• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.848-854
• /
• 2010

The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for the carcass price and carcass traits contributing to carcass grading and to investigate the influence of each carcass trait on the carcass price using multiple regression and path analyses. Data for carcass traits and carcass prices were collected from March 2003 to January 2009 on steers of Korean cattle raised at private farms. The analytical mixed animal model, including slaughter house-year-month combination, linear and quadratic slaughter age as fixed effects and random animal and residual effects, was used to estimate genetic parameters. The effects of carcass traits on the carcass price were evaluated by applying multiple regression analyses. Heritability estimates of carcass traits were $0.20{\pm}0.08$ for carcass weight (CWT), $0.33{\pm}0.10$ for back fat thickness (BFT), $0.07{\pm}0.05$ for eye-muscle area (EMA) and $0.25{\pm}0.10$ for marbling score (MS), and those of carcass prices were $0.21{\pm}0.10$ for auction price per 1 kg of carcass weight (AP) and $0.13{\pm}0.07$ for total price (CP). Genetic correlation coefficients of AP with CWT and MS were $-0.35{\pm}0.29$ and $0.99{\pm}0.04$, respectively, and those of CP with CWT and MS were $0.59{\pm}0.22$ and $0.39{\pm}0.29$ respectively. If an appropriate adjustment for temporal economic value is available, the moderate heritability estimates of AP and CP might suggest their potential use as the breeding objectives for improving the gross incomes of beef cattle farms. The large genetic correlation estimates of carcass price variables with CWT and MS implied that simultaneous selection for both CWT and MS would be also useful in enhancing income.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.367-375
• /
• 2021

The aim of this study was to identify the factors contributing to the auction price and total price of carcasses by using squared semi-partial correlation of carcass traits. The data used in this study were the carcass grades assigned to 7,145 head of Hanwoo slaughtered from 2013 to 2018 in Gyeonggi province and 106,779 head of Hanwoo slaughtered from 2013 to 2018 outside of Gyeonggi province. The rankings of the carcass traits contributing to the auction price were in the order of marbling score (86.70%), backfat thickness (10.42%), eye muscle area (1.40%), and carcass weight (0.92%) in Gyeonggi province. In Hanwoo slaughtered outside of Gyeonggi province, the rankings were in the order of marbling score (88.53%), backfat thickness (9.06%), eye muscle area (1.24%), and carcass weight (0.99%). The rankings of carcass traits contributing to the total price were in the order of marbling score (45.95%), carcass weight (45.60%), backfat thickness (6.49%) and eye muscle area (0.77%) in Gyeonggi province. In Hanwoo slaughtered outside Gyeonggi province, the rankings were in the order of marbling score (49.64%), carcass weight (43%), backfat thickness (5.86%), and eye muscle area (0.66%). Gyeonggi province Hanwoo had thinner backfat thickness than Hanwoo outside Gyeonggi, and it had a higher contribution to auction price and total price. Collectively, Hanwoo in Gyeonggi province showed higher contribution scores for backfat thickness. This study aimed to provide basic information to guide Hanwoo breeding and increase profits for Hanwoo farms through the analysis of each traits according to environmental factors.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.603-611
• /
• 2016

The aim of this study was to analyze the contribution factors (backfat thickness, eye muscle area, carcass weight, marbling score, and feeding period) affecting meat unit price (South-Korean Won / Kg of meat). The best slaughtering age to maximize unit price was also assumed. All data used in this study were acquired from the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation from 2010 to 2014. Contributions to the estimated unit price of cows by the following factors, backfat thickness, eye muscle area, carcass weights, feeding period, and marbling score were 2.65%, 0.04%, 1.58%, 1.58%, and 95.72%, respectively. Contribution to estimated unit price of steers by the same factors (backfat thickness, eye muscle area, carcass weights, feeding period, and marbling score) were 7.88%, 1.24%, 0.07%, 90.81%, and 95.72%, respectively. Slaughtering ages ranged from 26 to 36 months and the data were separated into each month for an 11 month period. The unit price of meat from Hanwoo slaughtered at 30 months was highest among groups. The lowest unit price was observed in the group belonging to the Hanwoo slaughtered at 36 months. In conclusion, of all contributing factors, marbling score affected unit price the most. Based on our results, it is recommended that the optimal slaughtering age be set at 30 months to maximize unit price. Moreover, the feeding of beef cattle past 30 months of age is not recommended because of the increase in feeding costs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.10
• /
• pp.1388-1398
• /
• 2013

