• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2018

The hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha ($HNF4{\alpha}$) gene is related to lipid transport, including abdominal fat and growth, in chickens. Interestingly, the A543G SNP within the $HNF4{\alpha}$ gene has previously been reported to be associated with body weight in both broilers and Korean native chickens (KNCs). However, its exact position within the HNF4 is not yet reported. This study aimed to identify the position of the A543G SNP and to identify additional SNPs that can be used as genetic markers in KNCs. A total of 128 KNCs were used for the sequencing and analysis of these genetic associations. As a result, A543G SNP was located in intron 4 of the $HNF4{\alpha}$ gene; it is reported as rs731246957 in the NCBI database. Fourteen SNPs were detected in the sequenced portion of the $HNF4{\alpha}$ gene; three of these, rs731246957, rs736159604 and new SNP, intron 6 (249), were significantly related with growth in the chickens. In this study, the TT genotype of rs731246957, previously reported as A543G SNP, the GG genotype of rs736159604 and GT of new SNP have are highly associated with body weight from birth to 40 weeks of age in KNCs (P<0.01). These results suggest that rs736159604, rs731246957 and intron 6 (249) SNPs within the $HNF4{\alpha}$ gene could function as growth-related markers in the selective breeding of KNCs.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2017

Hanwoo young bulls are selected based on performance test using the weight at 12 months and pedigree index comprising marbling score. Pedigree index was not based on the progeny tested data but the breeding value of the proven bulls; resulting a lower accuracy. The progeny testing of the young bulls was categorized into testing at farm and at the test station. The farm tested data was difficult to compare with those from test station data. Farm tested bulls had different slaughter ages than those for test station bulls. Therefore, this study had considered a different age at slaughter for respective records on ultrasound traits. Records on body weight at 12 months, ultrasound measures at 12 and 24 months(uIMF, uEMA, uBFT, and uRFT), and carcass traits(CWT, EMA, BFT, and MS) were collected from steers and bulls of Hanwoo national improvement scheme between 2008 and 2013. Fixed effects of batch, test date, test station, personnel for measurement, personnel for judging, and a linear covariate of weight at measurement were fitted in the animal models for ultrasound traits. The ranges of heritability estimates of the ultrasound traits at 12 and 24 months were 0.21-0.43 and 0.32-0.47, respectively. Ultrasound traits at 12 and 24 months between similar carcass traits was genetically correlated at 0.52-0.75 and 0.86-0.89, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.61-71
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• 1989

The purposes of this study were to investigate the genetic variations by backcrossing in commercial chickens. Backcrossing was carried out successively back to parent stock (P.S). Heritabilities and genetic correlation coefficients were estimated to verify the genetic variations. The data obtained from a breeding programme with commercial chickens (I strain) were collected from 1955 to 1987 at Poultry Breeding Farm, Seoul National University. Data came from a total of 1230 female offspring. The results obtained are summarized as follows： 1. The general performance ($Mean\pmStandard deviation$) of each trait was $663.94\pm87.11$g for 8 weeks body weight, $1579.1\pm155.43$g for 20 weeks body weight, $2124.1\pm215.3$g for 40 weeks body weight, $2269.1\pm242.94$g for 60 weeks body weight, $168.43\pm12.94$ day for a9e at sexual maturity (SM), $214.52\pm29.82$ eggs , for total egg number to 60 weeks of age (TEN), $61.45\pm3.48$ g for average weight (AEW), $13180.7\pm1823.22$ g for total egg mass to 60 weeks of age(TEM). All traits, except 10 weeks body weight and AEW, were significant for the degrees of backcross (p＜0.01). 2. The pooled estimates of heritabilities derived from the sire, dam and combined variance components were 0.47~0.52 for age at sexual maturity (SM), 0.07~0.37 for total egg number (TEN), 0.40~0.54 for average egg weight (AEW), 0.18~0.27 for total egg mass (TEM). High heritability estimates were found for SM and AEW. TEN and TEM were estimated to be a lowly heritable traits. Heritability estimates from dam components were higher than those from sire components. These differences might be due to non-additive genetic effect and maternal effect. 3. The estimates of heritabilities and standard errors derived from combined variance components for different degrees of backcross were $0.47\pm0.11$ (BCO), $0.42\pm0.16$ (BC1), $0.51\pm0.29$ (BC2) for TEN, $0.59\pm0.20$ (BCO), $0.43\pm0.17$ (BC1), $0.35\pm0.18$ (BC2) for AEW, $0.28\pm0.12$(BC0), $0.20\pm0.11$(BC1), $0.18\pm0.14$ (BC2) for TEM. Heritability estimates for AEW and TEM were decreased by backcrossing while those for SM and TEN remained constant. Since backcrossing contributes to increased homozygosity, the genetic variation of the traits (AEW and TEM) decreased . 4. The pooled estimates of genetic correlation coefficients were -0.55 between SM and TEN, 0.20 between SM and AEW, -0.29 between TEN and AEW, 0.82 between TEM and TEN, 0.31 between TEM and AEW, -0.42 between TEM and SM. The genetic correlation between TEM and TEN was higher than that between TEM and AEW, and it was suggested that egg mass was strongly affected by egg number. Also, age at sexual maturity(SM) contributes to egg mass(TEM). 5. When backcrossing was carried out successively, the genetic correlation between TEM and TEN increased (BC0：0.79, BC1：0.82, BC2：0.91) but those between TEM and SM decreased (BC0：-0.54, BC1：-0.36, BC2：-0.09) with successive backcrosses.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.291-302
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• 2008

