The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of ratio trait on selection by comparing the profits of including and not including ratio trait in the selection traits. Four generations of performance and pedigree data for 6,550 pigs from a randomly mating population were generated for daily gain (DG) and feed intake (FI) in pigs. For DG and FI, phenotypic means of 0.9 kg and 2.0 kg with coefficient of variation of 11.1% and 10%, respectively, heritabilities of 0.3 for DG and 0.4 for FI and their genetic and environmental correlations of 0.7 and 0.6, respectively, were used in a stochastic computer simulation. Genetic parameters for DG, FI and feed conversion ratio (FI/DG＝FCR) were estimated from these simulated data and then used to simulate data in a base population and to derive selection index coefficients. The base population of 10,000 males and 10,000 females was selected using three methods : 1) relative desired-gain index selection, 2) direct selection for FCR, and 3) economic index selection for DG and FI. A total of 500 males and 5,000 females were selected and randomly mated to produce four pigs per litter. The genetic gains of DG and FI differed due to direct selection for FCR. The profit was smaller than with some other selection methods, although DG increased and FI decreased. Index selection with economic weighting improved DG, and FI maximized profit over other selection methods. It appears that direct selection of FCR, a ratio trait, is not suitable for improvements designed to maximize profit, but that selection based on component traits (DG and FI) is desirable if the breeding objectives are to improve component traits.

Reproductive ability is receiving increased attention from beef cattle producers in Japan due to the high production cost and insufficient supply of feeder calves in Japanese Black. In this study, we estimated genetic parameters of stillbirth in Japanese Black cattle in Kagoshima, and defined stillbirth as calf mortality between 244 days after successful insemination and a day after parturition. We used 213,261 calving records excluding multiple births from Japanese Black cattle in Kagoshima during three Japanese fiscal years (2010 to 2012). The single-trait threshold sire maternal grandsire model was used for parameter estimation. The single-trait threshold sire-MGS model was used for parameter estimation. The annual incidence of stillbirth ranged from 1.8% to 2.2%. The estimated heritability both direct and maternal for stillbirth was 3.2% and 3.5%, respectively. This estimate was lower than that previously reported in Japanese Black cattle.

The volatile components are produced by fermentation when preparing fermented TMR. In the digestion experiment using fermented TMR, when the samples are dried by heat for the analysis of each chemical component, volatile components disappear. Consequently, they are not reflected in the nutrient value of fermented TMR. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accurate nutritive value of fermented TMR by considering volatile components. We conducted two digestion experiments. For the first one, we used fermented TMR with or without about 5% brewers grains (5%BTMR, CTMR1) and for the second one, we used fermented TMR with or without about 8% brewers grains (8%BTMR, CTMR2). The volatilization rates of ethanol, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid and VBN in this study were 99.4±0.6%, 12.4±6.7%, 74.4±8.8%, 83.5±11.4%, 78.4±22.5, respectively. The dry matter digestibility when considering the volatile components was 1.5 point higher than when not considering it.

To determine the degree of pork marbling preferred in palatability and appearance by Japanese consumer, consumer sensory test for pork with different amounts of intramuscular fat (IMF) and consumer attitudes about marbling appearance and other aspects of pork were investigated. For sensory test, M. longissimus with IMF content 3.6%, 6.0% and 8.0%, which were grilled, were used. Sensory test results of 318 consumers showed that pork containing IMF content of 6.0% and over was rated higher than pork containing IMF 3.6% pork in the tenderness, juiciness and flavor (P<0.05), as well as higher overall palatability (P<0.05). On the other hand, there was little significant difference between overall palatability of IMF 6.0% and 8.0% pork.　In the attitude survey, over 70% of consumers preferred the marbling appearance equivalent to IMF 4% and 6% than that to IMF 2% and 10% equivalents. These results suggest that marbled pork is preferred by Japanese consumers in both appearance and palatability, and the IMF content in M. longissimus is sufficient up to approximately 6.0%.

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is generally used for curing beef. Here, the effects of adding other salts (in addition to NaCl) during the curing process, namely magnesium chloride (MgCl₂), magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄), and calcium sulfate (CaSO₄), on the physicochemical properties and mineral content of the beef (M. biceps femoris) and the glutamic acid concentration of the beef drip were examined using samples from six Japanese Shorthorn steers. Muscle samples (100 g) were cured with NaCl (6% of muscle weight) plus different levels of MgCl₂, MgSO₄, or CaSO₄ (2%, 4%, or 6% of muscle weight) for 24 hours. Drip loss, maximum load, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, load of gumminess, Na content, Mg content, and glutamic acid concentration in the drip were then analyzed. The highest drip loss was found in muscle samples cured with NaCl plus MgSO₄. However, the use of MgSO₄ in addition to NaCl did not affect the textural properties or glutamic acid concentration of the drip. The addition of MgSO₄ decreased Na content and increased Mg content. These results suggest that use of MgSO₄ as an addition to NaCl for curing can reduce water activity in beef during curing and improve the storage stability of the beef.

