• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1689-1695
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• 2008

Leptin, the hormone product of the obese gene, is secreted predominately from white adipose tissue and regulates feed intake, energy metabolism and body composition. It has been considered a candidate gene for performance, carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle. The objective of this study was to identify SNPs in the promoter region of the leptin gene and to evaluate the possible association of the SNP genotypes with carcass and meat quality traits in Korean cattle. We identified a total of 25 SNPs in the promoter region (1,208-3,049 bp upstream from the transcription start site) of the leptin gene, eleven (g.1508C>G, g.1540G>A, g.1545G>A, g.1551C>T, g.1746T>G, g.1798ins(G), g.1932del(T), g.1933del(T), g.1934del(T), g.1993C>T and g.2033C>T) of which have not been reported previously. Their sequences were deposited in GenBank database with accession number DQ202319. Genotyping of the SNPs located at positions g.2418C>G and g.2423G>A within the promoter region was performed by direct sequencing and PCR-SSCP method to investigate the effects of SNP genotypes on carcass and meat quality traits in Korean cattle. The SNP and SSCP genotypes from the two mutations of the leptin promoter were shown to be associated with the BF trait. The average BF value of animals with heterozygous SNP genotype was significantly greater than that of animals with the homozygous SNP genotypes for the g.2418C>G and g.2423G>A SNPs (p<0.05). Analysis of the combined genotype effect in both SNPs showed that animals with the AC SSCP genotype had higher BF value than animals with BB or AA SSCP genotypes (p<0.05). These results suggest that SNP of the leptin promoter region may be useful markers for selection of economic traits in Korean cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1656-1665
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of stress during slaughter of beef cattle on physiological parameters, carcass, and meat quality at a Federal Inspection Type slaughterhouse located in the southeast of Mexico. Methods: A total of 448 carcasses of male Zebu×European steers with an average age of 36 months were included. Carcass assessment of presence of bruises and bruise characteristics was carried out on each half-carcass. Blood variable indicators of stress (packed cell volume, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, glucose, cortisol concentration) and meat quality parameters (pH, color, shear force, drip loss) were evaluated. Results: Of the 448 carcasses evaluated, 81% of the carcasses showed at least one bruise; one bruise was detected in 36.6% and two bruises in 27.0% of animals. Of the 775 bruises found, 69.2% of the bruises were grade 1 in region 3. Of the 448 carcasses studied, 69.6% showed hyperglycemia (6.91 mmol/L); 44.3% and 22.7% showed high (74.7 ng/mL) and extremely high (108.8 ng/mL) cortisol levels, respectively, indicative of inadequate handling of animals during preslaughter and slaughter. Of the carcasses evaluated, 90.4% had a pH ≥5.8 with an average of pH 6.3. In both pH groups, meat samples showed L^⋆ values >37.0 (81.6%) and a shear force >54.3 N; meat pH≥5.8 group showed a drip loss of 2.5%. These findings were indicative of dark, firm, and dry (DFD) meat. According to principal component analysis, grades 1 and 2 bruises in region 3 and grade 1 bruises in region 5 were highly associated with cortisol, drip loss, and color parameters b^⋆ and h^⋆ and were negatively associated with L^⋆, a^⋆, and C^⋆. Conclusion: The bruises probably caused by stress-inducing situations triggered DFD meat. Appropriate changes in handling routines in operating conditions should be made to minimize stress to animals during the slaughter process to improve animal welfare and meat quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of dietary protein level and phase feeding regimens on performance, carcass characteristics and pork quality in growing-finishing pigs. In both experiments, growing pigs (n=90; barrows; Landrace $\times$ Yorkshire $\times$ Duroc) were allotted to 3 treatments. Each treatment had 3 replicate pens comprising 10 pigs in each. In Exp. 1, pigs (average body weight $25.06{\pm}0.57\;kg$) were fed diets having low (17.50-14.50-12.51%), medium (19.49-17.50-13.87%) or high (22.47-19.49-16.36%) CP concentration (LP, MP and HP diets, respectively) diets during grower-finisher I-finisher II phases, respectively. Feeding of MP diet resulted in higher (P<0.05) ADG and better FCR than pigs fed LP diet. Pigs fed HP diet had lower (P<0.05) pork color and marbling score. Meat of pigs fed LP diet had higher (P<0.05) Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), while meat of pigs fed HP and LP diets had greater drip loss than pigs fed MP diet. In addition, meat from pigs fed LP diet was darker while meat of pigs fed HP and MP diets was paler and redder. In Exp. 2, pigs (average body weight $10.40{\pm}0.61\;kg$) were subjected during 126 days to three or four phase regimes of different duration. The treatments T1 and T2 were subjected to four phase feeding regimens (grower I, grower II, finisher I and finisher II) for 22, 42, 32 and 30 days (T1) and 40, 40, 25 and 21 days (T2), respectively, while T3 was subjected to three phase feeding regimen (grower I, grower II and finisherI) for 40, 56 and 30 days, respectively. Duration of phase feeding regimens had no effect (P>0.05) on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of pigs. These results suggest that both high and low levels of CP have a negative effect on performance and pork quality; however, alterations in the phase feeding regimens do not have any discernible effect on the performance and pork quality in growing-finishing pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1594-1599
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• 2005

