• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.842-850
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• 2018

Objective: Several studies have reported the development of new molecular methods for the prognosis and diagnosis of male fertility based on biomarkers aimed at overcoming the limitations of conventional male fertility analysis tools. However, further studies are needed for the field application of these methods. Therefore, alternative methods based on existing semen analysis methods are required to improve production efficiency in the animal industry. Methods: we examined the possibility of improving litter size in various pig breeds using combined Hoechst 33258/chlortetracycline fluorescence (H33258/CTC) staining. The correlation between field fertility and capacitation status by combined H33258/CTC staining in different ejaculates spermatozoa (n = 3) from an individual boar (20 Landrace, 20 Yorkshire, and 20 Duroc) was evaluated as well as overall accuracy. Results: The acrosome reacted (AR) pattern after capacitation (%) was positively correlated with the litter size of Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs and the overall accuracy was 75%, 75%, and 70% in Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs, respectively. The difference (${\Delta}$) in AR pattern before and after capacitation was positively correlated with the litter size of Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs and the overall accuracy was 80%, 65%, and 55% in Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs, respectively. However, the difference (${\Delta}$) in capacitated (B) pattern before and after capacitation was negatively correlated with the litter size of Landrace pigs and the overall accuracy was 75%. Moreover, average litter size was significantly altered according to different combined H33258/CTC staining parameters. Conclusion: These results show that combined H33258/CTC staining may be used to predict male fertility in various breeds. However, the selection of specific efficiency combined H33258/CTC staining parameters requires further consideration. Taken together, these findings suggest that combined H33258/CTC staining may constitute an alternative method for predicting male fertility until such time as fertility-related biomarkers are further validated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권10호
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• pp.1500-1506
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• 2017

Objective: High $NH_3$ emissions from poultry houses are reported to have negative impacts on health, welfare and safety of birds and humans, and on the environment. Objective of the present study was to determine the effects of two litter amendments on the $NH_3$ levels in broiler closed houses under hot-humid conditions. Methods: Giving a completely randomize design, nine closed houses, each housed 32,500 birds on paddy husk litter, were randomly allocated into two treatment (Mizuho; a bacterial culture mix and Rydall OE; an enzymatic biocatalyst) and control groups. $NH_3$ levels were determined thrice a day (0600, 1200, and 1800 h), at three heights from the litter surface (30, 90, and 150 cm), at 20 predetermined locations of a house, from day 1 to 41. Results: Rydall significantly reduced the $NH_3$ level compared to control and Mizuho. $NH_3$ levels at 30 cm were significantly higher than that of 90 and 150 cm. The $NH_3$ levels at 30 cm height were higher than 25 ppm level from day 9, 11, and 13 in Mizuho, control, and Rydall groups, respectively to day 41. $NH_3$ levels at 150 cm height were higher than maximum threshold limit of 50 ppm for human exposure from day 12, 14, and 15 in Mizuho, control, and Rydall groups, respectively to day 33. Being significantly different among each other, the $NH_3$ level was highest and lowest at 0600 and 1800 h. Litter amendments had no significant effects on growth performance. Rydall significantly increased the litter N content on day 24. Conclusion: It was concluded that the $NH_3$ levels of closed house broiler production facilities under tropical condition are so high that both birds and workers are exposed to above recommended levels during many days of the growing period. Compared to microbial culture, the enzymatic biocatalyst was found to be more effective in reducing $NH_3$ level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.43-49
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to compare both the performance of litters derived from two sire genetic origins (SGO), Vienna Blue (VB) and Burgundy Fawn (BF), along successive seasons of birth (SB; winter, spring, summer and autumn), and doe reproductive performance in an organic production system. A total of fifty-eight does consisting of a mixture of crosses of several medium-large size breeds at different parity order (P, 1 = nulliparous; 2 = primiparous; ${\geq}3$ = multiparous) and twelve males (6 VB and 6 BF) were housed indoors at environmental conditions that followed seasonality. An extensive reproductive rhythm was used and kits were weaned at $46{\pm}6$ d of age. Doe reproductive performance and the data of 105 litters (55 from VB and 50 from BF SGO) were recorded throughout the SB. No statistically significant differences related to SGO effect were observed. As regards parity order, multiparous does showed higher live weights (LW) (p<0.05), total born (p<0.01), total born alive (p<0.05) per delivery, and litter weight of born alive (p<0.05), but lower milk output at 21st d than primiparous does (p<0.05). The extensive reproductive rhythm mainly increased litter performance at birth in multiparous does but was not sufficient to permit a complete recovery of body reserves lost during lactation. Autumn SB negatively affected doe LW variation between deliveries. The number of pups born and born alive per delivery (p<0.05) and litter size at 21 d of age and at weaning (p<0.01) were lower during hot SB. Due to the lower litter size of pups born in summer and autumn, their individual weight at 21st d of age and daily individual growth rate 0 to 21 d were higher than those of pups born in winter (p<0.001). Litter performance at 21st d of age and individual pup pre-weaning growth rate were poorer for those born in spring than in other seasons due to the harmful effects of increased environmental temperatures. SB affected most of the performance traits of does and young rabbits reared under the organic farming system. The rabbits seemed better suited to organic rearing conditions during winter than in other seasons. The worst results overall were obtained in the spring SB, whereas the hot SB negatively affected both doe energy balance and prolificacy. In conclusion, the pups of the 2 SGO showed good pre-weaning performance and seemed suited to the organic rabbit production system.

