• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.252-256
• /
• 2007

This study was carried out to determine the effect of vitamin E and vitamin C on the performance of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared under heat stress during the growth and egg production period. A total of 810 seven-day-old Japanese quails were used in the trial. The birds received a diet with either three levels of vitamin E (DL-${\alpha}$Tocopheryl acetate) (60, 120 and 240 mg/kg of diet) and vitamin C (ROVIMIX STAY-C 35) (60, 120 and 240 mg/kg of diet). Live weight on day 35 and weight gain were the lowest in the group of chicks on a combination of 60 mg of vitamin E and 60 mg of vitamin C, whereas the highest live weight was demonstrated in chicks on a combination of 240 mg of vitamin E and 240 mg of vitamin C (p<0.01). The effects of treatments on cumulative feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, age at 5% lay, sexual maturity weight, rate of lay and mean egg weight values were found to be significant (p<0.01). The highest feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, age at 5% lay, sexual maturity weight, rate of lay and mean egg weight values were found in the group on a combination of 240 mg of vitamin E and 240 mg of vitamin C. The effect of treatments on the mortality ratio was found to be insignificant (p>0.01). The cost of supplementing diets with vitamin E and vitamin C is very low. Therefore such a combination of supplement can offer a potential protective management practice in preventing heat stress related losses in performance of Japanese quails.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.991-997
• /
• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the laying period performance of two crossbred Korean native chicken (KNC) grand parent stock (GPS) layer during 20 to 40 weeks. A total of 351 20-week-old KNC GPS were allocated in a completely randomized design to give 4 birds per each cage. The chickens were fed commercial diets [i.e., week 20 - 32, crude protein (CP) 18.0% and metabolizable energy (ME) 2,850 kcal/kg; week 32 - 40, CP 17.0% and ME 2,800 kcal/kg)] and fresh water during the whole experiment period ad libitum basis. Body weight, age of sexual maturity, egg weight, hen-day egg production (HDP) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured during the experiment period (week 20 - 40). The results show no significant difference in the Body weight, age of sexual maturity, egg weight, and hen-day egg production (HDP) except for egg weight. 1B had a higher egg weight on week 36 only. We expect that the reason why most factors showed no significant difference is the lack of nutrients caused by limited feeding which follows the standard feeding system for the grand-parent stock. These results provide basic information for laying data in 2-way crossbred Korean native chickens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.281-283
• /
• 1990

Ten-week-old layer type pullets were used in this study, housed 10 birds per cage(61$\times$41cm) and were replicated 15 times After raising them on a 19% protein diet up to ten weeks of age they were fed a 12% protein corn-soy control diet or one with half or all of the soybean mea replaced with ground full-fat sunflower seeds. At 19 weeks of age, pulltes were transferred to a layer house and their respective diet was gradually changed to a 13.5% layer diet containing 635% oats. The 19% protein SFS diet in treatment 2 did not show my, adverse effect on body weight or subsequent egg productio. The higher level of SES(38%) appeared to delay sexual maturity somewhat as was indicated by body weight and egg production data. However, the higher replacement of soybean with SFS(38%) in the pullet ration may not be critical for sexual maturity, but beneficial in a full laying cycle. There were no adverse effects on later stages of production.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 1982

Data pertaining to the first generation of a Synthetic White Leghorn flock were used to estimate the heritabilities of and genetic correlation between partial egg production(egg number or percentage) or diversely segmented part records and other traits such as age at sexual maturity, residual and annual egg production, and to compare the expected genetic gain from selection on partial egg number or partial percent production with correlated response in other traits. The estimated heritabilites for six measures of egg Production were ranged from 29 to 35, while heritability for age at sexual maturity (SM) was intermediate (48). Genetic correlations between partial egg number (P) and annual egg number. (A), and partial percent production (P') and annual percent production (A') were 51 and 72, respectively. Genetic correlation between P and SM was estimated largely negative (-.64), while correlation bettween P' and SM was positively intermediate(34). In comparing direct response from selection on partial production (P or P') with another response in correlated trait, selection on P would be 25% more efficient than selection of P' for improving A, while selection of P' would be 94% more efficient than selection P for improving A' For shortening SM selection of P would be 98% more efficient than selection on P'.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.124-132
• /
• 1985

