• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.263-273
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• 2015

We estimated the global inflow and stock of plastic marine debris. In South Korea, we estimated that the annual inflow of plastic marine debris (72,956 tons) was about 1.4% of annual plastics consumption (5.2 million tons) in 2012. By applying this 1.4% ratio to global plastics production from 1950 to 2013, we estimated that 4.2 million tons of plastic debris entered the ocean in 2013 and that there is a stock of 86 million tons of plastic marine debris as of the end of 2013, assuming zero outflow. In addition, with a logistic model, if 4% of petroleum is turned into plastics, the final stock of plastic marine debris shall be 199 million tons at the end. As the inflow and the stock are different units of measurement, better indicators to assess the effectiveness of inflow-reducing policies are needed. And, as the pollution from plastic marine debris is almost irreversible, countermeasures to prevent it should be valued more, and stronger preventive measures should be taken under the precautionary principle. As this is a preliminary study based on limited information, further research is needed to clarify the tendency of inflow and stock of plastic marine debris.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1354-1363
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• 2010

This study compared the effect of four different feeding methods for gestating gilts on reproductive performance and growth of their progeny. A total of 40 F1 primiparous sows (Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) were allotted to four treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). For treatments, gestating period of sows was divided into three trimesters (0-35 d, 36-90 d and 91-110 d) and different amounts of feed were provided to each treatment group by Flat, Down-Up-Down (DUD), Up-Down-Up (UDU) and Down-Up-Up (DUU) feeding methods. The experimental diet was formulated to meet or exceed the standards of NRC (1998). Body weight gain of gestating gilts from d 0 to 110 was affected by feeding method (p<0.05). When gilts were fed constant feed ration (Flat feeding), less body weight loss was observed during lactation (-0.9 kg, p<0.05) and desirable backfat thickness (average 19.5 mm) was acquired at 110 days of gestation. Feed intake of lactating sows tended to be greater (4.22, 3.60, 3.97 and 4.13 kg/d, p>0.05) as sows in Flat feeding treatment had lower backfat thickness during gestation compared with other treatments (p<0.05). When gestating gilts were fed higher amount of feed during mid-trimester, the number of stillborn (1.4 piglet per litter, p<0.05) and mummies (0.8 piglet per litter, p = 0.25) were increased compared to other treatments. Feeding methods for gestating gilts had no effect on litter weight and gain of litter weight during the nursing period. Flat feeding method resulted in decreased plasma glucose concentration at 7 d postpartum (p<0.05), and increased LH concentration at 21 d postpartum (p<0.01) compared to other treatments. These results suggested that higher feed intake of gestating gilts resulted in detrimental effects on body condition and reproductive performance of sows. When gestating gilts consumed constant feed during gestation (2 kg/d), better reproductive performance and less body weight loss in lactation were observed because sows consumed more feed during the whole lactation period. Consequently, Flat feeding will be a desirable feeding strategy for gestating gilts to maximize reproductive performance, and better body condition of sows without any negative influence on the growth of their progeny.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.264-274
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of β-glucan with vitamin E supplementation on the physiological response, litter performance, blood profiles, immune response, and milk composition of lactating sows. Methods: A total of 50 multiparous F₁ sows (Yorkshire×Landrace) with an average body weight (BW) of 233.6±4.30 kg and an average parity of 4.00±0.307 and their litters were used in this experiment. All sows were allotted to one of five treatments, taking into consideration BW, backfat thickness, and parity in a completely randomized design with 10 replicates. The experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without 0.1% or 0.2% β-glucan and 110 IU vitamin E/kg diet. Results: All treatments added with β-glucan or vitamin E were statistically higher in the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of lactating sows compared to those of the control (Diet, p<0.01). Additionally, the ADFI of lactating sows was significantly higher in the groups supplemented with 0.1% β-glucan compared to 0.2% β-glucan (BG, p<0.01). There was an increasing trend in piglet weight at weaning (BG, p = 0.07), litter weight at the 21st day of lactation (BG, p = 0.07) and litter weight gain (BG, p = 0.08) in groups supplemented with 0.1% β-glucan. The addition of 110 IU vitamin E/kg diet increased vitamin E concentration significantly in lactating sows (VE, p<0.01) and exhibited a trend for higher concentrations of vitamin E (VE, p = 0.09) in piglets. Adding 0.1% β-glucan compared to 0.2% β-glucan induced a decrease in the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α in lactating sows (BG, p = 0.06) and in piglets (BG, p = 0.09) on the 21st day of lactation. There were no significant differences in the milk composition of sows. Conclusion: Adding 0.1% β-glucan and 110 IU vitamin E/kg to a lactating sow's diet was beneficial to the growth performance of piglets by leading to an increase in the feed intake of sows and efficiently supplying vitamin E to both the sows and piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.593-600
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• 1992

