Mongolian herders rely significantly on grazing their animals, such as goats, sheep, cattle, horses, yaks, and camels, in broad rangelands throughout the year. The availability of appropriate forage, the amount of hay and forage to be kept, and whether the animals will acquire physical strength from the pasture to make it through the impending cold season are all determined by the meteorological conditions of the year. Herders' principal source of income is animals, therefore preventing mortality is a top priority. In Mongolia, meadows are a major element determining cattle live weight. However, in the summer of 2022, Mongolia faced a drought, which resulted in inadequate pastures and starved cattle. Livestock might lose weight in these situations due to a lack of supplemental feeding.

Understanding changes in fermentation characteristics and microbial populations of forage silage during ensiling is of interest for improving the nutrient value of the feed for ruminants. This study was conducted to investigate the changes in fermentation characteristics and bacterial communities of whole crop rice (WCR) silage during the ensiling period. The chemical compositions, pH, organic acids and bacterial communities were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after ensiling. The bacterial communities were classified at both the genus and species levels. The dry matter content of WCR silage decreased with the length of storage (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in crude protein and NDF contents. Following fermentation, the pH level of WCR silage was lower than the initial level. The lactic acid content remained at high levels for 3 to 6 months after ensiling, followed by a sharp decline at 12 months (p<0.05). Before fermentation, the WCR was dominated by Weissella (30.8%) and Pantoea (20.2%). Growth of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (31.4%) was observed at 3 months after ensiling. At 6 months, there was a decrease in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (10.2%) and an increase in Levilactobacillus brevis (12.8%), resulting in increased bacteria diversity until that period. The WCR silage was dominated by Lentilactobacillus buchneri (71.2%) and Lacticaseibacillus casei (27.0%) with a sharp reduction in diversity at 12 months. Overall, the WCR silage maintained satisfactory fermentation quality over a 12-month ensiling period. Furthermore, the fermentation characteristics of silage were found to be correlated to bacterial microbiome.

Iron (Fe) is a vital element for plants and other organisms, involving in several physiological processes including respiration, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and photosynthesis. Unfortunately, how Fe accumulation regulates in response to light quality has not been well established in plants. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore the mechanism of Fe homeostasis by light quality. In this study, we found morpho-physiological attributes were significantly improved in response to blue (λmax: 450) compared to white (λ max: 500) and red (λmax: 660) light. The root-shoot length, plant biomass, photosynthesis efficiency (Fv/Fm) and leafgreen (SPAD) significantly declined in response to white and red light. However, these parameters were improved and iron deficiency was substantially alleviated by blue light exposure in alfalfa seedlings. This study might be useful to the forage breeders and farmers for improving alfalfa yield and nutritional benefits.

Silicon (Si) has the potential to improve plant growth and stress tolerance. The study aimed to explore Si-involving plant responses and molecular characterization of different Si-responsive genes in alfalfa. In this study, the exogenous supplementation of Si enhanced plant growth, and biomass yield. Si-acquisition in alfalfa root and shoot was higher in Si-supplemented compared to silicon deficient (-Si) plants, implying Si-acquisition has beneficial on alfalfa plants. As a consequence, the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) was significantly increased in silicon-sufficient (+Si) plants. The quantitative gene expression analysis exhibited a significant upregulation of the Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi3, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 genes in alfalfa roots, while BOR1, BOR4, NIP2, and NIP3 showed no significant variation in their expression. The MEME results further noticed the association of four motifs related to the major intrinsic protein (MIP). The interaction analysis revealed that NIP5;1 and Lsi1 showed a shared gene network with NIP2, BOR1, and BOR4, and Lsi2, Lsi3 and NIP3-1, respectively. These results suggest that members of the major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) family especially Lsi1, Lsi2, Lsi3, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1 genes helped to pass water and other neutral solutes through the cell membrane and those played significant roles in Si uptake and transport in plants. Together, these insights might be useful for alfalfa breeding and genome editing approaches for alfalfa improvement.

