Effects of illite supplementation on in vitro and in vivo rumen fermentation,microbial population and methane emission of Hanwoo steers fed high concentrate diets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding supplemental illite to Hanwoo steers on methane (CH₄) emission and rumen fermentation parameters. An in vitro ruminal fermentation technique was conducted using a commercial concentrate as substrate and illite was added at different concentrations as treatments: 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% illite. Total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were different (P < 0.05) at 24 h of incubation where the highest total VFA was observed at 1.0% of illite. Conversely, lowest CH₄ production (P < 0.01) was found at 1.0% of illite. In the in vivo experiment, two diets were provided, without illite and with addition of 1% illite. An automated head chamber (GreenFeed) system was used to measure enteric CH₄ production. Cattle received illite supplemented feed increased (P < 0.05) total VFA concentrations in the rumen compared with those fed control. Feeding illite numerically decreased CH₄ production (g/day) and yield (g/kg dry matter intake). Rumen microbial population analysis indicated that the population of total bacteria, protozoa and methanogens were lower (P < 0.05) for illite compared with the control. Accordingly, overall results suggested that feeding a diet supplemented with 1% illite can have positive effects on feed fermentation in the rumen and enteric CH₄ mitigation in beef cattle.     

High-affinity monoclonal antibodies for detection of the microbial metabolite, 2-methylisoborneol

The production of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) by certain fungi and algae can contribute musty off-flavors to foods and water supplies if uncontrolled. The goal of this research was to develop a nonsensory simple method for the detection of MIB. Anti-MIB monoclonal antibodies were produced by immunizing mice with borneol-conjugated protein and selecting positive clones with an MIB-protein conjugate. An indirect competitive immunoassay developed using this antibody had a detection limit of 0.6 microg L(-)(1) and an I(50) value of 5 microg L(-)(1). Detection was relatively specific for MIB and showed 20% cross-reactivity with borneol or isoborneol and 4-5% cross-reactivity with camphor. No cross-reactivity to geosmin was observed.     

The effect of fermented apple diet supplementation on the growth performance and meat quality in finishing pigs

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of fermented apple diet (FAD) supplementation on the growth performance and meat quality in finishing Berkshires. The FAD was made from dropped apple mixed with rice bran and barley bran. Until 81 ± 1 kg live weight at 133 ± 1 days, the animals were fed a growing diet, after which experimental samples were fixed at 0, 2, 4 and 6% FAD as C, T1, T2 and T3 in the finishing diets. Growth performance, ADG, ADFI and feed efficiency were improved in T1 than other groups. In carcass parameters, carcass weight was higher ( P  < 0.05) in T1 than in other groups. In meat quality, moisture and crude protein contents decreased ( P  < 0.05) by addition of FAD. pH₂₄ and WHC were higher ( P  < 0.05) in T1 than other groups. In sensory evaluation, marbling of fresh meat and tenderness, juiciness, flavor and overall acceptability of cooked meat were improved by the addition of FAD. According to the results of our experiment, FAD can be used for improvement of meat quality parameters.     

Determination of reference intervals for metabolic profile of Hanwoo cows at early,middle and late gestation periods

Background: Metabolic profile was initially designed as a presymptomatic diagnostic aid based on statistical analyses of blood metabolites to provide an early warning of certain types of metabolic disorder. However, there is little metabolic profile data available about Korean Hanwoo cows. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reference intervals of metabolic profile for Korean Hanwoo cows.Methods: Healthy animals(2,205) were selected and divided into early(day 1 to 95), middle(day 96 to 190) and late(day 191 to 285) period according to their gestating period. Metabolic profile including total protein(TP), albumin(Alb), urea(UREA), glucose(Glu), total cholesterol(T-Cho), long-chain fatty acid(LCFA), aspartate aminotransferase(AST),gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT), creatinine(Crea), calcium(Ca), inorganic phosphorous(i P) and magnesium(Mg)were analyzed using a TBA-40 FR automatic biochemical analyzer. The data of Korean Hanwoo cows were then compared to those of the Japanese Wagyu cows.Results: Most of the data of the Korean Hanwoo cows were relatively higher than those of Japanese Wagyu cows, with the exception of Glu and GGT. This may indicate that the nutritional level of feed for the Korean Hanwoo cows was higher than that of the Japanese Wagyu cows because of the different feeding system. In particular, relatively higher levels of UREA and LCFA were observed in the Korean Hanwoo cows, and this may also contribute to the low reproduction efficiency.Conclusions: These findings may provide some theoretical basis for understanding the reproductive and feeding situation of Korean Hanwoo cows.     

