• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 2018

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of different levels of protein concentrate supplementation on the growth performance of yak calves, and correlated the growth rate to changes occurring in the plasma- amino acids, -insulin profile, and signaling activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cascade to characterize the mechanism through which the protein synthesis can be improved in early weaned yaks. Methods: For this study, 48 early (3 months old) weaned yak calves were selected, and assigned into four dietary treatments according to randomized complete block design. The four blocks were balanced for body weight and sex. The yaks were either grazed on natural pasture (control diet) in a single herd or the grazing yaks was supplemented with one of the three protein rich supplements containing low (17%; LP), medium (19%; MP), or high (21%; HP) levels of crude proteins for a period of 30 days. Results: Results showed that the average daily gain of calves increased (0.14 vs 0.23-0.26 kg; p<0.05) with protein concentrates supplementation. The concentration of plasma methionine increased (p<0.05; 8.6 vs $10.1-12.4{\mu}mol/L$), while those of serine and tyrosine did not change (p>0.05) when the grazing calves were supplemented with protein concentrates. Compared to control diet, the insulin level of calves increased (p<0.05; 1.86 vs $2.16-2.54{\mu}IU/mL$) with supplementation of protein concentrates. Addition of protein concentrates up-regulated (p<0.05) expression of mTOR-raptor, mammalian vacuolar protein sorting 34 homolog, the translational regulators eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1, and S6 kinase 1 genes in both Longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus. In contrast, the expression of sequestosome 1 was down-regulated in the concentrate supplemented calves. Conclusion: Our results show that protein supplementation improves the growth performance of early weaned yak calves, and that plasma methionine and insulin concentrations were the key mediator for gene expression and protein deposition in the muscles.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.123-130
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• 2013

The present study was conducted to investigate effects of feeding concentrate on development of intestinal tract and composition of muscle in suckling Hanwoo calves before weaning(60 days of age). Twenty-four Hanwoo calves(12 heifers and 12 bulls) at six days of age were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments[hay and two levels(low and high) of concentrate feeding] and given each diet with free access to their dams for suckling until 60 days of age. At 60 days of age, two calves from each treatment were used for post-mortem examination of intestine development and chemical analysis of muscle. Feed intake between 31 and 60 days of age was significantly(P<0.05) higher for the high concentrate treatment(532.4g/d) than for other treatments(78.9 and 108.9g/d for hay and low concentrate treatments, respectively). Although feed intake showed a large difference between the low and high concentrate treatments, body weights at birth and 60 days of age were similar between the treatments, suggesting that calves in the low concentrate feeding were supplied more milk from their dams than those in the high concentrate feeding. The ratio of intestine weight to body weight at 60 days of age was increased in the high concentrate(3.35%), compared with those in the hay(2.93%) and low concentrate(3.03%) treatments. The chemical composition of muscle in sirloin and hind leg was not affected by the treatments. In conclusions, the results of the present study showed that feeding concentrate to Hanwoo calves before weaning might stimulate intestine development relative to feeding hay.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.103-114
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• 2011

The present survey was conducted to investigate effects of weaning age on market weights of steers and calf mortality in Hanwoo. Eight hundred and sixty-two Hanwoo cow-calf operations from all nine provinces were surveyed via personal interviews. The number of farms categorized by herd (heifer plus cow) size were 188, 364, 227 and 83 for <20 heads, 20~49 heads, 50~99 heads and >100 heads, respectively. Approximate 40% of farms surveyed weaned calves at three months of age. The percentages of farms weaning calves over three months of age were 53.5%, 37.5%, 43.7% and 39.0% for <20 heads, 20~49 heads, 50~99 heads and >100 heads, respectively. The herd size did not affect market weights of Hanwoo steers. However weaning age was negatively correlated to carcass weight of Hanwoo steers, showing that as weaning age decreased, carcass weights of Hanwoo steers increased. The average calf mortality was 5.6% and the herd size did not affect calf mortality. But weaning age was shown to be positively correlated to calf mortality and the rate of diarrhea that caused calf death, suggesting that as weaning age decreased, calf mortality and the rate of diarrhea decreased. Overall, the results of present study suggest that a decrease of calf weaning age in Hanwoo can increase the profit of Hanwoo cow-calf operations by increasing carcass weight of Hanwoo steers and by decreasing calf mortality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.419-426
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• 1992

