• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2024

Background: The biological information of fish, which include reproduction, is the prerequisite and the basis for the assessment of fisheries. Methods: The aim of this work was to know the reproductive biology with the first sexual maturity (TL₅₀) and the spawning period for 58 mainly fish species in the waters around La Réunion Island (Western Indian Ocean). Twenty families belonging to the Actinopterygii were represented (acanthuridae, berycidae, bramidae, carangidae, cirrhitidae, gempylidae, holocentridae, kyphosidae, labridae, lethrinidae, lutjanidae, malacanthidae, monacanthidae, mullidae, polymixiidae, pomacentridae, scaridae, scorpaenidae, serranidae, sparidae; 56 species; n = 9,751) and two families belonging to the Elasmobranchii (squalidae, centrophoridae; 2 species; n = 781) were sampled. Between 2014 and 2022, 10,532 individuals were sampled covering the maximum months number to follow the reproduction periods of these species. Results: TL₅₀ for the males and the females, respectively, ranged from 103.9 cm (Acanthurus triostegus) to 1,119.3 cm (Thyrsitoides marleyi) and from 111.7 cm (A. triostegus) to 613.1 cm (Centrophorus moluccensis). The reproduction period could be very different between the species from the very tight peak to a large peak covered all months. Conclusions: Most species breed between October and March but it was not the trend for all species around La Réunion Island.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.862-874
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• 2024

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) supplementation in sow diets before and after farrowing on the sow and piglets' performances during early postpartum period and on sows' backfat and longissimus muscle losses during lactation. Methods: Seventy Landrace×Yorkshire sows and their offspring (1,186 piglets) were distributed into three groups: control (n = 31), treatment-250 (n = 18), and treatment-1000 (n = 21). From 110.2±0.7 days of gestation until farrowing (5.8 days) and throughout the lactation period (25.2 days), sows in the control group were given the conventional lactation diet, while sows in the treatment-250 and treatment-1000 groups received supplements of 250 ppm and 1,000 ppm of A. paniculata, respectively. Results: In sows with parity 3-5, piglets from the treatment-1000 group had higher colostrum intake than the control and treatment-250 groups (p<0.05), but not in sows with parity 6-9. Colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) increased in treated sows versus controls for parity 6-9 (p<0.05), but was consistent for parity 3-5. Piglet performance until day 3 postnatal was similar across groups (p>0.05). Treatment-250 sows had higher feed intake post-farrowing than treatment-1000 sows (p<0.05). Longissimus loss was less in both treatment groups than control (p<0.05), but backfat loss was similar across groups (p>0.05). Post-partum complications were consistent across groups (p>0.05). Farrowing duration and piglet birth intervals in sows with parity 6-9 were prolonged in the treatment-1000 group. Conclusion: Supplementing with 1,000 ppm A. paniculata for 5.8 days pre-farrowing and 25.2 days post-farrowing enhanced sow colostrum IgG and piglet colostrum intake, while also reducing longissimus loss in sows. However, for sows of parity 6-9, this supplementation led to prolonged farrowing, increased intervals between piglet births, increased stillbirth, and reduced piglet birth weight. These effects should be considered when using A. paniculata supplementation.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2015

Growth rate during rearing, which varies depending on provided nutrition, has been related with age at $1^{st}$ calving (AFC). This study investigated the effect of upgrowth parameters during the rearing period on the reproduction of nulliparous Holstein heifers. The study comprised 77 successively born heifers from the same herd. Growth rate and fertility traits were measured during rearing and fertility parameters were recorded in lactations 1. Growth parameters (body weight, height, heart girth and body length) were measured at the approximate birth time, 270 and 450 d of age. Reproduction data collected included age at $1^{st}$ breeding, number of services per conception (S/C), pregnancy rate to $1^{st}$ artificial insemination, AFC. Animals were subsequently divided into 4 AFC groups for analysis: <23 mo, 23~25 mo, 26~30 mo and >30 mo. The AFC reflected both upgrowth rate and heifer reproduction, with later calving heifers smaller. Increased skeletal growth (at 270 and 450 d) was related with a reduced AFC (p<0.05). Early calving animals (<23 mo) had the best reproduction as nulliparous heifers, with most conceiving at first service (87.5%). Fertility in the first lactation was the worst in the oldest AFC group (>30 mo). In the 1st lactation period, a number of services per conception ($3.1{\pm}0.3$) increased with increasing AFC (>30 mo). Sub-optimal upgrowth related with an increased AFC could be mitigated by improved monitoring of replacement heifers during the rearing period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 1990

