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Many studies have reported the frequency and distribution of haplogroups among various cattle breeds for verification of their origins and genetic diversity. In this study, 318 complete sequences of the mtDNA control region from four Korean cattle breeds were used for haplogroup classification. 71 polymorphic sites and 66 haplotypes were found in these sequences. Consistent with the genetic patterns in previous reports, four haplogroups (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were identified in Korean cattle breeds. In addition, T1 a, T3a, and T3b sub-haplogroups were classified. In the phylogenetic tree, each haplogroup formed an independent cluster. The frequencies of T3, T4, T1 (containing T1a), and T2 were 66%, 16%, 10%, and 8%, respectively. Especially, the T1 haplogroup contained only one haplotype and a sample. All four haplogroups were found in Chikso, Jeju black and Hanwoo. However, only the T3 and T4 haplogroups appeared in Heugu, and most Chikso populations showed a partial of four haplogroups. These results will be useful for stable conservation and efficient management of Korean cattle breeds.

Four Korean native cattle (KNC) breeds-Hanwoo, Chikso, Heugu, and Jeju black-are entered in the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The objective of this study was to assess the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and population structure of these KNC breeds (n = 120) and exotic breeds (Holstein and Charolais, n = 56). Thirty microsatellite loci recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics/FAO were genotyped. These genotypes were used to determine the allele frequencies, allelic richness, heterozygosity and polymorphism information content per locus and breed. Genetic diversity was lower in Heugu and Jeju black breeds. Phylogenetic analysis, Factorial Correspondence Analysis and genetic clustering grouped each breed in its own cluster, which supported the genetic uniqueness of the KNC breeds. These results will be useful for conservation and management of KNC breeds as animal genetic resources.

Microsatellite markers have been a useful genetic tool in determining diversity, relationships and individual discrimination studies of livestock. The level of genetic diversity, relationships among two Korean indigenous chicken brand populations (Woorimatdag: WR, Hanhyup3: HH) as well as two pure populations (White Leghorn: WL, Rhode Island Red: RIR) were analyzed, based on 26 MS markers. A total of 191 distinct alleles were observed across the four chicken populations, and 47 (24.6%) of these alleles were unique to only one population. The mean HExp and PIC were estimated as 0.667 and 0.630. Nei's DA genetic distance and factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) showed that the four populations represented four distinct groups. However, the genetic distance between each Korean indigenous chicken brand (WR, HH) and the pure population (WL, RIR) were threefold that among the WR and HH. For the STRUCTURE analyses, the most appropriate number of clusters for modeling the data was determined to be three. The expected probabilities of identity among genotypes of random individuals (PI) were calculated as 1.17×10 49 (All 26 markers) and 1.14×10 15 , 7.33×10 20 (9, 12 with the highest PI value, respectively). The results indicated that the brand chicken breed traceability system employing the own highest PI value 9 to 12 markers, and might be applicable to individual identification of Korean indigenous chicken brand. (Key words : Microsatellite, Genetic relationship, Korean indigenous chicken brand, Identification)

In order to analyze the genetic diversity and phylogenetic status of the Korean Chikso breed, we determined sequences of mtDNA cytochrome b (cyt b) gene and performed phylogenetic analysis using 239 individuals from 5 Chikso populations. Five non-synonymous mutations of a total of 15 polymorphic sites were identified among 239 cyt b coding sequences. Thirteen haplotypes were defined, and haplotype diversity was 0.4709 ranging from 0.2577 to 0.6114. Thirty-five haplotypes (C1-C35) were classified among 9 Asia and 3 European breeds. C2 was a major haplotype that contained 206 sequences (64.6%) from all breeds used. C3-C13 haplotypes were Chikso-specific haplotypes. C1 and C2 haplotypes contained 80.5% of cyt b sequences of Hanwoo, Yanbian, Zaosheng and JB breeds. In phylogenetic analyses, the Chikso breed was contained into B. taurus lineage and was genetically more closely related to two Chinese breeds than to Korean brown cattle, Hanwoo. These results suggest that Chikso and Hanwoo have a genetic difference based on the mtDNA cyt b gene as well as their coat color, sufficient for classification as a separate breed.

