• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1424-1428
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• 2003

Present investigation was conducted to determine the post-thaw sperm motility and acrosomal damage of filtered and non-filtered frozen semen of Murrah buffalo bulls. Twenty semen ejaculates (from four Murrah buffalo bulls collected at weekly interval) were diluted in Tris egg yolk glycerol extender and divided into two parts. One was filtered through sephadex G-100 column and the other portion was kept as such (non-filtered). Both fractions were frozen in liquid nitrogen ($-196^{\circ}C$) by the standard method developed in the laboratory. After 24 h of freezing, non-filtered and filtered semen samples were thawed at $37^{\circ}C$ for 1 min. These samples were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ in a water both. The different seminal characteristics i.e. percent progressive sperm motility, live and abnormal spermatozoa and spermatozoa with damaged acrosome were assessed at hourly interval till they remained motile. The filtered frozen and thawed semen showed significantly (p<0.05) high sperm viability and acrosomal integrity as compared to non-filtered semen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.439-447
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• 1992

Eight healthy Holstein bulls, 4-6 years old were used to study the effect of season of the year on the biophysical characteristics of semen. Semen was collected twice a week by AV (artificial vagina) over one-year period. The analyses revealed that all the basic seminal traits studied were differed significantly due to season, except the ejaculate volume and consistency and the percentage of swollen spermatozoa in a hypo-osmotic fructose-citrate solution. Ejaculates collected during hot summer season had significantly lower sperm motility, concentration and total counts, and higher percentage of dead spermatozoa than those collected during winter time. Warm spring had moderate semen quality. The temperature-humidity index was calculated and it was associated (p < 0.01) negatively with the ejaculate pH, sperm concentration and total counts, and positively with the % of dead sperms. Ejaculate volume, percentage of swollen spermatozoa, individual motilities did not correlate significantly with the change in temperature-humidity index values. The total live, motile spermatozoa per ejaculate during both the winter and spring seasons showed significant increase of about 37% and 32% respectively over the summer season. Also, rectal temperatures of the bulls were elevated during the hot summer season, while the values of blood hemoglobin and packed-cell volume were decreased.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate genetic development and genotype${\times}$environment interactions (GEI) in postweaning body weight of fattening bulls at the end of test period (WT-T) under various beef fattening environments. Data on a total of 24,247 fattening bulls obtained from the industrial farm, breeding farms and testing stations were used. Heritability estimates for WT-T in all environments were nearly similar. Significant genetic developments of sire, dam and progenies for WT-T were observed in all environments. However, many differences in annual genetic developments between the environments were significant. The genetic correlations for WT-T between industrial farm and breeding farms, industrial farm and testing stations and breeding farms and testing stations were respectively 0.004, 0.004 and 0.013. These low estimates of genetic correlations and significant differences in genetic developments among environments clearly show the existence of GEI for WT-T among various fattening environments. Results of this study indicate the need for environment-specific genetic evaluation and selection of beef bulls for commercial beef production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1129-1132
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• 2001

Seventy-two Korean native bulls, with an average initial body weight of $247.2{\pm}2.34kg$ were used to determine the effect of different flaked lupin seed inclusion levels (0%, 15% and 30%; Control, LS15, LS30, respectively) on growth with a $3{\times}3$ randomized complete block design at the experimental farm of TS Corporation in Korea for 150 days. There were no significant differences in average daily gain (ADG) and feed:gain among treatments, However, LS30 increased concentrate intake and total feed intake (p<0.05) and decreased rice straw intake compared with Control and LS 15 (p<0.05), With inclusion of flaked lupin seeds, concentrate intake and total feed intake increased (p<0.01) and rice straw intake decreased (p<0.05) compared with Control. There were no specific changes in the health status of animals used in this experiment with inclusion of flaked lupin seeds in concentrates. Inclusion of flaked lupin seeds in the concentrates showed a tendency of reduced average daily total feed cost per kg weight gain compared with Control by 1.6% and 3.4%, respectively, in LS15 and LS30.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.665-671
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• 2010

