• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.351-357
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• 2011

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of castration on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of goat kids. Fourteen Boer-cross buck and wether goat kids (n = 7; initial body weight (BW) $38.0{\pm}0.35\;kg$ and $34.8{\pm}0.35\;kg$, for bucks and wethers, respectively) were grazed on annual Marshall ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) for 56 days. Body weights were recorded after 4 h withdrawal from feed and water for two consecutive days, every 2 wk. After d 56, animals were harvested and hot carcass weight (HCW), cold carcass weight (CCW), dressing percent (DP), kidney and pelvic fat (KPF), longissimus muscle (LM) area, back fat (BF), and other carcass parameters were measured. Day 0 BW was used as a covariate for analyses. However, bucks were heavier than wethers at d 15 (p = 0.09), 42 (p = 0.001) and 56 (p = 0.001). Bucks had higher ADG (146 vs. 74 g/d; p = 0.001), HCW (21.2 vs. 18.8 kg; p = 0.06) and CCW (20.3 vs. 17.9 kg; p = 0.04) when compared with wether goats. Dressing percentage (51 vs. 47%; p = 0.06), KPF (0.44 vs. 0.16%; p = 0.02) and BF (0.41 vs. 0.21 cm; p = 0.05) were higher in wethers vs bucks, respectively; however, USDA live or carcass grades were similar. Longissimus muscle tissue from wethers and bucks were similar in darkness ($L^*$) and redness ($a^*$), but wethers had more (p = 0.02) yellow tint ($b^*$). Palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0) and oleic (C18:1) acids were higher (p = 0.001) in muscle tissue from wethers compared to bucks. The saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) contents of muscle tissue were lower (p = 0.001) for bucks with no difference in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Longissimus muscle initial temperature was higher in bucks (p<0.04) and pH change post-mortem was similar for bucks and wethers. These results indicated that castration of young market goats reduced growth performance and produced carcasses with more fat and higher SFA.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate whether water chilling had effect on water retention, freshness or internal temperature of chicken carcasses during chilling or storage in two different chicken processing plants (designated as A and B). A total of 240 carcasses from chicken processing plants (n = 120 per chicken processing plant) was randomly sampled and evaluated the effect of water chilling on carcass characteristics (i.e., water retention, water loss or freshness during chilling or storage). Torrymeter value was used as an indicator of freshness in chicken carcasses. Water chilling did not affect carcass water retention between the processing plants. However, chicken carcasses processing in B plant exhibited significantly higher freshness (p<0.05) compared with those in A plant. This difference in freshness was mainly due to the longer transit time through the water chiller in A versus B plants. Water loss of carcasses during storage was not different between plants. It was found that carcass freshness can be affected by water chilling time as manifested in this study. Further study is warranted to see whether freshness or microbiological status of chicken carcasses may be affected depending on the chilling methods, i.e., air or water chilling.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.259-266
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• 2005

Steers (n=335) of known genetic backgrounds from four fundamentally different growth types were subjected to two production systems to study differences in carcass traits. Growth types were animals with genetic potential for large mature weight-late maturing, intermediate mature weight-late maturing, intermediate mature weight-early maturing and small mature weight-early maturing. Each year, in a nine-year study, calves of each growth type were weaned and five steers of each growth type were developed on pasture or feedlot and slaughtered at approximately 20 and 14 months of age, respectively. Data collected were pre-slaughter shrunk body weight (SBW); hot carcass weight (HCW); dressing percentage (DRESS); fat thickness at the $12^{th}$ and $13^{th}$ rib interface (FAT); percentage kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (KPH); longissimus muscle area (LMA); marbling score (MARB); quality grade (QG); and yield grade (YG). Year and growth type were significant for all carcass traits. The growth type${\times}$production system interaction was an important source of variation in SBW, HCW; FAT, YG and MARB. The same interaction was non-significant for DRESS, KPH, LMA and QG. Carcass differences in measures of fatness were greater in the feedlot system than in the pasture system. These data could aid producers in matching beef growth type to the production system most suitable for efficient use of resources.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.349-355
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• 2012

