In the Asia Guidedog Breeding Network (AGBN), behavior assessment test has been caried out to evaluate suitability for guide dogs. In this work, factor analysis was applied to the behavior assessment records of 693 Labrador Retriever evaluated from 2015 to 2018, and three principal factors were extracted as candidate traits for selection. The three factors were interpreted as composure, concentration on handler and ability to control stress. High heritability (0.71) was estimated for composure, whereas concentration of handler and ability to control stress showed low to moderate heritability (0.24 and 0.30). Genetic correlations were estimated to be high (0.65) between composure and ability to control stress and moderate (0.29) between concentration on handler and ability to control stress. Negative genetic correlation (−0.30) estimated between composure and ability to control stress would be an obstacle for simultaneous improvement of these two traits. Genetic trend in composure, that has been the trait emphasized in breeding of guide dogs in AGBN, showed a positive change after 2005. A positive genetic change was also estimated in concentration on handler, which would be a correlated response to the improvement of composure. Ability to control stress tended to decline presumably due to the negative genetic association with composure.

Eight candidate selection indexes to achieve desired genetic gains in three traits, i.e., composure, concentration on handler and ability to control stress, were designed with the estimated quantitative genetic parameters from records (693 dogs) of the behavior assessment from 2015 to 2018 in the Asia Guidedog Breeding Network. The indexes were compared in terms of expected genetic gains in the three traits. An index to maximize the genetic gain in composure under constraint of a positive change in ability to control stress showed the most desirable performance to cope with negative genetic association between the two traits. Paper selection with estimated breeding values of dogs assessed their behavior in 2018 confirmed the favorable performance of this index.

Forty-one Holstein dairy cows were categorized into two groups : 19 cows that conceived after the first postpartum insemination and 22 cows that failed to conceive. Blood composition values during the perinatal period and early lactation were compared to analyze the factors influencing the fertility of first AI. In addition, we attempted to predict the fertility of the first insemination using a discriminant equation based on early postpartum blood composition values. Alb and Ht were significantly higher in the fertility group, while Glu tended to be higher. This indicated that differences in postpartum blood properties were suggestive of subsequent fertility. In the fertility prediction of the first insemination by blood biochemical values in the first post-partum week, the discriminant equation using the three variables Alb, Glu, and PL showed the lowest misclassification rate for the conception result at 19.5%. These results indicate that a discriminant equation combining multiple blood biochemical indices as variables may be used to predict the fertility of first insemination with good accuracy.

This study investigated the transfer of fatty acids from silk pupae to chicken egg yolk in order to clarify the feasibility of using silkworm pupae waste from silk mills as feedstuff. A total of 15 Boris Brown hens, at 35 weeks of age, were fed experimental feed without silkworm pupae (Control group) and then divided into three groups having equal average feed intake. The hens were then fed a diet containing either 10, 20 or 30% silkworm pupae, depending on the group, and for 12 days each group was fed an amount sufficient to meet daily energy requirements. A linear regression equation with a mixing ratio of silk pupae（X, %）and α-linolenic acid in egg yolk （Y, g/100 g fatty acids） as variables was calculated. Major fatty acid in silkworm pupae showed the α-linolenic acid, with 34.2 g/100 g fatty acids. The results of the equation showed that the target value (three times the amount of α-linolenic acid in egg yolk of control) can be achieved when laying hens are fed a diet containing more than 7% silk pupae for at least 7 to 8 days.

This study considered the change in survival rate, body weight and fatty acid composition of mealworm during refrigerated storage. The mealworms were kept in refrigerator (temperature : 4.5±0.27°C, humidity : 22.1±0.64％) for 0, 10, 20, 30 and 45 days. The mealworms were 200 individuals per group and the three groups were prepared for each storage period. We measured the survival rate, body weight and fatty acid composition of mealworm for each storage period. Survival rate and body weight decreased with increasing refrigerated storage time. The proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids increased with increasing refrigerated storage time. Therefore, we need to consider that survival rate, body weight and fatty acid composition change with refrigerated storage time in case the mealworm is used as live feed.

