• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2023

Animal welfare has been gradually gathering more attention from consumers over time, making it increasingly important to assess the level of stress experienced by livestock. Traditionally, stress has been measured by collecting blood to assess cortisol levels, an action that can be considered distressing for the animal. Therefore, we aimed to explore the feasibility of using hair as an alternative medium to blood for stress assessment. We utilized B/F (blood collected at the farm), B/A (blood collected after transport to the auction), and H/A (hair collected at the auction after blood sampling) from calves at the age of 7-9 months transported from the farm to the auction. Hair underwent a washing and extraction process to utilize hair extracts, while blood was centrifuged to analyze using ELISA. The cortisol concentration in the blood was significantly higher in B/A compared to B/F (p<0.05), confirming that the calves experienced stress during transportation. Additionally, H/A was significantly lower than both B/A and B/F (p<0.0001). These results emphasized that cortisol in hair is not suitable for investigating short-term stress in livestock, as it is with blood. While measuring stress indices using hair may not be appropriate for replacing blood, it is considered a highly suitable practice for animal welfare, and further research in this area should be continued.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1135-1155
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• 2007

Selenium is considered to be one of the most controversial trace elements. On the one hand, it is toxic at high doses and there is a great body of information related to environmental issues of Se contamination. On the other hand, Se deficiency is a global problem related to an increased susceptibility to various diseases of animals and humans and decreased productive and reproductive performance of farm animals. Optimisation of Se nutrition of poultry and farm animals will result in increased efficiency of egg, meat and milk production and even more important, will improve quality. From the data presented in the review it is clear that the main lesson which we have to learn from nature is how to use organic selenium in animal and human diets. Selenium-enriched yeast (Sel-Plex) is the result of such a lesson and it is just a matter of time before animal nutrition moves completely from using ineffective sodium selenite to organic selenium. Other lessons from nature will follow. Recent advances in genomics and proteomics, in association with descriptions of new selenoproteins, will be a driving force in reconsidering old approaches related to Se nutrition. Probably 90% of all Se research has been conducted with sodium selenite and we now understand that the natural form of selenium is different. The main advances in Se status assessment and Se requirements were established based on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), an enzyme which for many years was considered to be the main selenoprotein. Recently it was discovered that it is only one of at least 25 various selenoproteins. Se research and practical applications are developing quickly and they are very exciting and promising.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.225-235
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• 2019

The present study hypothesized that ratio between carcass traits components could be applied for the understanding of yield index in Hanwoo steer. A thousand data was generated based on average carcass weight (CW), loin area (LA) and backfat thickness (BT) of Hanwoo steer in December 2018 for analysis 1. Then yield index (YI) was calculated using newly established yield index equation. The correlation between yield index and each carcass traits was visualized. In the interaction between carcass traits components (LA, CW, BT) and YI, only the interactions including BT showed a regular pattern to YI. Then changes of YI according to ratio of carcass traits components were investigated. The observed interactions between LABT and CWBT were similar with Monod equation model. The changes of YI to LABT and CWBT were fitted to Monod equation, and yield constants (K1 for LABT; K2, CWBT) of each equation were calculated as 0.47 and 2.20, respectively. Carcass traits from 5 commercial Hanwoo steer farm were then employed in the second analysis. Yield constants of each farm were estimated. In estimation, R² value for K1 (LABT) showed greater than the K2 (CWBT). Finally, each farm was plotted based on their K1 and K2 values and it was found that greater yield index of Hanwoo steer was found as increased K1 and K2. As conclusion, the present study suggested the possibility of K1 and K2 values for understanding of yield grade equation and their application in the evaluation of new model for yield grade estimation and feeding strategy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.71-81
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• 2017

Organic dust generated inside livestock facilities includes toxic organic matters such as bacteria and endotoxin. Dust can cause respiratory disease for worker and livestock, and consequently, degradation of welfare and productivity. Influence of dust on livestock workers has been studied since the 1970s. However, exposure limit for cattle farmer has not been established, unlike exposure limit for pig and poultry farmer. Furthermore, study on air quality inside livestock facility, especially inside dairy farm has been rarely conducted in Korea. In this study, dust concentration of TSP, PM10, inhalable and respirable dust has been monitored in the commercial dairy house according to location and working activities. Bedding material inside the stall was one of the major sources of dust. The amount of dust was related to water content level of the bedding material. Dust concentration was relatively high in leeward location, and the highest concentration was measured during TMR mixing process. The maximum value of inhalable dust concentration was 29.1 times higher than the reference value as fine particles drop to the TMR mixer. Dust generated by TMR mixing was presumed to decrease by adjusting moisture and drop height of feed.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.48-57
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• 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of organic compost for reducing soil loss in 25% sloped farm land. For the study, laboratory and field experiment were performed. After nine weeks monitoring in pot test, hardness of the amended soil with organic compost (1%~3%, w/w) showed two times higher than the control soil. Furthermore, soil loss of that was decreased by 95% under rainfall simulation test. From the result of laboratory experiment, organic compost with 2% (w/w) was applied for field experimental plot. After six month from April to September, the amount of soil loss became 67% of the initial, and the growth of natural vegetation was not hampered. Therefore, organic compost can be used as amendment materials to reduce soil loss in sloped farmland.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.401-408
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• 2017