• 환경생물
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.87-95
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• 2013

남산의 소나무림, 신갈나무림 그리고 아까시나무림에서 2008년 1월부터 2009년 12월까지의 월별 낙엽생산량과 토양의 유기탄소량을 조사하였다. 소나무림은 2008년과 2009년 모두 10월에 낙엽생산량이 가장 많았으며, 2008년 1월과 2009년 12월에 낙엽생산량이 가장 적었다. 신갈나무림은 2008년과 2009년 모두 11월에 낙엽생산량이 가장 많았으며, 2월에 낙엽생산량이 가장 적었다. 아까시나무림은 2008년 11월과 2009년 10월에 낙엽생산량이 가장 많았으며, 2008년 1월과 2009년 12월에 낙엽생산량이 가장 적었다. 이것은 한반도 중부에서 상록성의 소나무림이 낙엽성의 참나무숲 보다 더 일찍 낙엽이 진다는 것을 의미한다. 소나무림과 신갈나무림, 아까시나무림의 2년 평균의 낙엽생산량은 7.07, 6.36, $5.02ton\;ha^{-1}$로 소나무가 가장 많았다. 소나무림과 신갈나무림, 아까시나무림의 2년 평균의 토양유기탄소량은 76.2, 68.6, $72.5ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$로 소나무림에서 가장 많았다. 이처럼 소나무숲에서 높게 나타난 것은 남산에서 신갈나무나 아까시나무를 벌목하여 임목밀도가 줄었기 때문이다.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.139-149
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• 1987

Mathematical models of the litter accumulation, decay and turnover in the grassland and forest ecosystems of equilibrium state of the annual litter production were established to analyse the decay rates of organic and inorganic constituents of the litter. Those models were validated by an application to a Phragmites longivalvis grassland in a delta of the River Nakdong. The decay constants of cold-water-soluble fractions, other carbohydrates, hot-water-soluble fractions, cellulose, crude fat, lignin and crude protein in the litter were 0.730, 0.583, 0.555, 0.505, 0.479, 0.331 and 0.310 respectively. The amount of mineral nutrients such as N. P. K. Ca and Mg returned annually to the soil were estimated to 7.09, 1.34, 2.36, 4.37 and 0.79g/m2 respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.300-306
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• 1998