Animal welfare is often neglected by livestock productionists when considering the utilization of animal wastes for livestock feeds. The present review has been carried out to examine the nutritive value of poultry wastes for ruminants, the health risks involved with feeding it, the treatment and feeding methods and the production responses of animals fed on it. It was found that mineral, crude protein, crude fibre and metabolisable energy concentrations are influenced by the system of poultry production, the storage of the waste and the treatment method. Heating at $60^{\circ}C$ kills all pathogens apart from Clostidium botulinum whereas proper ensiling kills all. Apart from the kidney fat and the liver, animal tissues have not shown residues of drugs or heavy metals from poultry wastes. Palatability is affected when the moisture is more than 200 g/kg. Production responses are satisfactory when poultry wastes replace portions of concentrates. It was concluded that poultry litter generally has higher metabolisable energy contents than poultry manure, but research is needed to classify poultry litters on their energy values. The adverse effects of toxic minerals and drug residues are negligible in balanced poultry waste feeding systems.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 1986

The production and decomposition of litters and nutrient cycling of forests were studied at the pine forests such as Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus rigida, Pinus thunbergii, Abies holophylla and Larix kaempfer. The annual litter production of the P. densiflora forest was the most on Mt. Mudeung which was 620.75g/$m^2$ and the least on Mt. Halla which was 155.00g/$m^2$. The decay rate of litters was the highest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Mudeung which was k=0.256 and the lowest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Halla and A. holophylla on Mt. Jiri which were k=0.099. The half time of decomposition of litters was shortest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Mudeung and the longest at the P. densiflora on Mt. Halla and A. holophylla forests on Mt. Jiri. The average decay rate of the L. kaempferi forests which was k=0.204 was the highest and that of the A. holophylla forests which was k=0.122 was the lowest. The decay rate tended to decrease against increasing the altitude. The annual production of litterr, the contents of mineral nutrients and the amounts of mineral nutrients inputted into the forest soil tended to increase in proportion to the decay rate, k.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 1993

Ecological role of earthworms in red pine forest was investigated with emphasis on the population size, cast production and changes of physicoKDICical properties of soil by earthworm's activities. The density of earthworms was 62.8/m2 in August, 1992. Average biomass of earthworms was 16.3 g/m2. N and P concentrations in the tissue of earthworms were 28.5 mgN/g and 0.5 mgP/g, respectively. Cast production continued from April to November, with a peak in August. Annual production of earthworm casts was 5,379 g/m2. Bulk density of surface soil decreased due to the earthworm's cast-forming activity. Clay fraction in surface soil increased by addition of casts. Soil KDICical properties were significantly different between the surface soil and the earthworm casts. The amounts of organic matter, N, P, K, Ca and Mg added to the soil via earthworm casts during one year were 9.3t/ha, 11.29 kg/ha, 0.78 kg/ha, 12.36 kg/ha, 140.29 kg/ha and 20.96 kg/ha, respectively. Earthworms can feed on waxy and resinous litter when it became palatable by decomposing processes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1517-1517
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• 2001

Cultural conditions during production of compost, using wheat straw and chicken litter as raw materials, will affect the microbial and biochemical characteristics, leading to a wide variation in mushroom productivity. Over the past 10 years, chemical and instrumental methods, suitable for assessing compost quality have been studied in Northern Ireland. In addition, the use of near subject of investigation over the past 4 years. Previous studies have shown that NIRS can be used fer assessing quality of dried and milled composts. The aim of the current investigation is to develop NIR calibrations for key quality parameters such as dry matter, pH, nitrogen, carbon, ash, microbial population and fibre factions during the two stages of production using spectra of fresh composts. Near infrared reflectance measurements of fresh composts prepared by 6 producers were made during a two-year period. Although the spectra of fresh composts were dominated by two moisture peaks at 1450 nm and 1940 nm, good calibrations for determining moisture content, conductivity, pH, nitrogen, carbon and fibre fractions were developed. The results of quality assessment during commercial production using the calibrations will be presented and discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.83-95
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• 1988

