• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1160-1168
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to compare morphological defects, viability, motility (MOT), fertility (F), and hatchability (H) in four Korean native chicken breeds (KNCBs), and to evaluate whether defective segments of spermatozoa are associated with MOT, F, and H. Methods: Four KNCBs, including Korean Ogye (KO), Hwangbong (HB), Hyunin Black (HH), and Hoengseong Yakdak (HY) were used. White Leghorn (WL) was used as a control. Nine cocks from each breed were randomly assigned into three groups. Semen was collected by abdominal massage method. Eosin-nigrosin staining method was used to identify live-dead spermatozoa. Different segments and specific morphological defects of spermatozoa were identified using 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylidole and MitoTracker Red CMXRos. F and H rates were evaluated following artificial insemination (AI). Results: KO had the highest MOT rate compared to HY. Viable normal sperm rates of KO and HH were high and comparable with WL. HY spermatozoa had the highest viable abnormal sperm (VAS) or morphological defect rate followed by HB. Likewise, HB spermatozoa had the highest dead sperm (dead) rate compared to KO, HY, and WL. Bent, coiled, detached, broken, and knotted were common identified specific morphological defects for all breeds. Most morphological defects were at the head and tail in all breeds. VAS showed strong negative correlation with MOT (r = -0.697) and F (r = -0.609). Similarly, defective tail was negatively correlated with MOT (r = -0.587), F (r = -0.797), and H (r = -0.448). The F and H rates of KO and WL were comparable. Conclusion: These data indicate that most identified specific morphological defects are at the head and tail. VAS and defective tail were associated with poor motility, F, and H. KNCBs showed more morphological defects than WL. Finally, these results will facilitate successful AI and semen cryopreservation.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1307-1316
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• 2016

This study was to execute the random arrangement of total 120 heads (10 heads per treatment plot ${\times}$ 3 repeats ${\times}$ 4 treatment plots) for four breeds [Blue arakana commercial Fowl (BC), Yeonsan silky fowl (YS), Korean native fowl (KN), White leghorn fowl (WL)] with the initiation of laying hens at 32 weeks old in order to comparatively analyze egg quality and composition by sorts of laying hens. In case of evaluation of the quality of eggs, this study has shown that BC had higher degree of Haugh unit coefficient (82.82) and in case cholesterol content of eggs, BC had significantly low content as 317.55mg/100g, but YS had rather higher content as 381.30mg/100g. Furthermore, this study has found out that BC had significantly low Oleic acid (C18:1n9) and WL had higher Amino acid content by breeds than those of other breeds (p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 1990

Apparent and true metabolizable energy (AME and TME) contents and true amino acid availability (TAAA) values of full-fat seed, oil meal and oil of canola were assayed employing mature Single Comb white Leghorn roosters. For AME, test diets containing 30% level of canola full-fat seed, oil meal, oil meal plus oil or 10% level of oil were fed for a 3-day adaptation period, followed by a 4-day fecal collection period. For TME and TAAA, 30g test diets were force-fed and total excreta were collected for 48 hours, following a 24 hour fasting period. Metabolizable energy values were corrected to zero nitrogen balance(AMEn and TMEn), Canola contained 4,485, 1,984,8,275 and 5,655kcal/kg of AMEn and 4,577, 2,103, 8,487 and 5,630kcal/kg of TMEn for full-fat seed, oil meal, oil and mixture of meal plus oil, respectirely. The mixtures of oil meal plus oil had significantly higher available energy contents than the full-fat seeds (p＜0.01) . In general, TAAA values of full-fat seed were higher than those of oil meal.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.139-147
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• 1989