The experiment aim to breed an early-maturing variety of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). It was conducted at the Grassland and Forage Crops Division, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheonan, Korea, from 2022 to 2023. The new variety named “Oasis” is a diploid with green leaves and has a semi-erect growth habit in late fall, and an erect growth habit in early spring. With a heading date of May 10, Oasis is categorized as an early-maturing variety. Compared with the “Florida80” as a control variety, Oasis’s flag leaf was 1 mm wider and 2 cm shorter, while the plant length was 7.8 cm longer. Additionally, the ear of Oasis was 1.2 cm longer than that of Florida80, and it showed lodging resistance. The dry matter yield of Oasis (8,805 kg/ha) was higher than that of Florida80. The total digestible nutrient and crude protein contents of Oasis were 64.5%, and 9.3%, respectively, which were 1.1% and 0.6% higher than those of Florida80, respectively. The neutral and acid detergent fiber contents in Oasis were 54.2% and 30.8%, respectively, which was 1.9% and 1.4% lower than those of Florida80, respectively. These results indicate that Oasis has good dry matter yield in the most of region and especially, middle and northern region of South Korea.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of storage type and period on the quality of rye hay. The rye “Gogu” was sown on October 15, 2020, and harvested on April 22, 2021 (heading stage). The rye hay was prepared in two wrapping conditions (wrapping and unwrapping) and two storage period (3 and 6 months). In regards to their visual appearance, the forage quality score was higher in wrapped rye hay than in unwrapped rye hay. In all groups, there was no difference in appearance between inside and outside. The moisture content of wrapped rye hay was maintained at the initial level until 6 months. However, the moisture content of unwrapped rye hay was increased at 3 months of storage, and then decreased at 6 months of storage. Crude protein content was higher in wrapped rye hay than in unwrapped rye hay, whereas NDF and ADF contents were lower within wrapped rye hay than within unwrapped rye hay (p<0.05). In conclusion, wrapping rye is effective method for long-term storage that reduces the effect of external environment.

Drought stress is a condition that occurs frequently in the field, it reduces of the agricultural yield of field crops. The aim of the study was to screen drought-adapted genotype of Italian rye grass. The experiments were conducted between the two Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) cultivars viz. Hwasan (H) and Kowinearly (KE). The plants were exposed to drought for 14 days. The results suggest that the morphological traits and biomass yield of KE significantly affected by drought stress-induced oxidative stress as the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level was induced, while these parameters were unchanged or less affected in H. Furthermore, the cultivar H showed better adaptation by maintaining several physiological parameter including photosystem-II (Fv/Fm), water use efficiency (WUE) and relative water content (RWC%) level in response to drought stress. These results indicate that the cultivar H shows improved drought tolerance by generic variation, improving photosynthetic efficiency and reducing oxidative stress damages under drought stress. These findings can be useful to the breeder and farmer for improving drought tolerance in Italian rye grass through breeding programs.

Fescues, which are widely cultivated as grasses and forages around the world, are often naturally infected with the endophyte, Epichloë. This fungus, transmitted through seeds, imparts resistance to drying and herbivorous insects in its host without causing any external damage, thereby contributing to the adaptation of the host to the environment and maintaining a symbiosis. However, some endophytes, such as E. coenophialum synthesize ergovaline or lolitrem B, which accumulate in the plant and impart anti-mammalian properties. For example, when livestock consume excessive amounts of grass containing toxic endophytes, problems associated with neuromuscular abnormalities, such as convulsions, paralysis, high fever, decreased milk production, reproductive disorders, and even death, can occur. Therefore, pre-inoculation with non-toxic endogenous fungi or management with endophyte-free grass is important in preventing damage to livestock and producing high-quality forage. To date, the diagnosis of endophytes has been mainly performed by observation under a microscope following staining, or by performing an immune blot assay using a monoclonal antibody. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular diagnostic method is gaining importance in the fields of agriculture, livestock, and healthcare given the method’s advantages. These include faster results, with greater accuracy and sensitivity than those obtained using conventional diagnostic methods. For the diagnosis of endophytes, the nested PCR method is the only available option developed; however, it is limited by the fact that the level of toxic alkaloid synthesis cannot be estimated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to develop a triplex real-time PCR diagnostic method that can determine the presence or absence of endophyte infection using DNA extracted from seeds within 1 h, while simultaneously detecting easD and LtmC genes, which are related to toxic alkaloid synthesis. This new method was then also applied to real field samples.

This study was conducted to investigate the forage characteristics of very early-maturing Italian ryegrass (IRG) three cultivars within September, 2021 to July, 2022 in Cheonan, Korea. We used three different cultivars of Italian ryegrass in this study “Greenfarm” “Greenfarm2ho” and “Greenfarm3ho” The results of heading date in this study, “Greenfarm” was recorded 3 days earlier than the other two cultivars, and its lodge tolerance score was the highest among the three. However, in case of plant length, there was no significantly difference in whole cultivars, in addition disease resistance, insect resistance and cold tolerance were not significantly different in three cultivars. The forage productivity of “Greenfarm2ho” was recorded the highest, especially the 1st harvesting of “Greenfarm2ho” yielded significantly the highest and superior to other varieties. As a result of feed value analysis, three cultivars were generally superior to overseas varieties and in particular, “Greenfarm2ho” was recorded to have excellent value because of the lowest NDF and ADF content. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in crude protein content among three varieties. In case of the monosaccharides content "Greenfarm3ho” had significantly higher glucose content than other two varieties, therefore the “Greenfarm” has advantage for preparing high quality of silage. In contrast, there was no significant difference among three varieties in fructose content.

