• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2019

It is well documented that intensive selection in dairy cattle for economic value such as increased milk yield led to a decline in reproductive performance. Recent studies using genome-wide association studies (GWASs) discovered candidate genes involved in the lower fertility including embryo development and conception rates. However, the information, which showed a lower reproductive performance, is limited to dairy cattle, especially Holstein, and the candidate genes were not examined in the Korean native cattle Hanwoo which has been intensively selected and bred for meat in the last few decades. We selected the candidate genes WBP1 and PARM1 reported to be associated with cow and/or heifer conception in dairy cattle and analyzed the genotype because those genes have non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). To determine the single base change, we used the high resolution melting (HRM) assay which is rapid and cost-effective for a small number of genes. We found that most heifers with higher conception (1: service per conception) have the AA genotype coding Threonine rather than Proline in the WBP1 gene. We did not detect an association for a SNP in PARM1 in our analysis. In conclusion, the genetic variation of WBP1 can be used as a selective marker gene to improve reproductive performance, and HRM assay can be used to identify common SNP genotypes rapidly and cost effectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.261-265
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• 2016

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and estimate timing of artificial insemination (AI) in Hanwoo heifer (Korean native cattle) that is the most popular breed of beef cattle in Korea. To determine changes in body weight of heifers around AI, body weight were measured at different stages either before or after AI. We found that daily body weight gain was higher in the pregnant cows after AI. We also investigate correlation between body mass measured by shoulder height and body length, and conception rates, used (body length+ height)2 instead of height2 for body mass index (BMI), and found that relatively more BMI heifers (>55) showed higher conception rates. Finally, we estimated body weight by measuring should height (SH), heart girth (HG), and body length (BL); $BW=3.93372^*HG-2.90985^*SH-0.021^*BL$. In addition, we observed that HG is most closely correlated with BW; $y(BW)=1.77355^*x(HG)$, $R^2=0.98881$. In summary, we can determine the best timing of AI using body measurement and its application including BMI.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.525-530
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• 1993

Studies were conducted in 13 Korean native heifers to determine the puberty based on plasma progesterone profiles and estrus observations. Blood samples for determination of progesterone profiles were collected from jugular vein twice a week from 8 to 24 months of age, and all heifers werce observed for estrous behaviours twice a day. Heifers attained puberty at 11.3 months of age and 188.5kg body weight as determined by progesterone profiles, whereas the first estrous behaviours were observed at 14.2 months of age and 215.4kg body weight. This result indicates that determination of plasma progesterone profiles could be utilized for monitoring the puberty in Korean native heifers, and one or more ovulations occurred before pubertal heifers showed overt estrous behaviours.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 1993

This study was carried out to propagate Korean native cattle using beef recipients by embryo transfer. Seven Korean native cattle donors were superovulated with FSH 32mg and Embryos collected from donors were frozen and preserved in National Animal Breeding Institute. Frozen-thawed embryos were transferred to synchronized 40 beef recipients nonsurgically in Daekwanryeong Branch of National Animal Breeding Institute. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Total ova and transferable embryos per donor were 11.4 and 11.1 from 7 donors, respectively. 2. Among 40 recipients transferred with frozen-thawed embryos, 20 were pregnant(50.0%). 3. The pregnancy rate according to time from embryo thawing to transfer was higher when transferred within 3 hours than after 3 hours(57.6% vs. 14.3%). 4. The cow recipients showed slightly higher pregnancy rate than the heifer(53.3% vs. 48.0%). 5. Two grade embryos showed higher pregnancy rate than 1 grade(66.7% vs. 45.2%).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 1998

This experiment was carried out with 12 Korean native heifers(8~12month old, body weight, 160~240kg) raised at a farm of Chang-Soo Livestock Cooperatives to evaluate the effects of rGH(recombinant growth hormone) on serum concentrations of growth hormone, estrogen, and IGF-I, weight gain, teat volume gain and processing enzyme activity of IGF-I, binding protein III at 28 day intervals. Animals used were injected with 250mg rGH at 14 day intervals from December to Ferbruary in 1994. The significant difference was found in the group of treatment on the 4th week in the endogenous GH(p<.01) and 8th week in estrogen and IGF-I(p<.05) after injectin of rGH in Korean native heifers. There were significant differences between control group and treatment group in weight and teat volume on 8th week after treatment(p<.05). Processing enzyme activity before injection of rGH were low. However, heifers injected with 250mg of rGH showed that processing enzyme activity of IGF binding protein was highly increased throughout the experiment. Present results suggest that injection of exogenous rGH to heifers can increase the growth performance and udder development of Korean native heifers by the endogenous hormonal changes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.411-421
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• 1997