Organic amendments such as animal waste compost, lime-bordeaux mixture, and lime sulphur mixture contain heavy metal(loid)s which are toxic to human being, animal, and plant. The objective of this study was to compare heavy metal(loid)s contamination of soil between conventional and organic farm. Soil samples were collected from 10 conventional and 38 organic fruit farms. At each sampling point, top (0~15 cm) and sub soil (15~30 cm) were taken using hand auger. Total concentration for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nikel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the collected soil were measured. The pollution index (PI) for heavy metal in organic farms indicated it was unpolluted area. However, mean value of PI for organic farms (0.143) was higher than that for conventional farms (0.122). High Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) for Cu, Pb, and Zn implied that grape farms were more polluted than others fruit farms because a lot of lime-bordeaux mixture and lime sulphur were applied in organic grape farms. Especially, top soils showed higher level of contamination than sub soil. Based on the above results, organic amendments might cause accumulation of heavy metals in soil. Therefore, particular attention should be paid for concentration of Cu, Pb, and Zn, when organic amendments are used in the organic fruit farms.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.759-774
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• 2018

This study was conducted to establish scores according to the importance levels of each HACCP evaluation item in cattle farm. The importance levels and score of each HACCP evaluation item was derived through the non-compliance rate and severity levels of hazard. In order to change the score criteria according to the importance of each HACCP evaluation item, we analyzed the importance of each HACCP evaluation item by using the portfolio mapping method according to the occurrence frequency and severity levels of hazard. The scores were classified into 3 point, 2 point, and 1 point, respectively, by classifying the importance of each category as 'high', 'middle' and 'lower'. Accordingly, we have established a now scoring system of each HACCP evaluation item through this study. Through the result of this study, the objectivity of the comparative evaluation was verified by implementing the currently used HACCP evaluation item to the cattle farm. In conclusion, Implementation of the result of this study to cattle farm may help to increase the objectivity and also improve more safety and hygienic cattle management and raw milk production.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.173-187
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• 2019

Based on the theory of planning behavior, the purpose of this study was to validate the path to consumers organic bakery product purchasing process, and moderating effect of price sensitivity. The improvement of national income and changes in diet due to economic growth began to increase consumption of organic and eco-friendly farm products, and thus products using organic materials began to be released in bakeries. Thus, it was necessary to understand consumer awareness and purchasing processes for organic bakery products. Specifically, the study examined the structural relations among purchase reasons, purchase motives, and purchase behavioral intention of organic bakery products. A survey was conducted in May 2019 from adults who had experience purchasing organic bakery products in Seoul metropolitan area, and 327 responses were used for data analysis. The findings of the study showed that consumers' interests in health, food safety, and environment had positive effects on their attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control toward organic bakery products, while their interests in organic products did not have an effect on perceived behavioral control. There were significant differences in the purchasing process of organic bakery products according to their price sensitivity. The study suggests that the correct delivery of information on organic ingredients and the price policies available to many consumers will contribute to the revitalization of organic bakery products.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.249-264
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• 2004

High yield arable and crop farming demands a temporally and quantitatively determined application of plant nutrients according to field and culture. The nutrients may come from commercial fertilizers or from animal wastes. Regarding the dangers to soil, water and air, which come from current agricultural application measures for nitrogen, a sectoral approach for a nonpolluting liquid manure utilization can-not be used ally longer. An integrated system approach has to be found, leading to a drastic improvement of nutrient utilization and hence to a considerably reduced nutrient use. This can be only expected, if the organic manure can be applicated at times, when losses through leaching and volatilization can be minimized.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2012

Poor indoor air quality is now worldwide concern due to its adverse impacts on our health and environment. Moreover, these impacts carry a significant burden to the economy. Various technical approaches (e.g., biological, activated carbon fiber (ACF), photocatlytic oxidation (PCO), etc.) have gained popularity in controlling indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is because removing indoor VOC sources or increasing ventilation rates is often not feasible or economical. This review provides an overview of the various air purification technologies used widely to improve indoor air quality. Although most of these technologies are very useful to remove indoor VOCs, there is no single fully satisfactory method due to their diversity and presence at the low concentration. To achieve technical innovations and the development of specific testing protocols, one should possess a better knowledge on the mechanisms of substrate uptake at VOC concentrations.