The goal of this study was to verify the phylogenetic status of the Korean native goats (KNG). We determined the complete sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in 48 goats among four populations. We also analyzed genetic variability within goats, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed by comparison with other country's goats. Three nucleotide substitutions were detected, and two of these were missense mutations that occurred due to a substitution of amino acid. Four haplotypes were defined from KNG. Three of these haplotypes were only found in the Chinese goat. However, the other haplotype was KNG-specific. In the phylogenetic analysis, four clades (A~D) were classified among domestic goats, and the KNG was classified into clade 1 that estimated as lineage A based on the D-loop sequence. Each haplotype from the KNG was clustered closely with that of the Chinese goat. The results of haplotype distribution and phylogenetic location suggest that strong gene flow occurred from China to the Korean Peninsula. (Key words : Korean native goat, Phylogenetic analysis, Cytochrome b, Haplotype, Gene flow)

Two sets of data on carcass traits and beef cut parameters were used to investigate the relationships between carcass and beef cut measurements, which can be used to make predictions of retail cut percentages. One set had a total of 1,141 measurements of Hanwoo cattle of three different sex origins, which were slaughtered in an abattoir located at the National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Korea from 1996 to 2008. To develop prediction models for retail cut percentage with higher accuracies than the current model, another set consisting of a total of 13,389 records of carcass and beef cut traits were collected from 30 abattoirs and butcheries in Korea from 2008 to 2009. Bulls yielded heavier and leaner carcasses than steers. High correlation coefficients were estimated between amount of body fat and percent retail cut (-0.82) as well as between back fat thickness (BF) and percent retail cut (-0.62). The amount of retail cut, however, was highly correlated with body weight before slaughter (BW, 0.95) or with cold carcass weight (CWT, 0.94). Relationships between percent retail cut and measurable beef yield traits, BF, loin eye area (LEA) or CWT varied by sex class, which must be considered for development of a prediction model with high accuracy. Models of data for all breeds and sexes fit the effects of breed, sex, and interaction of abattoir by butchers, whereas models of data for each breed and sex fit the effect of interaction of abattoir by butcher only. Due to possible future changes in back fat control, we performed a log transformation of BF. Our new models fit better than the currently used model.

In order to investigate the effect of feeding browses on the incidence of abortion in pregnant Korean native female goats, 20 pregnant does(34 month) were used as experimental animal and they grouped 4 treatments with 5 heads according to experimental diets. Each group was fed pine browse, pine browse silage, fermented pine browse, or oak browse silage. Browses intake a day was 0.36kg for oak browse silage, 0.28kg for pine browse, 0.24kg for pine browse silage, and 0.14kg for fermented pine browse. Salmonella and Fungi were not found in pine browses but they were found in oak browse silage in the amount of 7.93 and 11.1 cfu/g, respectively. E. Coliwas found 11.67cfu/g in oak browse silage. The incidence of abortion was 60% for fermented pine browse, 40% for pine browse silage, and 20% for pine browse feeding. Abortion did not occur by feeding oak browse silage. Progesterone concentration was similar each other regardless of normal delivery or abortion at delivery day but the concentration of estradiol was higher for normal delivery, concentration of cortisol was decreased until the delivery day in normal but increased in abortion does. The results were suggested.

Data were collected from 1996 through 2000 on Korean Native Goats by the National Livestock Research Institute of Korea were used to estimate genetic parameters for birth, 3 month, and 6 month body weights. Estimates were obtained with MTDFREML. Model included animal and maternal genetic and residual effects. The model included sex, birth year-season, and feeding type as fixed factors. Average body weights and standard deviation were 1.780.32 at birth of age, 7.992.66 at 3 month of age, and 12.083.20 kg at 6 month of age, respectively. Average body measurements were 36.46cm for withers height, 38.06cm for body length, and 45.56cm for heart girth at 3 month of age, and were 40.27cm for withers height, 42.01cm for body length, and 51.07cm for heart girth at 6 month of age, respectively. Estimates of heritability were 0.66 for birth weight, 0.34 for 3 month body weight, and 0.27 for 6 month body weight, respectively. Maternal effects would be important for birth and 3 month body weights and may not be needed in a model for 6 month body weight.

The effective management of endangered animal genetic resources is one of the most important concerns of modern breeding. Evaluation of genetic diversity and relationship of local breeds is an important factor towards the identification of unique and valuable genetic resources. This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of six Korean native chicken breeds (n = 300), which were compared with three imported breeds in Korea (n = 150). For the analysis of genetic diversity, 30 microsatellite markers from FAO/ISAG recommended diversity panel or previously reported microsatellite markers were used. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 15 per locus, with a mean of 8.13. The average observed heterozygosity within native breeds varied between 0.46 and 0.59. The overall heterozygote deficiency (F-IT) in native chicken was 0.234 +/- 0.025. Over 30.7% of F-IT was contributed by within-population deficiency (F-IS). Bayesian clustering analysis, using the STRUCTURE software suggested 9 clusters. This study may provide the background for future studies to identify the genetic uniqueness of the Korean native chicken breeds.