Identification of Individual Hanwoo Cattle by Muzzle Pattern Images through Deep Learning.

The objective of this study was to identify Hanwoo cattle via a deep-learning model using muzzle images. A total of 9230 images from 336 Hanwoo were used. Images of the same individuals were taken at four different times to avoid overfitted models. Muzzle images were cropped by the YOLO v8-based model trained with 150 images with manual annotation. Data blocks were composed of image and national livestock traceability numbers and were randomly selected and stored as train, validation test data. Transfer learning was performed with the tiny, small and medium versions of Efficientnet v2 models with SGD, RMSProp, Adam and Lion optimizers. The small version using Lion showed the best validation accuracy of 0.981 in 36 epochs within 12 transfer-learned models. The top five models achieved the best validation accuracy and were evaluated with the training data for practical usage. The small version using Adam showed the best test accuracy of 0.970, but the small version using RMSProp showed the lowest repeated error. Results with high accuracy prediction in this study demonstrated the potential of muzzle patterns as an identification key for individual cattle.

Fermentation characteristics of bedded pack barn dairy cattle manure on methane yield, carbon, and nitrogen content in solid-state anaerobic digestion.

This study aimed to estimate the fermentation characteristics of bedded pack barn dairy cattle manure (BDCM) in terms of methane yield, fibrous material, and nitrogen content in batch solid-state anaerobic digestion (SSAD). SSAD was performed in triplicate using a 1,400 ml polypropylene bottle at a constant temperature of 39 °C until less than 1% methane was produced. The cumulative methane content of BDCM was 142.5 N mL/g volatile solids (VSs). The methane content rapidly increased for 18 days, reaching 63.4 ± 4.6% until the end of the experiment. The ultimate biodegradability and total VS removal of BDCM were 23.1 and 19.0%, respectively. The slopes of the non-fibrous and hemicellulose carbon fractions, and acid detergent insoluble carbon by digestion time were -0.174 (p < 0.001), -0.141 (p = 0.003), and -0.051 (p < 0.001), respectively. The non-fibrous and hemicellulose nitrogen fraction contents quadratically decreased during SSAD (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008). No significant decrease was observed in the acid detergent insoluble nitrogen content (p = 0.840). The results of the present study provide basic data on the digestion characteristics of BDCM and could help determine fermentation conditions in the anaerobic digestion of BDCM.

Effects of starch sugar by-product on rumen in vitro digestibility, in situ disappearance rate, and milking productivity of the lactating dairy cow.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of starch sugar by-product (SSB) feeding on the rumen in-vitro digestibility, in situ disappearance rate, and lactating dairy cow. METHODS: To determine the rumen in vitro digestibility, 50 mL of the buffer-rumen fluid mixture was dispensed into a 125 mL serum bottle containing 0.5 g of dry matter (DM) of substrates. Nitrogen gas (N2, 99.9% pure) was flushed into the serum bottles and three replications were incubated at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h. To determine the in-situ disappearance rate, SSB was incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hours in nylon bags (5 × 10 cm, 45*m pore size) placed within the ventral sac of two cannulated Holstein cows.. A total of sixteen Holstein Friesian cows (60.5 ± 20.4 months old, 706.8 ± 3.4 kg initial body wieght) fed experimental diets during the experimental periods. The treatments were basal diet (control) and 3.0% DM of SSB, with the diet formulated according to national research council (NRC) nutrient requirements of dairy cattle guideline. An experiment was conducted with a randomized block design for six weeks based on body weight. RESULTS: Soluble fraction (fraction a) of DM and crude protein (CP) was 28.99 and 11.92%DM, fraction b of DM and CP was 44.63 and 31.61% DM, and c value of DM and CP was 26.38 and 56.47%DM. As an increase SSB level in total mixed ration (TMR), there was a decrease in gas production at 0, 16, and 48 h (p < 0.05). As an increase SSB level in TMR, there was a decrease in acetate to propionate ratio at 8, 16, 24, and 48 h (p < 0.05). Dry matter intake, milk production, and milk composition did not differ between the treatments. All blood profile contents did not differ between treatments. CONCLUSION: A diet containing 3.0% SSB could be fed to ruminants without adverse effects on rumen fermentation.