Effect of sowing time on buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) growth and yield in central Korea

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum MOENCH) is a traditional Korean crop that gaining global attention as a health food due to its rich nutrition. Climate change effects such as high temperature, cold weather, flooding, and drought induce plant stress, reduced production yield of upland crops. In general, buckwheat is grown during the fall season in Korea. Flooding is a severe environmental stress factor, and flooding during the early growth stage of buckwheat causes large reductions in yield. Therefore, we established optimum growth parameters to maximize buckwheat yield. The optimum temperature for harvesting of buckwheat was approximately 1,083 ~ 1,515°C. The number of growing degree days (G.D.D.) from flowering to harvest was 509 ~ 673°C. Plant hight, stem diameter, and dry matter weight were reduced as planting date was delayed (p < 0.05). We investigated buckwheat sowing time during fall, and established an optimum cropping system according to the local climate conditions in central Korea. The growth period of buckwheat cultivar ‘Yangjueol’ was approximately 56 ~ 60 days during fall, and yield was higher than that of cultivar ‘Daesan’. The results indicated that buckwheat yield in central Korea was maximized by sowing cultivar on 25th August and cultivar ‘Daesan’ on 15th August. The yield of Yangjeol sown in spring was 119 kg 10a^-1, whereas the yield of Daesan sown in summer was 158kg 10a^-1. The results of this study established the effects of sowing time on growth and yield in central Korea. We propose an optimum cropping system for improving quality.     

水稻孕穗期和开花期的旱害及其和体内水分分配的关系

本文比较了两个水稻品种在孕穗期和开花期的旱害,并联系株内的水分状况的改变来说明品种差异的原因。从本试验结果可看出体内水分的重新分配是植株对干旱的适应反应之一,器官生长发育速度的调节是抗旱的一个有效方式。     

Licochalcone A prevents adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis via suppression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and sterol regulatory element-binding protein pathways

Licochalcone A (LA) has been shown to exert multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antifungal, anticancer, and osteogenic activities. The present study investigated the ability of LA to suppress the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and its antiobesity activity was explored using high fat diet (HFD)-fed ICR mice. During the terminal differentiation process, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with LA, and the lipid contents were quantified along with any changes in the expression of biomarkers associated with adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis. The results show that LA significantly reduced lipid accumulation and down-regulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, and their target genes (fatty acid binding protein, fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase). In an animal study, body weight, triglyceride, cholesterol, and nonesterified fatty acid levels in the group given 10 mg/kg LA were significantly decreased by 14.0, 48.2, 58.9, and 73.5%, respectively. Transverse microcomputed tomography indicated that visceral fat depots in LA-treated mice were markedly reduced when compared with those of the HFD control group. In summary, these results suggest that LA exerts an antiobesity effect and that it is a candidate for future clinical trials.     

用AFLP技术进行水稻光合作用光保护有关基因候选分子标记的研究初探

本项目用扩增片段长度多型性(AFLP)技术,研究了水稻光合作用和光保护机制有关的8个性状F2代极端样本,在32对引物的研究中,全部引物可以在亲本中检出多型性,有28对引物可以在F2群体,8组极端样本之间找到差异条带标记,每个性状可以找到7～22个差异条带.在叶绿素ab含量、玉米黄素+花黄素总量、超氧化物歧化酶活性上,Lemont具有明显的增效片段优势.玉米黄素+花黄素+紫黄质数总量和活性蛋白总量可能是提高光合作用的最大限制因子.同时研究表明,对预选PCR 产物进行纯化处理,可大大提高AFLP分析技术的有效性.