• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1083-1094
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• 2016

Carcass and price traits of 72,969 Hanwoo cows, bulls and steers aged 16 to 80 months at slaughter collected from 2002 to 2013 at 75 beef packing plants in Korea were analyzed to determine heritability, correlation and breeding value using the Multi-Trait restricted maximum likelihood (REML) animal model procedure. The traits included carcass measurements, scores and grades at 24 h postmortem and bid prices at auction. Relatively high heritability was found for maturity ($0.41{\pm}0.031$), while moderate heritability estimates were obtained for backfat thickness ($0.20{\pm}0.018$), longissimus muscle (LM) area ($0.23{\pm}0.020$), carcass weight ($0.28{\pm}0.019$), yield index ($0.20{\pm}0.018$), yield grade ($0.16{\pm}0.017$), marbling ($0.28{\pm}0.021$), texture ($0.14{\pm}0.016$), quality grade ($0.26{\pm}0.016$) and price/kg ($0.24{\pm}0.025$). Relatively low heritability estimates were observed for meat color ($0.06{\pm}0.013$) and fat color ($0.06{\pm}0.012$). Heritability estimates for most traits were lower than those in the literature. Genetic correlations of carcass measurements with characteristic scores or quality grade of carcass ranged from -0.27 to +0.21. Genetic correlations of yield grade with backfat thickness, LM area and carcass weight were 0.91, -0.43, and -0.09, respectively. Genetic correlations of quality grade with scores of marbling, meat color, fat color and texture were -0.99, 0.48, 0.47, and 0.98, respectively. Genetic correlations of price/kg with LM area, carcass weight, marbling, meat color, texture and maturity were 0.57, 0.64, 0.76, -0.41, -0.79, and -0.42, respectively. Genetic correlations of carcass price with LM area, carcass weight, marbling and texture were 0.61, 0.57, 0.64, and -0.73, respectively, with standard errors ranging from ${\pm}0.047$ to ${\pm}0.058$. The mean carcass weight breeding values increased by more than 8 kg, whereas the mean marbling scores decreased by approximately 0.2 from 2000 through 2009. Overall, the results suggest that genetic improvement of productivity and carcass quality could be obtained under the national scale breeding scheme of Korea for Hanwoo and that continuous efforts to improve the breeding scheme should be made to increase genetic progress.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1565-1574
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify genetic variants based on RNA-seq data, obtained via transcriptome sequencing of muscle tissue of pigs differing in muscle histological structure, and to verify the variants' effect on histological microstructure and production traits in a larger pig population. Methods: RNA-seq data was used to identify the panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly related with percentage and diameter of each fiber type (I, IIA, IIB). Detected polymorphisms were mapped to quantitative trait loci (QTLs) regions. Next, the association study was performed on 944 animals representing five breeds (Landrace, Large White, Pietrain, Duroc, and native Puławska breed) in order to evaluate the relationship of selected SNPs and histological characteristics, meat quality and carcasses traits. Results: Mapping of detected genetic variants to QTL regions showed that chromosome 14 was the most overrepresented with the identification of four QTLs related to percentage of fiber types I and IIA. The association study performed on a 293 longissimus muscle samples confirmed a significant positive effect of transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing protein 2 (TACC2) polymorphisms on fiber diameter, while SNP within forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) locus was associated with decrease of diameter of fiber types IIA and IIB. Moreover, subsequent general linear model analysis showed significant relationship of FOXO1, delta 4-desaturase, sphingolipid 1 (DEGS1), and troponin T2 (TNNT2) genes with loin 'eye' area, FOXO1 with loin weight, as well as FOXO1 and TACC2 with lean meat percentage. Furthermore, the intramuscular fat content was positively associated (p<0.01) with occurrence of polymorphisms within DEGS1, TNNT2 genes and negatively with occurrence of TACC2 polymorphism. Conclusion: This study's results indicate that the SNP calling analysis based on RNA-seq data can be used to search candidate genes and establish the genetic basis of phenotypic traits. The presented results can be used for future studies evaluating the use of selected SNPs as genetic markers related to muscle histological profile and production traits in pig breeding.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the role of pH and temperature postmortem, and to demonstrate the importance of these factors in determining meat quality. Postmortem pH_45min (pH at 45 min postmortem or initial pH) via analysis of Pearson’s correlation showed high positive correlation with pH change pH_c24 (pH change from pH_45min to pH_24h postmortem). However, postmortem pH after 24 h (pH_24h or ultimate pH) had a high negative correlation with pH change, pH_c24, CIE L*, and protein content. Initial temperature postmortem (T_1h ) was positively associated with a change in temperature from 45 min to 24 h postmortem (T_c24) and cooking loss, but negatively correlated with water holding capacity. Temperature at 24 h postmortem (T_24h) was negatively associated with T_c24. Collectively, these results indicate that higher initial pH was associated with higher pH_c24, T_1h, and T_c24. However, higher initial pH was associated with a reduction in carcass weight, backfat thickness, CIE a* and b*, water holding capacity, collagen and fat content, drip loss, and cooking loss as well as decreased shear force. In contrast, CIE a* and b*, drip loss, cooking loss, and shear force in higher ultimate pH was showed by a similar pattern to higher initial pH, whereas pH_c24, carcass weight, backfat thickness, water holding capacity, fat content, moisture content, protein content, T_1h, T_24h, and T_c24 were exhibited by completely differential patterns (p<0.05). Therefore, we suggest that initial pH, ultimate pH, and temperatures postmortem are important factors in determining the meat quality of pork.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.467-475
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• 2015

