• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of blended feeding essential oils on meat quality improvement for branded pork. A total of one-hundred pigs ($66.24\;{\pm}\;0.83\;kg$, average initial BW) were used for 10 weeks study. Dietary treatments included: 1) CON (basal diet), 2) NBE (basal diet + 75 ppm of blended essential oil), 3) NBA (basal diet + 0.3% Benzoic acid) and 4) BEB [basal diet + 75 ppm of blended essential oil (with 0.3% Benzoic acid)]. The marbling value was improved in NBE treatment compared to NC and PC treatments (P<0.05). Hardness was higher in NBA treatment than NC and PC treatments (P<0.05). The pH value was higher in BEB treatment than PC and NBE treatments (P<0.05). In fatty acid content of lean, total UFA/SFA was higher in NBA treatment than BEB treatment (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that dietary supplementation with blended essential oils improve fatty acid content of meat.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2002

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of a recombinant human Factor VIII(GC-$\gamma$ AHF) manufactured by Korea Green Cross Company with different technology according to the Regulation of Korean Food and Drug Administration (l 998. 12. 3). In acute toxicity test, both genders of Sprague-Dawley rats and Beagle dogs were administered intravenously with GC-$\gamma$ AHF of three doses (3,125, 625 and 125 IU/kg), and single dose of 3,125 IU/kg, respectively. No dead animal and abnormal autopsy findings were found in Control and GC-$\gamma$ AHF treated group. Therefore, the 50% lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) of GC-$\gamma$ AHF was conidered to be higher than 3,125 IU/kg in rats and dogs. In the four weeks repeated intravenous toxicity study, GC-$\gamma$ AHF was administrated intravenosly to both genders of rats and dogs with 3 doses (500, 150, 50 IU/kg). There were neither dead animals nor significant changes of body weights during the experimental Period. In addition, no significant GC-$\gamma$ AHF related changes were found in clinical sign, urinalysis and other finding. Statistically changes were observed in hematological, biochemical and organ weight parameters of treated groups: however these changes were not dose dependent. No histopathological lesion were observed in both control and treated animals. Above data suggest that no observed adverse effect level of test materials in rats and dogs might be over 500 IU/kg/day in this study. In ocular irritation test, any injury on iris, conjunctiva and cornea in rabbits were not observed. The acute ocular irritation index (A.O.I.), mean ocular irritation index (M.O.I.) and Day-7 individual ocular irritation Index (I.O.I.) of GC-$\gamma$ AHF were 0. In the primary skin Irritation test, the primary irritation index (P.I.I.) oj GC-$\gamma$ AHF were 0. Therefore, the GC-$\gamma$ AHF is considered not to have the primary skin and eye toxicity in rabbits. In active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) test, GC-$\gamma$ AHF and GC-$\gamma$ AHF emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) did not induce any symptom of anaphylactic shock in guinea pigs. In passive cutaneous anaphylxis (PCA) test, after sensitization with antisera of GC-$\gamma$ AHF sensitized mice, blue spots were observed on the hypodermis of back of rats, but diameter of each spot was smaller than 5 mm in each test groups except the positive control group. Based on the results of this study, GC-$\gamma$ AHF is not conidered to have any antigenic potential. In conclusion, at levels of up to 500 IU/kg, GC-$\gamma$ AHF did not produce treatment-related toxicity under the conditions of these acute-, four week repeated-toxicity, primary skin and eye toxicity, and antigenicity test.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.241-247
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• 2012