Barnyard millet is a short-lived tropical, short-term C4 plant and has superior vitality in humid conditions owing to its freshwater habitat. It shows strong adaptability to soils with poor drainage and low fertility, and efficiently competes with rice in paddy fields. Barnyard millet grain is used as feed in the Indian region and is a great source of dietary fiber, proteins, fats, vitamins, and some essential amino acids. Considering its high nutritional value and its potential as a food resource and fodder crop, various countries are showing interest in cultivating barnyard millet. However, in Korea, farm households have not yet recognized the benefits of cultivating barnyard millet, and research regarding this is scarce. In this review, the features of forage barnyard millet and its related research trends are discussed, with the aim of improving interest in this crop and promoting its cultivation.

Pollution of agricultural soil by alkaline salts, such as Na2CO3, is a critical and long-lasting problem in cultivable land. The aim of the study was to examine the putative role of citric acid (CA) in alleviating Na2CO3-stress in alfalfa. In this study, Na2CO3 significantly induced leaf chlorosis, inhibited plant growth and photosynthesis related parameters, increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and reduced major antioxidant enzymes (SOD ,CAD, APX) in alfalfa. However, the presence of CA these negative effects of Na2CO3-stress largely recovered. Interestingly, expression of antioxidant and ion transporter genes (Fe-SOD, CAT, APX, DHAR and NHX1) involved in Reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and oxidative stress tolerance in alfalfa. These findings suggest that CA-mediated Na2CO3 stress alleviation is an ecofriendly approach that would be useful to local farmer for alfalfa and other forage crop cultivation in alkaline soils.

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal digestible energy levels on pregnancy mares. Physical changes and fecal microorganism in pregnant horse and changes in birth characteristics of neonatal foals were investigated. The experiment was conducted by 18 mares (Jeju corssed bred, older than 36 months) into three treatment groups. The experimental diet consisted of 80%, 100%, 120% digestible energy levels based on NRC. The average daily intake was lower in the 120% (8.75±1.01) than the 100% (9.34±0.92), 80% (9.14±0.88) and there was significant difference (p<0.05). The feed efficiency was lower in the 120% than 80%, 100% (p<0.05). Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride was higher in 120% than others (p<0.05). However there were no health problem and there was no difference between the treatment groups in the birth characteristics of neonatal foals. At the phylum level, Fibrobactres was difference by digestible energy levels, 80% (8.53%) was higher than 100%, 120%. At the genus level, Bacteroides and Kineothrix increased in fecal proportions with increasing digestible energy levels (p<0.05). Fibrobacter showed higher composition at 80% than 100% and 120% (p<0.05).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate winter annual forage crops for yield, and horse palatability under horse grazing during the fall and spring in Jeju. The winter annual forage crops such as Italian ryegrass(IRG), rye, and oat were planted in randomized block design in October 30. The horse grazing was initiated on March 17 of the following year. At the first cutting, the dry matter yield of rye was the highest with 4,600 kg/ha compared to the IRG and oat (p<0.05). But there were no significantly different in the yield of winter annual forage crops after the second and third harvests. The total dry matter yield showed rye 12,593 kg/ha, IRG 10,941 kg/ha, and oat 9,424 kg/ha respectively. The horse intake duration of the IRG was significantly higher than the oat and rye (p<0.05). In the first grazing and the second grazing, the intake duration of the IRG was 853.2 seconds and 989.4 seconds, respectively, with oat at 147.6 seconds, and 73.0 seconds, and rye at 89.4 seconds, and 33.18 seconds. The intake duration of IRG was longer than that of oat and rye (p<0.05). The intake rate of the IRG was 60.0% in the first and 82.8% in the second, and the average intake rate was 71.4%. When considering the maintenance of pastures and the palatability of horses, the IRG is the most suitable forage crop in winter annual forage crops in Jeju.

