• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.331-336
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• 2006

Moving behavior of groups of Hanwoo was observed when solid side was applied along the straight single file chute. Dark blue liners (PVC coated fabric) were hung on the outer side along the steel bars of chute to block vision of cattle. Ten animals were grouped together in a batch to move through chute to the restrainter. Movement of animals through chutes were significantly faster when solid side with liners were applied than when they had open vision of flight zone. And the difference in movement time between of solid side and open side was even greater in a longer chute than in a shorter one. From the experiment with longer chute, we could not find any significant differences between presence or absence of solid sides in the time spent for the leaading cattle to enter the squeeze chute from crowd pen. But the average time spent for movement from squeeze gait to restrainter was 22.78±1.15 seconds with solid sides, which was much shorter than with open sides (40.56±4.46 seconds). Time required for batch of animals to move from crowd pen to restrainter and exit was much faster with solid sides than with open sides: 96.33±3.98 seconds vs. 121.89±5.54 seconds from leading animal to enter the squeeze chute until the last animal of the batch to exit restrainter and 104.56±3.89 vs. 131.22±6.42 seconds for the whole batch of animals to enter the squeeze chute and exit restrainter. Another experiment with shorter chute showed that animals balked to right angled edge of the crowed pen before entering squeeze chute. We could not find any differences in time requred for the leading animal to enter the crowd pen from holding pen. Total time spent from entrance of leading animal to crowd pen until the last animal to exit restrainter was shorter with solid sides than with open sides: 177.44±5.20 seconds vs. 193.44±7.46 seconds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.451-455
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• 2015

The buffalo is an important livestock resource in several countries of South Asia and the Mediterranean regions. However, reproductive efficiency is compromised due to known problems of biological and management origins, such as lack of animal selection and poor nutrition. Under optimal conditions puberty is attained at 15 to 18 months in river buffalo, 21 to 24 months in swamp buffalo and is influenced by genotype, nutrition, management and climate. However, under field conditions these values deteriorate up to a significant extant. To improve reproductive efficiency, several protocols of oestrus and ovulation synchronization have been adopted from their use in commercial cattle production. These protocols yield encouraging pregnancy rates of (30% to 50%), which are comparable to those achieved in buffaloes bred at natural oestrus. The use of sexed semen in buffalo heifers also showed promising pregnancy rates (50%) when compared with conventional non-sexed semen. Assisted reproductive technologies have been transferred and adapted to buffalo but the efficiency of these technologies are low. However, these latest technologies offer the opportunity to accelerate the genetic gain in the buffalo industry after improving the technology and reducing its cost. Most buffaloes are kept under the small holder farming system in developing countries. Hence, future research should focus on simple, adoptable and impact-oriented approaches which identify the factors determining low fertility and oestrus behaviour in this species. Furthermore, role of kisspeptin needs to be explored in buffalo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.919-925
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• 2018

Objective: The performance, health, and behaviour of cattle can be strongly affected by climate. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of heat stress on blood parameters, blood proteins (haptoglobin [Hp]; heat shock protein 70 [HSP70]), rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR) and rumination time in Korean native beef calves. Methods: Thirty-two Korean native beef calves were randomly assigned to 8 groups with 4 animals per group. They were kept in environmental condition with temperature-humidity index (THI) ranging from 70.01 to 87.72 in temperature-humidity controlled chamber for 7 days. Results: Their HR, RT, and serum cortisol and HSP70 levels were increased (p<0.05) in high THI compared to those at low THI. But, serum Hp level was decreased (p<0.05) in high THI compared to these at low THI. In addition, HR, RT, serum cortisol and HSP70 were positively correlated with THI ($R^2=0.8368$, p<0.01; $R^2=0.6162$, p<0.01; $R^2=0.581$, p<0.01; $R^2=0.2241$, p = 0.0062, respectively). There was also positive association between HR and cortisol ($R^2=0.4697$, p<0.01). Similarly, RT and cortisol were positively associated ($R^2=0.4581$, p<0.01). But, THI and HR were negatively correlated with Hp ($R^2=0.2157$, p = 0.02; $R^2=0.3362$, p = 0.003). Hematology and metabolites results were different among treatment groups. Standing position was higher (p<0.05) in the high THI group compared to that in the low THI group. Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be concluded that HR, RT, blood parameters (Cortisol, HSP70, Hp) and standing position are closely associated with heat stress. These parameters can be consolidated to develop THI chart for Korean native beef calves.