The work was conducted to clarify the development of testes and histological changes of the Seminiferous tubules that is the Surface area, diameter, length of the tubules and the process of Spermatic cells growth in Seminal epithelium in relation to Sexual maturity of the meat-type cockerels. In addition the present experiments were planned to gain some basic data helpful for the study of reproductive physiology in meat-type cockerels and also to compare the histological changes Seminiferous tubules between egg and general purpose type cockerels. 1. The growth pattern of body weight, testes and comb was classified into four phase according to age. Body weight increased up to about 2kg at 2nd stage and to 4.3kg at 4th stage while at 3rd stage the growth rate of body weight was slower. The tests developed slowly until 22 weeks of age with no correlation to the growth of body weight. However, it grew rapidly afterwards, reaching 27.79$\pm$9.26gm and 42.46$\pm$5.33 gm at 24 and 28 weeks of age, respectively. The spermatozoa was seen first at 24 weeks of age. On the other hand, comb grew at similar rate to the testes, weighing on the average 21.78$\pm$6.48gm and 41.42$\pm$1.25gm at 24 and 28 weeks of age, respectively. 2. The areal rate of the Seminiferous tubules to interstitial tissues was 66%:34% at 2 weeks of age and the rate of the former increased in comparison to that of the latter as they grew older, becoming 94%:7% between at 24 weeks of age, when the testes weight increased rapidly too. 3. Diameter of Seminiferous tubules at 2 weeks of age was 42.76$\pm$1.04$\mu$m and then it gradually increased as the testes grew until 22 weeks of age, when it grew rapidly, increasing about 2.9 times of those of 2 weeks and at last increased up to 5 times at 24 weeks. 4. Length of Seminiferous tubules was 4.5cm at 2 weeks and then it was gradually increased. At 22 weeks old the length of tubules was icnreased rapidly being 321 meter and increased more than double, being 658 meter at 24 weeks old. 5. The cells of Seminal epithelium developed poorly and the number of cells were relatively few until 16 weeks old. Afterwards the cells increased rapidly in number and at 18 weeks, the number became twice of those of 16 weeks, reaching 140.43$\pm$43.6. At 24 weeks the cells increased more rapidly, reaching to 10 layers and Spermatozoa were first time seen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.165-171
• /
• 1992

The developmental process of the epididymis was investigated in Meishan boars from 1 to 364 days of age. Epididymal weight increased rapidly between 45 and 150-180 days of age. The diameter and epithelial area of the epididymal ducts greatly increased up to 105-120 days of age. At 1 day of age, the central and distal cauda already had a pseudostratified epithelium surrounded by smooth muscle. At 60-75 days of age, the central and distal caput, corpus, and proximal cauda revealed a well-developed structure of the epithelium. The proximal caput showed a tall, irregular and vacuolar epithelium at 105-120 days of age. PAS-positive contents in the lumen of the caput, corpus and cauda epididymides were first detected at 60-75, 45-60 and 1-30 days of age, respectively. Moreover, in the central and distal caput, PAS-positive granules appeared at 60-75 days of age, and increased until 105-120 days. These results suggest that the epididymis develops completely by approximately 120 days of age, though its weight increases rapidly up to 150-180 days. Thus, it appears that development of the epididymis occurs at an earlier age in Meishan boars than in European and American breeds.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.205-217
• /
• 2012

The ovarian cycle, the biological minimum size, and artificial spawning frequency by artificial spawning induction of the female hard clam, Meretrix petechialis, were investigated by histological observations and morphometric data. The ovarian cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage, late active stage, ripe stage, partially spawned stage, and spent/inactive stage. The spawning period was from June to September, and the main spawning occurred between July and August when the seawater temperature exceeds over $20^{\circ}C$. The biological minimum size (shell length at 50% of first sexual maturity) in females were 40.39 mm in shell length (considered to be two years of age), and all clams over 50.1 mm in shell length sexually matured. In this study, the mean number of the spawned eggs by spawning induction increased with the increase of size (shell length) classes. In case of artificial spawning induction for the clams > 40.39 mm, the number of spawned eggs from the clams of a sized class was gradually decreased with the increase of the number of the spawning frequencies (the first, second, and third spawning). In the experiments of artificial spawning induction during the spawning season, the interval of each spawning of this species was estimated to be 15-18 days (approximately 17 days).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.11
• /
• pp.1684-1688
• /
• 2007

