• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.789-792
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• 2006

Two separate trials were conducted to determine the effects of uterine priming prior to first breeding and quantify any changes in the reproductive efficiency of gilts. In trial I twelve (12) gilts were randomly assigned to 3 treatments:T1:infusion of distilled water (control), T2: single infusion of killed semen (KS1), and T3: double infusion of killed semen (KS2). Each treatment had 4 breeding gilts which were bred by natural insemination (NI). In trial II, another set of 12 breeding gilts were randomly allotted to the same treatments and were subsequently bred by artificial insemination (AI). Infusions, through the use of AI catheters, were done during the $2^{nd}$ estrous cycle for T1 and T2, whereas infusions for T3 were made during the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ cycles. Regular breeding was subsequently made during the $3^{rd}$ estrous cycle. All gilts that returned to cycle were rebred within the 30-day period. In trial I (natural breeding), total piglets born was higher (p<0.05) in T2 (12.75 piglets) and T3 (11.75 piglets) than in the control (10.5 piglets). T3 obtained the highest (p<0.05) litter size (10.25 piglets) and heaviest litter weight (74.12 kg) at 28 days weaning, followed by T2 (9.80 piglets and 65.0 kg, respectively). The control yielded the lowest (p<0.05) litter size (7.50) and the lightest litter weight (47.00 kg) at weaning. For Trial II gilts (artificially inseminated), T3 gave higher (p<0.05) litter size born alive (10.88 piglets), total piglets born (11.72 piglets) and live litter weight at birth (15.30 kg) than those of T2 and the control. These results indicate that prebreeding intrauterine infusion of killed boar semen, either single or double, improved the reproductive performance of gilts.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.832-838
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• 2024

Objective: The use of molecular genetic methods in pig breeding can significantly increase the efficiency of breeding and breeding work. We applied the F_st (fixsacion index) method, the main focus of the work was on the search for common options related to the number of born piglets and the weight of born piglets, since today the urgent task is to prevent a decrease in the weight of piglets at birth while maintaining high fertility of sows. Methods: One approach is to scan the genome, followed by an assessment of Fst and identification of selectively selected regions. We chose Large White sows (n = 237) with the same conditions of keeping and feeding. The data were collected from the sows across three farrowing. For genotyping, we used GeneSeek GGP Porcine HD Genomic Profiler v1, which included 68,516 single nucleotide polymorphisms evenly distributed with an average spacing of 25 kb (Illumina Inc, San Diego, CA, USA). Results: Based on the results of the Fst analysis, 724 variants representing selection signals for the signs BALWT, BALWT1, NBA, and TNB (weight of piglets born alive, average weight of the 1st piglets born alive, total number born alive, total number born). At the same time, 18 common variants have been identified that are potential markers for both the number of piglets at birth and the weight of piglets at birth, which is extremely important for breeding work to improve reproductive characteristics in sows. Conclusion: Our work resulted in identification of variants associated with the reproductive characteristics of pigs. Moreover, we identified, variants which are potential markers for both the number of piglets at birth and the weight of piglets at birth, which is extremely important for breeding work to improve reproductive performance in sows.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2013

Antheraea mylitta Drury is basically a crossbreeding species, as such it seems to be potentially a good material for the exploitation of heterosis. In the present study F1 hybrid of wild ecorace Laria (L) and semi-domestic Daba (D) was raised and evaluated for various quantitative traits and biochemical parameters during larval stage. Improved fecundity ($+18{\pm}1.8%$ and higher egg hatching rate ($+10.96{\pm}1.3%$) was recorded in the F1hybrid ($L{\times}D$). Biochemical parameters studied in the hemolymph, midgut and fatbody of the larva showed significantly higher (P<0.05) total proteins and carbohydrate concentration besides digestive enzyme activity. Correspondingly SDS-PAGE revealed more number of protein bands in the hemolymph sample of F1s, ranging between 29 kDa to 66 kDa compared to parental lines. The present study demonstrates the positive heterosis effect in the F1 hybrid of Laria ${\times}$ Daba. Biochemical analysis indicates that, there is possibilities of exploitation of hybrids with specific parents targeted for desirable commercial traits (silk yield and fecundity). Moreover, most of these biochemical parameters can be used as markers to analyze the genetic improvement in the tasar silkworms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1192-1198
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• 2011

Peri-partum metabolic profile was evaluated in winter and summer calving, with 15 Murrah buffaloes in each seasonal group. In summer calvers, significantly lower values were observed for blood plasma urea nitrogen (BUN) at day 30 pre-partum (p<0.05), on calving day (p<0.05) and at all other stages (p<0.01); plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) values were significantly lower on day 30 pre-partum (p<0.01) and on day 60 post-partum (p<0.05). This was associated with significant reduction in days to first service (DFS) and service per conception (SPC) and an overall better reproductive performance in terms of service period, risk to first service on days 60, 90 and >90, and pregnancy risk to first service up to days 60 and 90. This may be attributed to better pre-partum nutritional status. Cervical and uterine involution were completed in fewer days, involutional changes took place at a faster pace and there were a lower number of abnormal involutional changes in winter compared to summer season. This may be attributed to better post-partum nutrition and less environmental stress. However, validation requires further targeted cohort investigation with a large sample size.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.321-325
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• 2002