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary energy levels and protein feeding systems on the performance of laying hens. Total 960 White Leghorn pullets were alloted in 10 treatments consisted of 1 metabolizable energy levels (2,900 and 2,600 kcal/kg) and 5 protein feeding systems (17-17-15%, 17-15-13%, 15-15-15%15-15-13% and 15-13-13% in phase I, II and/or III, respectively) from 20 to 80 weeks or age. As metabolizable energy level increased from 2,600 to 2.900 kcal/kg of diet, e99 Productions in phase I and II were not different but decreased in phase III. Egg weight was not different, but daily feed intake and viability were decreased in phase I, II and III. Feed conversions in phase I and II were improved but in phase III it was not different. On the other hand, as dietary Protein level increased from 13 to 17%, egg production and egg weight were increased, and feed conversion was improved , but daily feed intake and viability were not affected by the dietary protein level. For the laying period of 60 weeks, metabolizable energy level of 2,600 kcal/kg of diet and 17, 15 and 13% dietary protein levels in phase I, II and III, respectively, were considered to be adequate to support the optimum productivity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 2020

This study investigated the effects of breed, laying age, and egg storage period on hatching performance. Eggs were collected from early laying period (27 to 29 weeks old) and late laying period (50 to 52 weeks old) in Hwanggalsaek Jaeraejong, Korean Rhode Island Red, and Korean White Leghorn chicken breeds. Eggs laid for each period were stored for 3, 7 and 14 days and then hatched. Fertility, hatchability, and embryonic mortality were observed to determine the hatching performance. The results showed that hatching performance was affected by breed, laying age, and egg storage period with independently or interactively. The Korean Rhode Island Red breed had the lowest hatching performance. Hatchability and early embryonic mortality rate increased in early laying period eggs compared to the late laying period, but the late embryonic mortality rate increased in late laying period eggs. Additionally, hatching performance decreased as the egg storage period increased. Using breed-specific hatching management techniques, avoiding late laying period eggs, and shortening the egg storage period to seven days after laying may improve the hatching performance.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2022

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is a highly contagious retrovirus that causes tumors and has resulted in great economic loss worldwide owing to its high transmission rate. Various ALV viral subgroups exist, with infections occurring via specific host receptors. The susceptibility or resistance of avian species to the ALV-A and K subgroups is determined by the host receptor, the tumor virus locus A (tva) gene, while that to ALV-B depends on another host receptor, the tumor virus locus B (tvb) gene. The resistance alleles of tva and tvb have primarily been identified in China, but none have beendetected in Korea. We analyzed the frequencies of tva and tvb genotypes in White Leghorn (WL), Korean Ogye (KO), and Korean native chicken (KNC) breeds, and assessed the resistance to ALV subgroups. In WL, both tva and tvb had various genotypes, including susceptibility and resistance alleles, whereas in KO, tva and tvb resistance alleles were dominant. In KNC, tva susceptibility and resistance alleles were mixed, whereas tvb resistance alleles were dominant. In addition, we showed that there were differences in the splicing pattern of tva transcripts and the expression level of tvb transcripts within breeds. Finally, we confirmed that ALV resistance depended on KO and KNC genotypes by in vitro infection of chicken embryonic fibroblasts with ALV. These results highlight that some KO and KNC individuals are naturally resistant to ALV subgroups A, B, and K, and will facilitate the preservation of economically superior traits through selective breeding.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2022

We compared the degrees of vitality of 12 Korean native chicken breeds, such as Jaeraejong, Korean Rhode Island Red (Rhode), Korean White Leghorn, Korean Cornish (Cornish), and Korean Ogye breeds. The survival rate and telomere length were measured as vital markers. Telomere length was analyzed via quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization method using the lymphocytes of 466 chickens. We found that the telomere length decreased linearly with increasing chronological age in all chicken breeds. Telomere length and telomere shortening rates (TSR) were significantly different among the chicken breeds after 20 weeks of age (P<0.01). Rhode had the longest telomere length and the lowest TSR, whereas Cornish had the shortest telomere length and the highest TSR. In terms of TSR, the telomere length of 50-week-old chickens was half of that of 8-week-old chickens. There was also a significant difference in survival rates among the breeds. Both Rhode and Korean Ogye had the highest survival rates, while Cornish had the lowest. There was a significant positive correlation between survival rate and telomere length, and telomere length in old age showed a higher correlation with survival rate than that in young age. Therefore, it is considered that TSR is more closely related to survival rate than the telomere length. Based on the telomere dynamics and survival rates of 12 Korean native chicken breeds, it was concluded that the Rhode breed and Cornish breed had the highest and lowest vitality, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 2022

