• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate carcass grade of pigs according to gender, feed intake, backfat thickness, carcass weight, etc. Data from a total of 26,983 heads in 5 farms were collected. The results obtained were as follows; The difference was significantly found in carcass quality grade between barrows and gilts (p<0.001). The meat grade $1^+$ was high in gilts, but meat grade 1 was high in barrows, respectively. The carcass weight of 85.8 kg was lightly shown significantly (p<0.05) in group I taken little quantity of feed consumption. However, that of 89.5 kg was heavily shown in group IV taken plenty of feed consumption. Meat grade 2 was significantly (p<0.001) high ratio in group of backfat thickness with less than 15 mm (67.5%). However, the ratio for the grade 1 was high in group of 15~19 mm. The ratio for the meat grade 2 was highly shown in group of carcass weight with more than 85 kg (54.3%). On the other hand, that of grade 1 was highly shown in group of 78~84 kg. In conclusion, pigs for marketing to enhance high quality have been appropriately raised with the optimum system in consideration of feed intake, carcass weight, backfat thickness, etc.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.1064-1075
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• 2021

Recently, a high level of dietary crude protein (CP) has become of interest as a possible practice to improve the carcass quality of beef cattle, and its level has been increasing in the field. However, there is little scientific evidence that supports this. This study was conducted to test whether a high dietary CP level would improve growth performance, body metabolism, and carcass traits in Hanwoo beef cattle. A total of 32 Hanwoo finishing beef cattle (18 multiparous cows, six heifers, and eight steers) participated in a 12-weeks feeding trial. Two kinds of total mixed rations were prepared to contain two different CP; 156 g/kg for the control (CON) and 173 g/kg of CP for the treatment (HCP), while maintaining a similar level of metabolizable energy. The experiment was ended when more than half of the steers reached the target body weight (730 kg). Blood was collected at the end of the experiment. After harvesting, the carcass trait was evaluated at the slaughterhouse according to Korean standards. The carcass yield score and grade were also calculated based on revised criteria. Overall, dry matter intake, average daily gain, blood metabolites concentration, and the carcass traits, except for backfat thickness and the yield score, did not differ between the treatments. The HCP had lower backfat thickness than those of CON. There was no difference in the carcass yield grade, but the yield score was higher in the HCP treatment. According to the newly revised carcass grading criteria, both yield score and grade were higher in HCP than in CON. Increasing CP supply decreased the carcass's backfat thickness without altering growth performance and body metabolism, resulting in improved yield score and grade. Therefore, feeding a high CP diet may be beneficial in the farm income, although it may also increase feed cost and nitrogen excretion to the environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1083-1094
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• 2016

Carcass and price traits of 72,969 Hanwoo cows, bulls and steers aged 16 to 80 months at slaughter collected from 2002 to 2013 at 75 beef packing plants in Korea were analyzed to determine heritability, correlation and breeding value using the Multi-Trait restricted maximum likelihood (REML) animal model procedure. The traits included carcass measurements, scores and grades at 24 h postmortem and bid prices at auction. Relatively high heritability was found for maturity ($0.41{\pm}0.031$), while moderate heritability estimates were obtained for backfat thickness ($0.20{\pm}0.018$), longissimus muscle (LM) area ($0.23{\pm}0.020$), carcass weight ($0.28{\pm}0.019$), yield index ($0.20{\pm}0.018$), yield grade ($0.16{\pm}0.017$), marbling ($0.28{\pm}0.021$), texture ($0.14{\pm}0.016$), quality grade ($0.26{\pm}0.016$) and price/kg ($0.24{\pm}0.025$). Relatively low heritability estimates were observed for meat color ($0.06{\pm}0.013$) and fat color ($0.06{\pm}0.012$). Heritability estimates for most traits were lower than those in the literature. Genetic correlations of carcass measurements with characteristic scores or quality grade of carcass ranged from -0.27 to +0.21. Genetic correlations of yield grade with backfat thickness, LM area and carcass weight were 0.91, -0.43, and -0.09, respectively. Genetic correlations of quality grade with scores of marbling, meat color, fat color and texture were -0.99, 0.48, 0.47, and 0.98, respectively. Genetic correlations of price/kg with LM area, carcass weight, marbling, meat color, texture and maturity were 0.57, 0.64, 0.76, -0.41, -0.79, and -0.42, respectively. Genetic correlations of carcass price with LM area, carcass weight, marbling and texture were 0.61, 0.57, 0.64, and -0.73, respectively, with standard errors ranging from ${\pm}0.047$ to ${\pm}0.058$. The mean carcass weight breeding values increased by more than 8 kg, whereas the mean marbling scores decreased by approximately 0.2 from 2000 through 2009. Overall, the results suggest that genetic improvement of productivity and carcass quality could be obtained under the national scale breeding scheme of Korea for Hanwoo and that continuous efforts to improve the breeding scheme should be made to increase genetic progress.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.550-556
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• 2009

