This study was carried out to find out the changes on serum concentrations of estradiol-17β, progesterone in primiparous Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire sows weaned at 7 or 21 days. Also, we compared the litter size at birth and weaning among the breeds weaned after lactation for 7 or 21 days. The estradiol-17β concentrations among the breeds were 6.9∼8.8 pg/ml and 6.4∼8.8 pg/ml after lactation for 7 or 21 days, respectively. The progesterone concentrations ranged from 0.3 ng/ml to 1.6 ng/ml. Duroc sow showed higher progesterone concentration compared with Landrace and Yorkshire sows weaned after lactation for 7 or 21 days. Also, we found out that litter size at birth and weaning, respectively, did not show any differences between day 7 and day 21 of lactation. From the facts mentioned above, it was suggested that very early weaning systems could work with no apparent adverse effect on prolificacy.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of soil covering materials such as rice bran, rice hull and saw dust on garlic growth through a field experiment in wintertime. Rice bran was the smallest in term of particle size, but it recorded the highest level of bulk density. The missing plant rate after winter season was relatively high, 59.3%, and that of soil covering materials stood at the low level of 10%. Other growth factors recorded the highest level during application of rice bran. In terms of chemical properties of soil-covering materials, rice bran recorded the highest level of 1.84, 2.34 and 0.16% in the content of N, P, and K, respectively. The subsoil temperature was higher by application of rice bran as compared to that of other materials which stood at the lowest temperature (-90 C).