We investigated the effect of glutathione supplementation on feed intake, body weight loss, behavior change and economic analysis of elk bull in breeding season. Sixteen elk bulls (5-year-old, average weight; 330 kg) after antler cutting were divided into 2 groups. Eight bulls in each group (control and glutathione group) were fed experimental diet at a level of 0.85 percent of body weight and 6 mg glutathione per kg body weight. As a result, weight-loss of control animal during experimental study (from September to November) was 42.6±19.2 kg while that of glutathione-supplemented group was 20.6 ±19.9 kg. Compared to control group, glutathione-fed group had prevented the body weight loss by 5.2% (p<0.05). Although the feed intake of elk voluntarily decreases during breeding season, daily DM intake per head was 5.59 and 5.80kg in control and glutathione-fed group, respectively. While the statistical difference in feed intake between two groups was not observed, feed intake tended to increase in glutathione-fed group. In economic analysis, additional cost of 99,000 KRW per head was spent due to the cost of glutathione because of its import. Changes in behavior such as crying, deer whistles, whistling intensity and frequency of accident were lower in glutathione-fed group compared to control. During breeding season, use of glutathione as feed supplement could suppress body weight loss and accidents in deer farm.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been shown to have a positive effect on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and has been reported to stimulate meiosis at follicular level in variety of species. The study was designed to determine the expression patterns of TGF-β1, TGF-β receptors type Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Smads gene in bovine oocytes and embryos. TGF-β1 and their receptors were observed in the unfertilized oocytes. TGF-β1 and type Ⅱ receptor were not expressed at the blastocyst stage, however, only type I receptor was exclusively observed at the same stage. The blastocyst stage, in particular, showed high levels of mRNA expression patterns containing a TGF-β type Ⅰ receptor. The mRNA expression pattern of Smad 2 at all stages of embryonic development was similar in all respect with TGF-β1 type I receptor. On the contrary, Smad 3 and 4 were expressed with high and low level mRNA at the blastocyst stage. In conclusion, it is suggested that TGF-β signaling may be regarded as an important entity during the preimplantation embryo development.