‘Luckyone 2ho’ is a new orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivar developed by the National Institue of Animal Science (NIAS) in 2017. To develope the new variety of orchardgrass, 5 superior clones were selected and polycrossed for seed production. The agronomic growth characteristics and forage productivity of ‘Luckyone 2ho’ were examined at Cheonan from 2012 to 2014, and regional trials were conducted in Cheonan, Pheonchang, Jinju and Jeju from 2015 to 2017, respectively. ‘Luckyone 2ho’ showed medium type growth habit in fall, and medium in length of flag leaf and very long upper internode. Plant height of ‘Luckyone 2ho’ was 3 cm less than that of standard cultivar, ‘Potomac’ and heading date was 1 days later than 5th May compared to standard cultivar, ‘Potomac’. Characteristics such as waterlogging and disease resistance of ‘Luckyone 2ho’ were stronger or better than those of standard cultivar, ‘Potomac’, Especially, dry matter yield of ‘Luckyone 2ho’(15,980 kg/ha) increased 9 % compared to that of standard cultivar, ‘Potomac’(14,702 kg/ha). Nutritive values were appeared to be similar in both varieties except in Vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDMD) and crude protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN).

This experiment was conducted to breed a very early maturing variety of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Grassland and Forage Crops Division, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheonan 2015-2017. The new variety of Italian ryegrass, ‘Green call 2ho’ is a diploid variety with green in leaf color and has semi-erect growth habit in late autumn and erect growth habit in early spring, ‘Green call 2ho’ was in heading date as a early-maturing variety April 24. Also ‘Green call 2ho’ was narrower by 2 mm in flag leaf width, longer by 2.5 cm in flag leaf length and shorter by 3 cm in plant height than those of the control variety, ‘Florida 80’, respectively. ‘Green call 2ho’ was also thicker by 0.33 mm in stem thickness and strong in winter hardness. Dry matter (DM) yield (11,688 kg/ha) of ‘Green call 2ho’ was 7% higher than that of ‘Florida 80’. Total digestible nutrient (TDN), crude protein (CP) and relative feed value (RFV) of ‘Green call 2ho’ were 61.3 %, 9.8 % and 98.2, respectively which are 2.6, 0.6, and 8.4 % higher, respectively than those of ‘Florida 80’, respectively. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of ‘Green call 2ho’ were 34.9 and 58.5 % which are 3.3 and 2.7 % lower than those of ‘Florida 80’, respectively.

본 연구는 제주지역에서 초식동물의 방목을 위해 주로 이용되고 있는 한지형 목초의 경우에 여름철 하고기에 생산성이 저하되고 있어 여름철에 생산성을 높일 수 있는 난지형 목초를 도입하여 이용하기 위한 목적으로 수행되었다. 시험에 사용된 난지형목초는 Bermudagrass 품종(Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. : Giant, Cheyenne, Mohawk, Panchero Frio, Common, Tifton 85)과 Bahiagrass 품종(Paspalum notatum : TifQuik, Tifton 9)을 이용하였으며, 해발 450m고지에서 월동 후에 수확시기별 생산성 및 영양소 함량의 변화를 조사하였다. 시험구는 품종별로 8처리 3반복 난괴법으로 배치하여 수행하였다. 파종방법은 산파와 조파형태로 파종되었으며, Tifton 85 품종은 줄기 파종되었다. 시험결과를 보면 월동 후에 Bermudagrass와 Bahiagrass 품종 모두에서 동해에 의한 피해로 봄철에 재생이 대체로 늦었으며, 이중 줄기 파종되었던 Bermudagrass의 Tifton 85와 TifQuik, Tifton 9 품종이 다른 품종에 비해 동해에 비교적 강한 것으로 평가되었다. 생초와 건물수량은 품종에 따라 유의성 있는 차이를 보여 주었는데(p<0.05). Tifton 85, TifQuik 및 Tifton 9 품종의 생초 수량이 다른 품종에 비하여 우수하였으며, 건물수량은 Tifton 85와 Tifton 9 품종이 다른 품종에 비하여 우수하였다. 건물 함량에 있어서도 품종에 따라서 유의있는 차이를 보여주었고(p<0.05), Giant 품종이 다른 품종에 비하여 높은 결과를 나타내었다. 수확시기별 건물 함량은 Bermudagrass의 모든 품종에서 수확시기에 따른 차이를 보였다(p<0.05). 조단백질 함량도 품종에 따라 유의있는 차이를 나타내었고(p<0.05), Cheyenne, Mohawk, Panchero Frio와 Common 품종이 다른 품종에 비하여 높은 결과를 보여주었으며, Giant 품종에서는 파종방법과 수확시기에 따른 차이를 나타내었다(p<0.05). 조섬유 함량도 품종에 따라 차이를 나타내었으며(p<0.05), Tifton9 품종이 다른 품종에 비하여 유의있게 높은 함량을 보여주었고, 수확시기별 조섬유 함량은 Mohawk과 Tifton 85 품종에서 유의있는 결과를 나타내었다(p<0.05). 그리고 조회분 함량에 있어서도 품종에 따른 유의있는 차이를 보였으며(p<0.05), Cheyenne이 다른 품종에 비하여 유의있게 높은 함량을 보였다. 수확시기별 조회분 함량은 Cheyenne, Panchero Frio와 Tifton 85 품종에서 유의있는 결과를 나타내었고(p<0.05), 파종방법에 따른 차이는 Giant 품종에서 유의있는 결과를 보였다(p<0.05). 이러한 결과에 따르면 난지형 목초류는 품종에 따라 동해에 따른 재생능력, 생산성, 영양소 함량이 차이가 크게 나타나고 있어 이용목적에 따라 선택할 필요가 있으며, 이용을 확대하기 위하여서는 다양한 해발고도에서의 평가가 필요한 것으로 사료되었다.

