• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of breed, age of boar, season, parity and mating system on boar semen characteristics and fertilizing capacity. A total of 4181 sows and 199 boars of Durocs (D), Landraces (L), and Yorkshires (Y) were used for this experiment at Darby Artificicial Insemination Center from 1996 through 1999. Semen volume per ejaculate was largest in Landrace (266.8 $m\ell$), followed by Yorkshire, and was smallest in Duroc. Sperm motility did not show significant differences among the above breeds. Sperm concentration was lowest in Landrace (4.7$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$) and was highest in Duroc (5.7$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$). Semen volume per ejaculate according to the age of boars was largest at the age of 2 years, followed by the age of 4 and 3 years, and was smallest at the age of I year. Semen volume per ejaculate according to the season in boars was largest in winter (228.6 $m\ell$), followed by autumn and summer, and was smallest in spring. Sperm concentration was highest in spring (5.9$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/$m\ell$), followed by summer and winter, and was lowest in autumn. The average litter weight at birth did not show any differences according to the mating type. But the number of pigs born alive per litter was largest (9.5 pigs) in the natural mating ＋ artificial insemination group, followed by the artificial insemination group (9.2 pigs), and was smallest (8.9 pigs) in the natural mating group (P＜0.01). The average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter did not show any differences between the natural mating and artificial insemination. The L (♀)$\times$Y (♂) and L (♀)$\times$L (♂) matings show $\varepsilon$ d higher average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter than the Y (♀) $\times$ Y (♂) and Y (♀) $\times$ L (♂) matings. The pigs in the 2~6th parities had higher average litter weight at birth and number of pigs born alive per litter than those in the 1 st and 7~9th parities.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.247-250
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to find out candidate genes associated with litter size trait in pigs of inbred Large Yorkshire and Landrace populations. 86 sows were screened for candidate genotypes along with litter size data recordings. Association of litter size with genotypes of candidate genes were investigated to verify the usefulness of each gene's genotypes as markers for the trait. For the lines of Large Yorkshire, PRLR3 and RBP4 genes were genotyped. Frequency distribution of PRLR3 with genotypes AA, AB and BB were each 0.14, 0.44 and 0.42. And the average litter size by PRLR3 genotypes were 8.83, 10.81 and 10.70 piglets per litter, the average estimated breeding values of which were 0.243, 0.332, 0.365, respectively for AA, AB and BB genotypes. Genotypic frequencies of RBP4 by AA, AB and BB genotypes were 0.10, 0.44 and 0.46. The average litter size by genotypes of RBP4 were 10.40, 10.57 and 10.35 piglets per litter and their corresponding average estimated breeding values were 0.451, 0.353 and 0.261, respectively for genotypes AA, AB and BB. Significance in differences among genotypes were not observed, but B allele of RBP4 seems to be associated with litter size. In Landrace lines, frequencies of RBP4 genotypes, AA, AB and BB were 0.29, 0.55 and 0.16. And the average litter size of these genotypes were 10.50, 11.08 and 11.00 piglets per litter. The corresponding averages of estimated breeding values of each genotypes were 0.172, 0.135 and 0.104. In Landrace lines, allele A was more likely to be associated with litter size, even if differences among average litter size were not significant. We conclude that genotyping of two candidate genes is a helpful tool to identify genetic potentials of litter size in pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2007