The effects of long-term feeding of diets based on bermudagrass hay supplemented with lucerne hay cube (LH) or fermented bagasse feed (FBF) on the growth rate, feed efficiency, behaviour, gut development, carcass characteristics and meat quality of goats were investigated. Six spring-born 8-month-old male crossbred (Japanese Saanen${\times}$Tokara native goats) bucks weighing mean 21.6 kg were allotted to 2 treatment groups (3 animals each) and each animal had ad libitum access to feeds, i.e. bermudagrass hay (basal diet)+LH or FBF throughout the experiment. The FBF was produced by the solid-state fermentation of substrates containing dried sugarcane bagasse mixed with wheat bran in a ratio of 1:3 (w/w DM) with Aspergillus sojae. The live body weight, final weight and average daily gain were not different between treatments. Average basal diet intake of goats fed FBF diet was significantly higher than that fed LH diet (p<0.05), but average dry matter intake (DMI; g/day and g/$W^{0.75}$), feed conversion ratio, digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) intake of experimental diets were not significantly different between treatments. Goats fed on LH and FBF diets had similar eating, rumination, resting and drinking behaviours, and blood constituents except for phosphorus content. Slaughter and carcass weights, net meat percentage [(total meat/carcass weight)${\times}$100], loin ratio [(loin/total meat)${\times}$100] and rib-eye area were not different between treatments. However, goats fed FBF diet had lower dressing percentage and higher bone/muscle ratio compared with goats fed LH diet (p<0.01). Empty gut and guts fill of goats fed FBF diet were significantly greater (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) than those fed LH diet. The weights of rumen and abomasum were also significantly heavier in goats fed FBF diet (p<0.05), but the length and density of papillae of rumen in goats were not different between treatments. Although meat composition of loin was not different in both groups, the meat of goats fed FBF diet was superior to that of LH diet in flavor, aroma and overall quality of loin (p<0.01). In conclusion, the nature of the diet consumed voluntarily did not affect subsequent growth, nutrient intake and behaviour of goats but had an influence on carcass traits and sensory evaluation of meat partly, when either of LH or FBF was fed with bermudagrass hay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1638-1643
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• 2014

This study was conducted to compare carcass characteristics and physico-chemical meat quality in two different genotype ducks raised under identical feeding and rearing conditions. A total of ninety 1-d-old Korean native ducks (KND, n = 45) and commercial meat-type ducks (Grimaud, n = 45) were fed same experimental diets during 56 d and 42 d, respectively to obtain similar slaughter weights. The experimental diet for starter period contained 20% crude protein (CP) and 2,900 kcal nitrogen corrected true metabolizable energy (TMEn)/kg of diet and that for grower period contained 17% CP and 3,050 TMEn/kg of diet. Average daily gain and feed efficiency of KND were inferior to those of commercial meat-type ducks (p<0.05). Carcass weight was not different between two genetically different ducks, but carcass yield of KND was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of commercial meat-type ducks. There were no significant differences in cooking loss and pH of breast meat between two genetically different ducks, but water holding capacity of KND was significantly higher than that of commercial meat-type ducks. The linoleic acid and total polyunsaturated fatty acid of breast meat from KND were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the corresponding part from commercial meat-type ducks. Significant differences were detected in water holding capacity and the content of linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid, which were significantly higher in KND, whereas growth performance tended to be superior in commercial ducks. At the market weight, the meat from KND was judged to have better qualities with regard to higher water holding capacity and greater content of polyunsaturated fatty acid compare with meat from commercial meat-type duck.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.515-524
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• 2001