Muscle fiber characteristics and their relationship to water-holding capacity of longissimus dorsi (ld) muscle were studied in Brahman (BRA) and Charolais (CHA) crossbred bulls fattened under practical farm conditions. Thirty-four BRA and 34 CHA bulls were randomly selected and slaughtered at 500, 550 and 600 kg live weight. Parameters of water-holding capacity such as drip, ageing, thawing, cooking and grilling loss were determined. Muscle fiber characteristics were conducted for muscle fiber type percentage and cross-sectional areas of slow- and fast-twitch fiber types, and correlation coefficients to water-holding capacity parameters were calculated. Results showed that CHA meat had a better water-holding capacity (less ageing, thawing and grilling loss) when compared with BRA, whereas slaughter weights had no significant effects on these parameters. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between genotypes and slaughter weights in muscle fiber type percentage and cross-sectional areas of ld muscle. Slow- and fast-twitch fiber types of all experimental groups averaged 24.4 and 75.6%, respectively. Cross-sectional areas of fast-twitch fibers had almost twice the size of slow-twitch fibers (6,721 and 3,713 ${\mu}m^2$, respectively). The correlation between muscle fiber area and water-holding capacity indicated that muscles with larger fiber areas had a lower drip and ageing loss but a higher cooking and grilling loss.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 1989

Growing and finishing Korean native bulls were used to investigate the effects of different dietary energy levels on performance and energy intake. Experimental observations were made over three weight categories (200 to 250 kg, 250 to 350 kg and 350 to 450 kg). Three diets (2.4, 2.6 and 2.8 Mcal ME/kg DM) were used for each weight category. Crude protein levels of the diets were 12, 11 and 10% for the respective weight groups. Dietary energy level did not significantly affect daily body gain within a weight range but daily body gain during the entire experiment was higher (P<.05) in bulls receiving 2.6 Mcal energy diet than in those fed 2.4 and 2.8 Mcal energy diets. The following equation was developed to predict daily body gain(Y) from energy levels(X) of ration. $Y\;=\;1.3.475X\;-\;2.5949X^{2}\;-\;16.355$ Increasing energy levels significantly (P<.05) decreased daily feed intake. The following equation was developed to predict daily feed intake(Y) from energy levels(X) of ration. $Y\;=\;-30.013X\;+\;5.4401X^{2}\;+\;49.119$ Feed intake per metabolic body size during the entire feeding period ranged from 100.9 to 110.8 g and was lower in bulls fed 2.6 and 2.8 Mcal energy diets than in those fed 2.4 Mcal energy diet. Increasing energy levels significantly (P<.05) improved feed efficiency. The following equation was developed to predict feed efficiency(Y) from energy levels(X) of ration. $Y\;=\;-118.34X\;+\;22.448X^{2}\;+\;162.85$ Daily energy intake during the entire experiment ranged from 18.90 to 19.99 Mcal and there was no significant difference among energy levels. Daily energy intake per metabolic body size during the feeding period ranged from 248.6 to 260.8 kcal and was slightly higher in bulls receiving 2.8 Mcal than in those fed 2.4 and 2.6 Mcal energy diets. Energy required per kg body gain ranged from 17.25 to 19.11 Mcal and was slightly lower in bulls receiving 2.6 Mcal energy diet than in those fed 2.4 and 2.8 Mcal energy diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.529-536
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of levels of cottonseed meal with various carbohydrate sources in concentrate on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in dairy bulls. Four, 6 months old dairy bulls were randomly assigned to receive four dietary treatments according to a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Factor A was carbohydrate source; cassava chip (CC) and cassava chip+rice bran in the ratio of 3:1 (CR3:1), and factor B was cotton seed meal levels in the concentrate; 109 g CP/kg (LCM) and 328 g CP/kg (HCM) at similar overall CP levels (490 g CP/kg). Bulls received urea-lime treated rice straw ad libitum and were supplemented with 10 g of concentrate/kg BW. It was found that carbohydrate source and level of cotton seed meal did not have significant effects on ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen concentration, microbial protein synthesis or feed intake. Animals which received CC showed significantly higher BUN concentration, ruminal propionic acid and butyric acid proportions, while dry matter, organic matter digestibility, populations of total viable bacteria and proteolytic bacteria were lower than those in the CR3:1 treatment. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids was higher in HCM than LCM treatments, while the concentration of butyric acid was higher in LCM than HCM treatments. The population of proteolytic bacteria with the LCM treatments was higher than the HCM treatments; however other bacteria groups were similar among the different levels of cotton seed meal. Bulls which received LCM had higher protein digestibility than those receiving HCM. Therefore, using high levels of cassava chip and cotton seed meal might positively impact on energy and nitrogen balance for the microbial population in the rumen of the young dairy bull.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1997