Thyroglobulin (TG) gene was known to be regulated fat cell growth and differentiation and the endothelial differentiation sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor 1 (EDG1) gene involves blood vessel formation and known to be affecting carcass traits in beef cattle. The aim of this study was to identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in both TG and EDG1 genes and to analyze the association with carcass traits in Korean cattle (Hanwoo). The T354C SNP in TG gene located at the 3' flanking region and c.-312A>G SNP located at 3'-UTR of EDG1 gene were used for genotyping the animals using PCR-RFLP method. Three genotypes were identified in T354C SNP in TG gene and only two AA and AG genotypes were observed for the c.-312A>G SNP in EDG1 gene. The results indicated that T354C SNP in TG gene was not significantly associated with carcass traits. However, the c.-312A>G SNP in EDG1 gene had significant effects on backfat thickness (BF) and yield index (YI). These results may provide valuable information for further candidate gene studies affecting carcass traits in Korean cattle and may use as marker assisted selection for improving the quality of meat in Hanwoo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.635-638
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• 2003

Japanese Black cattle (Wagyu) are fed for a long period to produce high quality beef, however, extended feeding often causes inefficiency and greater environmental load mainly derived from their manure. The objectives of this study were to analyze changes in feeding length by listing breeding values (BVs) at calf markets and the relationships between BVs and carcass characteristics of 4,052 Japanese Black cattle, and to examine the feasibility of optimizing feeding length by referring to listed BVs. BV classes A, B, and C were defined based on BVs of cows in Shimane Prefecture as follows: an upper quarter of BVs was classified as A, a second quarter as B, and under the average as C. For cattle sold at calf markets in the first term of 1996, just before the start of BV listing, the feeding length of cattle with class B BVs for the beef marbling standard (BMS) was longer (p>0.05) than that of class A cattle. However, in the second term of 1996, just after the start of BV listing, the feeding length of class B cattle became shorter (p<0.001) than that of class A cattle. Then, the feeding lengths of both classes showed no significant differences. Feeding lengths of both class A and B BVs for carcass weight (CW) changed similarly to the corresponding BV classes for BMS. The analysis of the relationships among the listed BV classes and the actual carcass characteristics showed that class A cattle had a higher (p<0.001) BMS than class B cattle, and that the higher-class cattle had a heavier CW (p<0.05). On the basis of previous reports, the cattle, particularly those with lower genetic marbling ability, seem to only increase marbling at markedly low efficiency for a few months before slaughter. Therefore, the finding that carcass characteristics corresponded to their class of BVs suggests that an optimum feeding length based on listed BVs not only increases the efficiency of beef production, but also reduces the environmental load.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1543-1551
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• 2010

A major aim of cattle genome research is to identify candidate genes associated with meat quantity and quality through QTL analysis for application in the livestock industry. Therefore, this study focused on discovery of useful SNPs within the LOC534614 gene, containing 12273_165 SNP which is located on the same site as the QTL on chromosome 6, and evaluation of the association between SNP and body weight and cold carcass weight in Hanwoo (Korean cattle) As a result of a BLAST search of the NCBI web site, we discovered that the mRNA sequence of the LOC534614 gene was similar to that of the coiled-coil domain containing 158 (CCDC158) for dog and human. According to the direct DNA sequence from the CCDC158 gene, we identified 19 polymorphic SNPs within exons and their flanking regions. Among them, 17 polymorphic SNPs were selected for genotyping in Hanwoo (n = 476) and seventeen marker haplotypes containing 12273_165 SNP (frequency >0.1) were identified. As a result of the association between 17 polymorphic SNPs and Hanwoo (n = 476), g.8778G>A SNP in exon 6 was found to be a non-synonymous SNP, and was significantly associated with body weight and cold carcass weight (p<0.05). We discovered 19 polymorphic SNPs in the CCDC158 gene on the QTL region of BTA 6 in Hanwoo and identified that the g.8778G>A SNP was significantly associated with body weight and cold carcass weight (p<0.05), which causes an amino acid variation from valine to methionine. Furthermore, statistical analysis demonstrated that the CCDC158 gene is strongly associated with body weight and cold carcass weight in Hanwoo. In this regard, the g.8778G>A SNP in the CCDC158 gene can be useful as a positional candidate for body weight and cold carcass weight for marker-assisted selection in Hanwoo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.206-213
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• 2011

