• Title/Summary/Keyword: performance objective

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Effects of Bedding Material Composition in Deep Litter Systems on Bedding Characteristics and Growth Performance of Limousin Calves

  • Meng, J.;Shi, F.H.;Meng, Qingxiang;Ren, L.P.;Zhou, Z.M.;Wu, H.;Zhao, L.P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.143-150
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    • 2015
  • The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different litter mixture compositions on bedding system temperature, pH and volatile fatty acid and ammonia-N ($NH_3$-N) content, and the serum physico-chemical parameters and growth indices of calves. Thirty-two Limousin calves ($280{\pm}20kg$) were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8 for each group) according to the bedding system used: i) control with soil only (CTR); ii) mixture with 50% paddy hulls (PH), 30% saw dusts (SD), 10% peat moss (PM) and 10% corn cobs (CC) (TRT1); iii) mixture with 15% PH, 15% SD, 10% PM, 40% CC, and 20% corn stover (CS) (TRT2); iv) mixture with 30% PH, 10% PM, 40% CC, and 20% CS (TRT3). The litter material combinations of different treatments were based on the cost of bedding system materials in China. The cost of four treatments from low to high: Control$NH_3$-N level (271.83 to 894.72 mg/kg) was lowest for TRT1 (p<0.0001) and highest for TRT2 (p<0.0001). The acetate, propionate and butyrate levels were highest for the control group (p<0.0001). In all the groups, the pH value (6.90 to 9.09) increased at the beginning and later remained stable at below 9.09. The temperature of deep litter increased at the first week and reached the maximum ($42.1^{\circ}C$) on day 38. 3,5,3'-Triiodothyronine ($T_3$) levels in the TRT1 group animals (p<0.0001) were lower than those in the control and TRT2 animals. 3,5,3',5'-Tetraiodothyronine ($T_4$) in the TRT1 group (p = 0.006) was lower than that in the other treatment groups. Cortisol (COR) in the control and TRT1 group was lower (p<0.0001) than that in the TRT2 and TRT3 groups. Corticosterone (CORt) in the control group was higher (p<0.0001) than that in the treatment groups. The findings indicate that the deep litter bedding systems provided better conditions for animal health and growth performance compared with the control system. Furthermore, the litter composition of TRT1 was found to be optimal among the three treatment groups.

Effects of ruminally degradable starch levels on performance, nitrogen balance, and nutrient digestibility in dairy cows fed low corn-based starch diets

  • Luo, Guobin;Xu, Wenbin;Yang, Jinshan;Li, Yang;Zhang, Liyang;Wang, Yizhen;Lin, Cong;Zhang, Yonggen
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.30 no.5
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    • pp.653-659
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    • 2017
  • Objective: This trial was performed to examine the effects of ruminally degradable starch (RDS) levels in total mixed ration (TMR) with low corn-based starch on the milk production, whole-tract nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in dairy cows. Methods: Eight multiparous Holstein cows (body weight [BW]: $717{\pm}63kg$; days in milk [DIM]: $169{\pm}29$) were assigned to a crossover design with two dietary treatments: a diet containing 62.3% ruminally degradable starch (% of total starch, low RDS) or 72.1% ruminally degradable starch (% of total starch, high RDS). Changes to the ruminally degradable levels were conducted by using either finely ground corn or steam-flaked corn as the starch component. Results: The results showed that dry matter intake, milk yield and composition in dairy cows were not affected by dietary treatments. The concentration of milk urea nitrogen was lower for cows fed high RDS TMR than low RDS TMR. The whole-tract apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and crude protein decreased, and that of starch increased for cows fed high RDS TMR over those fed low RDS TMR, with no dietary effect on the whole-tract apparent digestibility of dry matter and organic matter. The proportion of urinary N excretion in N intake was lower and that of fecal N excretion in N intake was higher for cows fed high RDS TMR than those fed low RDS TMR. The N secretion in milk and the retention of N were not influenced by the dietary treatments. Total purine derivative was similar in cows fed high RDS TMR and low RDS TMR. Consequently, estimated microbial N flow to the duodenum was similar in cows fed high RDS TMR and low RDS TMR. Conclusion: Results of this study show that ruminally degradable starch levels can influence whole-tract nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in dairy cows fed low corn-based starch diets, with no influence on performance.