An experiment with growing bulls were conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of a straw (S) with 15% molasses and 3% urea as an intimate mix (UMS) on its dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility (DMD) and reduction of methane ($CH_4$) production from fermentation in vitro of the straw. In the next experiment, the feeding of the UMS was compared with that of the feeding of molasses and urea in meals (DS) or in lick blocks (DSUMB) as supplements to straw. The UMS feeding increased daily intake of straw DM ($89.5 g{\cdot}kgW^{-0.75}$, p < 0.01) and digestible crude protein (DCP 333 g, p < 0.001) and nitrogen (N) balances ($508mg{\cdot}kgW^{-0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, p < 0.01) of the bulls than the feeding of 'S' ($65g{\cdot}kgW^{-0.75}$, 55 g and $8.0mg{\cdot}kgW^{-0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, respectively). It also increased the digestibility of DM ($594g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, p < 0.05), organic matter (OM, $641g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, p < 0.05), CP ($619g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre (ADF, 773, p < 0.05). The $CH_4$ emitted per g of DOM apparently fermented in the rumen (DOMR) was 91.0 ml in the 'S' and reduced (p < 0.05) to 61.6 ml in the UMS. The feeding of the UMS when compared with that of the DS or DSUMB also gave a higher straw intake (1.77% of live weight, LW, p <0.01) and ADF digestibility ($516g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, p < 0.05) than the other diets (1.52% or 1.55% LW and 472 or $490g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, respectively) in association with the increased microbial N yield in the rumen (14.1, 5.62 or $17.0g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ DOMR, respectively, p < 0.05), daily LW gains (233, 125 or 93 g, respectively, p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratios of the diets (26.0, 56.1, or 57.6 g feed/g LW gain, p > 0.05, respectively). It can be concluded that molasses and urea feeding as an intimate mix with straw (UMS) increased its digestion and intake in association with a reduced methane emissions in the rumen. When compared with that of their feeding in meals or in lick blocks as supplements to straw the UMS gave the highest straw in take and digestion and live weight gains of growing bulls concurring the finding that the UMS system may be the best way of molasses and urea feeding to ruminants fed straws.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2006

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of feeding levels of barley grain in diets of Hanwoo on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo. Twenty Hanwoo bull calves (initial mean body wt. 99kg) were randomly divided to examine the effects of 5 feeding levels of barley grains(addition levels: 0, 0 and 40% for FII40; 0, 0 and 60% for FII60; 0, 20 and 40% for F2040; and 0, 20 and 60% for F2060 during the growing, early fattening and late fattening periods, respectively) on growth performance and meat quality. Body weight was not affected by the feeding level of barley grains through the whole experimental period, although the body weight of Hanwoo bulls fed FII40 diet at 24 months old of age tended to be lower(591.5kg) than that of other animals(606.2～614.6kg). However, body weight gain in the bulls of the FII60 diet was slightly increased(P<.19). The feeding levels of barley grains did not influence on fasting body weight, carcass weight, carcass rate, lean meat, retailed cut, KPH fat and bone yield. The lean meat yield(89.82%) and fat yield(20.28%) tended to increase in Hanwoo bulls fed the F2060 compared with other treatments. Feeding of the diets of FII40 resulted in the higher marbling scores as 3.75, respectively than other diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1197-1206
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• 2016

Adipose tissue in the loin muscle area of beef cattle as a marbling factor is directly associated with beef quality. To elucidate whether properties of proteins involved in depot specific adipose tissue were sex-dependent, we analyzed protein expression of intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) and omental adipose tissue (OMAT) from Hanwoo cows, steers, and bulls of Korean native beef cattle by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomic analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot analysis. Two different adipose depots (i.e. intramuscular and omental) were collected from cows (n = 7), steers (n = 7), or bulls (n = 7). LC-MS/MS revealed a total of 55 and 35 proteins in IMAT and OMAT, respectively. Of the 55 proteins identified, 44, 40, and 42 proteins were confirmed to be differentially expressed in IMAT of cows, steers, and bulls, respectively. In OMAT of cows, steers, and bulls, 33, 33, and 22 were confirmed to be differentially expressed, respectively. Tropomyosin (TPM) 1, TPM 2, and TPM3 were subjected to verification by quantitative PCR and western blot analysis in IMAT and OMAT of Hanwoo cows, steers, and bulls as key factors closely associated with muscle development. Both mRNA levels and protein levels of TPM1, TPM2, and TPM3 in IMAT were lower in bulls compared to in cows or steers suggesting that they were positively correlated with marbling score and quality grade. Our results may aid the regulation of marbling development and improvement of meat quality grades in beef cattle.