• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.253-258
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• 2010

This study was conducted to compare the phenotypic performance and genetic merits in terms of weight at 12 months, carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score and selection index of Hanwoo young bulls and proven bulls from the year 2004 to 2006. The data of 208 bulls used in this study were taken from the Nnational Hanwoo genetic evaluation coordinated by National Institute of Animal Science. Hanwoo young bulls were superior in the phenotypic performance of weight at 12 months, carcass weight, and eye muscle area showing significant differences from Hanwoo proven bulls in most comparisons. The backfat thickness of Hanwoo young bulls was significantly thicker higher than Hanwoo proven bulls in all comparisons (p < 0.05). Also, Hanwoo young bulls were not significantly different from Hanwoo proven bulls in the genetic merits of weight at 12 months, carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score, and total genetic merits. Performance of Hanwoo young bulls were not significantly different from 1st class of Hanwoo proven bulls in all the traits studied except in eye muscle area.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.297-302
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• 2011

This study was carried out to estimate average inbreeding coefficients, relatedness and effective population size of breeding bulls and to suggest optimal alternatives on problems of current Hanwoo improvement system. Data on proven and young bulls were obtained from 1,128 heads of Livestock Improvement Main Center from 1983 to 2008. Pedigree information on proven and young bulls was obtained from 3,760 heads of Korea Animal Improvement Association. Average inbreeding coefficients and average relatedness of proven and young bulls were estimated at the range of 0.04-0.07%, 0.10-6.82%, respectively. Effective population size was estimated for 220 heads from the average rate of inbreeding of last 26 years. Average inbreeding coefficient is rising rapidly for the last two years as well as average relatedness. Effective population size was estimated for 47 heads for the last five years. These results suggest that selection criteria of proven bulls should include not only genetic evaluation of carcass performance from progeny-test, but also inbreeding and relationship coefficients, in order to maintain genetic variability of Hanwoo. In addition, effective population size should be increased by increasing the number of proven bulls.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2000

This study was undertaken in an effort to select the sire bull in Hanwoo through in vitro fertilization of proven bull semen. It was used for in vitro fertilization that of the 20 proven bull semen with follicular oocytes derived from slaughterhouse ovaries of Hanwoo. The stage of maturation on the time course of bovine cumulus-enclosed oocytes incubated for 24 hours was found the highest(96.4%) than hose of other maturationi time. In vitro fertilization rate of bovine oocytes with proven bull sperm showed from 61.5 to 88.9%. Polyspermy of in vitro fertilized oocytes according to proven bulls were the highest KP 491(61.5%) nothing but KP 486, KP 491 and KP 497.

• ANNALS OF ANIMAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.142-149
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• 2018

In this study, 844 Hanwoo proven bulls in South Korea (called KPN) were classified into 8 groups based on their birth year. Microsatellite (MS) marker information for paternity identification of each individual is provided at the homepage of the National Agricultural Cooperation Federation, Korea (NACF) and is mainly for the analysis of genetic diversity and structural changes. The polymorphism analysis of KPN whole groups revealed the average number of alleles in each marker (number of alleles), the expected heterozygosity ($H_{ex}$), the observed heterozygosity ($H_{ob}$), the polymorphism information content (PIC) and the $F_{is}$ mean as 10.54, 0.764, 0.773, 0.727 and -0.014, respectively. For group D, with the birth year 2004-2005, the $H_{ex}$ and $H_{ob}$ were 0.777 and 0.792 respectively and the PIC was 0.740. The $H_{ex}$ of group C and D, with birth years 2003-2004 and 2007-2008, respectively, were greater than $H_{ob}$. In all the other groups, $H_{ob}$ was greater than $H_{ex}$. Genetic composition and structure were analyzed using STRUCTURE software. According to the analyzed results, the generation of Hanwoo groups showed changes in specific genetic components according to the flow. It was confirmed that the continuous improvement in the Hanwoo affects the genetic structure of the proven bulls group. The results of this study are expected to be used for enhancing the efficiency of Hanwoo improvement project.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate artificial insemination (AI) failure status and frozen semen characteristics in Korean proven bulls' number (KPN) semen used for AI of Hanwoo cows in Gangwon East region (Gangneung, Donghae, Taebaek, Samcheok, Sokcho, Yangyang, Goseong). Among semen used for AI, AI failure rate showed lowest at KPN506 (27.6%), whereas highest at KPN593 (77.2%). Correlations of AI failure in between Korean proven bulls semen and cows was 0.2941, which means that AI failure rate of Korean proven bulls semen may have respectable effect on reproduction of Hanwoo cow. In addition, present study was conducted to investigate spermatozoal viability rate, ruptured acrosome rate and active mitochondria in frozen Korean proven bulls semen with flow cytometry. The semen of KPN593 showed significantly ($p$<0.05) higher viability rate in KPN593 (30.49%) than that in KPN637 (37.34%). Furthermore, percentage of ruptured acrosome was lower in KPN637 as 21.37% than in KPN637 (21.37%), but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, these results indicate that choice of Korean proven bulls semen may correlate positively with conception rate in Hanwoo cow. Therefore, KPN with high AI failure rate might be avoid to increase conception rate and characteristics of frozen semen might be evaluated before its use for AI.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2013

