The Research Center for Animal Science (RCAS)

Hiroshima University’s Promising Research Initiatives

(recognized in 2014)

Education & Research for advanced technological developments contributing to safe and high quality animal productions

Presented by Dr Yukinori Yoshimura（ Graduate School of Biosphere Science）

Where is Hiroshima University?

Hiroshima is best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon on August 6, 1945, near the end of World War II.

Peace Memorial Park is a famous place to promise and learn the peace of the world.

However, Hiroshima is now one of the biggest city in Japan. The population is more than 1 million. MAZDA that is automotive manufacture is based on Hiroshima.

Hiroshima University has two campuses.

Faculties (11)Faculty of Integrated Arts and SciencesFaculty of LettersFaculty of EconomicsFaculty of LawFaculty of EducationFaculty of ScienceFaculty of EngineeringFaculty of MedicineFaculty of DentistryFaculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesFaculty of Applied Biological Science

Graduate Schools (12)Graduate Schl of Integrated Arts and SciGraduate Schl of LettersGraduate Schl of EducationGraduate Schl of Social SciencesGraduate Schl of ScienceGraduate Schl of EngineeringGraduate Schl of Biomedical SciencesGraduate Schl of Health SciencesGraduate School of Biosphere

ScienceGraduate Schl for International

Development and CooperationGraduate Schl of Advanced Sciences of

MatterStudentsUndergraduate:11,040Master course:2,510PhD course:1,750Others:500Foreign students:760 from 57 countries

StaffAcademic : 1,830Non-academic: 1.440

Faculties: Hiroshima University

Departments DEPARTMENT OF BIORESOURCE SCIENCEAnimal Science, Aquatic Biology, Food and Resource Economics, Field Science DEPARTMENT OF BIOFUNCTIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYMolecular and Applied Biosciences, Food Science and Biofunctions

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS AND MANAGEMENTModeling, Management and Assessment of Environmental Dynamics

AIMS program

Int’l summer school

Int’l symposium

Short visit Vet Tech students

Animal Science (Academic staff: 11) Animal breeding, Reproduction, Nutrition and Feed, Management and

Behavior, Physiology and HistologyAquatic Biology (Academic staff: 14) Aquatic Biochemistry, Ecology, Pathology, Neurobiology, Biology of Aquatic Resources, AquacultureFood and Resource Economics (Academic staff: 4) Food Production, Management, Agricultural Marketing Field Science (Academic staff: 4) Animal Farm, Aquatic field studies

DEPARTMENT OF BIORESOURCE SCIENCE

gene

Animal Science Division Graduate School of Biosphere ScienceHiroshima University

The goal of this division is to discover novel functions in animals and applying such discoveries for the technological advancement of domestic animal production. The research will contribute to sustainable and efficient production of safe food for humans derived from animal products. Current research fields are: breeding and genetics based on modern genomic analysis, reproductive biology and biotechnology for enhanced reproductive performance, applied nutritional physiology and feed evaluation for improved nutritional management, ecology and neurophysiology for better animal management and viability, and fundamental histology and molecular physiology to enhance veterinary production and health..

Animal Breeding and GeneticsAnimal Reproduction Animal Nutrition and FeedingAnimal Behavior and PhysiologyAnimal Histophysiology Animal Farm

The Research Center for Animal Science

Hiroshima University’s Promising Research Initiatives

(recognized in 2014)

Presented by Dr Yukinori Yoshimura（ Graduate School of Biosphere Science）

Goals

Contribution to development of technologies for safe and high quality animal products

• Progression for animal nutrition, breeding and reproduction, and health

• Contribution for food safety and security• Innovation for new agricultural science by

cross-disciplinary research collaboration

well-being

health

breeding

reproduction

nutrition

metabolism

productivity

Background

Problems in the World*Animal products are essential for human food *Rapid increase in human population in Asia and other countries, and in consumption of animal products

*Increase in requirements of quality and safety of products for human food security

*Importance of productivity enhancement for agricultural animals

International Research net work*Each region in the world has techniques adaptive to the regional natural environment.

*Fundamental research and advanced technology development are essential for the sustainable animal production in the future.

*Collaborative works and sharing ideas will enable to do it.Importance to share the idea for sustainable and productive livestock agriculture systems

Project 1　Hostdefense and Genetic resources research, Creation of livestock disease-resistance

Project 2　Reproductive biology, Breeding technology development

Project 3　Endocrinology, Physiology of nutrition, Animal management technology development

Project 4　New research project

～ From basic research to applied research～

Create new research projects by organizing

an animal husbandry research consortium

Acceptance of graduate students & international students

International research collaboration

Research Projects for Advanced Technology Development of Animal Production

Outcomes

Nutrition & metabolism Immunobiology

1. Development of scientific research in nutrition and metabolism, reproductive biology, genome and breeding, endocrinology and immunobiology.