Improvement for carcass traits related to beef quality is the key concern in beef production. Recent reports found that epigenetics mediates the interaction of individuals with environment and nutrition. The present study was designed to analyze the genetic effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven epigenetic-related genes (DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, DNMT3L, Ago1, Ago2, and HDAC5) and two meat quality candidate genes (CAPN1 and PRKAG3) on fourteen carcass traits related to beef quality in a Snow Dragon beef population, and also to identify SNPs in a total of fourteen cattle populations. Sixteen SNPs were identified and genotyped in 383 individuals sampled from the 14 cattle breeds, which included 147 samples from the Snow Dragon beef population. Data analysis showed significant association of 8 SNPs within 4 genes related to carcass and/or meat quality traits in the beef populations. SNP1 (13154420A>G) in exon 17 of DNMT1 was significantly associated with rib-eye width and lean meat color score (p<0.05). A novel SNP (SNP4, 76198537A>G) of DNMT3a was significantly associated with six beef quality traits. Those individuals with the wild-type genotype AA of DNMT3a showed an increase in carcass weight, chilled carcass weight, flank thicknesses, chuck short rib thickness, chuck short rib score and in chuck flap weight in contrast to the GG genotype. Five out of six SNPs in DNMT3b gene were significantly associated with three beef quality traits. SNP15 (45219258C>T) in CAPN1 was significantly associated with chuck short rib thickness and lean meat color score (p<0.05). The significant effect of SNP15 on lean meat color score individually and in combination with each of other 14 SNPs qualify this SNP to be used as potential marker for improving the trait. In addition, the frequencies of most wild-type alleles were higher than those of the mutant alleles in the native and foreign cattle breeds. Seven SNPs were identified in the epigenetic-related genes. The SNP15 in CAPN1 could be used as a powerful genetic marker in selection programs for beef quality improvement in the Snow Dragon Beef population.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2012