Hanwoo (Also known as Korean native cattle; Bos taurus coreanae) have been used for transportation and farming for a long time in South Korea. It has been about 30 yrs since Hanwoo improvement began in earnest as beef cattle for meat yield. The purpose of this study was to determine the trend of improvement as well as to estimate genetic parameters of the traits being used for seedstock selection based on the data collected from the past. Hanwoo proven bulls in South Korea are currently selected through performance and progeny tests. National Hanwoo genetic evaluations are implemented with yearling weight (YW), carcass weight (CW), eye muscle area (EMA), backfat thickness (BF) and marbling score (MS). Yearling weights and MS are used for selecting young bulls, and EMA, BF, and MS are used for selecting proven bulls. One individual per testing room was used for performance tests, and five individuals per room for progeny tests. Individuals tested were not allowed to graze pasture, but there was enough space for them to move around in the testing room. Feeds including roughages and minerals were fed ad libitum, and concentrates were provided at the rate of about 1.8% of individual weight. Overall means of the traits were $352.8{\pm}38.56$ kg, $335.09{\pm}44.61$ kg, $77.85{\pm}8.838\;cm^2$, $8.6{\pm}3.7$ mm and $3.293{\pm}1.648$ for YW, CW, EMA, BF and MS. Heritabilities estimated in this study were 0.30, 0.30, 0.42, 0.50 and 0.63 in YW, CW, EMA, BF and MS, respectively, which are similar to results from previous research. Yearling weight was 315.54 kg in 1998, and had increased to 355.06 kg in 2011, resulting in about 40 kg of improvement over 13 yrs. YW and CW have improved remarkably over the past 15 yrs. Breeding values between 1996 and 2000 decreased or did not change much, but have moved in a desirable direction since 2001. These improvements correspond with the substantial increase in use of animal models since the late 1990s in Korea. Hanwoo testing programs have practically contributed to the improvement in aspects of quality and quantity. In sum, the current selection system is good enough to accommodate circumstances where fewer sires are used on many more cows. Although progeny tests take longer and cost more, they seem to be appropriate under the circumstances of the domestic market with its higher requirement for better meat quality. Consequently, accumulative data collection, genetic evaluation model development, revision of selection indices, as well as cooperation among farms, associations, National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, universities, research institutes, and government agencies must be applied to the Hanwoo selection program. All these efforts will assist the domestic market to secure a competitive position against imported beef under Free Trade Agreement trade system and will provide farmers with higher profits as well as the public with a higher quality of beef.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2010

Hanwoo proven bulls have been selected since 1987 and consequently contributed to farmers for the improvement of beef cattle in Korea. The demand for the quality beef production as well as higher production efficiency was erupted after early 2000 as relatively cheap imported beef released. Therefore the pressure on the reformation of selection index for Hanwoo proven bulls have been piled up to furnish with Hanwoo's competitive. A total of 734 progeny test data were analyzed to select traits and their weights in the selection index to meet the beef market requirement. Regression analysis with stepwise selection method was used to select proper trait and its weight for selection index. A series of computer simulation was carried out to compare the currently using selection index with the alternate two selection indices proposed in this study. New selection index using standardized breeding values of Loin eye Muscle Area (LMA), Backfat Thickness (BFT) and Marbling Score (MS) with weight ratio 1:-1:6 was proposed. Results showed higher performance in improving MS and BFT gain by 22% and 31% still holding 86%~89% of genetic gain achieved by current index in Carcass Weight (CW) and LMA when new selection index was fitted. Because, new index has little consideration for production cost, further research should be performed to build selection index including cost and income simultaneously.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2006