After the virtual eradication of cattle during World War II, Papua New Guinea herds were rebuilt with Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus cattle from Australia. These, and Red Sindhi and Sahiwal, imported in 1952, were considered unsuitable breeds. In 1954, Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries imported three Brahman bulls and three heifers from Texas and in 1960 began importations of Afrikaner from Queensland. In Central Province, Brahmans were crossed with Angus and at Erap (Morobe) the hottest place in Papua New Guinea, Shorthorns were crossed with Afrikaners. In 1965, Brahman and Brahman-cross were sent to Erap. Records of breeding and growth rates were collected for use in upgrading in cattle of the basis of performance, not pedigree. The data are not ideal for genetic analysis, since no control groups were maintained. Birth weights (BWT), weaning weights (WWT) and calving intervals (CI) were analysed for the period 1969-1978. After exclusion of unsatisfactory data, 2,514 calf records were used, including both breeds from 1969 to 1973, but only Brahman-cross subsequently. Breed mean BWT ranged only from 30.6 to 33.8 kg. As Brahman content increased, BWT decreased and WWT increased; within a genotype, there was a negative maternal effect of high Brahman content on BWT and a positive effect on WWT which ranged from 138 to 174 kg. Afrikaner calves had heavier BWT but lighter WWT. As expected, bulls were heaviest, heifers lightest and mature cows bore and reared heavier calves. Calving interval (405 days, equivalent to 90% calving) was unaffected by breed but 4-year old cows averaged 423 days. Breed differences in BWT and WWT are consistent with the body of literature on performance of Brahmans and Afrikaners. Since cattle tick are not present and internal parasites are insignificant at Erap, the superiority of Brahmans indicates that they were better at utilizing the mediocre quality grazing of the Markham Valley or were more heat tolerant. Performance selection over ten years resulted in the virtual elimination of Afrikaners, with the final genotype approximately 9/16 Brahman, 3/8 Shorthorn and 1/16 Afrikaner.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.332-338
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate weight gain and prevention of diarrhea in suckling calves which were injected with recombinant bovine somatopropin (rBST). A total of 101 breeding cows were assigned to the six groups according to the administered dosage and injected time, respectively. Groups T-1, T-3, T-4 and T-6 were injected starting 1 week before calving and groups T-2 and T-5 were injected on the calving day. The six groups were injected five times at two week intervals. Groups T-1 and T-2 were injected with 250mg composite rBST, Group T-3 was injected with 375 mg composite rBST. Groups T-4 and T-5 were injected with 500mg composite rBST, And group T-6 was injected with 500mg rBST-S. The control group was not injected with BST. The groups injected with 500 mg BrST had a lower rate of morbidity from diarrhea than the control group or the groups injected with 250 mg rBST (T-1 and T-2). Weight gain was higher in group T-4 than in the control group or groups T-1 and T-2. In Korean Native Cattle, the total weight gain was greater in group T-4 than in the control group (p<0.05). In crossbred cows, total weight gain was the highest in group T-4, and the total weight gain rate was greater than in group T-4 and the control group (p<0.05). The results of the hematological values showed that injections of rBST did not affect the level of the RBC, TP and BUN in the breeding cows at 9 weeks after postpartum or the neonatal calves. The results of this study indicate that injecting breeding cows with 500 mg rBST before calving would be effective in the preventing of diarrhea and in increasing weight gain of calves from birth to weaning.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2001

Twenty-four new born crossbred (Bos indicus$\times$Bos taurus) calves were distributed in two equal groups and assigned to two different pre-starter diets with (Group 1) and without (Group 2) fish meal to study the effect of replacement of animal protein by vegetable protein in the diet and the age of animals on ruminal metabolic development. All calves were fed colostrum for 24 h and whole milk until weaning at 8 weeks of age. Rumen fluid samples were collected on 4 d, 1 wk, and then weekly interval up to 8 wk of age. Rumen fluid samples were analysed for pH, TVFA, lactic acid and N fractions (total N, total soluble N, trichloro acetic acid (TCA) soluble N, TCA precipitable N and ammonia N). Weekly feed intake and live weight gain pattern showed an increasing trend with the advancement of age, but were similar in both groups. The pH fell steadily during 0-4 wk of age and then stabilized in later period. A close relationship (r=0.80) between starter intake and TVFA concentration was observed in both the groups. Lactic acid (meq/l) and ammonia N (mg/dl) concentration showed initial rise (0.55 and 14.97 on day 4 to 3.38 (7 wk) and 32.85 (4 wk), respectively) to fall (2.74 and 17.60) again during 8 wk of age in response to increase in dry feed consumption (10% initially to 83% of diet dry matter at 8 wk of age). The TCA precipitable fraction of N did not show any change during 0-8 wk of age. Data indicate that the metabolic changes responded rapidly to dry feed intake which did not differ in fish meal and non-fish meal groups, and a poor voluntary consumption of oat hay retards the progressive changes in live weight and rumen microbial development.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2007