Here, we compared the textural properties and water holding capacities of muscle samples (M. supraspinatus) from Japanese Shorthorn steers (n = 7) after treatment with juice from four varieties of Sarunashi (Actinidia arguta). The varieties used in the investigation were Karumai, Gonohe, Gassan, and Issai. Treated muscle samples were stored at 40°C for 1 hour and drip loss was measured. The muscle samples were then heated to 60°C for 3 minutes and cooking loss was measured. Maximum load, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, and load of gumminess of the muscle samples were analyzed. Drip loss did not differ significantly between muscle samples treated with juice from the different varieties of Sarunashi. Cooking loss of muscle samples treated with Karumai or Gonohe juice was significantly higher than those treated with Gassan or Issai juice. Maximum load and load of gumminess of muscle samples treated with Karumai or Gonohe juice were significantly lower than those treated with Gassan or Issai juice. These results suggest that the water holding capacity of beef produced after treatment with Karumai or Gonohe juice is inferior to that after treatment with Gassan or Issai juice; however, a greater tenderization effect was found after application of Karumai or Gonohe juice.

In this study, the percentage of oleic acid in M. longissimus thoracis was estimated by measuring impedance on the surface of muscle from cross sections of Japanese Black steer carcasses using touch type electrodes. An LCR meter, equipped with touch type electrode pairs, measured impedance on the surface of the muscle located between the 6th and 7th ribs of Japanese Black steer carcasses (n＝21). Measurements were made at 1 Hz, 120 Hz, 1 kHz, and 100 kHz and the distance between the electrode pair on the current generation side and electrode pair on the detection side was either 1 or 3 cm. Oleic acid percentage of the muscles was analyzed by gas chromatography. A significant correlation was found between oleic acid percentage and impedance, measured at 1 kHz, when the distance between the electrode pairs was 1 cm. Significant correlations were also detected between oleic acid percentage and impedance, measured at 120 Hz, 1 kHz, and 100 kHz, when the distance between the electrode pair was 3 cm. Our results suggest that it is possible to estimate oleic acid percentage by measuring impedance in M. longissimus thoracis using a cross section of carcass and a wide range of frequencies using electrode pairs at a 3cm distance.

Effect of the pH of muscle (M. longissimus thoracis) on water holding capacity, free amino acid content, hardness, color, oxidation, fatty acid composition, and antioxidant content of venison from wild deer (Cervus Nippon, n＝22) was investigated. pH did not significantly affect drip loss, moisture content, shear force value, saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acid in venison. Significant negative correlations were found between pH and cooking loss, L* value, a* value, b* value, metmyoglobin percentage, thiobarbituric acid value, and α-tocopherol content of venison. A significant positive correlation was found between pH and the total free amino acid content of venison. These results suggest that as venison pH increased, meat color darkened, but water holding capacity during cooking, oxidation suppression, and total content of free amino acids which are taste components increased.

In this study, we used behavioral techniques to determine whether the sika deer (Cervus nippon) is dichromatic. In discrimination tests, we exposed two sika deer (male and female) to three pairs of colors (red vs. bluish green, reddish purple vs. green, and blue vs. green), which are difficult to discriminate, to represent the three forms of dichromatism （protanopia, deuteranopia and tritanopia) observed in humans. For each color combination, sika deer were simultaneously presented with pairs of color cards in an operant conditioning room, with each session consisting of 20 trials. For each test, the criterion used to define successful discrimination was to make 16 or more choices for color cards presented as positive stimuli out of 20 trials for three sessions in a row (P<0.01, Chi-square test). In discrimination tests for each of the three pairs of colors, sika deer fulfilled the discrimination criterion in the 18th, 5th and 3th sessions in the male, and the 12th, 14th and 4th sessions in the female, respectively. In conclusion, from a behavioral perspective, it was suggested that the color discrimination capability of sika deer does not correspond with dichromatism in humans.

The aim of this study was to investigate changes of dam- foal distance and their behavior in a herd of Hokkaido native horses. Twenty-two Hokkaido native horse foals born after December 2018 and their dams were observed using a drone (Mavic 2 pro) from May to October 2019. The dam-foal distance was measured from the recorded movie, and the behavior of the dam and foal was recorded visually. Data from 0-8-month-old foals and their dams were used for the analysis. The horses did not show any flight behavior during the drone flight when flight altitude was over 30m. It was clarified that the distribution of the dam-foal distance for each age is not normally distributed and can be approximated well by the geometric distribution (R²＝0.919). The change in the median dam-foal distance at each age changed between 4 month of age and 5 month of age. There was a significant positive correlation between dam-foal distance and age for foals aged between 0 and 4 months (P<0.01). On the other hand, there was a negative correlation between dam-foal distance and age for foals aged between 5 and 8 months. Furthermore, at age 0-4 months, there was a significant positive linear correlation (P<0.01) between the grazing duration of foal and dam- foal distance, but there was no significant correlation at age 5-8 months.

To quantify what attributes of wastewater treatment systems are preferred by pig farmers, a discrete choice experiment was conducted by a questionnaire survey of pig farmers in four prefectures, Japan, in the present study. Farmers were offered a series of choice sets including the following five attributes of wastewater treatment systems: ability to improve water quality, ability to remove odor, technical difficulty, cost, and ability to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As the results, the farmers showed great preference for “ability to improve water quality”, indicating that pig farmers are strongly aware of the temporary effluent standards under the Water Pollution Prevention Act as expected. Moreover, farmers showed slightly positive preference for “ability to reduce GHG emissions” that is not currently subject to regulation. In the future, in order to improve farmers’ willingness to pay for the attributes of wastewater treatment systems related to environmental improvement, it is suggested that it is essential to further inform farmers of the importance of environmental protection and present the specific measures.