The effect of dietary protein-energy restriction (PER) on the growth of long bone were examined in sheep during growing period and then following a cycle of reproduction. Three months-old female sheep were offered protein-energy restricted feed for 6 months (growing period), thereafter changed to normal nutritional conditions for 8 months (reproduction period). A half of animals in each group took pregnancy, parturition and lactation. The nutritional restriction reduced the growth in bone diameter more than that in bone length. Compensatory growth resulting from the removal of the nutritional restraint strongly occurred in bone diameter, especially the bone cortical width, as compared to bone longitudinal growth. A cycle of reproduction severely decreased the growth in the bone cortical width relative to that in the bone width, and little effect was found on the growth in bone length and bone mass. The depression of bone development by pregnancy and lactation tended to exhibit severer in animals having received normal nutrition than in those having received PER. Bone mineral density was not affected by the nutritional restriction. A cycle of reproduction had an adverse effect on the mineral density between in animals having received normal nutrition and in those having received PER.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.112-121
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• 1987

After a detailed review of the literature availabe on the problems of immunoglobulin level in colostrum and blood serum of calves and after a discussion of its impact on health condition, the following investigations on this subject are presented. 1. Calves to fail ill in the rearing period show significantly lower serum Ig levels even during the first two days of life, when they are still clinically healthy, as well as up to the end of the first week of life than those of calves remaining in good health. 2. Ig values sharply rise during the disease period, IgA and IgM responding more rapidly than IgG. 3. In calves suffering from a disease of the gastrointestinal tract serum IgM titer is lowest, while in calves suffering from a disease of the respiratory duct serum IgA titer is lowest and in those suffering or dying from both disease complexes all Ig titers are reduced. 4. Calves showing high serum Ig levels during the first three days of life reveal higher daily gains in weight than those with lower serum Ig levels during that period.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.287-297
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• 2003

The aim of this review is to give insight into the reproduction potential of the Korean native goat(KNG) doe. The mean age of the first estrus in the KNG doe is 141.24$\pm$18.l7 days. The length of the estrous cycle was recorded as being 20.58$\pm$2.63 days, with the mean duration of estrous period being 17.8$\pm$7.3 to 32.9$\pm$1.2 h, and the duration of the post-partum anestrous period being 13.4(9 to 18) to 30.1$\pm$3.8 days in the KNG doe. The ages at first delivery are 10 to 12 months(56.3％) in the KNG doe. The KNG does are no restricted breeding season, because estrus and kiddings are observed throughout the year. The mean gestation period of the KNG doe is recorded as being 150.69$\pm$6.14 days with parities having no significant effect on gestation length. The mean interval between parturitions in the KNG doe is 207.78$\pm$1.72 days with parities and birth type having no significant effect on kidding intervals. The mean litter sizes at birth in the KNG doe are 1.69$\pm$0.03 heads, and litter size at birth was affected (P<0.05) by parity. The mean birth weight of kid in the KNG is 2.04$\pm$0.30 kg with a variety as being 2.28$\pm$0.26, 2.11$\pm$ 0.30 and 1.64$\pm$0.19 kg for singles, twins and triplets over of birth type, respectively. The mean mortality of 635 kids in the KNG is 23$\pm$1 ％ with a variety as being 28$\pm$3, 21$\pm$2, 16$\pm$3 and 46$\pm$15 ％ for singles, twins, triplets and quadruplets of birth type, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 1990

