• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.151-160
• /
• 2024

Objective: The growing consumers' interest on animal welfare has raised the request of products obtained by alternative rearing systems. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of housing system on gut and muscle morphology and on microbial load in rabbits reared under free-range (FR) and cage system (CS). Methods: A total of forty weaned (35 days of age) male Italian White breed rabbits were allotted according to the rearing system, and at 91 days of age were randomly selected and slaughtered for the morphological evaluation of tissue from duodenum and longissimus lumborum. Morphometric analysis of the villus height, villus width, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth ratio, and villus surface was performed. The microbial loads on hind muscle was determined by total mesophilic aerobic count (TMAC), Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae; whereas, total anaerobic bacteria count (TABC) and TMAC, E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae was determined on caecal content. Results: Rearing system did not interfere with the duodenum and muscle histomorphology in both rabbit groups. Similarly, microbial load of caecal content showed no significant differences on the TABC and TMAC. Conversely, significant difference was found for E. coli strains in caecal content, with the lower counts in FR compared to CS rabbits (p<0.01). Microbiological assay of muscle revealed significant lower TMAC in FR vs CS rabbits (p< 0.05). All rabbit meat samples were negative for E. Coli and Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusion: Free-range could be considered a possible alternative and sustainable rearing system in rabbits to preserve gut environment and muscle quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.24-29
• /
• 2014

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of substituting corn with soybean hulls on the ingestive behavior and nitrogen balance of Santa Ines lambs. A total of 25 lambs with an initial body weight of $20{\pm}2$ kg at approximately six months of age, sheltered individually in stalls ($1.10m{\times}1.0m$), considering an entirely casual experimental delineation. Soybean hulls were substituted for corn at 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The time spent feeding, ruminating, masticating, and resting was not affected by the substitution of corn with soybean hulls. In fact, the feeding efficiency in g DM/h and the rumination efficiency in g DM/bolus increased linearly with soybean hull substitution in the feed. Although the nitrogen balance was not altered by the use of soybean hulls as a substitute for corn in the diets of Santa Ines lambs, the N ingested and N digested expressed in g/d, N retained as a percentage of that ingested, and N retained as a percentage of that digested displayed quadratic behavior. In conclusion, corn can be substituted with soybean hulls up to 1,000 g/kg of dry matter in the concentrate, without changing the ingestive behavior and nitrogen balance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.11
• /
• pp.1525-1528
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to detect SNPs that were responsible for a carcass trait in Hanwoo populations. A non-parametric model applying a restricted partition method (RPM) was used, which exploited a partitioning algorithm considering statistical criteria for multiple comparison testing. Phenotypic and genotypic data were obtained from the Hanwoo Improvement Center, National Agricultural Cooperation Federation, Korea, in which the pedigree structure comprised 229 steers from 16 paternal half-sib proven sires that were born in Namwon or Daegwanryong livestock testing station between spring of 2002 and fall of 2003. A carcass trait, longissimus dorsi muscle area for each steer was measured after slaughter at approximately 722 days. Three SNPs (19_1, 18_4 and 28_2) near the microsatellite marker ILSTS035 on BTA6, around which the quantitative trait loci (QTL) for meat quality were previously detected, were used in this study. The RPM analyses resulted in two significant interaction effects between SNPs (19_1 and 18_4) and (19_1 and 28_2) at ${\alpha}$ = 0.05 level. However, under a general linear (parametric) model no interaction effect between any pair of the three SNPs was detected, while only one main effect for SNP19_1 was found for the trait. Also, under another non-parametric model using a multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method, only one interaction effect of the two SNPs (19_1 and 28_2) explained the trait significantly better than the parametric model with the main effect of SNP19_1. Our results suggest that RPM is a good alternative to model choices that can find associations of the interaction effects of multiple SNPs for quantitative traits in livestock species.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.743-751
• /
• 2017