Effect of crude protein content and undegraded intake protein level on productivity, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics, and production economics of Hanwoo steers

  • Lee, Youn Hee;Ahmadi, Farhad;Lee, Myun;Oh, Young-Kyoon;Kwak, Wan Sup
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.33 no.10
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    • pp.1599-1609
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    • 2020
  • Objective: This study was designed to determine how feeding diets differing in crude protein (CP) and undegraded intake protein (UIP) levels affected productivity, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics, and the production economics of Hanwoo steers. Methods: Thirty-six Hanwoo steers (age = 8.2±0.5 mo; body weight = 254±16.1 kg) were assigned at random to one of three treatments (4 steers/pen; 3 pens/treatment): i) a low-CP diet (LP; control) containing 12.1% CP with 35.1% UIP, 12.0% CP with 36.8% UIP, and 12.9% CP with 48.8% UIP, in the growing, fattening, and finishing periods, respectively; ii) a high-CP, low-UIP diet (HPLU) containing 15.0% CP with 33.7% UIP, 14.0% CP with 35.7% UIP, and 13.1% CP with 46.7% UIP, respectively; and iii) a high-CP, high-UIP diet (HPHU) containing 15.0% CP with 45.8% UIP, 14.0% CP with 44.6% UIP, and 13.0% CP with 51.1% UIP, respectively. Results: The treatments did not affect feed intake and growth performance, except for average daily gain during the fattening period that tended to be the lowest (p = 0.08) in the HPLU-fed steers. The feed CP conversion ratio over the entire feeding period was higher with high-CP diets. The treatments did not affect most blood metabolites; however, blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations during the fattening and finishing periods were the lowest in steers fed a HPLU diet. The treatments had negligible effects on cold carcass weight, yield traits including longissimus muscle area, backfat thickness, yield index, and yield grade, plus quality traits including meat color, fat color, texture, and maturity. However, marbling score and frequency of carcass quality grade 1++ were greater in HPHU-fed steers. Conclusion: Feeding diets with higher CP and UIP levels did not affect growth performance but tended to improve the carcass quality of Hanwoo steers, resulting in greater economic return.

An Empirical Study on the Equity Investment of Venture Capitalists on the IPOs Performance (벤처캐피탈회사의 지분투자와 벤처기업 최초공모주 성과 분석)

  • Kim, Seok-Yong;Park, Tae-Jin
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.179-199
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    • 2006
  • The objective of the study which it analyzes the result which goes made to the equity investor venture company IPOs stock of Korean venture capitalists. The sample company is the venture business 101 which IPO time venture capitalists invest in period KOSDAQ market from 1997 July 1st to 2006 June 30th for 9 years. The result of the study was as follows. First, it is found that syndication investing venture capitalists than the sale investing venture capitalists has desirable investment act which relax non-symmetry information between the publicly held company and the investor. The study support to Bygrave(1987), Lerner(1994) and so on. Second, The venture capitalists under postscript investing the venture business compared to under investing shows IPO excess benefit rate initially more highly from the venture business and the investor whom already invests early stage prove to use the manned it exaggerates the value of the venture business which venture capitalists oneself invests from postscript phase through the high position characteristic At last, it is discovered that the investment equity ratio of venture capitalists effect of sound (-) postscript investor IPO result which analyzed. It is showed that venture capitalists will remain more lowly excess benefit rate as the equity ratio which the venture capitalists invests at the venture business will be high.

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Effects of Exogenous Ghrelin on the Behaviors and Performance of Weanling Piglets

  • Wu, Xingli;Tang, Maoyan;Ma, Qiugang;Hu, Xinxu;Ji, Cheng
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.21 no.6
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    • pp.861-867
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    • 2008
  • The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous ghrelin on the behaviors, weight gain, and feed intakes of weanling piglets. A total of 25 pairs of Duroc$\times$Landrace$\times$Large White piglets weaned at 21 days of age were used in this experiment which finished on day 36. Each pair of healthy piglets from the same litter with similar body weight and of the same gender were selected and randomly arranged to ghrelin or control groups. Thus, there were 50 piglets (ghrelin 25; control 25) kept in 10 pens (ghrelin 5; control 5) and 5 piglets per pen. Initial body weight of the pigs did not differ between the control and ghrelin treatment ($7.43{\pm}0.17kg$; p = 0.81). Experimental pigs were infused with ghrelin ($1{\mu}g/d$ pig) via the marginal ear vein between 0750 and 0800 h at 22, 23, 24 days of age. Control pigs were infused with 0.9% saline. Feed consumption was measured on days 23, 24, 25, 29 and 36. Body weight was measured on days 22, 23, 24, 25, 29 and 36. Behavior data of individual piglets were collected by real-time observation from 0800-1500 h through remote supervisory equipment at 22, 23 and 24 days of age. The results indicated that ghrelin infusion could increase drinking (p<0.05) and lying behaviors (p<0.01) and decrease mounting behaviors (p<0.05). No significant influence of ghrelin was found on average daily weight gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in this experiment (p>0.05). In conclusion, exogenous ghrelin by the method above and at the dosage of $1{\mu}g/d$ pig could cause a variety of behavioral effects, but not improve performance of weanling piglets.

