This study evaluated the growth characteristics and forage productivity of quackgrass (Agropyron repens) and meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) as novel forage resources under abnormal climatic conditions in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea, during the 2024–2025 growing seasons. Both species, sown on 26 September 2024, exhibited good establishment, vigorous pre-winter growth, and strong cold tolerance. Following harvest, quackgrass and meadow foxtail showed superior regrowth compared with orchardgrass and tall fescue. Dry matter yields of quackgrass (QG2), a mixed sward of meadow foxtail (50%) and quackgrass (50%), tall fescue and quackgrass (QG1) were 21.4, 20.4, 19.2 and 19.0 t ha⁻¹, respectively, with no significant differences among treatments. In contrast, the dry matter yield of meadow foxtail alone (18.4 t ha⁻¹) was significantly lower than that of quackgrass (QG2) (p<0.001). Crude protein contents of quackgrass and meadow foxtail (12.3% and 13.4%, respectively) were higher than that of tall fescue (11.9%), whereas total digestible nutrient contents ranged from 61.4% to 61.7%, slightly lower than those of tall fescue. These results suggest that quackgrass and meadow foxtail are promising forage species for mixed pasture systems to enhance adaptability to abnormal climatic conditions.

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of feeding betaine or monosodium glutamate on the growth and carcass performance of Hanwoo steers according to the fattening stage under high-temperature stress. Farms in an area where THI was 78 or higher for more than 100 days were selected, and 30 head in the early fattening stage (14-15 months of age), 30 head in the mid-fattening stage (16-18 months of age), and 30 head in the late fattening stage (24-25 months of age) were tested, and 10 head were assigned to each treatment group. The experimental group was divided into control, T1 with 96% of the amino acid compound additive and 4% betaine, and T2 with the amino acid complex additive and 4% monosodium glutamate. 50 g per head were fed every morning for a total of 5 months from May 1, 2022 to September 30. In this study, there was no effect of betaine and monosodium glutamate on the growth and rectal temperature of Hanwoo steers at each fattening stage, but monosodium glutamate had a positive effect on the increase in rib eye area and decrease in back fat thickness in steers in the late fattening stage (P<0.05). Therefore, the results of this study indicate that monosodium glutamate did not have a direct effect on the growth of fattening Hanwoo steers, but it is thought to have a positive effect on the rib eye area and back fat thickness through protein metabolism and muscle development.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation of direct-fed microbials (DFMs) during the growing and finishing periods on growth performance and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steers. DFMs were administered only during the first 3 months after arrival and the final 3 months before slaughter, and the feeding trial lasted for 740 days. During the growing phase, the treatment group showed a significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) of 0.89 kg compared to 0.80 kg in the control group (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between groups during the fattening phase. In the finishing phase, ADG was significantly higher in the treatment group (0.59 kg vs. 0.53 kg; p<0.05), although concentrate intake increased by 6.17% without statistical significance. At the end of the entire feeding period, the treatment group had a higher final body weight (803.05 kg vs. 763.51 kg), and overall ADG was significantly greater (p<0.05). For carcass traits, cold carcass weight was significantly higher in the treatment group (p<0.05), while no significant differences were observed in backfat thickness, loin eye area, or marbling score. However, the proportion of carcasses graded 1++ was higher in the treatment group (50.0%) than in the control group (30.0%). In conclusion, supplementation of direct-fed microbials during the growing and finishing periods improved average daily gain and increased the proportion of carcasses with higher quality grades in Hanwoo steers.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary tryptophan supplementation on growth performance, skin lesions, and blood parameters in weaned piglets. A total of 144 piglets (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc; initial BW: 6.63±0.21 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments, with six replicates of eight pigs each for 28 days. The treatments included a control diet (CON), a diet supplemented with 0.10 % tryptophan (T1), and a diet with 0.20% tryptophan (T2). Growth performance was assessed by measuring average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (G:F). Skin lesions were scored on days 14 and 28, and blood samples were collected at the end of each phase for analysis of growth hormone, cortisol, and serotonin levels. Results indicated that tryptophan supplementation improved ADG and G:F compared with the control, particularly in the T2 group. Skin lesion scores were lower in the tryptophan supplemented groups, suggesting reduced aggression. Furthermore, blood serotonin levels tended to increase and cortisol levels showed a decreasing trend in tryptophan-supplemented groups, suggesting potential stress mitigation. These findings suggest that dietary tryptophan supplementation can enhance performance and welfare in weaned piglets under stress.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different feeding levels of domesticated barnyard millet and imported Bermuda hay on the growth performance and structural development of female and male growing goats. A 4×4 Latin square design was used, involving 8 goats with an average age of 3 months: 4 females and males with an initial body weight (BW) of 10.6 kg and 16.0 kg, respectively. Goats were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments: T1 (1.5% BW barnyard millet), T2 (1.5% BW Bermuda hay), T3 (2.0% BW barnyard millet), and T4 (2.0% BW Bermuda hay) over a 22-week period. Results indicated that the highest final body weight (FBW) was significantly observed at the highest feeding level (T4), with females reaching 14.9 kg and males 20.9 kg, while the highest average daily gain (ADG) values were recorded for females in T3 at 75.7 g/d and males in T4 at 81.0 g/d (p<0.05). Dry matter intake (DMI) was highest in the T4 group for both females (437.4 g/d) and males (635.9 g/d), with significant differences observed across treatments (p<0.05), whereas the feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed an improving trend, particularly with a value of 6.0 for females in T4. For structural development, the highest feeding levels led to significant increases in body length, body depth, chest width, and chest girth of both sex. Female and male in T4 achieved body lengths of 53.5 cm and 61.8 cm, and body depths of 45.2 cm and 54.8 cm, respectively. Chest width and girth reached 15.9 cm and 66.5 cm in males, and 13.5 cm and 56.5 cm in females. In conclusion, higher feeding levels, especially with Bermuda hay, may positively influence the growth performance and structural development of goats.

다결정성 ZIF-8 분리막의 C3H6/C3H8 kinetic 분리 성능 향상을 목적으로 상대적으로 부피가 큰 2, 4-dimethylimidazole (dmIm)이 ZIF-8 구조 내 2-methylimidazole들을 일부 대체한 혼합 리간드 ZIF-8 유사체 분리막을 이차성장법을 이용 하여 제조하였다. 25°C, 1 bar의 feed 압력에서 C3H6/C3H8 (50/50, V/V) 혼합가스를 대상으로 측정된 분리막의 선택도는 ~180이었으며, 이는 기 보고된 대부분의 다결정성 ZIF-8 분리막들의 선택도보다 높았다. 선택도 향상의 원인인 ZIF-8 구조 내 dmIm 도입으로 인한 기공 입구 크기의 축소를 77 K에서의 질소 등온흡착실험과 Maxwell-Stefan model을 이용하여 C3H6 와 C3H8 막투과도 데이터로부터 계산된 확산계수들을 통해 증명하였다.