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This study evaluated the effects of breed and gender in Duroc (D), Pietrain (P), and crossbred (DP) pigs. Loin samples were collected from D (n = 79), P (n = 42), and DP (n = 45) pigs. Intramuscular fat content was significantly lower in P (p < 0.001), and pH was lowest in DP pigs (p < 0.001). Gilts had higher intramuscular fat (IMF) and pH values than did castrated males (p < 0.05). Water-holding capacity was lower in DP pigs than that in D and P pigs (p < 0.001). Shear force in DP pigs was higher than that in D and P pigs (p < 0.001). Lightness and yellowness of meat in DP pigs was increased compared with coloring of P pig meat (p < 0.01). Meat from DP pigs was redder compared with meat from in D and P pigs, and it was higher in gilts than in castrates (p < 0.001). The C16:0 content was lower in P and DP pigs than in D pigs (p < 0.01). C18:2 content was higher in P and DP pigs than in D pigs (p < 0.001). Unsaturated and saturated fatty acids increased in P pigs compared with levels in D pigs (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that meat quality can be controlled by crossbreeding to increase or reduce selected properties. This study provides the basic data on the meat characteristics of F1 DP pigs. Thus, further study should be conducted to estimate the meat quality of various crossbreeds.

A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was used to investigate the interactions between lactose levels (100 g/kg versus 200 g/kg) and Lactobacillus -based fermentation product (FP; 0 and 1 × 10 11 CFU Lactobacillus casei /kg) on weanling piglet performance and nutrient digestibility. Two hundred and forty weaned piglets (24 days old, 7.05 kg live weight) were blocked on the basis of live weight and assigned to one of four dietary treatments with six replicates and 10 piglets per replicate in two phases (phase 1, from d 1 to 14; phase 2, from d 14 to 28). Volatile fatty acid concentrations and bacterial counts were performed in ileal, cecal, and colonic contents. In phase Ⅰ, ADG was increased (P Salmonella spp. in the ileum. The pH of colon digesta was lower (P Lactobacillus spp. was increased (P E. coli . This study demonstrates that dietary FP improved the growth performance and DM digestibility of weanling pigs. When the dietary FP, and the lactose level were combined there was no evidence of an interaction on growth performance. However, both lactose and FP decreased the emissions of total organic carbon and ammonium.

OBJECTIVE The genetic effects of an individual on the phenotypes of its social partners, such as its pen mates, are known as social genetic effects. This study aims to identify the candidate genes for social (pen-mates') average daily gain (ADG) in pigs by using the genome-wide association approach. METHODS Social ADG (sADG) was the average ADG of unrelated pen-mates (strangers). We used the phenotype data (16,802 records) after correcting for batch (week), sex, pen, number of strangers (1 to 7 pigs) in the pen, full-sib rate (0% to 80%) within pen, and age at the end of the test. A total of 1,041 pigs from Landrace breeds were genotyped using the Illumina PorcineSNP60 v2 BeadChip panel, which comprised 61,565 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. After quality control, 909 individuals and 39,837 markers remained for sADG in genome-wide association study. RESULTS We detected five new SNPs, all on chromosome 6, which have not been associated with social ADG or other growth traits to date. One SNP was inside the prostaglandin F2α receptor (PTGFR) gene, another SNP was located 22 kb upstream of gene interferon-induced protein 44 (IFI44), and the last three SNPs were between 161 kb and 191 kb upstream of the EGF latrophilin and seven transmembrane domain-containing protein 1 (ELTD1) gene. PTGFR, IFI44, and ELTD1 were never associated with social interaction and social genetic effects in any of the previous studies. CONCLUSION The identification of several genomic regions, and candidate genes associated with social genetic effects reported here, could contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis of interaction traits for ADG. In conclusion, we suggest that the PTGFR, IFI44, and ELTD1 may be used as a molecular marker for sADG, although their functional effect was not defined yet. Thus, it will be of interest to execute association studies in those genes.