본 시험은 추위에 강하고 생산성이 우수한 이탈리안 라이그라스 품종을 육성하기 위하여 2009년부터 2017년까지 국립축산과학원 초지사료과에서 수행되었다. 이탈리안 라이그라스 신품종 그린콜은 2배체 작물로 엽색은 녹색이며, 월동전 초형은 반직립형, 봄의 초형은 직립형이다. 그린콜은 4월 25일경에 출수하는 극조생종 품종이고 지엽폭이 8 mm, 지엽길이는 24.9 cm 이며, 출수기의 초장은 96 cm로 플로리다 80호 보다 5 cm 정도 짧다. 줄기 두께는 플로리다80호 보다 0.14 mm 굵고 이삭 길이는 플로리다 80호와 대등하다. 그린콜의 건물수량은 11,592 kg/ha로서 대조품종인 플로리다 80호에 비하여 약간 높았다. 상대적 사료가치는 그린콜이 96.7인데 비해 수입종인 플로리다 80호는 89.8로 다소 높고 가소화양분총량 (TDN)이 60.8 %로서 플로리다 80호에 비해 2.1% 높았고, 산성세제불용섬유 (ADF)와 중성세제불용섬유 (NDF)는 각각 35.5 및 58.9 %로서 대조 품종 보다 약간 낮았다.

An intensive analysis was conducted of the maternal lineages of the Jeju native pigs (JNPs). A total of 100 mtDNA sequences from Asian wild boars (AWB), European wild boars (EWB), Asian domestic pigs (ADP), European domestic pigs (EDP), and JNPs were used for the phylogeny and network analyses. Two distinct JNP groups were found JNPA and JNPE in the Asian and European cluster. The maternal lineage of JNPE was the closest to that of EWB and a clear haplogroup sharing an identical haplotype (hap16) among 15 individuals of JNPE and 2 individuals of EWB was identified. However, except for hap18, no EDP shared any identical haplotypes with JNPE, suggesting that no obvious maternal contribution of EDP has occurred in JNPE in recent years. The possible existence of an additional and unknown path of maternal lineage from EDP into JNPE could therefore be postulated, in addition to those from AWB and ADP into the JNPA groups. Thus, JNPE appeared to have a pure maternal lineage that had no recent contact with EDP, and both the JNPA groups and JNPE are pure Jeju native pigs.

Alterations affecting the status of robustness and health can bring about physiological changes including hematological parameters in pigs. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with 8 hematological phenotypes (one leukocyte trait, six erythrocyte traits, and one platelet trait), we performed a genome-wide association study using the Porcine SNP 60K BeadChip in an intercross population between Landrace and Korean native pigs. A total of 36,740 SNPs from 816 F2 offspring were analysed for each blood related traits after filtering by quality control. Data were analysed genome-wide rapid association using the mixed model and regression (GRAMMAR) approach. A total of 257 significant SNPs (P<1.36x10-6) on SSC3, 6, 8, 13, and 17 were detected for blood related traits in this study. Interestingly, the genomic region between 17.9 and 130 Mb on SSC8 was found to be significantly associated with RBC, MCV, and MCH. Our results include 5 significant SNPs within five candidate genes (KIT, IL15, TXK, ARAP2, and ERG) for hematopoiesis. Further validation of these identified SNPs could give valuable information for understanding the variation of hematological traits in swine.