning mortality is an important variable indicating the efficacy of farrowing management and animal well-being during lactation. The present study determined the association of newborn traits measured soon after birth with piglet pre-weaning mortality and growth. Methods: In total, 805 piglets born from 57 multiparous sows were investigated. Their blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose and rectal temperature at 24 h after birth (RT24h) were monitored. Birth order, sex, skin color, integrity of the umbilical cord, attempts to stand and birth intervention were monitored. Piglets were weighed at day 0, 7, and 21 to evaluate average daily gain (ADG). Results: Piglet pre-weaning mortality for lactation period was 12.6% and cumulative mortality during the first 7 days of age was 8.6%. A higher proportion of piglets with pale skin color died compared to piglets with normal skin color (26.7% vs 7.7%, p<0.001). A higher (p<0.001) proportion of piglets that attempted to stand after 5 min (38.5%) died compared to piglets that attempted to stand within 1 min (6.3%) after birth. Piglet body weight at birth ($BW_B$), blood glucose and the number of piglets born alive (BA) were correlated with ADG (p<0.05). Piglets with $BW_B$ <1.30 kg had higher (p<0.001) mortality rate than piglets with $BW_B{\geq}1.80 kg$ (19.0% vs 3.3%) and piglets with $BW_B$ 1.30 to 1.79 kg (4.0%). Piglet with RT24h <$37.0^{\circ}C$ had higher (p<0.001) mortality rate (86.2%) than piglets with RT24h >$38.5^{\circ}C$ (3.9%). Conclusion: Low $BW_B$ and low RT24h compromise piglet survival during the lactation period in the tropical conditions. Piglets in the litters with a high BA, low $BW_B$ and low blood glucose have reduced ADG.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.479-484
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• 2004

The study was conducted to assess the effect of milk production, parity, stage of lactation, season and individual milk components themselves on milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration and other milk components of 3,219 Holstein dairy cows in Korean dairy farms. The MUN concentrations in Korean dairy cows were estimated to 16.68$\pm$5.87 mg/dl. Milk yield was negatively correlated with fat and protein contents and somatic cell counts (SCC) in milk (p<0.01). The increasing MUN concentration has positive correlation with yield and fat content. By increasing somatic cell, milk yield was reduced and MUN level was increased. Cows in spring and winter produced more milk over 1.43 and 0.93 kg/day, respectively, than cows in summer (p<0.01). Milk urea nitrogen concentrations of milk produced in summer and fall were significantly lower (p<0.01) than those in spring and winter. Both MUN concentration and somatic cell counts were highest in winter. Milk yield was lower (p<0.01) in the first calving than other calving time and was tended to increase until the fifth parity and then decrease. Milk urea nitrogen and SCC were not related to parity of cows in this study. Milk yield and SCC were positively related to lactation period while MUN concentrations and milk fat and protein contents were negatively influenced by stage of lactation. In the present study, the relationship between MUN and reproduction of dairy cows was also investigated. Cow produced milk in high MUN concentrations (greater than 18 mg/dl) had more open days than cows in MUN concentrations less than 18 mg/dl. However, no significant difference between MUN concentration levels and frequency of artificial insemination was found in this study. It is suggested that although MUN values for nutritional management and measures of production or reproduction are used, non-nutritional factors should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 1979

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of ovariectomy and estradiol benzoate administration on body growth and development of endocrine glands in female rats. One hundred and twenty female rats, 30 days old weighing 72.0${\pm}$3.0g, were divided into control and ovariectomized groups and divided again into two groups, treated and untreated with estradiol benzoate, respectively. Each group was composed of 30 rats. Hormone was injected every two week interval. The body weight was measured weekly from the beginning of treatment to 63 days after treatment and 6 rats per group were sacrificed at 7, 21, 35, 49 and 63 days after treatment for weight change of endocrine gland. The results obtained were as follows: 1. the changes in the body weight during the experimental period were not signifilcantly different between two groups, although the body weight of ovariectomized groups were heavier than that of control groups and the body weight of treated group with estradiol benzoate was heavier than that of untreated group. 2. The body lengths in all groups were increased proportionally to body weight until 63 days after treatment and there were not significantly different among the experimental groups. 3. The weight of hypophysis treated with estradial benzoate in ovariectomized groups was continuously increased in the whole period and was highly significant at 49 and 63 days after treatment as compared with those of untreated in ovariectomized group. 4. Adrenal gland weights of the control and ovariectomized group treated with estradiol benzoate were distinctly light at 21 days after treatment, but there were not significantly different among all groups at 35 days. Adrenal gland weight of ovariectomized groups was smaller than control groups at 49 days and untreated group in ovariectomized groups was considerably smaller than the other 3 groups at 63 days after treatment. 5. In control rats, the ovary weight treated group with estradiol benzoate was larger than the untreated group at 35 days after treatment, but was smaller than the untreated group after 49 days. 6. The weight of reproductive tract in ovariectomized groups were markedly smaller than control groups till 35 days after treatment. The growth of reproductive tract untreated in ovariectomized groups was almost completely depressed.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.27-43
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• 2015

