• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.952-959
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate growth, behavior and carcass traits of fattening Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) steers managed in different group sizes. A total of 48 animals, 6 months of age, were allocated to one of three group sizes and the experiment was conducted from 12 to 30 months of age. Groups were balanced for weight and the group sizes consisted of 4, 8, or 12 steers which were named 4sG, 8sG and 12sG, respectively. When animals were 12 months of age, initial fasted body weight (BW, $304.51{\pm}12.40\;kg$) was measured. All animals were housed at a constant space allowance of $8.82\;m^2$ per animal, and a feeder and drinker were provided per 4 animals. The whole fattening stage was divided into three phases: phase I (from 12 to 18 month of age), phase II (from 19 to 24 month of age), and phase III (from 25 to 30 month of age). Steers managed in 12sG showed low (p<0.05) growth rate and feed conversion rate (FCR) in phase I and phase II when compared to other treatment groups. However, this difference was not observed for the whole fattening phase (p>0.05). Steers managed in 4sG had a thick (p<0.05) ultrasound back fat thickness at 15 and 18 months of age. However, group size had no effect on meat yield and quality traits of area and marbling score. Animals managed in 8sG yielded a better meat grade of "A" than the "B" grade in other treatment group sizes. Lean color, fat color, firmness and maturity scores did not differ among group sizes. Hanwoo steers housed under 12sG spent less time on eating concentrate, relevant higher eating rate, less frequency of allogrooming, and more time on walking (p<0.05). It could be concluded that a large group size retarded growth rate and back fat thickness in the fattening stage, which was mainly focused on 15 and 18 months of age.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1114-1123
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• 2014

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of 2% seamustard (Undaria pinnatifida) by-product (SW) on growth performance, immunity, carcass characteristics, cholesterol content and fatty acid profile in Hanwoo steers. A total of 20 Hanwoo steers (ave. 22 months old; 619 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to control (basal diet) and 2% SW supplemented diet. Dietary SW supplementation significantly (p<0.05) improved average daily gain and gain:feed ratio as well as serum immunoglobulin G concentration. Chemical composition and quality grade of meat and carcass yield grades evaluated at the end of the trial were found to be unaffected by SW supplementation. Dietary SW significantly reduced meat cholesterol concentration (p<0.05). Dietary SW supplementation significantly reduced the myristic acid (C14:0) and palmitoleic acid (C16:ln-7) concentration, while SW increased the concentration of stearic acid (C18:0) and linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) compared to control (p<0.05). Dietary SW supplementation had no effect on saturated fatty acids (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids, poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) or mono unsaturated fatty acid content in muscles. A reduced ratio of PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 were found in SW supplemented group (p<0.05). In conclusion, 2% SW supplementation was found to improve growth, immunity and fatty acid profile with significantly reduced cholesterol of beef.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.164-168
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• 2024

Background: The climate of Korean peninsula is characterized by four distinct seasons. In recent years, global warming has accelerated, and summers in Korea are typically hot and humid. However, the precise extent of climatic damage caused in Hanwoo farming has not yet been reported, by long raise periods. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of birth and slaughter season on economical carcass characteristics in Hanwoo cattle. Methods: Hanwoo steer carcass data was collected from the Korean Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation database for 2021-2022. Hanwoo birth and slaughter season was classified as spring (March-May), summer (June-August), fall (September-November), and winter (December-February). Results: The carcass mass and loin area were significantly higher in winter- and spring-born Hanwoo than in summer- and fall-born cattle. However, back fat thickness was significantly higher in winter- and spring-slaughtered steers than in summer-slaughtered cattle. In addition, the marbling score was highest in summer-slaughtered steers, but meat yield grade differed between Hanwoo steers of different ages. Conclusions: Out results indicate that carcass mass and loin area were correlated with birth season, whereas back fat thickness and marbling score were related with slaughter season. These results will contribute to improving meat production quality in the Hanwoo industry.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1392-1398
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• 2012