Effects of feeding starch sugar by-products on in situ rumen disappearance rate, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of late finishing Hanwoo steers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of feeding starch sugar by-products (SSBs) on in situ disappearance rate, performance, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers in the late finishing stage. METHODS: To determine the in situ disappearance rate, nylon bags filled with 5 g of SSB were inserted into the ventral sac of two cannulated Holsteins cows and incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h. A total of 30 Hanwoo steers were fed the experimental diets, which were basal diet (control) and 7% SSB on an as-fed basis (4.35% dry matter [DM]), formulated according to requirements of the Korean Feeding Standard for Hanwoo. The experiment was conducted over 80 days using a completely randomized block design. RESULTS: Soluble fraction a of DM and organic matter (OM) was 44.20% and 64.60% DM, fraction b was 23.00% and 19.40% DM, and c values (the rate of degradation of fraction b) were 0.04 and 0.04/h, respectively. The effective degradability of DM at rumen solid outflow rates of 0.02, 0.05, and 0.08/h was 59.83, 54.75, and 52.16, respectively, and for OM was 77.78, 73.52, and 71.34, respectively. Initial and final body weight, average daily gain, DM intake, and gain:feed did not differ significantly between control and SSB groups during the entire experimental period. Carcass traits of Hanwoo steers with SSB supplementation were not significantly different between treatments except for dressing percentage, which was greater with SSB treatment. The content of saturated fatty acid (SFA) was greater and that of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) was lower in the SSB group than in the control group. The ratio of UFA to SFA was significantly lower in the SSB group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: A total mixed ration containing less than 4.0% DM of SSBs can be used in Hanwoo steers without a decrease in productivity and carcass traits.

Determination of in situ degradation parameters and feeding level of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) cannery by-product to Hanwoo steers.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to determine the in situ degradation parameters and appropriate feeding level of pineapple cannery by-products (PCB) based on the growth performance and blood parameters of growing Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) steers fed various levels of PCB. METHODS: Two ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used for in situ disappearance rate measurements. Nylon bags (5×10 cm, 45 µm pore size) filled with 5 g of PCB in triplicate were inserted into the ventral sac of the two cannulated Holsteins cows and incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h. A total of 16 castrated growing Hanwoo steers (12.5±0.5 months old, 302.9±25.7 kg of initial body weight [BW]) were used for the experiment. Animals were stratified by initial BW and then randomly assigned to one of four experimental diets (0%, 1.5%, 3.0%, or 6.0% of PCB, on the dry matter [DM] basis) fed for 91-d, including 30-d of adaptation. RESULTS: Soluble fraction a of DM and crude protein (CP) was 61.9% and 86.0%, fraction b of DM and CP was 32.7% and 11.2%, and indigestible fraction c of DM and CP was 5.4% and 2.8%. The 6.0% PCB feeding group showed lower productivity compared to animals in the other treatments. Increasing the dietary level of PCB did not alter DM intake, but it was numerically lowest in the 6.0% feeding group. The gain to feed ratio was linearly decreased by increasing of PCB. The quadratic broken-line test estimated that 2.5% (DM basis) was the maximum feeding level of PCB in growing Hanwoo steers (y = 0.103 - 0.001×[1.245-x]2, R2 = 0.18). CONCLUSION: Diets containing up to 2.5% PCB can be fed to growing Hanwoo steers without adverse effects on growth performance.

Effects of a pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) cannery by-product on growth performance and carcass characteristics in finishing Hanwoo steers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pineapple cannery by-product (PCB) level on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing Hanwoo steers. METHODS: The feeding stage was divided into early and late finishing stages. A total of 60 castrated Hanwoo steers (13.9±0.8 months old, 418.8±36.5 kg initial body weight [BW]) were blocked by initial BW and then randomly allotted into 12 pens (five head/pen). The pens were randomly assigned to control (CONT), low PCB (LPCB), or high PCB (HPCB) treatments. These diets contained 0%, 1.5%, or 3.0% of PCB (on a dry matter [DM] basis; as-fed basis was 0%, 10.6%, or 21.2%), respectively. RESULTS: For the early finishing stage, body weight gain (BWG) and average daily gain (ADG) of the CONT and LPCB feeding groups were greater (p<0.05) than those of the HPCB feeding group. In addition, there were linear and quadratic effects on BWG and ADG with increasing dietary PCB level (p<0.05). The gain to feed (G:F) ratio tends to quadratically decrease with an increasing PCB level in the early finishing stage (p = 0.076). Growth performances of late finishing stage were not affected by PCB level. The marbling score of the LPCB feeding group was similar to that of the CONT feeding group. However, there was a linear decrease (p< 0.05) in marbling score and quality grade among treatments as PCB was increased in the diet. In the longissimus muscle free amino acid profile, histidine composition increased linearly (p<0.05) with an increasing level of PCB. CONCLUSION: The level of PCB 1.5% DM in diet can be used for finishing steers without any adverse effects on growth and carcass performances. However, there were some negative effects on growth and carcass performance in the HPCB feeding group.

