The Taiwan cattle (TWN) was said to be descendant of Japanese beef cattle (Wagyu) which were transported to Taiwan during the period (1895～1945) of Japanese rule, but nowadays there are only 19 of them (eight bulls, cow 11)were kept in Yangmingshan. We clarified the genetic relationships between TWN and Japanese Wagyu (JB) and additionally 7 western breeds, Hereford (HER), Simmental (SIM), short horn (SH), Angus (ANG), Holstein (HOL), Charolais (CHA) and limousine (LIM) by using SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, single nucleotide polymorphism) as genetic markers. As results of having analyzed by cluster analysis (Ward and the Group average methods), Principal Component Analysis and neighbor-joining method, TWN have been isolated for long as an independent population and western breeds groups were quite far from it.

Most oxytocin cells distributing separate nuclei in the hypothalamus display synchronous high frequency burst discharge preceding each milk ejection in lactating rats. We have suggested that excitatory neural connections between oxytocin cells distributing separate nuclei are involved in the synchronization of bursting discharge of oxytocin cells. In the present experiment, to examine whether oxytocinergic synapse intervening excitatory neural connections between oxytocin cells are involved in the occurrence of synchronized bursting discharge of oxytocin cells preceding milk ejection, effects of intraventricular administration of atosiban which has antagonizing effect of oxytocin or vasopressin receptor was were tested in lactating suckled mother rats. Intraventricular administration of atosiban decreased the frequency of milk ejection. Amount of oxytocin released at each milk ejection was decreased following intraventricular administration of atosiban. The results of the present experiments indicate that central oxytocin is involved in the occurrence of milk ejection. It was suggested that excitatory neural connections between oxytocin cells distributing separate nuclei are involved in the timing of milk ejection and amount of oxytocin released at each milk ejection, because intraventricular administration of atosiban affected the frequency of milk ejection and the amplitude of increase of intramammary pressure at each milk ejection.

In order to investigate the possibility of preparing rice grain silage utilizing tofu residue cake silage, we performed preparation experiments on a laboratory scale and a practical scale. In the laboratory scale experiment, we prepared mixtures of 25% and 50% tofu cake with rice grain silage and a mixture of 25% tofu residue cake silage with rice grain. These were fermented for about 1-2 months, and the fermentation quality was analyzed. On the laboratory scale, any silage retained good fermentation quality. In addition, in the mixture of tofu residue cake silage, there was no significant difference in fermentation quality due to the presence or absence of the addition of lactic acid bacteria. On the practical scale, only when tofu cake silage was added, the pH was lower than 4 both upper and bottom, and the lactic acid concentration was also good, exceeding 1.5%. In addition, the crude protein content was more than 9%. Using tofu residue cake silage as a raw material for the preparation of silage for rice grain silage not only makes it unnecessary to add water to adjust the water content or to add lactic acid bacteria, but it also improves the fermentation of the upper part and increases the protein content, making it an effective preparation method for increasing the amount of the compound.

To evaluate the effect of feeding condensed sweet-potato distillers solubles (CSDS) on milk production and milk flavor, four Holstein lactating cows were fed ad libitum with fermented total mixed ration (TMR) containing 0%, 10% or 20% CSDS (dry matter basis ; 0%CSDS, 10%CSDS and 20%CSDS, respectively) in three 14-day sequential experimental periods. Feed intake, ruminal fermentation, plasma metabolites, and milking performance were evaluated. Milk flavor, which was determined at day 14 of each period, was assessed with a sensory evaluation and taste sensing apparatus equipped with various sensor probes made of artificial lipid polymer membrane. The dry matter intake, milk fat and solids-not-fat contents of 20%CSDS were higher than those of 0%CSDS and 10%CSDS (23.8, 21.2 and 21.2kg/day, respectively, for dry matter intake ; 5.49%, 4.88% and 4.71%, respectively, for milk fat ; 9.00%, 8.78% and 8.80%, respectively, for solids-not-fat ; P<0.05). The result of flavor assessment using taste sensing apparatus showed that the creamy flavor of milk in 20%CSDS was higher than that in 0%CSDS (P<0.05). Panel sensory evaluation showed that 5 of 6 panelists found flavor difference between milk of 0%CSDS and 20%CSDS ; but it was not significant (P＝0.109). In conclusion, any effects of 10%CSDS inclusion on milk flavor were not found, while the effect of 20%CSDS inclusion could not be clarified because of possible effect of lactation period.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of brown rice grain as an alternative ingredient to corn on the weaning-to-estrus interval, and immunoglobulins in the milk and serum of lactating sows, and the growth performance of piglets. A total of 13 lactating sows were randomly assigned to receive corn-basal diet (Control) or brown rice grain-based diet (RG) from next day to 21 days after farrowing at 2nd parturition. Feed intake, body weight loss, back fat loss, and weaning-to-estrus interval of sows and growth performance of piglets were not affected by experimental diet. There was no significant change in IgA and IgG levels in milk ; however, total protein level in plasma and IgG in serum of RG pigs are higher than those of Control pigs (P<0.05). These results indicated that dietary brown rice grain as an alternative ingredient to corn for lactating sow do not affect the growth performance and weaning-to-estrus interval but increase IgG of swine serum.

We investigated calving interval （CI） and timing of first artificial insemination （AI） with higher milk yield （MY） in 1000 d from first calving （1000dMY）. Data were test-day record of 24,476 Holstein cows from first to third lactation collected in Hokkaido, Japan. The lactation curves were adapted to test-day records to estimate 1000dMY. Data contained only cows with first to third calving. Median of CI were 385 d between first and second calving and 396 d between second and third calving. Higher 1000dMY were obtained when both CIs were ranging from 357 d to 440 d. When CI were longer than 440 d, 1000dMY were gradually decreased. Because of gestation period were about 280 d, higher 1000dMY would be produced when first AI were started after 80 d from calving.