Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Clostridium perfringens are key pathogens responsible for neonatal and post-weaning diarrhea, causing notable morbidity, mortality, and economic loss worldwide. However, nationwide data on bacterial pathogens causing piglet diarrhea in Korea remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of E. coli fimbrial and toxin genes, C. perfringens, and Clostridioides difficile in diarrheic piglets in Korea (2023-2024). Overall, 1,339 fecal samples were collected from diarrheic piglets across Korean pig farms. Species-specific virulence genes were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction assay targeting major fimbrial and toxin factors of E. coli, C. perfringens (CPA), and C. difficile (TcdA/TcdB). Prevalence was compared across years and seasons. Among E. coli fimbrial factors, F18 (17.0%), F4 (7.4%), and F17 (4.7%) were common, whereas F5, F6, and F41 were rare (<3%). STb (30.1%) and STa (21.1%) were common, and Stx2e prevalence increased from 6.8% to 13.4% (p < 0.001). LT was detected in 9.0% of cases; C. perfringens in 22.3% of cases, increasing from 17.9% to 27.4% (p < 0.001); and C. difficile in 7.7% of cases. Several pathogens showed quarterly variations, with F4 and STa peaking in Q1 (January-March), STb in Q3 (July-September), and C. perfringens showing higher detection rates in Q1 and Q4 (October-December). ETEC-associated fimbrial and toxin genes, particularly F18/F4 and STa/STb, remained the most frequently detected among diarrheic piglets in Korea, with Stx2e and C. perfringens also playing important roles. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of piglet diarrhea and the need for continuous nationwide surveillance and integrated prevention strategies.

Lentic ecosystems, including lakes, reservoirs, and marshes, are vital ecological assets increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures, necessitating robust tools for assessing their biological integrity. This study aimed to develop and apply an aquatic plant-based Multi-metric Index (MMI) to evaluate the biological integrity of 90 lentic systems (primarily lakes and reservoirs) across the Republic of Korea, using a standardized dataset from a three-year national monitoring program (2022~2024). We selected eight metrics based on their ecological relevance, sensitivity to disturbance, and scientific robustness. These were organized into three categories: Species richness (30% weight), eutrophication and disturbance (30%), and habitat integrity (40%). Scoring criteria for each metric were established using cumulative distribution functions, and the final MMI scores were used to classify the ecosystems into five integrity classes (A: Excellent to E: Very Poor). The assessment revealed that the majority of the surveyed ecosystems (87.8%) were in a moderate to slightly poor state (Classes B, C, and D), with only 4.4% classified as excellent. Widespread loss of submerged and floating leaved aquatic plants suggests that many domestic lentic systems may be approaching or have already undergone a regime shift to a turbid, phytoplankton-dominated state. This MMI provides a scientifically-defensible tool for managing lentic ecosystems, underscoring the urgent need to restore aquatic plants communities by improving underwater light conditions and rehabilitating littoral habitats.

본 연구는 경상북도 북부 3개 시·군(예천군·봉화군·문경시)을 대상으로 산사태 유발 요인을 분석하고 지역별 맞춤형 피해 저감 대책을 제시하였다. 2019~2023년 발생한 산사태 지점을 위성영상 판독으로 추출하여 5m×5m 격자 기반 공간자료를 구축하고, 고도, 사면방위, 사면곡률, 사면경사, 집수길이, 임상, 영급, 경급, 토성, 모암 등 10개 요인의 특성값을 GIS로 산출하였다. 연속형 요인은 t-검정, 범주형 요인은 χ²-검정을 적용하여 발생지와 미발생지를 비교하였으며, 지역 간 차이는 분산분석과 χ²-검정으로 분석하였다. 또한 인접 관측소 강수 자료(강수량, 강수일수)와 KLES(Korea Landslide Early-warning System) 산사태 예측정보를 활용하여 외적 요인을 검토하였다. 분석 결과, 산사태 발생지는 미발생지보다 낮은 고도, 더 오목한 지형, 더 급한 사면에서 나타났으며, 임상·토성·모암 특성에서도 유의한 차이를 보였다. 지역별로는 예천군에서 짧은 집수길이, 평행사면, 편마암 기반 활엽수림에서 산사태가 두드러졌고, 봉화군과 문경시는 상대적으로 긴 집수길이, 오목사면, 화강암 기반의 혼효림 및 침엽수림 에서 주로 발생하였다. 강수의 연도별 회귀추세는 유의하지 않았으나(R²<0.01), 5년 이동평균 분석 결과 최근 5년간 연·여름철 강수량의 증가와 함께 KLES 예측정보 생산 건수도 증가하였다. 따라서 예천군은 강우 특성 변화, 산지개발, 산불 발생 등 외적 요인에 대응한 모니터링과 예·경보 체계 구축 등 비구조적 대책이 필요하며, 봉화군과 문경시는 지형적 불안정성이 높아 사방댐과 배수시설 설치 등 구조적 대책이 요구되었다. 본 연구 결과는 경북 북부지역의 실효성 있는 산사태 방재 전략 수립을 위한 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대되었다.