Karyotype analysis was carried out on blood samples of 30 water buffaloes belonging to different breed groups (i.e. Philippine Carabao (PC), Indian Murrah (IM), Bulgarian Murrah (BM), "$F_1$ 50% IM-50% PC", "$F_1$ 50% BM-50% PC" and "75% IM-25% PC"), using the modified Leucocyte Culture Technique. The modal chromosome numbers of the PC, "$F_1$ 50% IM-50% PC", "$F_1$ 50% BM-50% PC", IM, BM and "75% IM-25% PC" were 2n=48, 49, 49, 50, 50 and 50, respectively. The water buffalo chromosomes are mostly acrocentric (79.67%) and the remainder submetacentric (20.33%). Results of the ordinary least square analysis showed significant breed effects (p<0.01) on other karyotypic characteristics (i.e. relative length, arm ratio and centromeric index). Significant correlation between karyotypic characteristics and some animal performance traits were also found. The significant correlation values imply that karyotypic characteristics can be used as important criteria to select potentially productive young water buffaloes. In the future, more production and reproduction traits from non-institutional herds should be included in the analysis to reveal meaningful correlations with various karyotypic characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2002

Seventy-four piglets were used to investigate the effects of dietary glutamine (Gln) and glutamate (Glu) on the mucosal structure and active absorption of small intestinal, DNA and RNA concentrations of skeletal muscle tissue in piglets during d 28 to 42 of age. Postweaning piglets were fed for 14 d corn- and soybean meal-based diets supplemented with 0.0 or 1.0% L-Gln or L-Glu. On d 7 and 14 postweaning, pigs' small intestinal sections and longissimus dorsi were collected, at the same time, the D-xylose absorption test was conducted. The results suggested that in comparison to control piglets, jejunal atrophy during the first week postweaning was prevented by the glutamine and glutamate supplementation (1%) and the capability of small intestine to absorb Dxylose was improved. Furthermore the RNA concentration in skeletal muscle tissue was increased. These results provide an experimental basis for use of glutamine and glutamate on alleviating the weaning stresses and improving piglets' growth performance.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2001

Screening of fifteen bivoltine silkworm breeds of Bombyx mori Linn at a temperature of $31{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity of 85${\pm}$5% resulted in the identification of eight thermo-tolerant breeds. The survival and cocoon shell ratio of the tolerant breeds ranged from 72.7 to 78.7% and 20.0 to 20.1% respectively. The tolerant breeds comprised of four oval breeds and four dumb-bell breeds. Eight foundation crosses prepared by crossing the oval and dumb-bell parents among themselves were screened at a temperature of $31{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity of 85{\pm}5%. The performance of the foundation crosses on 11 economic characters were analysed by employing Multipie Trait Evaluation Index method. Four foundation crosses which scored average index value > 50 were selected as breeding parents and breeding initiated for the evolution of thermo-tolerant bivoltine silkworm breeds. The methodology and the results of the foundation crosses reared both at 31{\pm}1$^{\circ}C$ and at $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ temperatures, are discussed.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2011

In 2001, we conducted a study to assess the effects of differential arrival times and nest-site selection on reproductive performance in a mixed-species heronry consisting of six species in Taeseong-ri, Chungbuk, Korea. We recorded the arrival dates, nest heights, clutch sizes, and brood sizes after 15-20 days of the age of the birds' chicks. The grey herons and cattle egrets arrived first and last, respectively, on the colony site. In the homogenous vegetation structure of the breeding site, the pitch pine trees (Pinus rigida) were mainly used for building nests on 48 of the 50 pine trees (96%). The breeding species vertically stratifies the nest sites according to their body size, except for the cattle egrets and black-crowned night herons that nested at sites higher than those predicted from their body size. The mean nest success rates of the six species under study were positively correlated with the mean nest heights. Our findings suggest that aggressive interspecific interactions among neighbors influence nest-site selection to enhance breeding success.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1252-1257
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• 2007

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary soy isoflavone (ISF, 0 and 20 mg/kg) on performance, meat quality and antioxidative property in male broilers. Six replicates of 45 birds (42 d old) were used for each treatment. The birds were fed soybean meal-free diets containing 3% oxidized fish oil (acid value, 6.76 mg potassium hydroxide/g; and peroxide value, 6.18 meq/kg) for 3 wk. The results showed that average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion and carcass traits were not affected by soy ISF. Compared with the control group, breast muscle color redness value and water holding capacity were increased (p<0.05) by ISF supplementation. The activity of plasma catalase was increased by supplementing with 20 mg ISF/kg diet. In breast muscle, Broilers fed 20 mg ISF/kg had decreased production of malondialdehyde and lactic acid. The ISF supplementation elevated total antioxidative capacity and activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. The results indicated that dietary ISF could increase redness and water holding capacity of meat, and antioxidative property of meat in male broilers fed oxidized fish oil diet.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.303-308
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• 2007

In order to investigate the relation of production traits and reproduction traits the data from Gyungnam heugdon(Berkshire) were analyzed. Pearson correlation coefficients of the reproductive traits including days to first farrowing, days to first breeding and no. of breeding for first litter with back fat thickness were ranged -.24 to -.26. Estimates of heritability and genetic correlation for the reproductive traits including days to first farrowing, days to first breeding and no. of breeding for first litter showed frequent and wide fluctuation due to lack of reproductive records. Pearson correlation coefficients of back fat with litter traits were low, but genetic correlation coefficients were relatively high. Genetic correlation coefficients of back fat with total litter size, pigs born alive, litter weight at birth and litter weight at weaning were .21, .24, .11 and .07 respectively. It suggests that thin back fat thickness deteriorates performance of litter traits. Genetic correlation coefficients of days to 90kg with total litter size, pigs born alive, litter weight at birth and litter weight at weaning were .14, .17, .09 and .00 respectively. This result imply that genetic improvement on the production traits reduce the litter trait performance.