The purposes of the study were to examine the changes in carcass traits and surface meat color, and cortisol concentration by different altitudes and shipping distances for steer and cow. The experimental animals were shipped from Kangwondo, Kyunggido, Choongchungdo, and Kyungsangdo to Wonju LPC. The animals were examined for yield traits, quality traits, carcass grade, lightness, redness, yellowness, croma value, and cortisol concentration by different altitudes and shipping distances. The results showed that the carcass traits of steer like back fat thickness were not different by shipping distances of 100 km, 150 km, and 200 km. However, the fat thickness was higher in steers shipped from 250 km than 100 km, 150 km, and 200 km distance. Ribeye area was reduced significantly in 200 km and 250 km than 50 km. Yield index and yield grade were significantly low in 250 km than 50-200 km. However, meat color, fat color, texture, mature, and quality grade had no differences between shipping distances. Marbling score was not different in 50-200 km. However, the marbling score in 250 km was significantly lower than that of 50 km. In case of surface meat color by shipping distance, redness, yellowness, chroma value, and hue-angle were not different in shipping distance of 250 km. The lightness had similar result in 50-200 km. However, in case of 250 km the lightness was significantly low. The REA of cow carcass by shipping distance had no differences by shipping distance. The BET had similar results in 50-150 km. However, it had significantly thick in 200 km. The yield index and yield grade had no differences in 50-150 km. However, yield index and grade were significantly low in 200 km. The carcass trait of cow had no differences in all items by shipping distance. Although the carcass traits and the BET for steer by altitude had no differences between 100, 200, 300 and 500 m, but those were significantly thick in 400 m. And the yield index and the yield grade at altitude 400 m were lower than that of other altitudes. The quality traits and the quality grade had no differences between 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 m altitudes. The yield traits, quality traits, yield grade, and quality grade had no significant differences by altitudes. In case of yield index of cow for 300 m was low than the cases of 100 m and 200 m. The surface meat color for steer and cow had no differences by altitudes. However, the lightness of cow had positive result in 100 m than 200 m and 300 m. In case of steer and cow the cortisol concentration by shipping distance was high as the shipping distances were longer. However, the cortisol concentrations of steer and cow by altitudes were decreased as the altitudes were increased. From the above results carcass traits and carcass grade were decreased and the cortisol concentration was increased as the altitudes were decreased for steer and cow.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.689-698
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• 2007

This study aims to estimate the genetic parameters for carcass traits on Hanwoo of breeding farmhouses using Animal Products Grading Service’s data of 428,812 cattle from 101 slaughterhouses nationwide from 2000 to 2005. Using carcass traits of carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score, meat color and fat color that greatly influence Hanwoo's grade, the effects of carcass year, carcass season, sex and carcass region were estimated. Based upon carcass traits of carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score and meat color that greatly influence Hanwoo’s grade, the heritabilities and genetic parameters were estimated of 17,578 Hanwoo slaughtered in 2005 with existing herdbook, where EM-REML algorithm was used in estimating genetic parameters. The mean and standard deviation of each carcass trait are 321.42±53.62kg, 76.25±10.43cm2, 9.96± 4.14mm, 3.75±2.00, 4.83±0.48 and 2.99±0.40, for carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, marbling score, meat color and fat color, respectively. As a result of analysis on the effects of carcass year, the carcass weight, backfat thickness and meat color came out highest as 359.40±0.181, 9.82±0.017 and 4.90±0.002, respectively in 2004. As a result of analysis on the effects of carcass season, the carcass weight and eye muscle area came out highest as 345.88±0.144 and 79.57±0.033 respectively in spring, and the backfat thickness was highest as 8.78±0.013 in winter, and the meat color and fat color slightly came out higher as 4.88±0.002 and 2.96±0.001 in fall, while the marbling score was highest as 3.29±0.006 in summer. The results of the analysis on the effects of sex indicated that the backfat thickness and fat color were highest as 10.53±0.010 and 3.07±0.001 in cow, the carcass weight came out highest in Hanwoo steer as 368.03±0.068kg, the eye muscle area were highest as 82.96±0.042 in bull, and the marbling score was highest as 4.19±0.007 in steer, and the meat color was highest as 4.89±0.001 in cow. Regarding the results of analysis on the effects of carcass region, the carcass weight, eye muscle area,

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2010

The present experiment was carried out to compare performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality among three major meat-type duck strains in Korea. Two commercial duck (CD) strains, produced from parent stocks (PS) (Cherry Valley and Grimaud), and $F_1$ strains, self-produced by farmers, were used in an 8-week feeding experiment. Both feed conversion ratio and production index were significantly higher in Cherry Valley strain compared with the other two at the ends of 6 and 8 weeks (p<0.05). However, no differences were found in carcass characteristics and meat quality, with the exception of abdominal fat weight where Grimaud were higher than the others. Overall, the results of the current study show that Cherry Valley CD strain had higher performance among three strains tested.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1653-1663
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• 2016