Sixty-seven Hanwoo calves were allocated into two groups, 27 spring calves (SC) and 40 fall calves (FC) to investigate the effects of calving season on water and nutrient intakes, growth performance and disease occurrence for the nursing and the post-weaning period. Mean DMI of 3 to 4 mo old FC was lower than that of SC due to low temperature in winter for FC. Water intake was higher for FC (birth to 1 mo old) but lower for SC (2 to 4 mo old) than the others. Mean BW did not differ between SC and FC, but average daily gain for over 2 mo old SC were significantly higher than FC. Diarrhea was mainly observed when the calves were before 60 d old; in particular, it occurred more frequently for less than 30 d old FC compared with SC. The present results indicate that calving season may affect water intake, feed intake and growth performance of Hanwoo calves.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.239-243
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of supplementation of ${\beta}$-mannanase (CTCZYME$^{(R)}$, CTCBIO, Inc.) on feed intake, growth performance and fecal health of calves fed two levels (3% vs. 8%) of palm kernel meal (PKM). A total of nine Holstein calves were divided into three groups, and fed a conventional starter containing 3% PKM (CON), CON+0.1% CTCZYME$^{(R)}$ (TRT1), or a starter containing 8% PKM+0.1% CTCZYME$^{(R)}$ (TRT2). No clinical symptom of calves was observed through the trial. We did not find significant differences among the treatments on mean feed intake, growth performance, or fecal health during the four-week experimental period. Feed efficiency tended to be improved by adding CTCZYME$^{(R)}$ (0.46, 0.87 and 0.52 for CON, TRT1 and TRT2, respectively). Compared with CON (921 g/d and 786 g/d), TRT2 had lower feed intake (727 g/d) and average daily gain (ADG, 631 g/d) before weaning. However, feed intake (2300 g/d) and ADG (1012 g/d) were similar or even higher in TRT2 than CON (2269 g/d and 560 g/d) after weaning. This was probably due to the effect of a large amount of mannan-oligosaccharide released from PKM by ${\beta}$-mannanase. Salmonella was not detected any fecal samples. No significant difference was observed in the number of fecal E. coli or fecal properties including color, smell, and watery indexes among the treatments. We conclude that a calf starter containing 8% PKM with 0.1% CTCZYME$^{(R)}$ is comparable with a conventional starter in feed intake and growth performance of calf, which is beneficial in terms of reduction in feed cost.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2022

This study was conducted to evaluation the effects of dietary soybean meal (SBM) and fermented soybean meal (FSBM) on the growth performance of Korean native cattle as Hanwoo calves (Bos taurus coreanae) and Holstein cows. In total, 16 calves three to four months old (Control group, SBM: 5 males and 3 females, average weight 105.7 kg; Experimental group, FSBM: 5 males and 3 females, average weight 103.7 kg) were fed 5% of the feed amount for 53 days. In terms of growth performance outcomes, the average gain body weight was significantly higher in the FSBM group than in the SBM group in the final fattening period. The average daily gain in body weight (ADGBW) for the FSBM group was higher than that of the SBM group in the final fattening period. The average gain body weight in four months for FSBM was higher than that at three months in the final fattening period. Diarrhea incidence for FSBM was significantly decreased compared to that in the SBM group in the six-week period after weaning. These results indicate that dietary FSBM can improve the growth rate and health condition during the calving period. Holstein cows fed fermented soybean meal had higher milk urea nitrogen levels and decreased somatic cell counts compared to those fed SBM. These results may be closely related with the increased average daily gain body weight associated with dietary FSBM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.493-499
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to find the way to prolong the storage time of sawdust-based oyster mushroom (Pleurotus osteratus) spent substrate (OMSS) by fermenting with potential probiotic microorganisms to recycle the otherwise waste of mushroom farms. To this purpose, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened to select the best lactic acid-producing strains. Three strains of LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum Lp1', Pediococcus acidilacticii Pa193, L. plantarum Lp2M) were selected and in mixture they lowered the pH of the fermented OMSS to 3.81. fOMSS (fermented sawdust-based oyster mushroom spent substrate) could be stored at room temperature for at least 17 days without any deterioration of feed quality based on the pH, smell, and color. In dry matter disappearance rate in situ, commercial TMR (total mixed ration), OMSS and OMMM (oyster mushroom mycelium mass) showed no significant differences between the samples after 6, 12 and 24 h incubation except for 48 h. Two separate field studies were performed to test the effects of fOMSS supplement on the growth performance of postweaning Holstein calves. Field trials included groups of animals feeding calf starter supplemented with: Control (no supplement), AB (colistin 0.08% and oxyneo 110/110 0.1%), fOMSS (10% fOMSS) and fConc (10% fermented concentrate) and DFM (direct-fed microbials, average $10^9$ cfu for each of three LAB/d/head). Growth performance (average daily gain and feed efficiency) of the fOMSS supplement group was higher than that of AB followed by fConc and DFM even though there was no statistically significant difference. The Control group was lower than any other group. Various hematological values including IgG, IgA, RBC (red blood cell), hemoglobin, and hematocrit were measured every 10 days to check any unusual abnormality for all groups in trial I and II, and they were within a normal and safe range. Our results suggest that sawdust-based OMSS could be recycled after fermentation with three probiotic LAB strains as a feed supplement for post-weaning calves, and fOMSS has the beneficial effects of an alternative to antibiotics for a growth enhancer in dairy calves.