Effect of fermented spent instant coffee grounds on milk productivity and blood profiles of lactating dairy cows.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the fermentation characteristics under low mesophilic temperature of spent instant coffee ground (SICG) and to estimate the effect of fermented SICG (FSICG) as alternative feed ingredient on milk productivity of dairy cows. METHODS: In the fermentation trial, fermentation of SICG was performed to investigate changes in characteristics using the microbial mixture (Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Bacillus subtilis = 1:1:1) for 21 days at 20°C under anaerobic conditions. Molasses was added at 5% of dry mass. In the animal trial, eighteen Holstein Friesian cows were used to evaluate the nutritive value of the FSICG which was fermented for 14 days under the same condition as the fermentation trial. RESULTS: In the fermentation trial, the dry matter (DM) and organic matter content linearly decreased with fermentation time (p<0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). The acid detergent insoluble nitrogen content linearly decreased with fermentation time (p = 0.037). The microorganism counts linearly increased for Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Bacillus subtilis across fermentation time (p<0.001). In the animal trial, the DM intake of the control and FSICG treatment were not significantly different, as were milk yield, 4% fat corrected milk, fat-protein corrected milk, and feed to milk conversion content. Fat, protein, lactose, non-fat solids, milk urea nitrogen, and somatic cell counts were also not significantly different in milk composition between treatments. CONCLUSION: FSICG should be considered a sufficient substitute for cottonseed as a feed component, and 5% DM of a dietary FSICG level was appropriate for dairy cow diets.

Ruminal methane emissions, metabolic, and microbial profile of Holstein steers fed forage and concentrate, separately or as a total mixed ration.

Few studies have examined the effects of feeding total mixed ration (TMR) versus roughage and concentrate separately (SF) on ruminant methane production. Therefore, this study compared differences in methane production, ruminal characteristics, total tract digestibility of nutrients, and rumen microbiome between the two feeding methods in Holstein steers. A total six Holstein steers of initial bodyweights 540 ± 34 kg were divided into two groups and assigned to a same experimental diet with two different feeding systems (TMR or SF) in a crossover design with 21 d periods. The experimental diet contained 73% concentrate and 27% forage and were fed twice a day. The total tract digestibility of crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, and organic matter were not affected by the two different feeding systems. Steers fed TMR emitted more methane (138.5 vs. 118.2 L/d; P < 0.05) and lost more gross energy as methane energy (4.0 vs. 3.5% gross energy intake; P = 0.005) compared to those fed SF. Steers fed TMR had greater (P < 0.05) total volatile fatty acid (VFA), ammonia-N concentrations and propionate proportion of total VFA at 1.5 h, whereas lower after that compared to steers fed SF. The greater (P < 0.05) acetate: propionate ratio at 4.5 h for steers fed TMR reflected the shift of H2 sink from propionate towards acetate synthesis. The lower (P < 0.05) isobutyrate and isovalerate proportions of total VFA observed in steers fed TMR implies decrease in net consumption of H2 for microbial protein synthesis compared to SF. There were no differences in both major bacterial and archaeal diversity between TMR and SF, unlike several minor bacterial abundances. The minor groups such as Coprococcus, Succiniclasticum, Butyrivibrio, and Succinivibrio were associated with the changes in ruminal VFA profiles or methanogenesis indirectly. Overall, these results indicate that SF reduces methane emissions from ruminants and increases propionate proportion of total VFA without affecting total tract digestion compared to TMR. There were no evidences that the response differed due to different major underlying microbial population.