Festival costume shown in festival parades targeting historical events or figures helps to understand the theme of festival and grants visual effects and at the same time, is an important factor to identify then-cultural environment. Accordingly, this study aims to make a periodic review of traditional costumes used in parades for Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival and Yeongam Wangin Cultural Festival which are both the festivals that backgrounded Baekje period, make a comparative analysis of the archetypes of reproduction costume vs Baekje costume, understand the problems of festival costume, and seek developmental directions. After making a comparative analysis of reproduction costume shown in festival parades, it was found that king costume, queen costume, governmental official costume, and humble class costume were all different from Baekje costume in terms of configuration, materials, color, shape, and creating method of costumes, and problems were drawn. When it comes to costume items, Pasul and Danryungpoh that didn't belong to Baekje period were worn. The problems in color research can be identified in governmental official costume. The problems in type of costume are shown in the length of po worn outside, margin of width, and degree of restoring accessories. Therefore, it seems to be necessary to convey and identify costume creating method by festival parade-related persons.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of concentration and kinds of cryoprotectants, equilibraction time, thawing temperature and time, sucrose concentration on the survival rates of frozen bovine demi-embryos. The bovine demi-embryos following dehydration by cryoprotectants a various concentration of sucrose were freezed by cell freezer and thawed in 3$0^{\circ}C$ water bath. Survival and in vitro developmental rates was defined as development rates on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The high survival rates of demi-embryos after frozen-thawing in freezing medium was attained 2.0M glycerol. The high survival rates of demi-embryos after frozen-thawing in freezing medium was obtained using single cryoprotectant(25.0~30.0%) than mixed cryoprotectants(16.7~19.0%). 2. The survival rates of demi-embryos after frozen-thawing in freezing medium added 1.5M, 2.0M glycerol＋0.25M sucrose(37.5~33.3%) were higher survival rates than those of sucrose concentration of 0.50, 0.75M(12.5~26.7%). 3. The equilibration time on the survival rates of demi-embryos was attained after short period of time(30.0~35.0%) in the freezing medium higher than long period of time(21.1%). 4. The thawing temperature on the survival rates of demi-embryos was attained at 3$0^{\circ}C$ of thawing temperature(26.7~40.0%) higher than $25^{\circ}C$ or 37$^{\circ}C$ of thawing temperature(13.3~20.0%). 5. The thawing time on the survival rates of demi-embryos was attained at 1~5 minutes of thawing time(26.7~33.3%) in the freezing medium higher than 10 minutes of thawing time(13.3~18.8%).

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.298-302
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• 2022

South Korea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. However, summers are extremely hot and humid, which negatively affects industrial animal production. Hanwoo are native cattle that have traditionally been raised in the natural environment of Korea. The present study investigated the effects of birth and lactation season on the birth and weaning weights of Hanwoo calves. Data were collected from 100 local breeding farms between 2016 and 2021. A total of 56,970 (males, 29,530; females, 27,440) Hanwoo calves were classified according to sex or birth and weaning season (March-May, spring; June-August, summer; September-November, fall; and December-February, winter). The birth weight of Hanwoo calves differed according to the birth season. As such, birth weight of the summer-born calves was the lowest. Additionally, the 90-day weaning weight was positively correlated with birth weight. Interestingly, however, the 90-day weaning weight was not related to the birth season but was related to the 2-month seasonal effect during the lactation period. Furthermore, the 90-day weaning weight was the lowest during the summer lactation period. In the beef cattle industry, daily weight gain is an important economic characteristic related to feed efficiency and growth. Our findings will contribute the management of Hanwoo cattle and analysis of changes in economic characteristics due to high temperatures.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2023

Because multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) in cattle includes several benefits such as wide spreading of genetically superior offspring for long distance, this biotechnological method has been widely applied to Hanwoo. When the recipients are not stayed close after embryo recovery from donor, the embryos are moved to other farms via several vehicles (car, train, and airplane). However, air travel induces lesser oxygen level, increased vibration, lower air pressure, higher noise, and increased exposure of cosmic radiation to living things than ground level. It was still unknown that fresh embryos obtained from multiple ovulation of Hanwoo could maintain their fertility after being transported via air plane, the present case report introduced a clinical case of MOET in Hanwoo after shipping fresh embryos via air transportation. The donor was multi-ovulated via follicle-stimulating hormone series of injection, which was followed by a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone injection and artificial insemination twice. The embryos were recovered by the uterine flushing, packed in ministraws, transported to recipients for 6 h including 1 h air flight, and then transferred to the synchronized recipients. During pregnancy diagnosis of early gestation period, 5 of 7 recipients (71.4%) presented no heat signs and showed fetal sacs with fluid under transrectal ultrasonography. After normal gestation period, all recipients naturally delivered healthy calves (male n = 2 and female n = 3) without abortion, stillbirth, and premature birth. The present case report indicated that transportation of fresh embryos for MOET via domestic flight in Korea did not affect to their fertility.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.70-76
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• 2023