This study investigated the effects of diet of different forages on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. Twenty-one Hanwoo steers were randomly allocated to three groups (fed hay, reed, and reed with rice straw) of seven steers each. Initial and final body weights of control, T1, and T2 groups were 125.5, 128.3, 128.3 kg and 697.4, 614.6, 706.7 kg, respectively. Average daily gain tended to increase in controls (0.70 kg/d) and the T2 group (0.71 kg/d) but not as much in the T1 group (0.60 kg/d); however, there was no significant difference. DMI was not significantly different among the treatment groups, but T1 was relatively lower than the other groups. For the yield traits, carcass weight was not significantly different between controls and the T2 group but was greater in the T2 group compared to the T1 group (p<0.05). Back fat thickness and rib eye area were higher in controls and T2 compared to T1; yield grade (A:B:C, %) was greater in T1 (43:57:0) compared to the other groups (control 0:71:29; T2 29:42:29). For the quality traits, fat color and texture were not significantly different among groups. However, meat color and maturity were significantly greater in T1 compared to T2 (p<0.05). Marbling score and appearance rate of over 1st meat quality grade were greater in the control and T2 groups compared to the T1 group. Based on the results, growth performance, feed utilization, and carcass traits appeared to improve when roughage containing rice straw plus reed was offered. Therefore, reed is worth considering as a roughage source for fattening Hanwoo steers.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding whole crop barley silage (WBS) on the growth performance, carcass grade, and beef quality of Hanwoo steers. Twelve Hanwoo steers (12-mon-old) were allocated into either a control (rice straw fed) or WBS (whole crop barley silage fed) group (six animals per group) and fed for 540 d until the animals reached 30-mon-old. Concentrates and roughage were fed according to the feeding stage phases; finisher I (12.16-monold), II (17.21-mon-old), and III (22.30-mon-old). A significant increase in growth was observed during the finisher I stage for the steer fed WBS, whereas a significant increase in growth occurred during the finisher II stage in the control group. The yield grade of the WBS group increased significantly with a 15.6% increase in the longissimus dorsi area and a 25.7% reduction in back fat thickness. Marbling scores improved 52.4% in the WBS group compared with the control group. A significant difference in treatments was observed for the proximate chemical composition of the crude fat content. The results regarding palatability traits in the WBS group showed a significant improvement in appearance. The results indicate that the WBS group had improved longissimus muscle and marbling scores on carcass grading compared to the control.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.206-215
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• 2010

A total of 582 gilts and barrows were analyzed to investigate the regressive relationships to slaughter weight (SW) of variables related to production efficiency and pork quality. Average initial weights and SW were 88.6 and 122.5 kg, respectively, for gilts and 88.7 and 121.4 kg, respectively, for barrows. Average daily gain and gain:feed ratio were not affected by SW. Backfat thickness, which was significantly greater (p<0.01) in barrows (23.3 mm) than in gilts (20.7 mm), increased with increasing SW (0.21 mm/kg; p<0.001). When the 4-notch carcass yield and quality grades were quantified according to an arbitrary 1 point-per-1 notch scale, the former, but not the latter, regressed on SW (-0.64/10 kg; p<0.01). The percent yield of the belly per total lean (overall mean=20.7%) increased with increasing SW (0.37%/10 kg; p<0.001), whereas in other cuts, the SW effect was negligible. The redness of the loin also increased with increasing SW (p<0.05), but other physicochemical characteristics were minimally influenced by SW. In sensory evaluation, effects of SW for fresh and cooked loin, ham, and belly were mostly considered insignificant in terms of quality, albeit statistically significant in several cases. However, positive regressions on SW (p<0.01) of the marbling and acceptability scores of fresh loin as well as the fat:lean ratio of fresh belly were noteworthy. Collectively, SW of approximately 125 kg was maximal for both sexes under the current carcass yield grading, in which 94 kg is the upper weight limit for grade A carcass. However, if the carcass weight limit of the grading was to be removed or broadened, the SW for gilts (but not that for barrows because of their excessive fat content at above 125-kg SW) could be increased to 135 kg or greater without compromising carcass quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.367-375
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of the level of cracked whole barley on daily feed intake, daily body weight gain, carcass characteristics and meat composition of finishing Hanwoo steers (feeding from 24 months to 30 months of age). The dietary treatments were consisted of five types (C; normal concentrate as a basal diet, T1; 10% addition of cracked whole barley, T2; 20% addition of cracked whole barley, T3; 30% addition of cracked whole barley, T4; 40% addition of cracked whole barley). A total 30 Hanwoo steers (588.6${\pm}$11.8kg) were allocated to 5 feeding groups. The daily feed intake and daily body weight gain were high in the order of T2 > T3 >T4 > T1 > C. The back fat thickness and longissmus muscle area were highest in C and T1, respectively (P<0.05) than other treatments. The meat yield index decreased with increased back fat thickness. The marbling score and meat quality were highest in T1 (P<0.01, 0.05, respectively), but maturity, fat color and meat color were not significantly different among treatments. The crude fat was highest in T1 (17.59%), while in T4 (7.47%) it was lowest (P<0.05). The crude protein and crude ash were not significantly different among treatments. The energy value of cracked whole barley treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4) was higher than C (P<0.05). The contents of Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mo, Na and Zn were higher in C than the other treatments (P<0.01), but Co was higher in T2 (P<0.01). The CIE $L^*$ value of whole cracked barley treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4) was higher than C, however there were not differences among the treatments. The CIE $a^*$ value was highest in T1(P<0.05) than others. The CIE $b^*$ value was highest in C and it was decreased with increased feeding of cracked whole barley. Based on the above results, T1 treatment compared to other treatments improved the carcass quality parameters like loin muscle area, marbling score, meat quality, and CIE $L^*$ value.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.95-103
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• 2011