Effect of increased dietary crude protein levels on production performance, nitrogen utilisation, blood metabolites and ruminal fermentation of Holstein bulls

  • Xia, Chuanqi;Rahman, Muhammad Aziz Ur;Yang, He;Shao, Taoqi;Qiu, Qinghua;Su, Huawei;Cao, Binghai
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.31 no.10
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    • pp.1643-1653
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    • 2018
  • Objective: This study investigated the effect of dietary crude protein (CP) supplementation on nutrient intake, nitrogen (N) utilisation, blood metabolites, ruminal fermentation and growth performance of young Holstein bulls. Methods: Twenty-one young bulls weighing $277{\pm}11.2kg$ were equally divided into three groups and were offered diets formulated with low CP (LCP; 10.21% CP and 4.22% rumen degradable protein [RDP]), medium CP (MCP; 12.35% CP and 5.17% RDP) and high CP (HCP; 14.24% CP and 6.03% RDP). Yellow corn silage was used as a unique forage source and was mixed with concentrate. This mixed feed was given ad libitum to the young bulls included in the study. Results: Results showed that CP intake, blood urea nitrogen, N intake, total N excretion and N balance increased linearly with an increase in dietary CP level (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in nutrient digestibility among the bulls receiving the different diets. Ruminal pH (p<0.05) and ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3-N$) concentration (p<0.01) were significantly higher in the bulls receiving the MCP and HCP diets than in those receiving the LCP diet. The bulls receiving the HCP diet showed significantly higher ruminal bacterial protein level, propionate, acetate and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentrations than bulls receiving the LCP diet (p<0.05). Moreover, dietary CP level exerted a significant positive effect on the final body weight, average daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio of the bulls (p<0.05). Conclusion: High dietary CP level is optimal for achieving maximum growth and high profitability without exerting a negative effect on the physiology of growing Holstein bulls.

Optimum Design of Weight Reduction and Driving Performance enhancement for Formula type Self-design on-road vehicle (포뮬러 형태 자작자동차의 경량화 및 주행 성능 향상을 위한 최적설계에 관한 연구)

  • Shin, Sang-Won;Kang, Sin-Wook;Ha, Seung-Hyun;Park, Jin-Pyo;Kim, Dae-Wan;Lee, Moo-Yeon
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.18 no.10
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    • pp.725-732
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    • 2017
  • Weight reduction is one of the important issues in the automotive industry and the development of internal combustion engines vehicles, future vehicles, and eco-friendly vehicles for improving fuel efficiency. The objective of this study is to investigate the improvement of driving performance by weight reduction and optimum design for a formula-type self-designed on-road vehicle. This study is divided into the four steps. Firstly, the engine room was replaced and designed with a lighter engine. Secondly, an optimization study was conducted to simplify and lighten the vehicle components with the design of the frame. Thirdly, the structure design was optimized and the suspension was analyzed with the design of the frame. Finally, the design of an upright and hub with reduced weight was carried out using lighter parts. As a result, we reduced the weight of the vehicle by 48.5kg compared to the previous year (19.5%) and increased the acceleration from 6.8 s to 5.8 s.s.

Clinical Outcome in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Metastatic Brain Tumors from the Primary Breast Cancer : Prognostic Factors in Local Treatment Failure and Survival

  • Choi, Seung Won;Kwon, Do Hoon;Kim, Chang Jin
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.54 no.4
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    • pp.329-335
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    • 2013
  • Objective : Brain metastases in primary breast cancer patients are considerable sources of morbidity and mortality. Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has gained popularity as an up-front therapy in treating such metastases over traditional radiation therapy due to better neurocognitive function preservation. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic factors for local tumor control and survival in radiosurgery for brain metastases from primary breast cancer. Methods : From March 2001 to May 2011, 124 women with metastatic brain lesions originating from a primary breast cancer underwent GKRS at a tertiary medical center in Seoul, Korea. All patients had radiosurgery as a primary treatment or salvage therapy. We retrospectively reviewed their clinical outcomes and radiological responses. The end point of this study was the date of patient's death or the last follow-up examination. Results : In total, 106 patients (268 lesions) were available for follow-up imaging. The median follow-up time was 7.5 months. The mean treated tumor volume at the time of GKRS was 6273 $mm^3$ (range, 4.5-27745 mm3) and the median dose delivered to the tumor margin was 22 Gy (range, 20-25 Gy). Local recurrence was assessed in 86 patients (216 lesions) and found to have occurred in 36 patients (83 lesions, 38.6%) with a median time of 6 months (range, 4-16 months). A treated tumor volume >5000 $mm^3$ was significantly correlated with poor local tumor control through a multivariate analysis (hazard risk=7.091, p=0.01). Overall survival was 79.9%, 48.3%, and 15.3% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. The median overall survival was 11 months after GKRS (range, 6 days-113 months). Multivariate analysis showed that the pre-GKRS Karnofsky performance status, leptomeningeal seeding prior to initial GKRS, and multiple metastatic lesions were significant prognostic factors for reduced overall survival (hazard risk=1.94, p=0.001, hazard risk=7.13, p<0.001, and hazard risk=1.46, p=0.046, respectively). Conclusion : GKRS has shown to be an effective and safe treatment modality for treating brain metastases of primary breast cancer. Most metastatic brain lesions initially respond to GKRS, though, many patients have further CNS progression in subsequent periods. Patients with poor Karnofsky performance status and multiple metastatic lesions are at risk of CNS progression and poor survival, and a more frequent and strict surveillance protocol is suggested in such high-risk groups.

