Some behaviors of pigs that are not expressed in the wild state or are observed in a small minority of individuals after groups of pigs are mixed have been reported to indicate poor welfare. A GWAS analysis was performed by measuring the frequency and duration of the four ethological traits and using the mlma command provided by the genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA). The positional candidate genes on significantly identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were identified by using the dbSNP provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). When the GWAS analysis was applied the 43,565 (of the purebred Landrace population) and 41,700 (of the purebred Yorkshire population) SNP markers, 1, 2, and 1 significant SNP markers were identified for the traits of feeding frequency (LOC110262254), locomotion time (LOC110260361), and locomotion frequency (LOC110260361) of the purebred Landrace population, respectively. Meanwhile, 1 and 7 significant SNP markers were identified for the traits of drinking time (LOC 110260090) and feeding frequency (MAP3K19; LOC110257013; ACMSD; TMEM163; RAB3GAP1) of the purebred Yorkshire population, respectively. The results of this study may suggest that the GWAS analysis of the ethological traits of purebred Landrace and Yorkshire populations could be used to perform a GWAS analysis on non-economic traits, and the results can thus be provided as basic data for GWAS analyses of other non-economic traits in the future.

This study was conducted to elucidate the genetic relationships among native Korean cattle breeds by analyzing genetic variations and distances. Relationships among Hanwoo, Korean brindle, Korean black, Jeju black, and Holstein cattle were evaluated using 15 microsatellite markers. Korean brindle and Korean black cattle had the closest relationship based on the lowest genetic distance being observed between these breeds. A Neighbor-Net tree created using the Reynolds distances indicated that Korean brindle and black cattle formed a group separate from the Hanwoo population. However, an Fst pairwise test revealed that Hanwoo, Korean brindle, and Korean black cattle differed significantly (P <0.01). Moreover, the results of this study confirmed that Jeju black cattle became a separate established breed in Korea through a path different from that of cattle from inland regions, even though it is considered to be a Korean native breed. Overall, the results of our study indicate that Korean brindle and black cattle are indeed native Korean breeds that maintain an endangered status.

This experiment was carried out to examine ecological response and soybean quality as affected by environmental cultivation for producing high seed quality in domestic soybean variety. The results are as follows: Under equal cumulative temperature condition, soybean plants grown in Muju showed longer days to flowering, which was an effect of the long day-length on high latitudes, and longer duration of reproductive stage as a result of low temperature within that period. Considering apparent seed quality, 100 seed weight of soybeans grown in Muju was heavier than Miryang. Ratio of seed crack and disease-damaged seeds was lower in Muju, and these parameters decreases as planting was delayed. The protein contents did not show significant difference in terms of altitude and planting date, however, crude oil contents were higher in Miryang. An opposite trend was observed in C18:1 and C18:3. In the fatty acid composition, the proportion of C18:1 decreased as seeding date was delayed, and was higher in Miryang. Opposite observations were obtained from C18:3. The anthocyanin contents were highest on June 10 planting and higher in Muju than in Miryang. Isoflavone content was higher as seeding date was delayed and is similar accross seeding dates in Muju. As a summary, for high seed quality production the optimum planting date was June 10, and Muju was more suitable region than Miryang.

This study was carried out to classify Korean soybean varieties base on maturity group (MG) and to find character relationships according to planting date for high quality soybean seed production adapted to early season cultivation environment of Miryang. Results of maturity grouping of Korean soybean varieties showed that Keunol (3 cultivars), belonged to Group 0; Seonnok and Danmi in Group II, Shinrok in Group III, Seonyu (17 cultivars), in Group IV, Taekwang (44 cultivars) in Group V, Daewon (25 cultivars) in Group VI, and Kwangdu and Keumdu in Group VII. Agronomic characteristics of 100 soybean varieties were compared based on MG, cultivation year and seeding date. Soybean varieties belonging to the MG VI~VII showed longer days to flowering and growth period, high lodging density and higher yield. Seed quality analysis revealed that as maturity was delayed, seed weight becomes heavier while seed cracks become abundant. In addition, occurrence of purple seed and phomopsis were higher in MG 0~III . Protein content was higher in MG 0~III , and isoflavone content was higher as maturity was delayed. On the other hand, lipid content was generally similar across MGs. Correlation analysis of major agronomic characters showed positive relationships between days to flowering and growth days, seed weight and lodging in MG IV~V , seed crack and growth days in MG 0~III , seed crack and days to flowering in MG IV~V and MG VI~VII , seed crack and lodging in MG IV~V and MG VI~VII , seed crack and seed weight in MG IV~V and MG VI~VII , purple seed and growth days in MG IV~V , purple seed and seed weight in MG VI~VII , phomopsis and growth days in MG IV~V and MG VI~VII , and phomopsis and purple seed in MG IV~V and MG VI~VII . In contrast, a negative relationship was observed between seed weight and lodging in MG 0~III . Correlating yield and major characters revealed negative relationships between days to flowering and growth days in MG 0~III and MG IV~V , whereas positive relationships were obtained on MG VI~VII seeded on April 30. Lodging, seed weight and seed crack were all negatively correlated with yield in the MG IV~V and MG VI~VII . Soybean cultivars identified as adaptable to early season planting for production of high quality soy curd and fermented soybean paste were Seonyu, Kwangdu, and Soho while those suited for the manufacture of soybean sprouts were Sobaeknanul, Kwangan, Sowon, and Bosuk. Geomjeong 2 chosen as best for mixing with rice.