A survey was carried out to investigate the symptoms and occurance of reproductive disorder in Hanwoo(Korean native cattle). Data of the reproductive disorder of 561 heads from 28 farm households have been collected from Dec. '95 to Nov. '96 and analyzed calving no, nutritional body condition and housing forms. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The incidence of reproductive disorder was 20.1% and the major common symptoms were repeat breeding(39.8%), anestrous(31.0%), nymphomania(10.6%) and subestrous(8.9%). 2. The incidence of reproductive disorder according to the calving no., that of heifer, calved one to two calving no. and over three calving no. were 20.6%, 13.9% and 34.5%, respectively. 3. Reproductive disorder incidence according to the nutritional body condition was 18.3%, 14.6% and 48.7% at body condition score(BCS) less than 2.0, 2.5 to 3.0 and over than 3.5, respectively. At BCS over 3.0, the symptoms of common reproductive disorder were repeat breeding(17.6%), anestrous(12.2%), nymphomania(10.8%) and subestrous(2.7%). 4. The incidence of reproductive disorder according to the housing form 15.8% and 34.6% for group feeding in open house and individual stanchion feeding in stall, respectively. In group feeding, reproductive disorder incidence of cows raised in space of more than 9.9$m^2$ per head was 14.1%, while that of cows raised less than 9.9$m^2$ per head was 18.2%. And incidence of repeat breeding, aneestrous and subestrous was more frequent in individual stanchion feeding than group feeding.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 1994

To improve nuclear transplantation(NT) efficiency and to produce a large scale genetically identical cloned calves, examined the in vitro development capacity after co-culture of bovine oviductal epithelial cells (BOEC) and granulosa cells in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) with early bovine embryos derived from in vitro matured fertilized(IVM-IVF) oocyte. In addition, the age dependence of IVM oocyte on electro-stimulation and the effective electric voltage on in ivtro development of bovine NT embryos were examined. The results obtained were summerized as follows; 1. The cleavage rates of IVM-IVF bovine embryos in co-culture with bovine oviductal epithelial cells and granulosa cells were not significantly different(P<0.05), but the developmental rate into morula and blastocyst stage were different showing 38.3 and 20.2%, respectively. 2. The activation (82.5%) and development in vitro(8.6%) into later embryo stages of the aging oocytes of 32 hours post-maturation (hpm) were significantly higher than those of 24 hpm at direct current (DC) voltage of 1.5kV/cm, 60$\mu$sec pulse duration and 1 pulse time. 3. The fusion rates of NT eggs of 32 hpm following to different DC voltages from range 0.75 to 1.5kV/cm were not differ, but the developmental rate into morula and blastocyst stages at DC voltages of 0.75 and 1.0kV/cm were higher(11.4 and 12.6%, respectively) than those of 1.5kV/cm(0%). From these results, it can be suggested the optimal culture system for in vitro culture of IVM-IVF bovine embryos is a co-culture system with BOEC in TCM-199 supplemented 10% FCS. The effective time and the DC voltage for activation, electrofusion and in vitro development of NT embryos derived from IVM-IVF bovine embryo are 32hpm and 0.75~1.0kV/cm. But to improve NT efficiency, the advanced research (cell cycle synchronization, micromanipulation, culture system, etc.) is needed.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 1996