Ninety five Hanwoo steers averaging 226kg of body weight were used to investigate the effect of dietary type on feed efficiency, carcass characteristics and economical analysis in Hanwoo feeding over 22 months. Treatments were composed of commercial formula feed (formula feed), TMR and Fermented-TMR (F-TMR). Intakes of dry matter and TDN were greater in the F-TMR than the other treatments during each growing and fattening phase (p<0.05). Although daily body gain of the F-TMR was lowest during the growing phase, but was 48% greater than those of other treatment during the finishing phase (p<0.05). Feed efficiency of the F-TMR was maintained constantly during whole growing and fattening phases. Carcass weight and rib-eye area of the F-TMR were greatest (p<0.05) among treatments. However, meat yield index and the rate of grade A in meat yield were highest in the formula feed having the thinnest back fat. Marbling score was hugely (p<0.05) increased when steers fed F-TMR, and therateofgrade 1+andoverinmeatqualitywas96%intheF-TMR. Although feed cost in the F-TMR was increased by 40% compare to the formula feed, but net income was increased by 29% due to improvement of meat quality and body gain.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding patterns of concentrates on growth performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo cows. Randomly-allocated groups, restricted concentrate feeding (T1), restricted concentrate feeding for 6 months and ad libitum 2 months (T2), restricted concentrate feeding for 4 months and ad libitum 4 months (T3), were contained with 9 animals. According to feeding patterns of concentrate, growth performance was not significantly different among the treatment groups. However, ADG tended to be higher in T2 group (0.75 kg/d) compared to the other groups (T1: 0.62 kg/d, T3: 0.72 kg/d). DMI was not significantly different among the treatment groups, interestingly, rice straw intake was significantly higher in T1 group compared with others (p<0.05). There were significant difference among feed conversion ratio, which are 17.8, 12.8, and 14.1 kg for T1, T2, and T3 (p<0.05), respectively. The serum level of albumin, triglyceride, glucose and GPT were greater in T3 group compared to other groups at fattening 6 to 8 months (p<0.05). The results of yield traits, carcass weight, back fat thickness and rib eye area were not differ among treatment groups, but yield index was significantly greater in T2 group compared to T1 group (p<0.05). The 'A' appearance rate (%) of meat yield grade was highest in T2 group for 78%. The marbling score, meat color, fat color, texture and maturity in quality traits were not differ among the treatment groups. However, marbling score and appearance rate (%) of over 1st meat quality grade were tend to be increased at T3 rather (4.0, 56%) group compared with other groups (T1: 3.4, 56%; T2: 3.6, 33%). Thus, the present study suggested that restricted concentrate feeding (1.6% of BW) for 4 months during early fattening periods and ad libitum feeding for 4 months during late fattening periods are recommendable.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.427-434
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the growth performance and meat quality improvement according to castration, optimal feeding management and ruminally protected amino acid-enriched fatty acid (RPAAFA) for the unselected Hanwoo bulls in the performance test. Bulls were castrated at approximately 14 months of age. Sixteen Hanwoo steers, 15 months of age and weighing $412.9{\pm}24.9kg$, were distributed into 2 groups. Steers were fed a basal diet supplemented with RPAAFA at 0 g (control) or 100 g (treatment), respectively for 12 months. Steers were slaughtered at 27 months of age. Average daily gain for treatment tended to be higher (p=0.10) than that of control, whereas feed conversion ratio tended to be lower (p=0.07) in treatment than in control. The supplementation of RPAAFA did not affect rib eye area, back fat thickness, meat color, fat color, texture and maturity. The appearance rates of yield 'A' grade and high quality grade ($1^{++}$, $1^+$ and 1) were higher in treatment than in control. The content of moisture, fat, protein and ash in longissimus muscles were similar between control and treatment. The supplementation of RPAAFA did not affect water-holding capacity, oxidation and reduction potential, myoglobin and fatty acid contents in longissimus muscles. Thus, present results indicate that castration, optimal feeding management and RPAAFA may be recommended for improving growth performance and quality grade of the unselected Hanwoo bulls in the performance test.