During slaughtering, animal blood is typically discarded, resulting in water pollution. However, this discarded blood has valuable components, such as immunoglobulin (Ig). Although several studies have been conducted to develop methods for effective recycling of slaughterhouse blood, they have not been commercially utilized in Korea. Here, we extracted an Ig-rich fraction from porcine blood that was then subjected to various in vitro tests, including pathogen growth inhibition, antigenic cross-reactivity, and anti-toxin activity. The porcine immunoglobulin concentrate (PIC) was effectively purified by eliminating other components, such as albumin, and consisted of approximately $63.2{\pm}2.9%$ IgG and $7.2{\pm}0.4%$ IgM on a protein basis. The results showed that it significantly suppressed the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and bound to all tested pathogens, including both gram-positive and gram-negative species, although the degree of activity differed according to strain. The PIC bound to two types of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) obtained from Escherichia coli O111:B4 and Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the PIC restored the proliferation activity of the lymphoblast K-562 cells when co-incubated with pathogenic LPS. These results confirm that the PIC prepared in this study is a potentially valuable functional food material or diet supplement as an alternative to antibiotics that can protect animals from pathogenic bacteria.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.1207-1214
• /
• 2017

Since the industrialization of swine production in the late 1900s, swine farms in the United States, as well as in Europe, have largely become consolidated. Pig farms became larger in size but fewer in number, with 91% of market pigs being produced by large operations with 5,000 or more pigs on-site in the US, and only 3% of the total utilized agricultural land representing organic farming. Such change in the market made it difficult for small farmers to stay competitive, forcing them to find alternative ways to reduce the cost of production and increase profit using the outdoor production system. In contrast to the indoor confinement system, outdoor production system uses pasture-based units and/or deep-bedded hoop structures that promote animal welfare and environmental sustainability with a lower capital investment. In accord with the growing concern for animal and environmental welfare and food safety by the consumers, small farmers practicing an outdoor production system are seeing increased opportunities for marketing their products in the pork niche market. Unlike the general belief that the reproductive and growth performance measures of the outdoor sows and piglets are poorer in comparison with the animals reared indoors, studies showed that there was no significant difference in the performance measures, and some traits were even better in outdoor animals. Improved reproductive and production traits can increase the sustainability of outdoor farming. Present study reviewed the recent studies comparing the performance measures, meat quality and health of indoor and outdoor animals, as well as the efforts to improve the outdoor production system through changes in management such as hut types and breed of animals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2018

Aloe gel layer is well known as raw materials of medicines and cosmetics due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In aloe gel extracting process, the outer part of the leaf was removed. It contains high quality of fiber and many nutrients. However, this part is thrown away and generally used as fertilizer. The purpose of this research was to examine the important nutrient of Aloe saponaria. Moreover, the feasibility of using aloe as a dietary supplement by feeding fermentation treatment of aloe was investigated. To do this, the aloe leaf was divided into several parts including leaf skin, bottom of the leaf, tip of the leaf, middle of the leaf, and leaf flesh. Then the saponin content were analyzed from each part. The extraction method was used to clarify the saponin content. The aloe then fermented to improve it benefit. The fermented Aloe then given as dietary food to group of pig. Finally, the appropriate feed level was determined and the pork meat quality was analyzed. The extraction of saponin shows that the highest concentration of saponin located on the skin of the leaf. The feeding experiment shows that there is no significant difference in pig growth without aloe dietary food and groups with aloe as dietary food. It was conclude that fermented aloe can replace the pigs normal feeder as an alternative feeding solution.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.813-820
• /
• 2015