We investigated the efficacy of electric fencing for preventing Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) invasions of agricultural lands. We installed electric fences (three polywires at heights of 10, 20, and 30 cm above the ground, respectively) to prevent Amami rabbit invasions of a Tankan (Citrus tankan Hayata) orchard (circumference : 100 m, area : approximately 300 m²) on Tokunoshima island. The efficacy of electric fencing was assessed during two periods-23 days before fence setup and 406 days after fence setup. Relative abundance index (RAI) of Amami rabbit invasions photographed by a sensor camera during the former and latter periods was 43.5 and 0.2, respectively, that is, it was significantly reduced after fencing (P<0.05). We observed the following behavioral responses from moving images of 1,062 heads of Amami rabbits photographed by the sensor camera set along the outside of the fence : one Amami rabbit passed through the wires, five suffered electric shocks by touching the wires with their lips, and most avoided the fences; there was no damage to tankan plants. The materials for the fence cost 77,200 yen and the fence setup took approximately an hour of work from two people. The farmer confirmed that maintenance of the fence was not burdensome. In conclusion, electric fencing is useful for preventing Amami rabbit invasions of agricultural lands.

Protective net fences are placed around crops and trees to protect them from being consumed by sika deer (Cervus nippon). In this study, we investigated the effect of the distance between the net and food resources on the behavioral response of the deer to the net fence. Five adult female deer housed at the Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Japan, were included in the study. The distance between the net and the food resources was divided into four test conditions (0 cm [control], 30 cm, 75 cm, 30 cm + 75 cm of the black sheet-covered net at the bottom [blind treatment]). Each test condition was continuously observed with a night-vision camera for five days. The “blind treatment” had the highest amount remaining of presented feed. The deer spent the longest time in front of the protective net fence in the 75-cm test condition. Consequently, the number of times the deer licked or bit the protective net fence and inserted their heads through the net lattice was highest for this test condition. Collectively, these results suggest that blocking the enclosed crops and trees from the deer’s sight reduced the feeding-related damage to the net. However, distancing the food resources with protective fencing did not discourage the feeding instinct of the deer. Although the remaining amount of presented feed was substantial, the increased tendency to bite and insert the head could damage the net.

Woody roughage produced from Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica) in response to high-temperature/high-pressure steam treatment was assessed for application in the fattening of Japanese Black cattle. We found that whereas the average carcass weight of six cattle fed fermented bagasse and rice straw as a conventional roughage was 437 kg, that of six cattle fed woody roughage instead of fermented bagasse was 472 kg (P<0.10). However, the average carcass weight of five cattle fed twice the amount of woody roughage was 451 kg, which was not significantly different from that of cattle fed the conventional roughage. In this assessment, we detected no significant difference in the fatty acid composition of the chest M. longissimus thoracis, or in other traits associated with meat quality. Similarly, no significant difference was detected in the daily gain of cattle fed the conventional and woody roughage feeds for approximately the first 10 months of fattening. Moreover, blood tests and medical examinations performed during this period revealed no health problems among the assessed cattle. At approximately 10 months following the commencement of fattening, the fecal solids of cattle fed the conventional and woody roughage and feed were 0.89 and 1.13 times, respectively (P<0.05). Furthermore, the rumination times of cattle fed woody roughage (301 min/day) trended to be longer than those of cattle fed the conventional roughage (333 min/day) (P<0.10). We also assessed the effect of switching the fermented bagasse diet of the entire ranch to woody roughage, and compared the carcass performance of 50 Japanese Black fattening cattle before and after switching. We accordingly detected improvements in four of the seven assessed major grading traits. The average carcass weights before and after switching were 443 kg and 464 kg, respectively, and an increase in carcass weight was confirmed even when age and breeding value were taken into consideration (P<0.05).