In the present study, the timing was examined of blastocyst collection/formation or of how the duration of post-blastulation culture affected the quality and developmental competence of in vitro-produced pig parthenogenetic embryos. The earliest apoptotic signals were observed at the morula stage while the earliest cytoplasmic fragmentation was observed before the 4- to 8-cell stage of embryo development. Nuclear condensation was detected in morulae and blastocysts, but not all condensed nuclei were positive for the apoptotic signal (TUNEL staining). The mean blastocyst diameter increased with delayed blastocyst collection or extended post-blastulation culture, but decreased with delayed blastocyst formation. Delayed blastocyst collection/formation or an additional day of post-blastulation culture increased the frequencies of apoptosis, condensed nuclei, and low quality blastocysts (those showing a nuclear destruction that negated counting of the nuclei); increased the expression of the pro-apoptotic BAX gene; and reduced the ratio of ICM (inner cell mass) cells to TE (trophectoderm) cells. In addition, delayed blastocyst formation decreased POU5F1 gene expression. These results suggest that a delay in blastocyst collection/formation or an additional day of culture could increase the incidence of apoptosis, decrease the ICM:TE cell ratio, and influence the gene expression and diameter of blastocysts derived from in vitro-produced pig embryos. These findings provide a useful reference for improving the quality of in vitro-produced embryos.

Adipose tissues are related to the meat quality and economic value of cattle. In particular, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important factor that influences adipose tissue remodeling. The objective of this study was to measure the expression levels of ECM-related genes in different adipose tissues from bulls, cows, and steers of Korean cattle (Hanwoo). The sample tissues were separated from omental (OM), subcutaneous (SC), and intramuscular (IM) adipose tissues. The expression levels of 24 ECM-related genes and proteins were determined using real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. We also observed that castration resulted in increased (P

The aim of this study is to investigate whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress attenuation could improve porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryo developmental competence. We treated porcine SCNT embryos with TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid, an inhibitor of ER stress) and/or TM (tunicamycin, an ER stress inducer), and examined embryonic developmental potential, embryo quality, the levels of ER stress markers (XBP1 protein and mRNA) and apoptosis-related-genes (BAX and BCL2 mRNA). Immunostaining detected X-box-binding protein (XBP1), a key gene regulator during ER stress, at all stages of SCNT embryo development. Embryo development analysis revealed that TUDCA treatment markedly increased (p

Background Major amino acids in pig diets are Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp, but little is known about the requirements for the other essential amino acids, especially on odorous compounds and microbial characteristics in feces of growing-finishing pigs. To this end, different levels of amino acid composition added to diets to investigate the effects of amino acid composition on microbial characteristics and odorous compounds concentration. Methods A total eight (n = 8) barrows (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) with an average bodyweight of 89.38 ± 3.3 kg were individually fed diets formulated by Korean Feeding Standards 2007 (old version) or 2012 (updated with ideal protein concept) in metabolism crates with two replication. After 15-day adaptation period, fresh faecal samples were collected directly from pigs every week for 4 weeks and analysed for total volatile fatty acids (VFA), phenols and indoles by using gas chromatography. The nitrogen was determined by Kjeldahl method. Bacterial communities were detected by using a 454 FLX titanium pyrosequencing system. Results Level of VFA tended to be greater in 2012 than 2007 group. Among VFAs, 2012 group had greater (p

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) maintains energy homeostasis in skeletal muscle. Nonetheless, its functional role on protein synthesis with different nutrient availability has not been elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effect of AMPK activity on protein content in C2C12 myotubes incubated with low (5 mM; LG) or high (25 mM; HG) glucose media. LG stimulated (p

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary energy and protein levels on productivity and feed cost in crossbred chicks. Experiment was divided into starting (0~5 weeks), growing (6~10 weeks), and finishing (11~14 weeks) periods. Design of feeding trials was 3 × 3 factorial to feed different energy and protein levels for starting (ME 2,950, 3,000, and 3,050 kcal/kg CP 18, 19, and 20%), growing (ME 3,000, 3,050, and 3,100 kcal/kg CP 17, 18, and 19%) and finishing (ME 3,050, 3,100, and 3,150 kcal/kg CP 16, 17, and 18%) periods, respectively. In the starting period, weight gain and FCR was improved by dietary protein level (P

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding colored barley (CB) and whole crop barley (WCB) on performance, egg quality and blood composition of laying hens. A total of 280, 35 weeks old Brown Nick laying hens were allocated into the individual cage for the period of four weeks. Experimental diets contained 2,750 kcal/kg ME and 16% CP, respectively. The treatments consisted of 5, 10, 15% CB and WCB as feed ingredients with control and there were five replications in each treatment. Higher egg production was noticed at 10% level of CB and 5% level of WCB in the diets, respectively. Feed intake was higher in WCB and CB treatments compared to those of the control (P