Effects of Alfalfa and Brown Mid-rib Corn Silage and Level of Forage Neutral Detergent Fiber on Animal Performance of Lactating Cows in Michigan

  • Min, Doo-Hong;Bucholtz, Herb;Naasz, Paul
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.373-377
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    • 2007
  • Alfalfa silage and corn silage are the major dairy feeds in most dairy operations in Michigan, USA. In recent years, the need to improve digestible fiber and dry matter intake of forages to meet the nutrient requirements of high yielding dairy cows and the willingness to plant corn specifically for silage has led plant breeders to focus on the brown mid-rib (BMR) trait. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different ratio of alfalfa to BMR corn silage and ration level of forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on animal performance of lactating cows in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This study was conducted at the Upper Peninsula Experiment Station of Michigan State University in Chatham, Michigan, USA. Two different ratios of forage type (high alfalfa silage/low BMR corn silage, AS, and high BMR corn silage/low alfalfa silage, BMRCS) and two different dietary NDF contents (27% NDF, 27 = low forage/high grain feeding, and 33% NDF, 33 = high forage/low grain feeding) were used. The experimental design was a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square with 20 milking cows (12 multiparous and 8 primiparous). This trial had four 21-day periods with 14 d adaptation and 7 d data collection. Milk yield and body condition score (BCS) on the AS-27, BMRCS-27 and BMRCS-33 treatments were significantly (p<0.05) higher than on the AS-33 treatment. Dry matter intake of the AS-27 and BMRCS-27 treatments was significantly (p<0.05) higher than for the AS-33 and BMRCS-33 treatments. Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) on the AS-33 treatment was significantly (p<0.05) higher than on the other diet treatments. A key finding of this study was that the BMRCS-33 (higher amounts of brown mid-rib corn silage than alfalfa silage, high forage and low grain feeding diet at 33% NDF) led to the equal highest milk production whilst having the equal lowest dry matter intake. This study demonstrated that the diet with higher ratio of highly digestible NDF forage such as brown mid-rib corn silage to alfalfa silage could lower grain feeding in the ration.

Levels of Supplementation for Grazing Beef Heifers

  • Cabral, Carla Heloisa Avelino;Paulino, Mario Fonseca;Detmann, Edenio;de Campos Valadares Filho, Sebastiao;de Barros, Livia Vieira;Valente, Eriton Egidio Lisboa;de Oliveira Bauer, Maristela;Cabral, Carlos Eduardo Avelino
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.27 no.6
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    • pp.806-817
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    • 2014
  • The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of providing different levels of a supplement on the nutritional characteristics and productive performance of heifers on pasture during the rainy-dry transition and dry season in Brazil or tropical area. Thirty crossbred heifers with predominance of Zebu breed were used in a completely randomized experimental design. Treatments consisted of a mineral supplement and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 kg/animal/d of a protein supplement containing 300 g crude protein (CP)/kg of dry matter (DM). In the rainy-dry transition season there was quadratic effect of the protein supplementation (p<0.10) on daily weight gain (DWG). A linear relationship (p<0.10) was found between increasing supplement intake and intakes of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), non fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Coefficients of apparent digestibility of CP, EE, and NFC increased linearly (p<0.10) with increasing supplement levels, but there was no effect on the DM apparent digestibility (p>0.10); the microbial efficiency (g CPmic/kg TDN) and the relationship of microbial nitrogen flow with nitrogen intake (g/g nitrogen intake) were negative linear profiles. In the dry season, the descriptive pattern least squares means showed a trend of stabilization of DWG from the supply of 0.98 kg of protein supplement; the intakes of DM, OM, CP, EE, NFC, and TDN showed increasing linear relationship (p<0.10) with protein supplement levels; the means of apparent digestibility coefficients of the different dietary fractions presented a linear-response-plateau (LRP); the microbial nitrogen flow (g/d) showed positive linear profile (p<0.10) for supplementation levels. It is concluded that supplementation improves the productive performance of grazing heifers and that 1.0 kg/d of supplement per animal gives the maximum increment of weight gain.