Effects of dietary supplementation with fermented and non-fermented brown algae by-products on laying performance, egg quality, and blood profile in laying hens.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with fermented and non-fermented brown algae by-products on the laying performance, egg quality, relative organ weight, and blood profile of laying hens. METHODS: Hy-Line Brown chickens (n = 180; 70-week-old) were randomly divided into 5 groups with 4 replicates per group (3 hens per cage, 4 cages per replicate), and fed with 5 experimental diets, namely the basal control diet (CON) or the control diet supplemented with 0.5% brown seaweed (BS), 0.5% seaweed fusiforme (SF), 0.5% fermented brown seaweed (FBS), or 0.5% fermented seaweed fusiforme (FSF), for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Egg production rate and egg mass were greater in the BS group than in the other groups (p<0.05), and the SF and FSF groups had greater egg production than the control group (p<0.05). Egg weight was higher in the BS group than in the other groups (p<0.05). There were no differences in eggshell color, egg yolk color, eggshell strength, or eggshell thickness among the groups. There was no difference in Haugh units among the treatment groups, except for the FSF group, which had a significantly lower value (p<0.05). The non-fermented groups had greater relative organ weights, particularly the liver and cecum, than the other groups (p<0.05). Regarding blood profile, the supplemented-diet groups had higher albumin levels than the control group (p<0.05). The FBS group had higher total cholesterol and triglyceride levels than the other groups (p<0.05). The BS and FBS groups had higher glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels than the other groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that dietary brown algae supplementation can improve egg-laying performance; however, supplementation with fermented seaweeds had no positive effect on the egg-laying performance of hens.

Effects of feeding level on nutrient digestibility and enteric methane production in growing goats (Capra hircus hircus) and Sika deer (Cervus nippon hortulorum)

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding level on nutrient digestibility and enteric methane (CH4) emissions in growing goats and Sika deer. METHODS: Three growing male goats (initial body weight [BW] of 22.4±0.9 kg) and three growing male deer (initial BW of 20.2±4.8 kg) were each allotted to a respiration-metabolism chamber for an adaptation period of 7 d and a data collection period of 3 d. An experimental diet was offered to each animal at one of three feeding levels (1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5% of BW) in a 3×3 Latin square design. The chambers were used for measuring enteric CH4 emission. RESULTS: Nutrient digestibility decreased linearly in goats as feeding level increased, whereas Sika deer digestibility was not affected by feeding level. The enteric production of CH4 expressed as g/kg dry matter intake (DMI), g/kg organic matter intake, and % of gross energy intake decreased linearly with increased feeding level in goats; however, that of Sika deer was not affected by feeding level. Six equations were estimated for predicting the enteric CH4 emission from goats and Sika deer. For goat, equation 1 was found to be of the highest accuracy: CH4 (g/d) = 6.2 (±14.1)+10.2 (±7.01)×DMI (kg/d)+0.0048 (±0.0275)×dry matter digestibility (DMD, g/kg)-0.0070 (±0.0187)×neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD; g/kg). For Sika deer, equation 4 was found to be of the highest accuracy: CH4 (g/d) = -13.0 (±30.8)+29.4 (±3.93)×DMI (kg/d)+0.046 (0.094)×DMD (g/kg)-0.0363 (±0.0636)×NDFD (g/kg). CONCLUSION: Increasing the feeding level increased CH4 production in both goats and Sika deer, and predictive models of enteric CH4 production by goats and Sika deer were estimated.

Effects of dietary fermented spent coffee ground on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of fermented spent coffee ground (FSCG) on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep. METHODS: Fermentation of spent coffee ground (SCG) was conducted using Lactobacillus plantrum. Fermentation was performed at moisture content of 70% and temperature of 39°C with anaerobic air tension for 48 h. Four adult rams (initial body weight = 56.8±0.4 kg) were housed in a respiration-metabolism chamber and the treatments were: i) control (Basal diet; 0% SCG or FSCG), ii) 10% level of SCG, iii) 10% level of FSCG, and iv) 20% level of FSCG in 4×4 Latin square design. Each dietary experiment period lasted for 18-d with a 14-d of adaptation period and a 4-d of sample collection period. RESULTS: In SCG fermentation experimental result, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) concentration of FSCG (64.5% of total N) was lower than that of non-fermented SCG (78.8% of total N). Digestibility of dry matter and organic matter was similar among treatment groups. Although crude protein (CP) digestibility of the control was greater than FSCG groups (p< 0.05), the 10% FSCG group showed greater CP digestibility and nitrogen retention than non-fermented 10% SCG group (p<0.05). Body weight gain and average daily gain were linearly decreased with increasing FSCG feeding level (p<0.05). When the feeding level of FSCG was increased, water intake was linearly increased (p<0.05). With an increasing FSCG level, dry matter intake did not differ among groups, although the gain to feed ratio tended to decrease with increasing level of FSCG (p<0.10). CONCLUSION: Microbial fermentation of SCG can improve protein digestibility, thereby increasing CP digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep. Fermentation using microorganisms in feed ingredients with low digestibility could have a positive effect on improving the quality of raw feed.