Two experiments using growing and finishing pigs (Landrace$\times$Duroc$\times$Yorkshire) were conducted to determine the effects of different levels of vitamins and trace minerals (VTM) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs, and to evaluate the suitability of vitamin-mineral levels commonly used in the swine industry in Korea. A total of 120 three crossbred (Landrace$\times$Duroc$\times$Yorkshire) growing (Experiment I: 20.90 0.44 kg average initial body weight) and finishing (Experiment II: 53.55 0.97 kg average initial body weight) were used in 6 and 9 weeks feeding trials, respectively. Pigs were allotted on the basis of sex and weight to 5 treatments with 6 replications per treatment with 4 pigs per pen in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were: 1) control, 2) fat soluble vitamin 200% vs. control, 3) water soluble vitamin 200% vs. control, 4) trace mineral 50% vs. control, 5) trace mineral 200% vs. control. In experiment I, during the overall experimental period (0 to 6 weeks, 21 to 54 kg body weight), ADG of the 200% trace mineral supplemented group was significantly higher than that of the 50% trace mineral supplemented group. There were no significant differences among other the treatments. Digestibility of crude protein was lowest in mineral 50% supplemented group (p<0.05). Calcium digestibility was significantly higher in the 200% fat soluble vitamin supplemented group than in the other treatments (p<0.05). In experiment II, during the overall experimental period (0 to 9 weeks, 54 to 106 kg body weight), growth performance was not significantly affected by dietary vitamin and trace mineral levels. However, increasing level of water soluble vitamins at the level of 200% compared to control had a tendency to improve the overall growth performance. Overall carcass characteristics except for carcass length did not differ among pigs fed the dietary treatments. Loin eye area, pH, drip loss and shear force of meat were not affected by dietary vitamin and trace mineral levels. There was a trend for less fat content (%) in pork when the level of vitamin and trace mineral was increased, but the difference was not significant. Flavor score was the lowest in control and highest in the 200% fat soluble vitamin supplemented group (p<0.05). Juiciness of muscle was lower in the 200% fat soluble vitamin supplemented group than other dietary treatments, except for trace mineral 50% supplemented group (p<0.05). Based on these results, it is suggested that "typical" commercial levels of vitamin and trace minerals used by feed companies in Korea are sufficient to meet requirement for the maximum growth of growing-finishing pigs. Our results suggests that a reduction in trace mineral levels in commercial diets could be considered to reduce feed cost and nutrient excretion with economic and environmental benefits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.383-393
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• 1991

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of cimaterol on growth performance, carcass quality and cellular functional activity of broilers as affected by the various protein and energy levels. In starter period (0-21 days) all chicks were fed the basal diet which contained approximately 23 % crude protein and 3200 kcal of metabolizable energy per kg of diet. The cimaterol was added during 22-49 days and during the period of 8th week the cimaterol was withdrawn. In finisher period (22-49 days), a $2{\times}2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement consisting of 2 levels of cimaterol (0 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg), 2 levels of protein (19%, 17%) and 3 levels of energy (3200, 2900, 2600 kcal/kg) was used. In the finisher period, the body weight gain and feed efficiency was improved by the supplementation of cimaterol. The high protein and high energy level with supplementation of cimaterol had showed the highest body weight gain and feed efficiency, without significant difference. The administration of cimaterol had no effects on percentage of abdominal fat content, giblet and neck. Eventhough the difference was not significant (p>0.05), carcass yield was improved slightly by the administration of cimaterol. The effect of cimaterol on carcass composition was clearly demonstrated that protein content of broilers was not increased (p>0.05) but fat content decreased significantly (p<0.05). The ultilization of nutrients in experimental diets was not significantly affected by feeding cimaterol compared to control group. The results of in vitro studies with liver and adipose tissue showed that cimaterol increased the lipolytic activities at 19% protein level whereas at 17% protein level this effect was variable. Lipogenic activities in liver and adipose tissue were not affected with the administration of cimaterol but the activities increased as energy decreased, particularly in liver tissue. In cell studies with acinar culture of liver tissues, cimaterol had no effect on protein synthetic activity but the parameter was increased at higher level of dietary protein and energy. Protein secretion in liver was increased by the supplementation of cimaterol. In addition, at high protein level the protein secretion was increased and has shown the highest values at medium energy level.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1070-1077
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• 2021