Many infectious diseases have emerged or re-emerged during the past 50 years in South Korea. There were three outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in South Korea between January 2010 and March 2011. Over 3.45 million animals were slaughtered (33.3% of the existing pigs, 8.4% of dairy cows and 3.4% of cattle). To select optimal degradation agents of animal cadavers, degradation rates and fertilizer components of pig cadavers were investigated using hydrogen chloride (HCl), potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) hydrolysis methods. Degradation rates of pig cadavers using HCl, KOH and NaOH were 81.1, 82.8 and 91.6%, respectively. Total nitrogen (T-N) concentration in degradation solution of pig cadavers using KOH hydrolysis method was higher than that in NaOH and HCl hydrolysis methods. Total phosphorus ($P_2O_5$) concentrations in degradation solution of pig cadavers in all hydrolysis methods ranged 0.14 ~ 0.28%. Total potassium ($K_2O$) concentration for KOH hydrolysis method was higher than that for other hydrolysis methods. The concentration of T-N and $K_2O$ in degradation solution of pig cadavers by KOH hydrolysis method were higher than that in NaOH and HCl hydrolysis methods. Thus, to recycle animal cadavers in agriculture, the optimal degradation agent for hydrolysis was KOH.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.311-320
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• 2008

Reusing livestock manure have various advantages in securing soil organic resources, and since the costs needed for converting them into liquefied fertilizers are relatively moderate compared to normal treatment, such methods are necessary. In this study, the Recycling Capacity Assessment of Gyeonggi-do was carried out by comparing between the fertilizer demands for specific crops based on the cultivation areas and the amount of fertilizer resources that are generated from livestock manure. From this assessment, the possibility of obtaining resources by converting livestock manure into fertilizers were evaluated. The amount generated of Livestock Manure in Gyeonggi-do were evaluated by applying the emission units to the number of livestock manure. And from the amount generated of Livestock Manure, the amount of fertilizer produced from Livestock Manure were calculated by using the fertilizer a component rate. When considering the amount of fertilizer produced from Livestock Manure based on the type of livestock, N 6,626 ton/year, $P_2O_5$ 1,824 ton/year, $K_2O$ 4,480 ton/year were produced from milk cow manure, while N 5,247 ton/year, $P_2O_5$ 2,772 ton/year, $K_2O$ 2,879 ton/year, were produced from beef cattle manure. N 14,924 ton/year, $P_2O_5$ 7,205 ton/year, $K_2O$ 6,750 ton/year were produced from pigs and N 12,651 ton/year, $P_2O_5$ 4,458 ton/year, $K_2O$ 5,542 ton/year were produced by chickens. So the total amount of fertilizers that can be obtained from livestock manure were 3,668 ton/year Nitrogen, 16,259 ton/year phosphate and 19,651 ton/year kalium. And the total fertilizer demands in Gyeonggi-do were Nitrogen 27,200 ton/year, Phosphate 8,853 ton/year, and kalium 13,211 ton/year respectively. Nitrogen which had higher demands than production quantities were considered as limitation factors in crop growth. So the Recycling Capacity Assessment was carried out mainly based on Nitrogen. Since the Nitrogen quantities that can be provided by recycling livestock manure were 3,532 ton/year lesser than the Nitrogen demands, it is estimated that it would be desirable to convert livestock manure into resources. But in order to properly convert the entire livestock manure into organic resources, the seasonal situation that effects the nitrogen demands of crops along with the regional effects due to the industrial structures should be seriously analyzed. In addition, a system that can effectively produce and manage fertilizer should be established.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1131-1140
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• 2014

This research focused on the effects of different doses of Bacillus subtilis KN-42 on the growth performance, diarrhea incidence, faecal bacterial flora, and the relative number of Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli in faeces of weaned piglets to determine whether the strain can serve as a candidate antimicrobial growth promoter. A total of 360 piglets (initial body weight $7.14{\pm}0.63$ kg) weaned at $26{\pm}2$ days of age were randomly allotted to 5 treatment groups (4 pens per treatment with 18 pigs per pen) for a 28-day trial. Dietary treatments were basal diet without any antimicrobial (negative control; NC), basal diet supplemented with 120 mg/kg feed of neomycin sulfate (positive control; PC) and basal diet supplemented with $2{\times}10^9$ (L), $4{\times}10^9$ (M) and $20{\times}10^9$ (H) CFU/kg feed of B. subtilis KN-42. During the overall period, average daily gain and feed efficiency of piglets were higher in groups PC, M, and H than those in group NC (p<0.05), and all probiotics and antibiotics groups had a lower diarrhea index than group NC (p<0.05). The 16S rDNA gene-based methods were used to analyze faecal bacterial flora on day 28 of experiment. The result of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed that supplementation of B. subtilis KN-42 to the diet changed the bacterial communities, with a higher bacterial diversity and band number in group M than in the other four groups. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the relative number of Lactobacillus were higher in groups PC and H than in group NC (p<0.05), and the supplemented B. subtilis KN-42 to the diet also reduced the relative number of E. coli (p<0.05). These results suggest that dietary addition of B. subtilis KN-42 can improve the growth performance and gastrointestinal health of piglets.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2014