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the relationship of slaughter age and carcass traits of Hanwoo cattle. A total number of 11,284 heads of cattle (4,624 bulls, 6,120 steers, and 540 females) were used in the experiment (Exp.) 1. In the Exp. 2, 3,887 heads of steers slaughtered at age of 24-36 mon were used. After 24 h post-slaughter chilling, the carcasses were weighed and evaluated by an official grader of carcass traits according to the Korean carcass grading standard. Backfat thickness was the main variable in yield index and grade whereas marbling score was the main variable in carcass quality grade. Meat color was an important factor affecting carcass quality grade of bulls; fat color was an important factor affecting those of steers and females; and maturity was an important factor affecting that of females. After 24-mon-old, extension of slaughter age did not automatically increase the quantity and quality of meat. However, 29 mon of age can be regarded as the optimum time to slaughter steers to attain the highest take home money for farmers.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2003

The effects of carcass grade(B and E) and containing mugwort powder(0.3％) on the pH, volatile basic nitrogen(VBN), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), bacterial count and residual nitrite of the pork sausage were investigated during storage at 4$^{\circ}C$${\pm}$1 for 8 weeks. The pH value and VBN content of sausage containing mugwort powder were not significant different(p＞0.05) depending on the carcass grade as compared to sausage free of mugwort powder. The TBARS values of sausage containing mugwort powder were significantly lower than those of sausage free of mugwort powder up to 8 weeks of the chilling process. The sausage containing mugwort powder showed to have lower bacterial counts and residual nitrite contents than those free of mugwort powder depending on the carcass grade. However, those of sausage were not affected by the carcass grade.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2013

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the decreased carcass grade due to overweight on meat quality traits of the loin and belly. Out of 500 carcasses from 85- to 150-kg market pigs, seven average-size $1^+A$ carcasses, seven 1A and twelve 1B carcasses almost weighing the upper limits allowed for the A (95 kg) and B (99 kg) grades, respectively, and 12 1B carcasses weighing 100 kg or greater were selected for the present study. Marbling score was greater in the $1^+A$ grade than in any other grade, whereas color and textural properties of the muscle and fat of the carcass did not differ among the four carcass grades. Physicochemical characteristics of the loin including the color, pH, chemical composition, and others pertaining to the textural properties changed minimally with decreasing carcass grade. Off-odor of the fresh loin and belly was not influenced by the carcass grade whereas dripping was lowest in the $1^+A$ grade; color and marbling were not influenced or minimally influenced by the carcass grade. Overall acceptability of the fresh primals, however, did not differ among the carcass grades. In cooked loin and belly, a trend of decreased taste and acceptability with decreasing carcass grade was evident, albeitat a low slope, with a significant difference detected between $1^+A$ and 2C grades. In conclusion, the decreased pig carcass grade due to overweight is accompanied by a slightly decreased meat quality, suggesting that the yield grade of pig carcass is also somewhat reflective of meat quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.591-595
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• 2002

