The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal digestible energy levels on pregnancy mares. Physical changes and fecal microorganism in pregnant horse and changes in birth characteristics of neonatal foals were investigated. The experiment was conducted by 18 mares (Jeju corssed bred, older than 36 months) into three treatment groups. The experimental diet consisted of 80%, 100%, 120% digestible energy levels based on NRC. The average daily intake was lower in the 120% (8.75±1.01) than the 100% (9.34±0.92), 80% (9.14±0.88) and there was significant difference (p<0.05). The feed efficiency was lower in the 120% than 80%, 100% (p<0.05). Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride was higher in 120% than others (p<0.05). However there were no health problem and there was no difference between the treatment groups in the birth characteristics of neonatal foals. At the phylum level, Fibrobactres was difference by digestible energy levels, 80% (8.53%) was higher than 100%, 120%. At the genus level, Bacteroides and Kineothrix increased in fecal proportions with increasing digestible energy levels (p<0.05). Fibrobacter showed higher composition at 80% than 100% and 120% (p<0.05).

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of heat stress on the status of physiological responses, blood parameter, serum T3 and cortisol, and heat shock proteins (HSP 27, 70, and 90) of Hanwoo cattle. Six Hanwoo steers (242.8 ± 7.2 kg of BW) were housed in the climate-controlled respiration chambers. The experiment consisted of 7 days (control; 0 day) at thermoneutral (air temperature (Ta) of 15oC and relative humidity (RH) of 60%; temperature-humidity index (THI) = 64), and by 3 and 6 days (treatment groups) at heat stress (Ta of 35oC and RH of 60%; THI = 87). Body temperature of each parts (frank, rump, perineum and foot) and rectal temperature elevated in heat stress groups (3 days and 6 days) than the control group (0 day). Respiration rates increased in 3 days and 6 days (88.5 ± 0.96 bpm and 86.3 ± 0.63 bpm, respectively) from 0 days (39.5 ± 0.65 bpm). Feed intake significantly decreased in heat stress groups (3 days and 6 days, 3.7 ± 0.14 kg and 4.0 ± 0.15 kg, respectively) than the control group (0 day, 5.0 ± 0.00 kg). In addition, final BW significantly decreased in heat stress groups (3 days and 6 days, 211.8 ± 4.75 kg and 215.5 ± 3.50 kg, respectively) than the control group (0 day, 240.0 ± 25.00 kg). However, heat stress has no significant effect on blood parameter, serum T3 and cortisol. Nevertheless, heat stress increased HSPs mRNA expression in liver tissue, and serum concentration of HSPs. Despite Hanwoo cattle may have high adaptive ability to heat stress, our results suggested that heat stress directly effect on body temperature and respiration rate as well as serum and tissue HSPs. Therefore, we are recommended that HSPs could be the most appropriate indicators of Hanwoo cattle response to heat stress.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of drinking water containing trimethyl glycine or ascorbic acid on growth performance and blood parameter profiles of duck exposed to scorching heat stress. A total of 480 ducks were randomly assigned to the following eight experiment groups for 42 days : control group C with general water, treatment group 1 (T1) with drinking water containing 100 ppm ascorbic acid, treatment group 2 (T2) with drinking water containing 200 ppm ascorbic acid, treatment group 3 (T3) with drinking water containing 300 ppm ascorbic acid, treatment group 4 (T4) with drinking water containing 400 ppm trimethyl glycine, treatment group 5 (T5) with drinking water containing 800 ppm trimethyl glycine, treatment group 6 (T6) with drinking water containing 1,200 ppm trimethyl glycine, treatment group 7 (T7) with electrolytes of KCl (0.5%) + NaHCO3 (1.0%)+NaCl (0.5%). Our results revealed that the body weights and feed intakes of treatment groups, especially T3 and T6, were increased compared to the control group, where as the feed conversion ratios of treatment groups were decreased (p<0.05). Blood levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, glucose, AST, ALT and pH in treatment groups were lower compared to those in the control group (p<0.05). Blood levels of red blood cell, platelets profiles, electrolyte and gas in treatment groups were higher compared to those of the control group (p<0.05).