In porcine embryo culture, one of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is harmful factors that are made during in vitro culture. To decrease the detrimental effect of ROS on embryo development, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase could be used in the embryo culture. Out of these antioxidants, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) was reported its antioxidant effects to prevent the glutamine-triggered apoptosis. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the most appropriate concentration of 7,8-DHF in porcine embryonic development. For that, 5 different concentration (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, $2{\mu}m$) of 7,8-DHF was supplemented in the porcine IVM media and then maturation and blastocyst formation rates were compared among 5 groups. In maturation rates of porcine oocytes, significant higher maturation rates was shown in the $1.0{\mu}m$ group compared with another 4 groups ($83.3{\pm}2.1$ vs. $80.7{\pm}1.4$, $79.8{\pm}1.4$, $78.3{\pm}1.2$, $79.4{\pm}1.6$), respectively (P<0.05). In the embryo culture, $1.0{\mu}m$ group also showed the significant higher cleavage rates ($76.8{\pm}3.1$ vs. $62.1{\pm}5.0$, $65.7{\pm}4.0$, $68.6{\pm}3.7$, $64.6{\pm}4.0%$) and blastocyst formation rates - ($39.6{\pm}4.0%$ vs. $28.6{\pm}3.3$, $31.1{\pm}3.9$, $29.3{\pm}2.5$, $39.6{\pm}4.0$, $26.4{\pm}3.2%$), respectively (P<0.05). There was no significant difference among 5 groups in the cell number of blastocyst (P<0.05). In conclusion, supplement of $1.0{\mu}m$ of 7,8-DHF was effective to increase the porcine embryonic development competence as antioxidant to ROS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1650-1655
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• 2003

Crossbred gilts (n=54) of about $26.38{\pm}0.85kg$ body weight and 25 weeks of age were randomly divided into 18 groups of 3 animals each. Three dietary treatments viz., $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$ were formulated. The treatment $T_1$ containing maize grain (35%) and wheat bran (47%) along with soybean meal and fish meals served as control diet. Rice bran (RB) was selected as a single source of fat (13.02%) and fibre (17.12%), which was gradually increased in diets $T_2$ (41%) and $T_3$ (82%) replacing maize grain and wheat bran of $T_1$ at 50% and 100% in the diets $T_2$ and $T_3$, respectively. The fat and fibre levels of the diets were thus 3.46 and 5.24, 9.31and 9.69 and 11.61and 13.26% in $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$, respectively. All the diets, however, contained almost similar concentration of CP (18.35${\pm}0.29%$). Each dietary treatment was offered to six replicated groups of 3 piglets in following completely randomized design and feeding was continued for 112 days during the growing phase. Growth, feed utilization, reproductive performance, nutrient utilization and different blood biochemical parameters were studied. Growth rate, feed intake and feed conversion were lower (p<0.01) in $T_3$ in comparison to $T_1$ or $T_2$. Digestibility of all the nutrients except EE was reduced significantly (p<0.01) in $T_3$. Serum glucose level decreased (p<0.01), whereas the urea and cholesterol concentration in the blood increased (p<0.01) in $T_3$. The duration of estrus of pigs fed diet containing 82% RB ($T_3$) was highly variable within the group, but all the groups showed statistically similar duration of estrous. Feed cost per unit gain was found to be comparable between control ($T_1$) and $T_2$ group. The results indicated that RB can be included up to 41% in swine diets replacing 50% of maize and wheat bran. Higher concentrations of ether extract and fibre beyond 9.31 and 9.69% in diet had detrimental effect on growth, nutrient utilization and reproductive performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2014