An experiment was conducted to investigate correlations of litter size and average serum progesterone concentrations during pregnancy with mammary gland growth and development at parturition. Twenty ewes (5, 9, 4, and 2 ewes carrying 0, 1, 2, and 3 lambs, respectively) were used to measure weekly serum progesterone concentration during pregnancy. At parturition, the experimental ewes were slaughtered for determination of mammary gland growth and development at parturition (mammary dry fat-free tissue [DFFT], DNA, RNA, collagen, protein, and glycogen). Correlation of mammary DFFT with litter size and averages serum progesterone concentrations were 0.75 and 0.72, respectively. Litter size or maternal serum progesterone concentrations did not correlate with the mammary DNA concentration. However, litter size or maternal serum progesterone concentrations positively correlated (p < 0.01) with the mammary RNA and protein concentrations, but negatively correlated with the mammary collagen (p < 0.01) and. glycogen (p < 0.05) concentrations. Litter size or maternal serum progesterone positively correlated (p < 0.01) with the total mammary DNA, RNA, collagen, protein and glycogen contents. These results implied that the increased concentrations of progesterone with the increased litter size during pregnancy improved mammary gland growth and development at parturition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권10호
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• pp.1475-1478
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• 2005

Statistical analysis was conducted on sow stillbirth traits of three genotypes with 2,400 litters including the Erhualian, Large White and the $F_1$ cross of these two breeds. Number of stillborn piglets per litter in the Erhualian, Large White and the $F_1$ averaged 0.85, 0.31 and 0.70, and percentage born alive averaged 95.0%, 97.0% and 95.5%, respectively. Erhualian sows with a greater litter size also had a higher stillbirth rate. Results of analysis of variance indicated that genotype, parity, farrowing year${\times}$farrowing season interaction and total number born had highly significant effects on both number of stillborn piglets per litter and percentage born alive in sows (p<0.0001). Farrowing year had no significant effect on number of stillborn piglets per litter (p>0.05), and highly significant effect on percentage born alive (p<0.01). Farrowing season had highly significant effects on both number of stillborn piglets per litter and percentage born alive (p<0.01). From parity one to parity ten, least squares means for number of stillborn piglets per litter progressively increased with increasing parity and least squares means for percentage born alive progressively decreased with increasing parity. Sows that farrowed in winter had the highest number of stillborn piglets per litter and the lowest percentage born alive, sows that farrowed in autumn had the lowest number of stillborn piglets per litter and the highest percentage born alive. With increasing total number born, least squares means for number of stillborn piglets per litter markedly increased and least squares means for percentage born alive markedly decreased. Results from analysis of paternal half sibs indicated that the heritabilities for number of stillborn piglets per litter and percentage born alive were 0.110 and 0.124, and the genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlations between them were -0.989, -0.951 and -0.948, respectively. These results indicated that number of stillborn piglets per litter and percentage born alive were traits with the similar genetic background.

• 한국산림과학회지
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• 제98권2호
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• pp.183-188
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• 2009

It is necessary to determine the amount of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) absorbed by plants and released from forest floor into atmosphere, to gain a better understanding how forests participate in the global carbon cycle. Soil $CO_2$ efflux, litter production, and decomposition were investigated in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora stands in the vicinity of Gwangju, Chonnam province. Soil $CO_2$ efflux was measured using Infrared Gas Analyzer (IRGA) at midday of the 10th day at every month over 12-month period, to quantify seasonal and annual budgets of soil $CO_2$ efflux. Soil temperature and soil moisture were measured at the same time. Seasonal soil $CO_2$ efflux in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora were the highest in summer season. In August, maximum soil $CO_2$ efflux in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora was 7.49, $4.61CO_2{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, respectively. Annual $CO_2$ efflux in each stand was 1.77, $1.67CO_2kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$ respectively. Soil $CO_2$ efflux increased exponentially with soil temperature and related strongly in Q. variabilis ($r^2$=0.96), and in P. densiflora ($r^2$=0.91). Litter production continued throughout the year, but showed a peak on November and December. Annual litter production in the Q. variabilis and P. densiflora stands were $613.7gdw{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ and $550.5gdw{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$.$yr^{-1}$, respectively. After 1 year, % remaining mass of Q. variabilis and P. densiflora litter was 48.2, 57.1%, respectively. The soil $CO_2$ efflux rates in this study showed clear seasonal variations. In addition, the temporal variation in the $CO_2$ efflux rates was closely related to the soil temperature fluctuation rather than to variations in the soil moisture content. The range of fluctuation of soil $CO_2$ efflux and litter decomposition rate showed similar seasonal changes. The range of fluctuation of soil $CO_2$ efflux and litter decomposition rate was higher during summer and autumn than spring and winter.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.1592-1597
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• 2013