Field drying remains the primary bottleneck to consistent alfalfa haymaking under Korea’s humid, rain-prone summers. This study evaluated how dry matter (DM) yield and tedding frequency shape seasonal drying trajectories and leaf shatter in Cheonan during 2024. The experiment was conducted in May, June, August, September, and October 2024 with three DM yield levels (3, 5, and 7 ton/ha) and three tedding regimes (no tedding, once daily, and twice daily). Favorable May–June weather enabled swaths to reach <20% moisture within 100 h, whereas in September–October, moisture commonly remained ≥50%, indicating conditions unsuitable for dry hay. Yield effects on drying were generally small except in August, when re-wetting events accentuated between-group differences. Tedding effects were season-dependent: treatment differences emerged after rainfall in August and were evident in September, with twice-daily tedding producing the lowest moisture among tedding treatments. Leaf dropout rose with greater tedding frequency and higher DM yield; significant tedding effects were detected in June and September, and twice-daily tedding often exceeded no-tedding for leaf losses, particularly at 7 ton/ha. Collectively, omitting tedding is a viable option for May–June hay (4 days to ~20% moisture), while for post-June harvests, tedding offers limited drying benefits and may elevate leaf shatter; ensiling is therefore recommended when drying conditions are suboptimal.

The Republic of Korea has experienced rapid economic growth alongside increasing concern for animal welfare. However, progress in improving farm animal welfare remains slow, particularly in slaughterhouses, which are recognized as critical points for animal welfare concerns due to numerous issues observed. Due to the impracticality of assessing all slaughterhouses nationwide, this study conducted a field survey of seven chicken slaughterhouses utilizing the widely adopted WQ® protocol. The evaluation criteria included crate density, rough handling, plumage loss and emaciation, panting or huddling, wing flapping, vocalization, leg fractures, and dead-on arrival (DOA). Given that broilers are transported in crates from farms to the stunning area, the relationship between crate density and these welfare indicators was analyzed. The significance level was set at <0.05. Revealed correlations between crate density and various health and welfare indicators, including rough handling, plumage loss and emaciation, crate height, panting or huddling, pen spacing, lairage temperature and humidity, wing flapping, vocalization, and DOA. This study represents a pioneering effort in the Korean poultry industry, marking the first development of a welfare standard for chicken slaughterhouses.

During an investigation of indigenous prokaryotic species in the Republic of Korea, 17 bacterial strains belonging to the phylum Bacteroidota and 4 strains belonging to the phylum Bacillota were isolated from freshwater environments. These isolated bacterial strains formed a robust phylogenetic clade with type strains of the closest related bacterial species, with 16S rRNA gene sequences sharing similarities of higher than 98.7%. To date, there have been no official report of these 21 isolates in the Republic of Korea. At the genus level, these unreported species were affiliated with Mucilaginibacter and Pedobacter of class Sphingobacteriia, Flavobacterium and Gillisia of class Flavobacteriia, Hymenobacter of class Cytophagia, and Paenibacillus and Planococcus of class Bacilli. These species were further examined by performing Gram staining, analyzing their colonies and cell morphologies, and determining their basic biochemical characteristics and phylogenetic positions. Detailed descriptions of the 21 previously unreported species are provided.