This study examined the caponization effects on the muscle characteristics (quality and quantity) of caponized male chickens fed before or after sexual maturity. Healthy and uniform Single Comb White Leghorn chickens were caponized at 3-week-old. Feeding was conducted until 16-week-old in trial 1 or from 12-week-old to 26-week-old in trial 2. Ten sham operated male chickens (Sham) were also assigned to each trial as the control group. Chickens used in both trials were housed in individual cages with each chicken representing one replicate. The results showed that early caponization (3-week-old) significantly increased (p<0.05) body weight and pectoral major muscle weight and percentage at 16-week-old compared to the Sham in trial 1. Caponization significantly increased (p<0.05) the protein content of the pectoral major muscle, but decreased (p<0.05) the ash content. Late caponization (12-week-old) significantly decreased (p<0.05) the ash content, myofibrillar ATPase activity and emulsification capacity of the pectoral major muscle in mature capons (26-week-old) compared to the Sham in trial 2. Early caponization (3-week-old) only increased the weight and protein content of the pectoral major muscle with decreased ash content in 16-week-old capons. Late caponization (12-week-old) showed no affects on pectoral major muscle quantity, while it decreased the ATPase activity and enhanced the emulsification capacity in mature (26-week-old) capons. Hence, the muscle quality improvement was shown as capons were fed to sexual maturity.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.72-79
• /
• 2004

Objectives : This cross-sectional study aimed to quantify the relationship between the bone mineral density at the os calcis and the body mass composition in healthy children. Methods : The areal bone mineral density was measured at the os calcis with peripheral dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The fat free mass, fat mass and percentage fat mass were measured using bioelectric impedance, in 237 Korean children, aged 9 to 12 years. The sexual maturity was determined by self assessment, using standardized series of the 5 Tanner stage drawings, accompanied by explanatory text. Results : From multiple linear regression models, adjusted for age, sexual maturity and height, the fat free mass was found to be the best predictor of the calcaneal bone mineral density in both sexes. About 15 and 20% variabilities were found in the calcaneal bone mineral densities of the boys and girls, respectively, which can be explained by the fat free mass. After weight adjustment, the percentage fat mass was negatively associated with the calcaneal bone mineral density in both sexes. Conclusions : The findings of this study suggest that the fat free mass, among the body compositions, is the major determinant of bone mineral density at the os calcis in Korean children aged 9 to 12 years. Obesity, defined as the percentage fat mass, is assumed to have a negative effect on the calcaneal bone density in children of the same weight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.9
• /
• pp.1338-1350
• /
• 2012

This review focuses on the nutritional effects from birth until age at first calving on growth, mammary developmental changes, and first-lactation milk yield in heifer calves. The advancement in the genetic potential and the nutritional requirements of the animals has hastened the growth rate. Genetic selection for high milk yield has suggested higher growth capacity and hence increasing nutritional inputs are required. Rapid rearing by feeding high energy or high concentrate diets not only reduces the age of sexual maturity but also lowers the time period of attaining the age of first calving. However, high energy diets may cause undesirable fat deposition thereby affecting future milk yield potential. Discrepancies exist whether overfed or overweight heifers at puberty can influence the mammary development and future milk yield potential and performance. The data on post-pubertal nutritional management suggested that body weight at calving and post-pubertal growth rate is important in first lactation milk yield. There is a continuous research need for strategic feeding that accelerates growth of dairy heifers without reduction in subsequent production. Nutritional management from birth, across puberty and during pregnancy is critical for mammary growth and for producing a successful cow. This review will mostly highlight studies carried out on dairy breeds and possible available opportunities to manipulate nutritional status from birth until age at first calving.