Objective: An experiment was conducted to determine the appropriate fasting time prior to slaughter for broilers in floor-feed and scatter-feed mode. Methods: On 21 d since hatching, 120 Arbor Acres broilers were divided into floor-feed and scatter-feed groups, chicks from each group were further assigned to feed withdrawal treatments for 0, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h. Some resultant indicators such as carcass contamination, body weight loss, meat quality of 54-day-old broilers were measured. Results: It appears that longer feed withdrawal increased weight loss, lightness, drop loss of meat but reduced pH. A significant higher weight loss and lightness for both floor-feed and scatter-feed chicks coincided after 6 to 10 h feed withdrawal (p<0.05). pH for breast muscle at 45 min postmortem reduced when chicks of scatter-feed were fasted 6 and 10 h, while the reduction of floor-feed group occurred only in 10 h (p<0.05). A noticeable effect of feed withdrawal on drop loss occurred after 10 h fasting in scatter-feed of which drop loss were significantly higher than that for other groups including control (p<0.05). The change of contamination propensity revealed that 6 to 10 h fasting significantly reduced the likelihood of carcass contamination under both floor-feed and scatter-feed (p<0.05). Net weights of intestinal contents for gizzard were significantly reduced after feed deprived for 10 h in floor-feed and 6 and 10 h in scatter-feed (p<0.05). The decrease for whole intestine occurred after floor-feed broilers have been without feed for more than 4 h, scatter-feed broilers for more than 8 h (p<0.05). Conclusion: On the premise that poultry product properties and welfare were not significantly damaged, proper fasting time could reduce carcass contamination. Current data implied that 6 h fasting was recommendable for both floor and scatter feed pre-slaughter broilers.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.51-73
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• 2024

This study investigated how birth weight differences in piglets affected carcass and muscle fiber properties as well as meat quality at slaughter. Within litters, piglets were grouped according to their birth weight as either normal (NBW; 1.62-1.73 kg) or low (LBW; 1.18-1.29 kg). At 5 weeks of age, NBW piglets were randomly transitioned to control (C) or isocaloric high fat diets derived from non-dairy (HF), while LBW piglets were randomly transitioned to high fat diets derived from non-dairy (HF) or dairy sources (HFHD). Piglets were reared in individual pens under standardized housing and feeding conditions. Live weight was recorded weekly, and pigs were slaughtered at 12 weeks of age. Hot carcass weights, dressing percentages, lean meat yield, and primal cut proportions were determined. The m. longissimus thoracis was collected from the right side of the carcass for measurement of physical and chemical properties of meat and muscle fiber characteristics. Results indicated that LBW pigs compensated for their live weight compared to NBW pigs at 6 weeks of age. The mean muscle fiber diameter of LBW-HFHD group is significantly higher than NBW-C and NBW-HF group, and the type I muscle fiber diameter is significantly higher than NBW-C group. Dairy fat inclusion in LBW pig diet reduced carcass back fat thickness. This increased the calculated lean meat yield to be comparable to that of NBW pigs fed a commercial diet. Incorporating dairy-sourced high-fat into LBW pigs' diets appears to be an effective strategy for producing carcasses equivalent to NBW pigs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2015

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway is well known as a candidate pathway related to meat quality in mammals. In particular, there are many studies on the relationship between the PPAR signaling pathway and intramuscular fat. However, recent studies have demonstrated that genes in the PPAR signaling pathway are associated with carcass weight in cattle. Among 48 genes in the PPAR signaling pathway, 16 genes are related to the insulin that regulates the adipocyte glucose metabolism and thus affects body weight. Therefore, we conducted an investigation to try to identify candidate genes associated with the carcass weight and relationships between the expressions of these 16 genes in the loin muscle of Hanwoo (Korean cattle). From regression analysis, the three genes (ACSL6, FADS2, and ILK) showed significant effects with regard to carcass weight (p<0.05). Finally, we analyzed the common regulators of the significant genes from pathway analysis. The significant genes are regulated by insulin as well as D-glucose. These findings show that the differentially expressed genes are possible candidate genes associated with carcass weight in the longissimus muscle of Korean cattle.