Data of 369 commercial pigs produced from YorkshrexLancrace (YL F1) sows crossed with either Duroc (D), Berkshire (B) or BerkshirexDuroc(BD F1) as a terminal sire were used for the comparison of carcass garde and real retail cut yield. The crosses were performed between May, 2004 and May, 2006 at three interrlated farms belonging to the Gyeongam pork brand. The average carcass weight, carcass backfat thickness, carcass rate, AB grade ratio, lean meat yield were 84.78±0.33kg, 20.72±0.237mm, 76.25±0.208%, 85.7% and 44.30±0.158%, respectively. The average weights of real retail cut were 10.32±0.062kg belly, 4.17±0.025kg boston butt, 3.88±0.022kg rib, 8.40±0.040kg picnic, 15.15±0.081kg ham, 6.44±0.043kg loin and 0.94±0.006kg tender loin. In comparisons of carcass traits among cross types, carcass weights and backfat thicknesses of YL(♀)×B(♂), YL(♀)×BD(♂) and YL(♀)×D(♂) were 85.73±0.516kg, 82.69±0.788kg and 84.79±0.603kg, respectively and 22.09±0.356mm, 20.33±0.543mm and 19.58±0.415mm, respectively. The YL(♀)×B(♂) cross showed the highest carcass weight and backfat thickness. The ratio of AB grade were 0.83±0.030% in YL(♀)×B(♂), 0.97±0.046% in YL(♀)×BD(♂) and 0.83±0.035% in YL(♀)×D(♂), and the YL(♀)×BD(♂) was higher than other two crosses. Weights of belly were 10.28±0.092kg in YL(♀)×B(♂), 10.59±0.133kg in YL(♀)×BD(♂) and 10.25±0.107kg in YL(♀)×D(♂). Consequently, the YL(♀)×BD(♂) cross showed the highest yield. In conclusion, there was no difference in carcass yield of commercial pigs derived from BD (F1) terminal sires with those from D terminal sires. However, weight of belly and AB grade ratio from BD (F1) terminal sires are higher than two others. Therefore, BD (F1) sire could be utilized as terminal one and contribute better profit for the pig industry.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 1981

The present study was carried out to study the serum concentration of peptide and steroid hormones in puerperal sow. Eight crossbred sows were used for collection of blood samples from day 20 prepartum to day 20 postpartum. FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol-$17{\beta}$, progesterone and cortisol were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods. The mean serum FSH did not vary during the puerperal period and ranged from $8.1{\pm}1.8mIU/ml$ to $9.0{\pm}2.3mIU/ml$. LH concentrations increased from $2.6{\pm}0.3mIU/ml$ at day 20 prepartum to $3.9{\pm}1.1mIU/ml$ at the time of parturition, reached $3.2{\pm}0.9mIU/ml$ by day+2 and remained quite constant therafter. Prolactin reached a peak mean level of $68.5{\pm}9.5ng/ml$ at day 0. Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ increased from $205.0{\pm}29.5pg/ml$ at day 6 prepartum to $425.0{\pm}35.0pg/ml$ at the time of parturition. Progesterone remained fairly constant ($18.4{\pm}1.6$ to $20.2{\pm}2.1ng/ml$) from 20 to 6 days before parturition, began to decline on day-2, reached $0.9{\pm}0.3ng/ml$ by day+2 and remained quite constant thereafter. Cortisol reached a peak level of $86.5{\pm}10.5ng/ml$ at the day 0.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for reproductive and productive traits and to apply their estimates to selection strategies in a swine population. Reproductive and productive traits considered in this study were number of born alive piglet (NBA), number of weaned piglet (NW), loin eye area (LEA), days to 90 kg (D90KG), back fat thickness (BF), and lean meat content (LEAN). Data were collected from 9,886 litters on 2,447 sows for reproductive traits and 10,181 gilts and boars for productive traits from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2008 in a swine GGP farm. The statistical model to estimate genetic parameters for considering traits was a multiple traits animal model with including animal and maternal additive effects and litter effects on reproductive traits and animal additive effects on productive traits as random as well as some of fixed effects. For estimating (co) variance components of several random effects, restricted maximum likelihood methodology was used on this assumed model. The estimated heritabilities by animal additive effects and maternal effects were 0.07 and 0.02 for NBA and 0.03 and 0.02 for NW, respectively. Genetic correlation estimate for direct genetic effects between NBA and NW was 0.14. Heritability estimates for direct genetic effects were 0.19, 0.39, 0.36, and 0.43 for LEA, D90KG, BF and LEAN, respectively. The genetic correlation of LEA with LEAN was 0.35. Productive traits were antagonistically correlated with reproductive traits. From these results it is concluded that, if selection is done for strong positive effects of reproductive traits, then this would decline productive performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.745-752