Thirty heads of proven bulls were used to identify the effects of mounting conditions (dummy cow vs. teaser bull) on semen characteristics in Hanwoo. Semen was collected from bulls daily two times with 1 h interval every $3{\sim}6$ days for 6 months. Bulls mounted dummy cow (BDC) had higher both the $1^{st}$ and the $2^{nd}$ sperm concentrations than in bulls mounted teaser bull (BTB), resulting in more total sperm number (p<0.05). The total sperm number in the $1^{st}$ collection was the highest in BDC with collection interval of 5 days. Total sperm number in the $1^{st}\;and\;2^{nd}$ collections tended to be more in the BDC of $4{\sim}5$ years old and BTB of $6{\sim}7$ years old. These results indicate that semen collection using dummy cow has a better effect than teaser bull on semen characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1544-1557
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• 2020

Objective: Genomic selection (GS) is becoming popular in animals' genetic development. We, therefore, investigated the single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) as tool for GS, and compared its efficacy with the traditional pedigree BLUP (pedBLUP) method. Methods: A total of 9,952 males born between 1997 and 2018 under Hanwoo proven-bull selection program was studied. We analyzed body weight at 12 months and carcass weight (kg), backfat thickness, eye muscle area, and marbling score traits. About 7,387 bulls were genotyped using Illumina 50K BeadChip Arrays. Multiple-trait animal model analyses were performed using BLUPF90 software programs. Breeding value accuracy was calculated using two methods: i) Pearson's correlation of genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) with EBV of all animals (r_M1) and ii) correlation using inverse of coefficient matrix from the mixed-model equations (r_M2). Then, we compared these accuracies by overall population, info-type (PHEN, phenotyped-only; GEN, genotyped-only; and PH+GEN, phenotyped and genotyped), and bull-types (YBULL, young male calves; CBULL, young candidate bulls; and PBULL, proven bulls). Results: The r_M1 estimates in the study were between 0.90 and 0.96 among five traits. The r_M1 estimates varied slightly by population and info-type, but noticeably by bull-type for traits. Generally average r_M2 estimates were much smaller than r_M1 (pedBLUP, 0.40 to0.44; ssGBLUP, 0.41 to 0.45) at population level. However, r_M2 from both BLUP models varied noticeably across info-types and bull-types. The ssGBLUP estimates of r_M2 in PHEN, GEN, and PH+ GEN ranged between 0.51 and 0.63, 0.66 and 0.70, and 0.68 and 0.73, respectively. In YBULL, CBULL, and PBULL, the r_M2 estimates ranged between 0.54 and 0.57, 0.55 and 0.62, and 0.70 and 0.74, respectively. The pedBLUP based r_M2 estimates were also relatively lower than ssGBLUP estimates. At the population level, we found an increase in accuracy by 2.0% to 4.5% among traits. Traits in PHEN were least influenced by ssGBLUP (0% to 2.0%), whereas the highest positive changes were in GEN (8.1% to 10.7%). PH+GEN also showed 6.5% to 8.5% increase in accuracy by ssGBLUP. However, the highest improvements were found in bull-types (YBULL, 21% to 35.7%; CBULL, 3.3% to 9.3%; PBULL, 2.8% to 6.1%). Conclusion: A noticeable improvement by ssGBLUP was observed in this study. Findings of differential responses to ssGBLUP by various bulls could assist in better selection decision making as well. We, therefore, suggest that ssGBLUP could be used for GS in Hanwoo proven-bull evaluation program.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.321-330
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• 2023

The genetic diversity of three Hanwoo populations was analyzed using 11 microsatellite (MS) markers for the traceability of Hanwoo beef in this study. A total of 1,099 Hanwoo cattle from two populations (694 line-breeding and 405 general Hanwoo) at the Hanwoo Research Institute (HRI) of the National Institute of Animal Science and 1,171 Korean proven bulls (KPNs) were used for the analysis. Specific alleles of four markers (ETH10, INRA23, TGLA122, and TGLA227) were identified only in the line-breeding population, although at a low allele frequency (0.001 - 0.02). The genetic distance (Nei's D) between line-breeding Hanwoo and KPN was the greatest (0.064), whereas general Hanwoo and KPN were relatively close genetically (0.02); the distance between line-breeding and general Hanwoo was found to be 0.054. These results are expected because the HRI has performed closed breeding via selecting its line-breeding sires without utilizing KPN since 2009. Therefore, the line-breeding Hanwoo population of HRI show different genetic diversity from the KPN population, based on the 11 MS markers. The results of this study provide basic data for securing the genetic diversity of Hanwoo cattle and utilizing line-breeding Hanwoo cattle from the HRI.