Investigating gene expression of immune cells of whole blood or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) under polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) stimulation is valuable for understanding the immune response of organism to RNA viruses. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is a standard method for quantification of gene expression studies. However, the reliability of qRT-PCR data critically depends on proper selection of reference genes. In the study, using two different analysis programs, geNorm and NormFinder, we systematically evaluated the gene expression stability of six candidate reference genes (GAPDH, ACTB, B2M, RPL4, TBP, and PPIA) in samples of whole blood and PBMC with or without poly I:C stimulation. Generally, the six candidate genes performed a similar trend of expression stability in the samples of whole blood and PBMC, but more stably expressed in whole blood than in PBMC. geNorm ranked B2M and PPIA as the best combination for gene expression normalization, while according to NormFinder, TBP was ranked as the most stable reference gene, followed by B2M and PPIA. Comprehensively considering the results from the two programs, we recommended using the geometric mean of the three genes, TBP, PPIA and B2M, to normalize the gene expression of whole blood and PBMC with poly I:C stimulation. Our study is the first detailed survey of the gene expression stability in whole blood and PBMC with or without poly I:C stimulation and should be helpful for investigating the molecular mechanism involved in porcine whole blood and PBMC in response to poly I:C stimulation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1134-1142
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• 2008

Cationic amino acid transporter $b^{0,+}AT$ (HGMW-approved gene symbol SLC7A9, solute carrier family 7, member 9) plays a crucial role in amino acid nutrition. In the present study, we describe the cloning and sequencing of porcine $b^{0,+}AT$. Based on the sequence of porcine $b^{0,+}AT$ deposited in the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnological Information), we identified a putative porcine homologue. Using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), the full-length cDNA encoding porcine $b^{0,+}AT$ was isolated. The porcine $b^{0,+}AT$ cDNA was 1,680 bp long, encoding a 487 amino acid trans-membrane protein. The predicted amino acid sequence was found to have 88.9% and 87.1% identity with human and mouse $b^{0,+}AT$, respectively. Real-time RT-PCR indicated porcine $b^{0,+}AT$ transcripts expressed in heart, kidney, muscle and small intestine. The small intestine had the highest $b^{0,+}AT$ mRNA abundance while the muscle had the lowest (p<0.05). Along the longitudinal axis, the ileum had the highest $b^{0,+}AT$ mRNA abundance while the colon had the lowest (p<0.05). The $b^{0,+}AT$ mRNA level was highest on day 7 and 90 in the duodenum (p<0.05). It increased from day 1 to day 26 in the jejunum (p>0.05) and had the highest abundance on day 60 (p<0.05). There was, however, no difference between day 1, 7, 26, 30, 90 and 150 (p>0.05). The strongest $b^{0,+}AT$ expression appeared on day 7 in the ileum before weaning, and then decreased till day 30 but rose gradually again from day 60 to 150 (p<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1644-1651
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• 2014

Transgenic animals have become important tools for the production of therapeutic proteins in the domestic animal. Production efficiencies of transgenic animals by conventional methods as microinjection and retrovirus vector methods are low, and the foreign gene expression levels are also low because of their random integration in the host genome. In this study, we investigated the homologous recombination on the porcine ${\beta}$-casein gene locus using a knock-in vector for the ${\beta}$-casein gene locus. We developed the knock-in vector on the porcine ${\beta}$-casein gene locus and isolated knock-in fibroblast for nuclear transfer. The knock-in vector consisted of the neomycin resistance gene (neo) as a positive selectable marker gene, diphtheria toxin-A gene as negative selection marker, and 5' arm and 3' arm from the porcine ${\beta}$-casein gene. The secretion of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was more easily detected in the cell culture media than it was by western blot analysis of cell extract of the HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells transfected with EGFP knock-in vector. These results indicated that a knock-in system using ${\beta}$-casein gene induced high expression of transgene by the gene regulatory sequence of endogenous ${\beta}$-casein gene. These fibroblasts may be used to produce transgenic pigs for the production of therapeutic proteins via the mammary glands.