Three hundred thirty five progeny testing steers of Korean beef cattle were evaluated ultrasonically for back fat thickness (BFT), longissimus muscle area (LMA) and intramuscular fat (IF) before slaughter. Class measurements associated with the Korean yield grade and quality grade were also obtained. Residual standard deviation between ultrasonic estimates and carcass measurements of BFT, LMA were 1.49 mm and $0.96cm^2$. The linear correlation coefficients (p<0.01) between ultrasonic estimates and carcass measurements of BFT, LMA and IF were 0.75, 0.57 and 0.67, respectively. Results for improving predictions of yield grade by four methods-the Korean yield grade index equation, fat depth alone, regression and decision tree methods were 75.4%, 79.6%, 64.3% and 81.4%, respectively. We conclude that the decision tree method can easily predict yield grade and is also useful for increasing prediction accuracy rate.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the carcass grade and characteristics of pigs by carcass weight and backfat thickness. Data used in this experiment were collected and analyzed from a total of 656 pigs composed of 128 gilts and 528 barrows at commercial public slaughter house. The carcass grade of gilts was superior to that of barrow. The carcass weight by gender tended to be heavier in castrated pig than in gilt. Backfat was significantly (p<0.05) thicker in castrated pig than in gilt. Differences between castrated pig and gilt on meat colour, marbling standard, water holding capacity, and marketing age were not significantly found. However, the level of carcass grade was higher ratio in gilt group than in castration. The appearance of percentage of PSE (pale, soft, exudative) of gilt group was superior to that of castrated group. There were significant differences among carcass weight in the marbling score (p<0.05) and water holding capacity (p<0.05). There was significant difference among backfnt thickness in carcass weight (p<0.05), marbling score (p<0.05) and water holding capacity (p<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.716-722
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• 2005

Carcass weight and backfat thickness are primary yield grading factors. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/-II, transforming growth factor $\beta$1 (TGF-$\beta$1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulate the proliferation and differentiation of cells including adipocytes. Also, interleukin (IL)-2/-6, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) are known to be related to muscle growth and fat depth. However, the relationships between endocrine factors and carcass grade have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the concentrations of endocrine factors in serum and muscle, and to investigate the relationship of endocrine factors with carcass grade. A total of 60 crossbred gilts (Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) were used. Blood from the jugular vein was collected at antemortem (7 days before slaughter) and postmortem periods, and M. Longissimus was collected at 45 min and 24 h after slaughter. The concentrations of IGF-I/-II, EGF, TGF-$\beta$1, IL-2/-6, cortisol and DHEA-S were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In general, IGF and EGF concentrations in serum and muscle of grade A carcasses were found to be higher than those of grade C carcasses at antemortem and postmortem periods, whereas the pattern of TGF-$\beta$1 concentration was reversed. In particular, the concentrations of muscle IGF-I (24 h postmortem) and serum TGF-$\beta$1 (antemortem) were significantly different between grades A and C (p<0.05). The present results indicate that serum and muscle growth factors affect carcass weight and backfat thickness, and indirectly suggest the possibility that carcass grade could be predicted by expression of serum and/or muscle growth factors.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2005

Two hundred [(Duroc${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Landrace] pigs were used in a 117-d growth assay (including four growth stages) to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus reuteri on performance of swine, fecal and rectumal microflora and carcass grade. Pig diet was divided tow types, commercial diet (Control group) and supplemention of 0.1% Lactobacillus reuteri (Treatmental group). There was tend to increased in average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (Feed/gain) in treatmental group than control group during the whole experimental period. The number of Lactobacilius spp. into rectum and feaces and carcass rate tended to increase in treatmental group than control group. Ammonia emission from excreta were decrease by supplemention of 0.1% Lactobacillus reuteri in feed (P<0.05). These results indicated that the dietary Lactobacillus reuteri were effective in performance, increasing of Lactobacilius spp. into rectum and feaces, decreasing ammonia emission from excreta, and it had also effective the carcass rate in swine.