In recent years, various methods of measuring body temperature have been developed using wireless biosensors to facilitate an early detection of pregnancy and parturition in cows. However, there are no studies on real-time monitoring of cattle body temperature throughout pregnancy. Therefore, we investigated the daily mean ruminal temperature in pregnant cows throughout pregnancy using a ruminal bio-capsule sensor and then evaluated the temperature variation between pregnant and non-pregnant cows. In pregnant cows, the mean and standard deviation of ruminal temperature was 38.86 ± 0.17℃. Ruminal temperature in pregnant cows slowly decreased until 180 to 190 days after artificial insemination and after that, the temperature increased dramatically until just before parturition. Furthermore, the means ruminal temperature was significantly different between pregnant and nonpregnant cows. The mean and standard deviation of ruminal temperature were as follows: 38.68 ± 0.01℃ from days 80 to 100, 38.78 ± 0.02℃ from days 145 to 165, 38.99 ± 0.45℃ from days 200 to 220, 39.14 ± 0.38℃ from days 250 to 270 before parturition. Therefore, our results could provide useful data for early detection of pregnancy and parturition in Korean cows.

Meat and carcass quality attributes are important factors influencing consumer preference and profitability in the pork industry. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are essential for livestock breeding and improvement. In the present study, the pig Perilipin 2 (PLIN2 ) gene was characterized with the aim of detecting genetic variation at these loci in relation to economic traits in Berkshire pigs. Four SNPs (G6714C, G6813A, G10340A, and G10632A) were detected in this studied. Statistical analysis indicated that G6714C was significantly associated with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) color score, G6813A, and G10340A significantly affected NPPC color score and NPPC marbling score, and G10632A significantly affected backfat thickness (BF) (p < 0.05). Therefore, the molecular markers used in the present study might provide a useful basis for identification and improvement of traits in the Berkshire pigs.

The objective of this study was to determine how feeding forage and concentrate separately (SF) or as a total mixed ration (TMR) affects enteric methane production of cattle. Six Holstein steers (203 ± 22.5 kg) were used in a 2 × 3 changeover design experiment. Experimental diets (TMR and SF) consisted of compound feed, timothy hay and soybean curd residue in a ratio of 40:48:12, respectively, and diets were fed at 10% of metabolic body weight, on an as-fed basis. There were no differences in dry matter intake and enteric methane production (g/d) between SF and TMR but the methane conversion rate (methane energy/GE intake) of TMR was significantly higher (p=0.05) than that of SF. The mean methane emission factor (kg/head/year) and conversion rate of the two treatments were 21.4 and 0.05, respectively. There was a strong relationship between metabolic body weight and enteric methane production (p<0.001). At the present time, further studies may be necessary in order to establish the effects of TMR and SF on enteric methane production.