• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.709-718
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• 2016

This review addresses the characteristics and health benefit of highly marbled Wagyu and Hanwoo beef. Marbling of Wagyu and Hanwoo beef has been increased in Japan and Korea to meet domestic consumer preferences. Wagyu and Hanwoo cattle have high potential of accumulating intramuscular fat (IMF) and producing highly marbled beef. The IMF content varies depending on the feeding of time, finishing diet, and breed type. IMF increases when feeding time is increased. The rate of IMF increase in grain-fed cattle is faster than that in pasture-fed cattle. Fatty acid composition are also different depending on breeds. Highly marbled Wagyu and Hanwoo beef have higher proportions of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) due to higher concentrations of oleic acid. MUFAs have little effect on total cholesterol. They are heart-healthy dietary fat because they can lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. Clinical trials have indicated that highly marbled beef does not increase LDL-cholesterol. This review also emphasizes that high oleic acid beef such as Wagyu and Hanwoo beef might be able to reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1331-1341
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of replacing cassava chips with broken rice in a fermented total mixed ration diet on silage quality, feed intake, ruminal fermentation, growth performance, and carcass characteristics in the final phase of fattening beef cattle. Methods: Eighteen Charolais-Thai native crossbred steers (average initial body weight: 609.4±46 kg; average age 31.6 mo) were subjected to three ad libitum dietary regimes and were maintained in individual pens for 90 d before slaughter. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design by initial age and body weight with six replicates. The dietary regimens used different proportions of broken rice (0%, 16%, and 32% [w/w] of dry matter [DM]) instead of cassava chips in a fermented total mixed ration. All dietary treatments were evaluated for in vitro gas production and tested in in vivo feeding trials. Results: The in vitro experiments indicated that organic matter from broken rice was significantly more digestible than that from a cassava-based diet (p<0.05). Silage quality, nutrient intake, ruminal fermentation characteristics, carcass fat thickness, and marbling score substantially differed among treatments. The ruminal total volatile fatty acids, propionate concentration, dietary protein intake, and digestibility increased linearly (p<0.05) with broken rice, whereas acetate concentration and the acetate:propionate ratio decreased linearly (p<0.05) with broken rice (added up to 32 g/kg DM). Broken rice did not influence plasma metabolite levels or growth performance (p>0.05). However, the marbling score increased, and the carcass characteristics improved with broken rice. Conclusion: Substitution of cassava chips with broken rice in beef cattle diets may improve fattened beef carcass quality because broken rice increases rumen fermentation, fatty acid biosynthesis, and metabolic energy supply.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3-20
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• 2015

Vitamin A exerts a broad range of effects on many essential life processes. But, since vitamin A is known to negatively affect the development of adipocytes, extensive research has been conducted to improve marbling score in beef cattle by feeding vitamin A-deficient diets. In Japan, the method of fattening Wagyu cattle using vitamin A-deficient diets has been widely adapted. Recently, the method of feeding vitamin A-deficient diets in Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) has been spread by feed companies and TMR plants. But proper guidelines in feeding vitamin A-deficient diets should be provided, otherwise it can adversely affect the health of cattle. To maximize marbling score, a controlled level of vitamin A in blood needs to be maintained and the proper period for feeding vitamin A-deficient diets should be adapted. This review was conducted to highlight the regulatory effects of vitamins A on adipocyte differentiation, and offer a potential guideline for improving beef quality grades in Hanwoo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1083-1088
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• 2012

The breeding value of marbling score in skeletal muscle is an important factor for evaluating beef quality. In the present study, we investigated proteins associated with the breeding value of the marbling score for bovine sirloin to select potential biomarkers to improve meat quality through comparative proteomic analysis. Proteins isolated from muscle were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. After analyzing images of the stained gel, seven protein spots for the high marbling score group were identified corresponding to changes in expression that were at least two-fold compared to the low marbling score group. Four spots with increased intensities in the high marbling score group were identified as phosphoglycerate kinase 1, triosephophate isomerase, acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein PO, and capping protein (actin filament) Z-line alpha 2. Spots with decreased intensities in the high marbling score group compared to the low score group were identified as 14-3-3 epsilon, carbonic anhydrase II, and myosin light chain 1. Expression of myosin light chain 1 and carbonic anhydrase 2 was confirmed by Western blotting. Taken together, these data could help improve the economic performance of cattle and provide useful information about the underlying the function of bovine skeletal muscle.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.776-782
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• 2012

Marbling (intramuscular fat) is the most economically important meat quality trait in Hanwoo (Korean cattle). The endothelial differentiation G-protein coupled receptor 1 (EDG1) gene, involved in blood vessel formation, is located within the genomic region of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for marbling on bovine chromosome 3. Thus, the EDG1 gene can be considered as a positional and functional candidate gene for meat quality in beef cattle. This study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the EDG1 gene and to evaluate their associations with carcass traits in Hanwoo population. We have sequenced a fragment of 5'-UTR of the EDG1 gene and identified one SNP. Genotyping of the g.166A>G SNP marker was carried out using PCR-RFLP analysis in 309 Hanwoo steers in order to evaluate their association with carcass traits. The g.166A>G SNP marker showed a significant effect on the marbling score. Animals with the GG genotype had higher marbling score compared with AA and AG genotypes (p<0.05). This SNP marker also showed a significant additive effects for the marbling score (p<0.05). These results suggest that the EDG1 gene can be used as a molecular marker for DNA marker-assisted selection in order to increase the levels of the marbling score in Hanwoo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.810-814
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• 1999