2. Development of applied research in nutrition managements, artificial breeding, and health managements.

3. Establishment of the principles of life science and technology for animal production.

4. Contribution to the society through the research for food safety and security.

International collaboration

Genome and breeding

Endocrinology

Reproductive biology

Behavior

Hiroshima University(Japan)

Kasetsart University（ Thailand）

Sichuan Agricultural Univ.; North West Agriculture and Forestry Univ.（ China）

Univ. Gadjah Mada（ Indonesia）

University of Alberta（ Canada）

12

Members Institutes MajorsLeaderYukinori Yoshimura, PhD

Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HUImmunodefense in poultry reproductive and digestive system

ManagerMasayuki Shimada, PhD

Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HUReproductive Molecular EndocrinologyReproductive technology

ManagerToshihisa Sugino, PhD

Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Ruminant metabolism and endocrinology

Masaoki Tsudzuki, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Genome of Japanese native chickens

Masahide Nishibori, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Genome and Polymorphism of Animals and Poultry

Teruo Maeda, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Manipulation of germ cells

Yusuke Sotomaru, PhD Nat Sci Center Basic Res Dev, HU Animal developmental engineering

Ikuo Miura, PhD Grad. Schl Sci, HU Sex determination and differentiation

Taketo Obitsu, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Ruminant nutrition and feed evaluation

Takashi Bungo, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Animal Behavior and Physiology

Shin-ichi Kawakami, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Animal management and neurology

Naoki Isobe, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HURuminant mastitis and mammary gland immune system

Yuzo Kurokawa, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Dairy milk production and grassland utilization

Kensuke Kawamura, PhD IDEC, HU Grazing management and remote control system

Soichi Tanabe, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Gastro-protection by lactobacilli and bifidobacteria

Noriyuki Yanaka, PhD Grad Schl Biosphere Sci, HU Nutritional factors and obesity

Shiro Kushibiki, PhD Natl Agr Food Res Center Animal nutrition and metabolism

Tetsuji Okazaki, PhD Oita Pref Animal Res Center Porcine reproductive technology

JoAnne S. Richards, PhD Baylor College of Medicine, USA Animal reproduction

Masahito Oba, PhD University of Alberta, Canada Animal nutrition

Members of The Research Center for Animal Science

Development of new chicken breeds that are excellent in products quality, disease-resistance and reproductive performance. Contribution for sustainable development of poultry production in Asia and world.

Genome analysis and breeding in Japanese native chickens

Innate immune function for infection-resistance improvement

Natl. and prefectural institutes, Japan

Fundamental studies on reproduction and development

Kasetsart University（ Thailand）

Sichuan Agricultural Univ.; North West Agriculture and Forestry Univ.（ China）

Salmonella E

Excellent genetic trait of Japanese native chickens.

Analysis of genetic locus for genome breeding

Finding of antimicrobial peptide in reproductive and digestive organs.

New strategy for disease resistance improvement in chickens and other livestock.

Fundamental studies on sex determination, developmental engineering, and reproductive endocrinology

Research activities in RCASProject 1. Hostdefense and genetic resources research

(Example) Creation of livestock disease-resistance

Avian β-defensin

Domestic and international collaborations

Univ. Gadjah Mada（ Indonesia）

Genome-based breeding

Establishment of new elite stocks of chickens

Data base

Dispatch to the world

CollaborationNational institutesPrefectural institutesDomestic/foreign universitiesPrivate institutes

Avian Research TeamDevelopment of the methods to evaluate phenotypes/functions

Identification of useful genes for breeding

Research activities in RCASProject 1. Hostdefense and genetic resources

research(Example) Creation of high quality chickens

LH（ ovulation stimli）Granulosa/

cumulus cells

AREG,

ovulationNRG1

Oocyte maturation

Fertilizing ability

Fertilizable ovumDetermination of the fertilization mechanism

Identification of sperm motility suppressing factors in semen

Ca2+ Ca2+

Fe3+ATP

day0 day4 day6-9

Determination of ovulation mechanism and sperm cryopreservation techniques in pigs

Pig No. 0001 Pig No. 0002

SNP No.SNP

GenotypeSNP No.

SNPGenotype

SNP1001 A SNP1001 ASNP1002 T SNP1002 C

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓SNP1023 G SNP1023 ASNP1024 A SNP1024 G

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓SNP1192 T SNP1192 T

Individual Identification using SNP genotypes

Project 2. Reproductive biology, (Example) Breeding technology development

Research activities in RCAS

Novel artificial insemination program in pigs

Identification of heat (0h)

AI optimum time

AI optimum time

Sperm survival timeTerm possible

for fertilization

DNA analysis for determination of parent-child relationship and identification of individual origins

SNP analysis for genetic close-relations in pigs

sire pigs

Establishment of the novel pig breeding technology

Contribution for sustainable development of pig production in Asia and world.

North West Agriculture and Forestry Univ.（ China）

Research activities in RCASProject 3. Endocrinology, Physiology of nutrition, Animal management technology

(Example) Animal management technology development

Analysis of body score by 3D image and remote sensing

Nutrient　metabolism in ruminants

Nutritional factors causing lifestyle disease and obesityGastro-intestinal health and protection by probiotics

Improvement of productivity in dairy milk using advanced robot system

Milk amount and quality, estrus cycle identification etc.

Production and health analysis

Work-saving management, High performance, Health enhancement and Safe products in Animal production

Body shape and obesity evaluation etc.　　

3D image analysis

Tissue regulatory factors analysis

Metabolism regulation by blood factors and hormones etc.

Hiroshima University(Japan)

Kasetsart University（ Thailand）

University of Alberta（ Canada）

Natl. and prefectural institutes, Japan