This study was performed to develop patties with quality characteristics using mealworm powder, followed by assessments of general compositions and the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) levels of the patties. An analysis of the chromaticity of the patties shows that the lightness and yellowness were decreased, whereas the redness was increased, as the amount of mealworm powder was increased. According to the sensory evaluation, the mealworm patty that contain 20% of mealworm powder (M20) showed an overall high preference level. In terms of the mechanical properties, the hardness, gumminess, and chewiness were significantly increased, whereas the springiness and cohesivensee were decreased, as the amount of mealworm powder was increased. The general composition of the M20 consists of 41.84% (moisture), 8.78% (carbohydrates), 34.42% (crude protein), 13.15% (crude fats), and 1.81% (crude ash). The BCAA contents (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) significantly increased in correspondence with the increases of the as mealworm-powder amount regarding the M20, the BCAA composition consists of the following: leucine (2,906.25 mg/100 g), isoleucine (1,459.09 mg/100 g), and valine (1,813.18 mg/100g). The conclusion of this study suggests that mealworm is a potential food material that could possibly replace meat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.373-381
• /
• 2020

There is a need for newer feed additives due to legal prohibition on inclusion of growth promoting antibiotics in livestock diets in several countries due to antimicrobial resistance. In this context, rare earth elements (REE) have gained attention among animal nutritionists as potential growth promoters. Currently, several studies have reported better weight gain, milk production, egg laying capacity and feed conversion efficiency among different breeds of farm animals following supplementation with REE, with however largely inconsistent results. Furthermore, REE supplementation has also shown to improve ruminal fibrolytic and proteolytic activities as well as flavor of meat with negligible residues in edible tissue, however the mechanism behind this action is still unclear. According to existing research, due to their poor absorption and similarity with calcium REE might exert their action locally on gut microbial populations within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Moreover, REE have also shown anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative as well as immune stimulating effects. The present review aims to broaden the knowledge about use of REE as feed additives for livestock and sum up efficacy of REE supplementation on performance and health of animals by comparing the findings. Till date, researches with REE have shown properties that make them a promising, new and safe alternative feed additive but further exploration is recommended to optimize effects and clarify discrepancy of various results before practical proposals can be drafted.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.139-146
• /
• 2013

Surimi products are among the most prominent seafoods in Korea. Together with fish meat, wheat flour is a major ingredient in the preparation of surimi products. Rice flour, however, can be an effective ingredient in enhancing the rheological characteristics of surimi products. In this study, we evaluated the potential of rice flour as an agent to replace wheat flour in surimi products. The effects of rice flour milling types and addition methods on the rheological and sensory properties of surimi products were investigated. Among different addition methods, the surimi product containing non-treated rice flour showed better gel strength and sensory properties than products containing paste (1:1.3 rice flour/water, w/v) and steamed paste (steamed at $100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min). According to the gel strength results for surimi products with added roll-mill (40 mesh) and jet-mill (180 mesh) rice flours, the roll-mill rice flour shows good potential as a replacement for wheat flour. When considering gel strength and sensory properties, an effective amount of rice flour to add was 10-15% (w/w). In conclusion, the rheological and sensory properties of surimi products containing rice flour were comparable with those of a premium commercial surimi product. Therefore, rice flour might be an effective alternative to wheat flour for premium surimi products.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.423-431
• /
• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate in vivo and in vitro digestibility in juvenile Atlantic Bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus. In vivo digestibility was compared between four experimental diets to determine the optimum dietary inclusion level of an enzyme-treated sardine fish meal (EFM) and sardine fish meal (FM). The experimental diets were as follows; EFM75 (75% EFM), EFM60 (60% EFM and 15% FM), FM75 (75% FM) and SL (frozen sand lance) as a raw fish feed. Feces of Bluefin tuna (90.3 g) were collected both by siphoning from a 700 L cage and by dissection in 69 ton concrete rearing tanks. For the siphoning method, protein digestibility was higher in the tuna fed SL diet than that of other groups. The lowest protein digestibility was observed in FM75. For the dissection method, protein digestibility was higher in tuna fed EFM75 diet than that of other groups. The lowest protein digestibility was observed in the EFM60 group. In vitro digestibility was compared in six protein sources to find an alternative source of EFM for the tuna feed. The highest in vitro digestibility was observed in EFM (92%) followed by low temperature FM (72%), meat meal (65%), feather meal (60%), sardine fish meal (57%) and poultry by-product meal (55%).