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing barley and soybean meal in finishing diets with sesame hull (SH) on growth performance, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of Black goat kids. Twenty-one Black goat kids were assigned randomly to 0%, 10%, or 20% SH diets (7/diet). The study lasted for 63 d. Intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) of kids fed the 10% diet were greater (p<0.05) than for the 0% and 20% SH diets (p<0.10). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) intakes were highest (p<0.05) for kids fed the 10% SH diet when compared to 0% and 20% SH diets. Ether extract (EE) intake was greater (p<0.05) for kids fed 10% and 20% SH diets when compared to 0% SH. Digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF were similar among all diets. However, sesame hull inclusion increased (p<0.05) EE digestibility. Final body weight, total gain, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio were comparable among all diets. Cost of gain was lower (p<0.05) in kids fed 20% SH than the 0% SH diet, while there was no difference between the 10% SH diet and the other two diets. Dressing percentage, hot and cold carcass weights, non-carcass components, carcass cut weights, and meat quality parameters were not influenced by SH. Total fat percentage in the leg was greater (p<0.05) on 0% SH than on the 10% SH diet. Results of this study demonstrated that inclusion of sesame hull at levels of 10 or 20% did not influence the performance of Black goat kids, but the cost of gain was lower.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.780-787
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the bovine nephroblastoma overexpressed (NOV) gene and to evaluate whether these polymorphisms affect carcass traits in the Korean cattle population. We resequenced to detect SNPs from 24 unrelated individuals and identified 19 SNPs within the full 8.4-kb gene, including the 1.5-kb promoter region. Of these 19 SNPs, four were selected for genotyping based on linkage disequilibrium (LD). We genotyped 429 steers to assess the associations of these four SNPs with carcass traits. Statistical analysis revealed that g.7801T>C and g.8379A>C polymorphisms in the NOV gene were associated with carcass weight (p = 0.012 and 0.008, respectively), and the g.2005A>G polymorphism was associated with the back fat thickness (BF) trait (p = 0.0001). One haplotype of the four SNPs (GGTA) was significantly associated with BF (p = 0.0005). Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in the NOV gene may be among the important genetic factors affecting carcass yield in beef cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1700-1704
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• 2004

Ninety six growing pigs ($Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Jia$) were used to investigate the effects of betaine on growth, nutrient utilization, carcass composition and meat quality at different levels of betaine in the diet. The pigs were randomly assigned by weight to four groups, each of which was replicated three times with eight pigs per replicate. Four groups were fed with diets supplemented with 0, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 mg/kg betaine. The pigs were grown from 20 kg live weight to approximately 64 kg. The 1,000 mg/kg and 1,500 mg/kg betaine treated groups increased average daily gain by 13.20% (p<0.01) and 9.28% (p<0.05) and average daily feed intake by 7.30% (p<0.05) and 7.33% (p<0.01) respectively and decreased feed conversion ratio by 7.93% (p<0.01) and 6.55% (p<0.05) respectively compared to the control group. However, these differences were not found in the other betaine treated groups. The 1,000 mg/kg betaine treated group significantly elevated carcass lean proportion by 7.49% (p<0.05) and longissimus muscle area by 19.12% p<0.05) and contents of ether extract and myoglobin in longissimus dorsi. by 34.21% (p<0.01) and 29.56% (p<0.01) respectively, reduced carcass fat proportion and fat depth by 27.21% (p<0.05) and 14.86% (p<0.05) respectively compared to the control group. It is concluded that betaine supplementation in the diets may improve growth performance and carcass characteristics in growing pigs.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.191-196
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the changes in carcass characteristics during slaughter process and to evaluate the physical properties of ostrich muscles. After blooding, pH of carcass was declined rapidly and showed 5.89 of final pH, whilst temperature was slightly decreased during slaughter process. Carcass of ostrich yielded 49.3%. For the comparison between muscles, m. gastrocneminus and m. iliofemoralis externus showed a significantly high pH (P<0.05). The muscle of which pH tended to be high in water holding capacity (WHC), however, m. gastrocneminus showed a significantly low WHC (P<0.05) due to low moisture content. M. obturatorius medialis showed the significantly lower shear force, whilst m. gastrocneminus was higher than other muscles (P<0.05). Therefore the results indicated that the production of high quality carcass was to reduce the time during slaughter process, and that high WHC and tenderness of ostrich meat had a potential application as a substitutional species to other animals.