To acquire essentially necessary basic data to establish feeding system by verifying appropriate dietary energy and protein level for the growth of commercial slow growing broiler chicks within the country, two experiments were conducted for 5 weeks. One day old, 1,404 male and female broiler chicks were used for the experiments, and 26 chicks were placed at each pen. The energy level of feed was maintained about 3,000 or 3,100 kg/kcal for whole breeding period of 5 weeks, and protein content was adjusted about 20, 21, and 22% during the first two weeks and the content was adjusted to 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22% from the 3 to 5 weeks old of the experiment. The categories of body weight and feed intake amount were monitored to calculate the productivity and blood sampling was conducted for the analysis at the end of each experiment. Experiment 1:Although the productivity by the ME content difference during $0{\sim}2$ weeks did not have significant difference and the body weight increase by the difference of CP content and feed intake amount did not have much difference, the feed requirement rate was statistically improved in CP 21 and 22% treatment groups compared to the CP 20% group (P<0.05). The feed ME 3,100 kcal/kg treated group during $3{\sim}5$ weeks after starting the experiment revealed to show improved feed requirement rate (P<0.05). Within the period of experiment, the CP 22% treated group resulted to show significant body weight increase compared to the groups treated with low levels of CP (P<0.05) and the feed requirement rate was improved in high CP treated group compared to low CP treated groups, but the feed intake amount did not show significant difference between treated groups. During the experiment period, the body weight increase and feed requirement rate revealed to interact between ME and CP (P<0.05). During the whole experiment period of the 5 weeks, the feed requirement rate was improved in ME 3,100 kcal/kg treated group than the groups treated with ME 3,000 kcal/kg, and the CP (20) 18% treatment groups resulted to show higher values than other treatment groups (P<0.05). Body weight increase was high in CP (22) 22% treated groups than those of CP (21) 21% and (20) 18% treated groups, and the interaction between ME and CP was found at body weight increase and feed requirement rate (P<0.05). Although blood albumin and total cholesterol levels were elevated in ME 3,100 kcal/kg treated group than ME 3,000 kcal/kg treated group, but neutral fat content was reduced (P<0.05). On the other hand, the total cholesterol content was increased in CP (22) 21% treated group than CP (22) 20% and CP (20) 18% treated groups (P<0.05). Experiment 2: The body weight increase in 0-2 weeks was higher in ME 3,100 kcal/kg treated group than ME 3,000 kcal/kg treated group, and it was highly improved in CP 22% treated group than CP 20% treated group by showing the interaction between CP and ME (P<0.05). The significant improvement of feed requirement rate was observed in CP 21% and 22% treated groups compared to CP 20% treated group (P<0.05). The productivity between the growth period from 3 to 5 weeks of age and whole growth period resulted to show no significant difference. Although no difference was observed in blood composition between treated groups, the interaction of ME and CP on cholesterol content was accepted at the range of P<0.05). Therefore, it is considered that the appropriate dietary protein level within feed for the physiology of growing broiler chicks was 22% or more for the first two weeks and protein level of 21% or 20% from 3 to 5 weeks old for the maximization of productivity. Even if the energy level within feed had some partial effects on the productivity, but did not show consistency. So, further experiments needto be conducted by differentiating the energy level.