Phytomass, annual net production, respiration, annual gros production and litter fall were estimated in young Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) plantations reforested 1,2,3,6,9 and 11 years ago, respectivly. The estimated phytomasses in terms of allometry were 0.07, 0.44, 0.58, 13.37, 32.26 and 48.42ton/ha/yr for annual net production and those of understory with harvest method were 3.70, 4.52, 5.28, 6.72, 7.56 and 5.72ton/ha for standing phytomass and 5.01, 4.71, 5.52m 6.15, 4.51 and 2.08 ton/ha/yr for annual net production at 1,2,3,6,9 and 11 year old plantation, respectively. Although the standing phytomass of understory increased gradually until 9 years thereafter decreased, that of white pine increased suddenly from 6 years after reforestation. The ratios of the annyal net production of understory to that of white pine were 71.57, 1.48 and 0.23 at 1,6 and 11 year old plantations, respectively. The net production in calorie value for whole vegetation of the plantations, respectively. The net production in calorie value for whole vegetation of the plantations increased until 9 years thereafter decreased; i.e. 224, 221, 280, 466, 527 and 494X105 kcal/ha/yr at 1,2,3,6,9 and 11 year old plantation, respectivey. The ratio of annual net production to annual gross production of the undersoty was lower than that of the pine at the same plantation age. Efficiency of solat energy untilization for net production by the pine was lower than that by understory y\until six ear old plantation but that was vice versa over 9 year old plantation. That for gross producrion by the pine was lower than that by the unsersotry at all plantations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1222-1228
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• 2016

The objective of this research was to estimate genetic parameters and trends for length of productive life (LPL), lifetime number of piglets born alive (LBA), lifetime number of piglets weaned (LPW), lifetime litter birth weight (LBW), and lifetime litter weaning weight (LWW) in a commercial swine farm in Northern Thailand. Data were gathered during a 24-year period from July 1989 to August 2013. A total of 3,109 phenotypic records from 2,271 Landrace (L) and 838 Yorkshire sows (Y) were analyzed. Variance and covariance components, heritabilities and correlations were estimated using an Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood (AIREML) procedure. The 5-trait animal model contained the fixed effects of first farrowing year-season, breed group, and age at first farrowing. Random effects were sow and residual. Estimates of heritabilities were medium for all five traits ($0.17{\pm}0.04$ for LPL and LBA to $0.20{\pm}0.04$ for LPW). Genetic correlations among these traits were high, positive, and favorable (p<0.05), ranging from $0.93{\pm}0.02$ (LPL-LWW) to $0.99{\pm}0.02$ (LPL-LPW). Sow genetic trends were non-significant for LPL and all lifetime production traits. Sire genetic trends were negative and significant for LPL ($-2.54{\pm}0.65d/yr$; p = 0.0007), LBA ($-0.12{\pm}0.04piglets/yr$; p = 0.0073), LPW ($-0.14{\pm}0.04piglets/yr$; p = 0.0037), LBW ($-0.13{\pm}0.06kg/yr$; p = 0.0487), and LWW ($-0.69{\pm}0.31kg/yr$; p = 0.0365). Dam genetic trends were positive, small and significant for all traits ($1.04{\pm}0.42d/yr$ for LPL, p = 0.0217; $0.16{\pm}0.03piglets/yr$ for LBA, p<0.0001; $0.12{\pm}0.03piglets/yr$ for LPW, p = 0.0002; $0.29{\pm}0.04kg/yr$ for LBW, p<0.0001 and $1.23{\pm}0.19kg/yr$ for LWW, p<0.0001). Thus, the selection program in this commercial herd managed to improve both LPL and lifetime productive traits in sires and dams. It was ineffective to improve LPL and lifetime productive traits in sows.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2010

It has been well established that leaf longevity is linked to the carbon economy of plants. We used this relationship to predict leaf lifetime carbon gains from leaf lifespan, and estimated the gross primary production (GPP) of a young deciduous forest of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) located in central Japan. The light-saturated photosynthetic rates of the leaves were measured repeatedly during the growing season. We used the leaf lifespan to calculate the conversion coefficient from the light-saturated photosynthetic rate into the realized leaf lifetime carbon gain under field conditions. The leaf turnover rate was estimated using litter traps. GPP was estimated as the product of lifetime carbon gain per unit of leaf mass, and the annual leaf turnover rate. The GPP of the forest in 2007 was estimated to be $1.2{\times}10^3gCm^{-2}y^{-1}$, which was within the range of previously reported GPP values of beech forests in Japan, and was close to the GPP of a European beech forest, as estimated by eddy flux measurements.