The influence of dietary vitamin E supplementation on meat color and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations in plasma, longissimus thoracis muscle and subcutaneous fat was investigated. Ten Japanese $Black{\times}Holstein$ crossbred steers were placed in three experimental groups receiving different supplements of vitamin E. Four steers (control) were fed no supplemental vitamin E. Two groups of three steers each, were supplemented with 500 mg dl-${\alpha}$-tocopherol acetate per animal daily for 175 days and 1,000 mg for 100 days, respectively, before slaughter. The ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in plasma increased, as vitamin E were fed, and were related to the length of time and the amount of supplement. The ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations in the muscle and the fat from the two supplemental groups did not differ significantly and were three or more times greater than those in the control group. Vitamin E supplementation did not affect the quantity of marbling of beef. Supplemental vitamin E stabilized the color of displayed beef around wavelengths of 500 nm and 640 nm. The two methods of vitamin E supplementation had similar effects on meat color. The effect of supplemental vitamin E on the color of beef with marbling was observed 2-3 days after slaughter and was followed for another two weeks.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.8
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• pp.27.1-27.6
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• 2014

The fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene plays an important role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, fat deposition and obesity. For this reason, the FTO gene is a physiological and functional candidate gene for carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle. The objectives of this study were to identify SNPs in the exonic regions of FTO gene and to evaluate the association of these SNPs with carcass traits in Hanwoo (Korean cattle). In this study, we newly identified two exonic SNPs in Hanwoo population. The g.125550A > T SNP was located in exon 3 and the g.175675C > T SNP was located in exon 6. Genotyping of the two SNP markers was carried out using PCR-RFLP analysis in Hanwoo steers to evaluate their association with carcass traits. As a result, g.125550A > T SNP genotype was significantly associated with effects on marbling score. Animals with the AA and TT homozygous genotypes had a significantly higher marbling score (p < 0.001) than those with AT heterozygous genotype, and this was significant after Bonferroni correction of the significance threshold (p = 0.003). Dominance effect was also observed for the marbling score (P < 0.05) with higher marbling score of homozygous animals. However, no significant associations with meat quality traits were observed for the g.175675C > T SNP. Our results suggest that the exonic SNP g.125550A > T in the FTO gene may be used as a DNA marker for the selection of Hanwoo with higher marbling.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.537-544
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• 2020

Beef consumption trends are changing according to consumer needs and preferences. This study was conducted to collect the fundamental information by investigating the consumer's preference and purchase propensity of beef(Hanwoo beef) for improvement of Korean beef grading system. Consumers were recruited from Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and 5 metropolitan cities, and surveyed from July 24 ~ August 14, 2017. The data obtained from 362 consumers were finally selected for the verification process. Results from the Hierarchical Regression Analysis reveal that the increased purchasing frequency is positively correlated with the following factors, in the consumer group showing preference in the Quality Grade (QG) of beef: marbling type 1QG, fat color 1⁺QG, and income, grade opinion, marbling contents and type 1⁺⁺QG. Conversely, no factor affected the increased purchasing frequency in the consumer group having no preferred QG for beef (p>0.05). Our study determined significant differences in the factors affecting increased purchase frequency of beef among the different groups, classified depending on their preferred QG. The grading system is important since it directly correlates with profit for livestock farmers and the industry. We therefore propose that the grading criteria need to be revised reasonably but scientifically, considering various opinions of the producers and consumers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1529-1535
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• 2006

Leptin has been investigated as a candidate gene for fat characteristics in beef cattle. Previously, we have reported 57 sequence variants discovered in Korean cattle (Bos Taurus coreanae). In this study, we examined the association between polymorphisms of leptin and carcass traits (cold carcass weight (CWT) and marbling score (Marb)) in Korean cattle. Among 57 polymorphisms, 11 common polymorphic sites were genotyped in our beef cattle (n = 437). Statistical analysis revealed that one single nucleotide polymorphism in coding exon (c.+411T>C (A137A)) showed a significant association with the yield trait, CWT. The C-bearing genotypes (CC or CT) of c.+411T>C (A137A) showed the higher CWT (p = 0.006). c.+150C>G (S50S) also showed a significant association with the quality trait, Marb (p = 0.01). Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in leptin might be one of the important genetic factors that influence carcass yield and quality in beef cattle, especially in CWT and Marb.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.309-313
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• 2008

The insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) has been investigated as a candidate gene for growth promoting effects in beef cattle and a modulator of IGF bioactivity. Previously, we have reported twenty two sequence variants discovered in Korean native cattle (Hanwoo). In this study, we examined the association between gene-specific polymorphisms of IGFBP3 and cold carcass weight (CW) and marbling score (MS) among Korean native cattle. Among twenty two polymorphisms, four common polymorphic sites (-854G>C, -100G>A, +421G>T and +3863C>A) were genotyped in our beef cattle (n = 437). Statistical analysis revealed that one common polymorphism in the promoter region (-854G>C) showed putative associations with MS (p = 0.03). IGFBP3 variation/haplotype information analyzed in this study will provide valuable information into strategies for the production of a commercial line of beef cattle.