Background: Despite considerable technological advancements, polyspermy remains a significant challenge in in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in pigs, disrupting normal embryonic development. Here, we aimed to determine whether optimal fertilization conditions reduce the polyspermy incidence in pigs. Methods: In vitro-matured oocytes were co-incubated with sperm according to a modified two-step culture system. Results: In the first experiment, oocytes were briefly co-incubated with sperm, washed in IVF medium, and then moved to fresh IVF medium for 5 or 6 h. Although the 6 h sperm-free cultured group had a higher penetration rate than the 5 h cultured group, the polyspermy rate significantly increased in the 6 h sperm-free cultured group. The gamete co-incubation period was either 20 or 40 min. The 40 min cultured group had a higher rate of blastocyst formation and number of total cells in blastocysts than the 20 min cultured group. In experiment 2, oocytes were inseminated with sperm separated by Pecroll treatment. Percoll treatment increased the rate of oocyte penetration and blastocyst formation compared to the control. In experiment 3, fertilized oocytes were cultured in 25 µL microdroplets (10 gametes/drop) or 500 µL (100 gametes/well) of culture medium in 4-well plates. The large volume of medium significantly reduced the number of dead oocytes and increased the rate of blastocyst formation compared to the small volume. Conclusions: Collectively, these results demonstrate that various fertilization conditions, including modified co-culture period, active sperm separation, and culture medium volume, enhance fertilization efficiency and subsequent embryonic development by decreasing polyspermy occurrence.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2024

Background: Although an understanding of the proliferation and differentiation of fish female germline stem cells (GSCs) is very important, an appropriate threedimensional (3D) research model to study them is not well established. As a part of the development of stable 3D culture system for fish female GSCs, we conducted this study to establish a 3D aggregate culture system of ovarian cells in marine medaka, Oryzias dancena. Methods: Ovarian cells were separated by Percoll density gradient centrifugation and two different cell populations were cultured in suspension to form ovarian cell aggregates to find suitable cell populations for its formation. Ovarian cell aggregates formed from different cell populations were evaluated by histology and gene expression analyses. To evaluate the media supplements, ovarian cell aggregate culture was performed under different media conditions, and the morphology, viability, size, gene expression, histology, and E2 secretion of ovarian cell aggregates were analyzed. Results: Ovarian cell aggregates were able to be formed well under specific culture conditions that used ultra-low attachment 96 well plate, complete mESM2, and the cell populations from top to 50% layers after separation of ovarian cells. Moreover, they were able to maintain minimal ovarian function such as germ cell maintenance and E2 synthesis for a short period. Conclusions: We established basic conditions for the culture of O. dancena ovarian cell aggregates. Additional efforts will be required to further optimize the culture conditions so that the ovarian cell aggregates can retain the improved ovarian functions for a longer period of time.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.837-841
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• 2000

The study was conducted at semi urban area in Bangladesh. It was based on a field survey by a prepared questionnaire. Various milking and reproduction performance were analyzed. The effects of grazing hour were found significant on age at weaning (AW) (p<0.001), age at first heat (AFH) (p<0.001), age at first conception (AF conception) (p<0.001), age at first calving (AF calving) (p<0.001), post partum heat period (PPHP) (p<0.001), calving interval (CI) (p<0.001), lactation length (LL) (p<0.001) and total lactational production (TLP) (p<0.001). The effects of concentrate feed were significant on AW (p<0.01), AFH (p<0.01), AF conception (p<0.001), AF calving (p<0.001), PPHP (p<0.001) CI (p<0.001), LL (p<0.001) and TLP (p<0.001). The effects of management level were significant on AW (p<0.001), PPHP (p<0.01), CI (p<0.001), daily milk yield (DMY) (p<0.05) and TLP (p<0.001). The overall mean values were $251.88{\pm}2.97$ days for AW, $37.29{\pm}0.33$ months for AFH, $38.43{\pm}0.34$ months for AF conception, $47.62{\pm}0.34$ months for AF calving, $1.30{\pm}0.02$ number of services per conception (NSPC), $191.57{\pm}3.92$ days for PPHP, $17.02{\pm}0.15$ months for CI, $2.49{\pm}0.06kg$ for DMY, $247.23{\pm}3.51$ days for LL and $590.40{\pm}15.00kg$ for TLP.