Abstracted/indexed

This research aimed to determine the effects of body weight, the body condition score (BCS), body measurements, birth type, birth weight and sex on the gestational length in sheep. The lowest and highest gestational lengths were found to be 148.90 and 151.41 d respectively. It is thought that the use of the BCS, which is easily applied by the breeder, will have a positive effect on determining the bodily reserves of sheep and the reproductive efficiency as well as on obtaining healthy lambs.

The objective was to find whether cow growth, milk performance, and behaviour are affected by rearing conditions until weaning after a milk-fed period of 84 d. Holstein heifers were assigned to one of three treatments: SM, pen with mother to 21st day, then group pen; SN, with own mother, then in pen with nursing cow; H, in hutch from 2nd to 56th day. The SN group tended to have the highest production of milk for 305 d and crossed the maze the fastest.

The mechanism of lipid metabolism is complex, and the manipulation of fat storage for lean meat production is very important in the sheep-breeding industry. The present study aimed to study the genetic profiles of fat tissues and to discover the diversity in the genetic mechanisms defining fat deposition between two morphologically different sheep breeds. Analysis of the diversity of fat deposition may aid the recognition of genes and pathways responsible for the formation of tail fat.

In this study, we examine the correlation between the expression of GPAM and adipogenesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs). Additionally, three novel polymorphisms are identified within the bovine key functional domain of GPAM. GPAM plays a pivotal role in the regulation of phospholipid levels and cellular triacylglycerol, and its mutations could serve as a competent molecular marker that could be utilized for marker-assisted selection.

Intramuscular fat deposition in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Hanwoo is regulated by several genes related to lipid metabolism. One of these genes encodes the enzyme bovine glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, mitochondrial (GPAM). This gene regulates triacylglycerol by gene expression. Thus, our research group has identified SNPs related to the regulation of glycerolipid synthesis in the 3′-UTR of GPAM and verified the function of SNPs affecting intramuscular fat deposition in Hanwoo.

Intramuscular fat is a type of fatty tissue deposited between skeletal muscle fibers and muscle bundles, which is regulated by the number and size of preadipocytes in the muscle, and it is a key factor affecting meat tenderness and juiciness. As a member of miRNAs, a variety of studies suggested that miR-25-3p may play an important role in regulating lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation. This study attempts to investigate the role of miR-25-3p in goat intramuscular preadipocytes.

The objective was to assess the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of nine sheep populations. Overall, these sheep populations in the study exhibited a rich genetic diversity. The nine sheep populations can be divided into two groups. SUF and DST were clustered in one group, and GMM–BAS–BAM, HUS–STH and DOS–DOP were divided into three clusters. This clustering result is consistent with sheep breeding history. TreeMix analysis also hinted at the possible gene flow from GMM to SUF.

Research was conducted to evaluate the effects of plastic slatted floors and a deep-litter system using wood shavings on the growth performance of recent commercial hybrid Pekin ducks with actual field conditions. With the use of plastic slatted floors, the feed conversion rate dropped and the water / feed consumption ratio showed an increase (p < 0.05). This is a remarkable scientific result that is economically favourable for the industry and growers promoting new aspects.