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• 2007

A total of thirty sows(Landrace×Yorkshire) were used to determine the effects of plant protein source containing multienzyme on performance, nutrients digestibility and milk characteristics. A feeding trial was conducted for 21 days from parturition to weaning. Experimental diets were supplied for 1 week before the parturition day and throughout the experimental period. Dietary treatments included: 1) Control(CON; basal diet), 2) CGLT(included corn gluten) and 3) FSPM(included fermented soy protein containing multienzyme). Through the entire experimental period, backfat loss and return-to-estrus intervals were not affected by the treatments(P>0.05). Nitrogen digestibility was increased significantly(P<0.05) in FSPM treatment compared to CON treatment. Blood urea nitrogen(BUN) concentration was increased significantly (P<0.05) in FSPM treatment compared to CON treatment. At the initial  period, total protein content of milk was higher significantly(P<0.05) in FSPM treatment compared to CGLT treatment and at the final period, total fat content of milk was higher significantly(P<0.05) in FM treatment compared to CON treatment. Rectal temperature showed similar tendency of change among treatments. The final piglet body weight, weight gain and ADG were higher significantly in FSPM treatment compared to CON treatment. On diarrhea rate in piglet, just one piglet occurred in CGLT treatement. In conclusion, 2.5% dietary plant protein source containing multienzyme suppelmentation improved N digestibility, BUN concentration, fat and protein contents in milk and weight gain in piglet.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.773-782
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• 2007

A total of thirty sows(Landrace×Yorkshire) were used to determine the effects of plant protein source containing multienzyme on performance, nutrients digestibility and milk characteristics. A feeding trial was conducted for 21 days from parturition to weaning. Experimental diets were supplied for 1 week before the parturition day and throughout the experimental period. Dietary treatments included: 1) Control(CON; basal diet), 2) CGLT(included corn gluten) and 3) FSPM(included fermented soy protein containing multienzyme). Through the entire experimental period, backfat loss and return-to-estrus intervals were not affected by the treatments(P>0.05). Nitrogen digestibility was increased significantly(P<0.05) in FSPM treatment compared to CON treatment. Blood urea nitrogen(BUN) concentration was increased significantly (P<0.05) in FSPM treatment compared to CON treatment. At the initial  period, total protein content of milk was higher significantly(P<0.05) in FSPM treatment compared to CGLT treatment and at the final period, total fat content of milk was higher significantly(P<0.05) in FM treatment compared to CON treatment. Rectal temperature showed similar tendency of change among treatments. The final piglet body weight, weight gain and ADG were higher significantly in FSPM treatment compared to CON treatment. On diarrhea rate in piglet, just one piglet occurred in CGLT treatement. In conclusion, 2.5% dietary plant protein source containing multienzyme suppelmentation improved N digestibility, BUN concentration, fat and protein contents in milk and weight gain in piglet.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2003

The present study was undertaken to find relationships of plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II concentrations to litter size and lactation performance. Sixty pure-bred Landrace and Yorkshire pigs having similar farrowing weeks which had been selected from a large number of pregnant gilts and sows were divided into low- (<${\mu}$－0.5SD) and high-litter size (>${\mu}$+0.5 SD) lines under a 2 (breed)${\times}$2 (line) factorial arrange of treatments. After adjusting the litter size to nine piglets per sow at farrowing, total litter weight was measured at three weeks postpartum at weaning as an index of milk yield. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein at day (d)-90 pregnancy (Px) and at d-15 postpartum. The litter size or the number of piglets born during the present experiment and the average litter size during the entire parities up to the present one were greater in the high-line than in the low-line by 3.7 and 2.4 piglets, respectively (P<0.01); effect of the breed on litter size was not significant. Plasma IGF-II concentration at d-90 Px was greater in the high-line than in the low-line. Litter size and d-90 Px IGF-I concentration were negatively correlated in Landrace (r=－0.46; P<0.05) and tended to be negatively correlated in Yorkshire (r=－0.31; P=0.09), which resulted in a significant negative correlation between these two variables in total animals (r=－0.35; P<0.01). Litter weight at weaning was not different between the two breeds or lines. Relationships between the litter weight and IGF concentration were not consistent across the breed ${\times}$ physiological stage combinations. Results suggest that d-90 Px IGF concentrations may be indicative of the litter size at impending farrowing.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.703-710
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to detect association between genetic variation and economic trait in the porcine heart type fatty acid-binding protein gene as a candidate gene for the traits related with growth and meat quality in pigs. The H-FABP is a 15-kDa protein expressed in several tissues with high demand for fat metabolism such as cardiac and skeletal muscle and lactating mammary gland. H-FABP is small intracellular protein involved in fatty acid transport from the plasma membrane to the site of $\beta$-oxidation and/or triacylglycerol or phospholipid synthesis. In this study, H-FABP PCR-RFLP was performed in F$_2$ population composed of 214 individuals from an intercross between Korean Native Boars and Landrace sows. PCR products from two primer sets within H-FABP gene were amplified in 850bp and 700bp. Digestion of PCR products with the restriction digestion enzymes HaeⅢ and HinfⅠ, revealed fragment length polymorphisms(RFLPs). The genotype frequencies from H-FABP/HaeⅢ was .29 for genotype DD, .53 for genotype Dd, and .15 for genotype dd, respectively. The genotype frequencies of HH, Hh, and hh from H-FABP/HinfⅠ was .38, .41 and .20, respectively, in the population. Relationships between their genotypes and economic traits were estimated. In H-FABP/HaeⅢ locus, there were specific genotypes(Dd and dd) associated with economic traits such as body weights at 3, 5, 12, and 30 week of age (p〈.05 to .001). The ‘d’ allele was associated with gaining of body weight. In H-FABP/HinfⅠ locus, Genotypes of HH and Hh associated with growth traits such as body weights at 5, 12, and 30 week of age (p〈.05 or p〈.001) and back fat thickness, body fat including abdominal and trimmed fat (p〈.001) and intramuscular fat(p〈.05) The ‘H’ allele was positively associated with gaining of body weight and fatness deposition. In conclusion, a significant association of the H-FABP gene from its genetic variation was found on body weight, intramuscular fat and backfat thickness.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.679-688
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• 2003

The leptin receptor gene(LEPR) produces a high affinity receptor that mediates the regulation of the leptin gene. Leptin secreted from adipose tissue plays an important role in regulating feed intake and energy balance. In this study, a microsatellite marker within LEPR was selected and genotyped for the F2 population composed of 354 individuals from an intercross between Korean Native boars and Landrace sows. Totally, six alleles (255, 259, 261, 263, 265 and 267bp) and nineteen genotypes were detected in the population, of which the CE (261/265), CC (261/261) and EE (265/265) types were observed by 20.0%, 10.1% and 9.6%, respectively. Relationships between their genotypes and economic traits were analyzed. We found specific genotypes associated with economic traits such as body weight at 12 weeks of age/body fat including abdominal and trimmed fat/shear force (P〈0.001), body weight of 30 weeks of age (P〈0.01) and body weight of 3 weeks of age/back fat thickness (P〈0.05). The DD (263/263) and DF (263/267) types were associated with body weight at 3, 5, 12 and 30 weeks of age. The DF (263/267) type showed a highly significant effect on back fat thickness and body fat including abdominal and trimmed fat. The DF (263/267) type showed positive effect on shear force, whereas the BB (259/259) and DD (263/263) types negatively affected on tenderness.