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST; Boostin-S, LG Chem) treatment with FSH (Super OV) or PMSG on superovulatory response for transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (TVR) in calves. Eight Korean Native Cattle(KNC) heifer calves; 150 to 240 days old; were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: 1) FSH(75 mg); 2) FSH (75 mg) + bST(500mg) 3) PMSG(1;000 IU); 4) PMSG(1, 000 IU) + bST(500 mg). Experimental calves in group 1 (n=2) and 2(n=2) were weekly superovulated for 4 consecutive weeks with daily injection of FSH for 3days and the next day subjected to TVR session. Animals in group 3 (n=2) and 4(n=2) were weekly stimulated for 4 consecutive weeks with a single dose of 1, 000 IU PMSG. TVR was performed on 72 hours after PMSG injection. Calves in group 2 and 4 was received injection of 500 mg of bST every 10 days. At each TVR session, follicle number and size were recorded; the oocytes collected and graded according to cumulus and cytoplasm investment. Collected oocyte were determined viable oocyte according to morphological quality with granulation of oocyte and number and status of cumlulus cells. IVM and IVF were performed and assessed cleavage rate on day 3 after fertilization. A Sonovet 600(Medison, Co., Ltd) realtime ultrasound scanner with a 6.5 MHz convex transducer, fixed at the tip of 500 mm estended handle equipped with a needle guide was used in collecting oocyte. Differences between groups were analysed by chi-square test. The population of large follicle ($\geq$5 nun) and aspiration rate were not significant different among the 4 groups. But, the number of small follicles (<5 mm) and aspirated oocyte in the KNC calves treated with bST were 1.3~1.6 times higher than in KNC calves treat with FSH or PMSG alone. In conclusion, the administration of bST with FSH or PMSG at superovulation for TVR in calves was increase the nurnber of small follicle which was influenced the number of aspiratable follicle.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2002

This study was performed to investigate the improvement of the pregnancy rate of Al or clone embryo transfer on hCG administration in Korean Native heifer. A total of 42 heifers were treated with control, CIDR(withou E2 capsule). hCG after 7 day of hi, the pregnancy rate were spewed 53, 46, 71%. These results were significant different among the treatments(P<0.05). When the hCG were adminstrated at cloned embryo transfer, pregnanacy rate were control, hCG 5.8%, 10.4% respectively and there was no significant different between treatments. Plasma P4 concentration of hCG treatment in heifers were 3 times higher than control on 13~16 day after heat. After this, plasma P4 concentration of CIDR and hCG treated heifers were kept the 2~3 times levels. IGF-I concentration were showed no differences between pregnancy and non-pregnancy. hOG and CIDR. IGF-II concentration were revealed the differences between pregnancy and non-pregnancy in CIDR group but there was no differences in hCG administration group. Plasma cortisol were high at heat and 16 day after heat and CIDR treated group was higher than the other group. These results suggest that hCG administration was improve the pregnancy rates on Al and cloned ET, accompanying the incline of P4 concentration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.838-843
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were to examine growth performance and meat quality by three different feeding patterns in Korean native cattle (KNC). In each of 3 years, fifteen KNC were randomly assigned in a (3 feeding management)${\times}$(3 sex) factorial design experiment; thus, in total, there were 5 animals in each of the 9 treatments. The three feeding management treatments were longterm (24 month) restriction feeding (LTFR), long-term restriction feeding-hormone implant (LTFR-tH), and short-term (18 month) nonrestriction feeding (STFNR). Three sexes were bull, steer, and heifer. Concentrate diet was fed restriction-feeding method based on body weight in LTFR and LTFR-tH. However, the diet was fed ad libitum in STFNR. Hormonal implantation was made three times with M-$PO^{TM}$ for bulls and with F-$TO^{TM}$ for heifers at 18, 20, 22 month of age in LTFR-tH. Animal were purchased from the local cattle market and managed in two local farms and at the university research unit. Animals were slaughtered at 24 months for long-term trial and at 18 month for short-term trial. The growth rate was the highest in bulls and the lowest in heifers. However, the differences were diminished in F-$TO^{TM}$ implanted heifers. The average daily gain was high in STFNR due to ad libitum feeding. The carcass grade was similar among the treatments on percentage bases. Hormonal implants improved significantly the meat quality grade in all sexes. Castration increased body fat content and improved meat quality grade by intramuscular fat deposition. In conclusion, long-term feeding and hormone treatment increased meat quality grade more than short-term feeding. However, ADG was higher in the short-term trial although feedefficiency was lower.