Type of dietary direct-fed microbials (DFMs) or poultry litter could directly influence the composition of gut microbiota. Gut microbiota plays an important role in shaping the developing immune system and maintaining the homeostasis of the mature immune system in mammal and chickens. The present study was carried out to investigate the interaction among litter, DFMs and immunity in broiler chickens exposed to a field-simulated environment. Immune status of broiler chickens was assessed by serum antibodies against Eimeria spp. and Clostridium spp. and intestinal cytokine mRNA expression. The current experimental design had a $3{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments with three types of litter, i.e., fresh litter or used litter that was obtained from a farm with no disease outbreak (used litter) or a farm with history of a gangrenous dermatitis outbreak (GD litter), and two dietary treatments with or without DFMs. It was found that either DFM addition or type of litter significantly affected anticoccidial antibody levels of broiler chickens at d 42. In general, dietary DFMs increased the anticoccidial antibodies in the fresh-litter raised chickens, but lowered the levels in the GD-litter raised chickens. Serum antibodies against Clostridium perfringens ${\alpha}$-toxin were significantly (p<0.05) higher in chickens raised on GD litter compared with those raised on fresh litter. Cytokine mRNA expression was significantly (p<0.05) altered by either the type of litter or DFMs. Of interest, dietary DFMs lowered interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin 1beta, and CXCLi2 cytokine mRNA expression in chickens raised on fresh litter but increased them in GD-litter raised chickens. In conclusion, dietary DFMs modulate various immune parameters of broiler chickens, but the DFM-mediated effects were dependent upon the type of litter on which chickens were raised.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.307-315
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• 2001

Litter size has been one of the important economic traits in porcine reproduction. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system has been shown to mediate actions of the steroid hormone or to synergize with other endocrine factors so that it consequently plays roles in reproductive processes, including ovulation, implantation, maintenance of pregnancy, and fetal development. However, the effect of the serum IGF system on porcine litter size has not been deeply studied. Therefore, this study was conducted to relate serum IFG-II concentration and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) expression with porcine litter size. Moreover, the possible association of those with estrogen receptor (ER) as a candidate gene for litter size was investigated. Swine were separated into two groups showing high and low litter sizes, and sera were collected from sows in the estrous cycle to postnatal growth of their female progeny. Serum IFG-II concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay and IGFBP-3 expression was detected by Western ligand blotting. During the estrous cycle, IGFBP-3 expression in both groups decreased moderately from metestrus to estrus, but IFG-II concentration showed a reverse pattern. Also, IFG-II concentration and IGFBP-3 expression decreased gradually as pregnancy proceeded. Unlike IGFBP-3, IFG-II decreased moderately as newborn pigs grew. Significant differences in serum IFG-II amount between the two groups were detected at 60 (p<0.01), 75, 90, and 105 d (p<0.05) of pregnancy and at 60 (p<0.01), 45, and 105 d (p<0.05) of postnatal growth. Furthermore, based on ER genotypes, a high litter size group with genotypes AB and BB showed lower IFG-II concentration than a low litter size group with a genotype AA during pregnancy. Taken together, the results indicate that the serum IFG-II and IGFBP-3 are correlated with the litter size in pigs.