This experiment was carried out to investigate the recovery period of estrus cycle, the pseudopregnancy period, weights of ovary, placenta and fetus, and number of litter of female rats after unilateral ovariectomy(ULO). The results obtained are as follows : 1. The estrus cycle was inclined to become normal from the second time. 2. The pseudopregnancy period of rats in unilaterally ovariectomized group and control group, and no significant difference in pseudopregnancy period was shown between the two groups. 3. The ovarian weights of each ULO group were significantly(P<0.01) heavier than that of the control group throughout the observation periods of pregnancy. 4. The placental weights of ULO group were not different from that of the control group in 10 and 15 days of pregnancy. But they became significantly (P<0.05) heavier in 20 days. 5. The weights of fetus in ULO at 10 days of pregnancy was not different from that ofthe control group, but the weights in ULO group at 15 and 20 days of pregnancy were significantly(P<0.01) heavier. 6. The number of litter in ULO was smaller than that of the control groups.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.457-462
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Enteromorpha powder supplementation on reproduction-related hormones and genes in the late laying period of Zi geese. Methods: A total of 312 (1-year-old) Zi geese with similar laying rate were randomly divided into 2 groups with 6 replicates each, each with 21 female geese and 5 male geese. The control group was fed with a basal diet and the test group was fed with a diet containing 3% Enteromorpha powder. The trial period lasted for 7 weeks. Results: Our results showed that the laying rate was improved in the test group at each week of trial (p<0.01), and the levels of estradiol in serum and prolactin in ovary were increased compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on above results, Enteromorpha powder supplementation at 3% could promote reproductive performance during the late laying period of Zi geese.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2009

In the present study, we investigated the effects of rearing condition during the winter period on artificial maturation and reproduction of cultured female eel, Anguilla japonica. The female eel was adapted by combination of environmental conditions (seawater/low temperature, $10^{\circ}C$; seawater/high temperature, $20^{\circ}C$; freshwater/low temperature, $10^{\circ}C$; freshwater/high temperature, $20^{\circ}C$) during 8 weeks of the winter period. Then, the female eel cultivated by different conditions during the winter were transferred to seawater at $20^{\circ}C$ for induction of artificial maturation by salmon pituitary extraction (SPE) injection. The results shown that gonadosomatic index (GSI) and plasma levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) were significantly higher in female eel were reared in seawater than in freshwater, and were the highest at eel adapted by seawater/low temperature. Also, reproduction coefficient were higher in seawater/low temperature than in the other groups. These results will provide valuable information for elevation of the artificial maturation and reproduction coefficient in the cultured female eel.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1507-1519
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• 2020

Objective: The current research was aimed to profile the transcriptomic picture of the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) associated with immunity in Chinese Holsteins supplemented orally with coated folic acid during the periparturient period. Methods: The total of 123 perinatal cows were selected for this study and divided into three groups; group A (n = 41, 240 mg/500 kg cow/d), group B (n = 40, 120 mg/500 kg cow/d) and group C (n = 42, 0 mg/cow/d) based on the quantity of folic acid fed. Three samples of PBLs were selected from each folic acid treated group (high, low, and control) and RNA sequencing method was carried out for transcriptomic analysis. Results: The analysis revealed that a higher number of genes and pathways were regulated in response to high and low folic acid supplementation compared to the controls. We reported the novel pathways tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling, antigen processing and presentation, Staphylococcus aureus infection and nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B signaling pathways) and the key genes (e.g. C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10, TNF receptor superfamily member 1A, cluster difference 4, major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ beta, NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha, and TNF superfamily 13) having great importance in immunity and anti-inflammation in the periparturient cows in response to coated folic acid treatment. Conclusion: Collectively, our study profiled first-time transcriptomic analysis of bovine lymphocytes and compared the involved cytokines, genes, and pathways between high vs control and low vs control. Our data suggest that the low folic acid supplementation (120 mg/500 kg) could be a good choice to boost appropriate immunity and anti-inflammation as well as might being applied to the health improvement of perinatal dairy cows.