Chickens are a species of vertebrate with varying colors. Various colors of chickens must be classified to find color-related genes. In the past, color scoring was performed based on human visual observation. Therefore, chicken colors have not been measured with precise standards. In order to solve this problem, a computer vision approach was used in this study. Image quantization based on k-means clustering for all pixels of RGB values can objectively distinguish inherited colors that are expressed in various ways. This study was also conducted to determine whether plumage color differences exist in the reciprocal cross lines between two breeds: black Yeonsan Ogye (YO) and White Leghorn (WL). Line B is a crossbred line between YO males and WL females while Line L is a reciprocal crossbred line between WL males and YO females. One male and ten females were selected for each F₁ line, and full-sib mating was conducted to generate 883 F₂ birds. The results indicate that the distribution of light and dark colors of k-means clustering converged to 7:3. Additionally, the color of Line B was lighter than that of Line L (P<0.01). This study suggests that the genes underlying plumage colors can be identified using quantification values from the computer vision approach described in this study.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.899-907
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• 2023

Objective: The better understanding of laying pattern of birds is crucial for developing breed-specific proper breeding scheme and management. Methods: Daily egg production until 50 wk of age of six chicken breeds including one layer (White Leghorn, WL), three dual-purpose (Rhode Island Red, RIR; Columbian Plymouth Rock, CR; and Barred Plymouth Rock, BR), one synthetic dwarf (DY), and one indigenous (Beijing-You Chicken, BYC) were used to characterize their clutch traits and egg production. The age at first egg, egg number, average and maximum clutch length, pause length, and number of clutches and pauses were calculated accordingly. Results: The egg number and average clutch length in WL, RIR, CR, and BR were higher than those in DY and BYC (p<0.01). The numbers of clutches and pauses, and pause length in WL, RIR, CR, and BR were lower than those in DY and BYC (p<0.01). The coefficient variations of clutch length in WL, RIR, CR, and BR (57.66%, 66.49%, 64.22%, and 55.35%, respectively) were higher than DY (41.84%) and BYC (36.29%), while the coefficient variations of egg number in WL, RIR, CR, and BR (9.10%, 9.97%, 10.82%, and 9.92%) were lower than DY (15.84%) and BYC (16.85%). The clutch length was positively correlated with egg number (r = 0.51 to 0.66; p<0.01), but not correlated with age at first egg in all breeds. Conclusion: The six breeds showed significant different clutch and egg production traits. Due to the selection history, the high and median productive layer breeds had higher clutch length than those of the less productive indigenous BYC. The clutch length is a proper selection criterion for further progress in egg production. The age at first egg, which is independent of clutch traits, is especially encouraged to be improved by selection in the BYC breed.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.735-747
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• 2023

The composition of fatty acids determines the flavor and quality of meat. Flavor compounds are generated during the cooking process by the decomposition of volatile fatty acids via lipid oxidation. A number of research on candidate genes related to fatty acid content in livestock species have been published. The majority of these studies focused on pigs and cattle; the association between fatty acid composition and meat quality in chickens has rarely been reported. Therefore, this study investigated candidate genes associated with fatty acid composition in chickens. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed on 767 individuals from an F2 crossbred population of Yeonsan Ogye and White Leghorn chickens. The Illumina chicken 60K significant single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data and 30 fatty acids (%) in the breast meat of animals slaughtered at 10 weeks of age were analyzed. SNPs were shown to be significant in 15 traits: C10:0, C14:0, C18:0, C18:1n-7, C18:1n-9, C18:2n-6, C20:0, C20:2, C20:3n-6, C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3, C24:0, C24:1n-9, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). These SNPs were mostly located on chromosome 10 and around the following genes: ACSS3, BTG1, MCEE, PPARGC1A, ACSL4, ELOVL4, CYB5R4, ME1, and TRPM1. Both oleic acid and arachidonic acid contained the candidate genes: MCEE and TRPM1. These two fatty acids are antagonistic to each other and have been identified as traits that contribute to the production of volatile fatty acids. The results of this study improve our understanding of the genetic mechanisms through which fatty acids in chicken affect the meat flavor.