Effects of dietary forage-to-concentrate ratio on nutrient digestibility and enteric methane production in growing goats (Capra hircus hircus) and Sika deer (Cervus nippon hortulorum).

OBJECTIVE: Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratio on the nutrient digestibility and enteric methane (CH4) emission in growing goats and Sika deer. METHODS: Three male growing goats (body weight [BW] = 19.0±0.7 kg) and three male growing deer (BW = 19.3±1.2 kg) were respectively allotted to a 3×3 Latin square design with an adaptation period of 7 d and a data collection period of 3 d. Respiration-metabolism chambers were used for measuring the enteric CH4 emission. Treatments of low (25:75), moderate (50:50), and high (73:27) F:C ratios were given to both goats and Sika deer. RESULTS: Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility decreased linearly with increasing F:C ratio in both goats and Sika deer. In both goats and Sika deer, the CH4 emissions expressed as g/d, g/kg BW0.75, % of gross energy intake, g/kg DM intake (DMI), and g/kg OM intake (OMI) decreased linearly as the F:C ratio increased, however, the CH4 emissions expressed as g/kg digested DMI and OMI were not affected by the F:C ratio. Eight equations were derived for predicting the enteric CH4 emission from goats and Sika deer. For goat, equation 1 was found to be of the highest accuracy: CH4 (g/d) = 3.36+4.71×DMI (kg/d)-0.0036×neutral detergent fiber concentrate (NDFC, g/kg)+0.01563×dry matter digestibility (DMD, g/kg)-0.0108×neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD, g/kg). For Sika deer, equation 5 was found to be of the highest accuracy: CH4 (g/d) = 66.3+27.7×DMI (kg/d)-5.91×NDFC (g/kg)-7.11× DMD (g/kg)+0.0809×NDFD (g/kg). CONCLUSION: Digested nutrient intake could be considered when determining the CH4 generation factor in goats and Sika deer. Finally, the enteric CH4 prediction model for goats and Sika deer were estimated.

Design and synthesis of 2-amino-6-(1H,3H-benzo[de]isochromen-6-yl)-1,3,5-triazines as novel Hsp90 inhibitors.

A novel series of 2-amino-1,3,5-triazines bearing a tricyclic moiety as heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors is described. Molecular design was performed using X-ray cocrystal structures of the lead compound CH5015765 and natural Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin with Hsp90. We optimized affinity to Hsp90, in vitro cell growth inhibitory activity, water solubility, and liver microsomal stability of inhibitors and identified CH5138303. This compound showed high binding affinity for N-terminal Hsp90α (Kd=0.52nM) and strong in vitro cell growth inhibition against human cancer cell lines (HCT116 IC50=0.098µM, NCI-N87 IC50=0.066µM) and also displayed high oral bioavailability in mice (F=44.0%) and potent antitumor efficacy in a human NCI-N87 gastric cancer xenograft model (tumor growth inhibition=136%).

Lead generation of heat shock protein 90 inhibitors by a combination of fragment-based approach, virtual screening, and structure-based drug design.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone which regulates maturation and stabilization of its substrate proteins, known as client proteins. Many client proteins of Hsp90 are involved in tumor progression and survival and therefore Hsp90 can be a good target for developing anticancer drugs. With the aim of efficiently identifying a new class of orally available inhibitors of the ATP binding site of this protein, we conducted fragment screening and virtual screening in parallel against Hsp90. This approach quickly identified 2-aminotriazine and 2-aminopyrimidine derivatives as specific ligands to Hsp90 with high ligand efficiency. In silico evaluation of the 3D X-ray Hsp90 complex structures of the identified hits allowed us to promptly design CH5015765, which showed high affinity for Hsp90 and antitumor activity in human cancer xenograft mouse models.