Meat quality is a complex trait influenced by many factors, including genetics, nutrition, feeding environment, animal handling, and their interactions. To elucidate relevant factors affecting pork quality associated with oxidative stress and muscle development, we analyzed protein expression in high quality longissimus dorsi muscles (HQLD) and low quality longissimus dorsi muscles (LQLD) from Duroc pigs by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomic analysis. Between HQLD (n = 20) and LQLD (n = 20) Duroc pigs, 24 differentially expressed proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS. A total of 10 and 14 proteins were highly expressed in HQLD and LQLD, respectively. The 24 proteins have putative functions in the following seven categories: catalytic activity (31%), ATPase activity (19%), oxidoreductase activity (13%), cytoskeletal protein binding (13%), actin binding (12%), calcium ion binding (6%), and structural constituent of muscle (6%). Silver-stained image analysis revealed significant differential expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) between HQLD and LQLD Duroc pigs. LDHA was subjected to in vitro study of myogenesis under oxidative stress conditions and LDH activity assay to verification its role in oxidative stress. No significant difference of mRNA expression level of LDHA was found between normal and oxidative stress condition. However, LDH activity was significantly higher under oxidative stress condition than at normal condition using in vitro model of myogenesis. The highly expressed LDHA was positively correlated with LQLD. Moreover, LDHA activity increased by oxidative stress was reduced by antioxidant resveratrol. This paper emphasizes the importance of differential expression patterns of proteins and their interaction for the development of meat quality traits. Our proteome data provides valuable information on important factors which might aid in the regulation of muscle development and the improvement of meat quality in longissimus dorsi muscles of Duroc pigs under oxidative stress conditions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relationship between weaning weight (WW) and carcass traits. Carcass traits were eye muscle area(EMA), back fat thickness(BFT), marbling score 1(MS1) in 21 grade scales, marbling score 2(MS2) in 7 grade scales and meat color scores(Mcolor). Parameters were estimated by REML procedure with MTDFREML package. Models included contemporary group as defined by the same year-season-sex at birth, linear covariates of age(days) at weaning, age of dam(days) and age at slaughter(days) as fixed effects and animal random effects for all the traits. Heritability estimates of WW, EMA, BFT, MS1, MS2 and Mcolor were 0.25, 0.20, 0.20, 0.32, 0.32 and 0.22, respectively. Genetic(phenotypic) correlation coefficients of WW with EMA, BFT, MS1, MS2 and Mcolor were 0.75(0.16), 0.18(0.05), －0.41(－0.09), －0.40(0.11) and －0.07(0.05), respectively. Results from this study suggest that single trait selection for weaning weight would lead to progeny population having carcass with large EMA, thick BFT and decreased MS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2000

The objectives of this study of Hanwoo (Korean Cattle) were 1) to estimate genetic parameters for direct and maternal genetic effects for birth weight, weaning weight, and six months weight which can be used for genetic evaluations and 2) to compare models with and without grandmatemal effects. Data were obtained from the National Livestock Research Institute in Rural Development Administration (RDA) of Korea and were used to estimate genetic parameters for birth weight (BW, n=10,889), weaning weight at 120-d (WW, n=8,637), and six month weight (W6, n=8,478) in Hanwoo. Total number of animals in pedigrees was 14,949. A single-trait animal model was initially used to obtain starting values for multiple-trait animal models. Estimates of genetic parameters were obtained with MTDFREML using animal models and derivative-free REML (Boldman et al., 1995). Estimates of direct heritability for BW, WW, and W6 analyzed as single-traits were 0.09, 0.03, and 0.02 from Model 3 which included direct and maternal genetic, maternal permanental environmental effects, and effects due to sire ${\times}$ region ${\times}$ year-season interaction, respectively. Ignoring sire ${\times}$ region ${\times}$ year-season interaction effect in the model (Model 2) resulted in larger estimates for direct heritability than for Model 3. Estimates of maternal heritability for BW, WW and W6 were 0.04, 0.05, and 0.07 from Model 3, respectively. The estimates of direct-maternal genetic correlation were positive for BW, WW, and W6 with Model 3 but were negative with Model 2 for WW and W6. Estimates of direct genetic correlations between BW and WW, BW and W6, and WW and W6 were large: 0.52, 0.45, and 0.90, respectively. Genetic correlations were also large and positive for maternal effects for BW with maternal effects for WW and W6 (0.69 and 0.74), and even larger for WW with W6 (0.97). The log likelihood values were the same for models including grandmatemal effects as for models including maternal effects for all traits. These results indicate that grandmatemal effects are not important for these traits for Hanwoo or that the data structure was not adequate for estimating parameters for a grandmatemal model.