The present study investigated the contribution of carcass traits on carcass prices of Holstein steers in Korea. Phenotypic data consisted of 76,814 slaughtered Holsteins (1 to 6 yrs) from all over Korea. The means for live body weight at slaughter (BWT), chilled carcass weight (CWT), dressing percentage (DP), quantity grade index (QGI), eye muscle area (EMA), backfat thickness (BF) and marbling score (MS), carcass unit price (CUP), and carcass sell prices (CSP) were 729.0 kg, 414.2 kg, 56.79%, 64.42, $75.26cm^2$, 5.77 mm, 1.98, 8,952.80 Korean won/kg and 3,722.80 Thousand Korean won/head. Least squares means were significantly different by various age groups, season of slaughter, marbling scores and yield grades. Pearson's correlation coefficients of CUP with carcass traits ranged from 0.12 to 0.62. Besides, the relationships of carcass traits with CSP were relatively stronger than those with CUP. The multiple regression models for CUP and CSP with carcass traits accounted 39 to 63% of the total variation, respectively. Marbling score had maximum economic effects (partial coefficients) on both prices. In addition, the highest standardized partial coefficients (relative economic weights) for CUP and CSP were calculated to be on MS and CWT by 0.608 and 0.520, respectively. Path analyses showed that MS (0.376) and CWT (0.336) had maximum total effects on CUP and CSP, respectively; whereas BF contributed negatively. Further sub-group (age and season of slaughter) analyses also confirmed the overall outcomes. However, the relative economic weights and total path contributions also varied among the animal sub-groups. This study suggested the significant influences of carcass traits on carcass prices; especially MS and CWT were found to govern the carcass prices of Holstein steers in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.461-469
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study was to analyze the contribution of carcass traits (backfat thickness, eye muscle area, carcass weight and marbling score) and the season at slaughter to the price (auction and market) using squared semi-partial correlation. The season at slaughter (summer expressed as season_2, autumn as season_3, and winter as season_4) were added into the estimation as dummy variables, and spring was set as a default variable. In this study, the carcass grades of 22,298 Hanwoo steers slaughtered from 2012 to 2017 were used to performmultiple regression analysis. The rankings of the contribution of the carcass traits and the seasons at slaughter to the auction prices were in the order of marbling score (68.63%), season_4 (11.88%), backfat thickness (10.45%), eye muscle area (6.11%), season_3 (2.19%), season_2 (0.45%) and carcass weight (0.28%). (R-square of the regression = 0.4101). The rankings of the contribution to the total prices were in the order of carcass weight (51.74%), marbling score (32.12%), season_4 (6.04%), backfat thickness (5.54%), eye muscle area (3.22%), season_3 (1.14%), and season_2 (0.19%). (R-Square of the regression = 0.6486). As a result, season_3 and season_4 had a negative effect on the auction price and total price. Because of seasonal event such as Korean Thanksgiving Day and Korean New Year's Day on season_3 and season_4, much supply was needed to meet the high demand. Thus, the seasonal effect at slaughter could be another factor to be cosideredin when considering of slaughter or breeding.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.603-608
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate factors related to carcass traits of Hanwoo. In the statistical model developed in this study, slaughterhouse, carcass year, carcass month and sex effects were used as fixed effects and carcass traits (carcass weight, marbling score, loineye muscle area, backfat thickness and meat yield index) as covariations. The grading service data for 285,515 Hanwoo, which were evaluated by Animal Products Grading Service from 2005 to 2007, were used in this study. The partial R-square values of the fixed effects and the marbling score (MS), loineye muscle area, back-fat thickness, meat yield index and carcass weight (CW) on auction prices (AP) of the carcass and carcass price (CP) of the animals were estimated. The most important estimated trait in AP was MS. However, CW is the most important estimated trait on the CP and the MS also has secondly significant effect on the CP. In conclusion, MS as well as CW should maximize the farmer profits and establish a breeding scheme for Hanwoo.

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

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.157-164
• /
• 2010

We investigated the influence of carcass traits on carcass price for Hanwoo cow using multiple regression and path analyses. Data for carcass traits and price were collected on mature Hanwoo cow raised in private farms in Kangwon province that were slaughtered in 2008. A total of 96 animals with the average slaughter age of 51 months were used in the current study. Of the carcass traits studied, marbling score (MAR), dressing percentage (DP), and eye-muscle area (EMA) showed moderate and positive correlations with auction price (AP), while correlation coefficients of meat yield index (MINDEX) with AP were low or even negligible. In multiple regression analyses of AP and carcass price (CP) on cold carcass weight (CWT), back fat thickness (BFT), EMA, MAR, and DP, estimates of $R^2$ were 69.86 and 85.43%, respectively. Partial regression coefficients for CWT, BFT, EMA, MAR and DP were -0.028, -0.106, 0.107, 0.814, and 0.075 in the equation of AP and 0.561, -0.060, 0.083, 0.590, and 0.051 in the equation of CP. In path analyses, MAR's total contribution on the variation of AP was largest (0.667), and the total contributions of MAR and CWT on the variation of CP were 0.403 and 0.397. The current study suggested that marbling was the most influential trait on the variation of auction price, and marbling and cold carcass weight were critical traits on the variation of carcass price.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2012

The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of sex, slaughtered season and year on carcass traits, and the contribution of carcass traits to auction and total prices. The data used in this study were the carcass grade of Hanwoo (4,231 heads) slaughtered from 2008 to 2010. Carcass traits were affected significantly (p<0.01) by sex, slaughtered season and year. The R-Square of auction prices, analyzed the contribution of causes using the squared semi-partial correlation, was 0.55. The contributions of auction prices of backfat thickness, eye muscle area, carcass weight and marbling score were 2.66, 0.32, 3.48 and 93.54%, respectively. The R-Square of total price was 0.82, and the contributions of marbling score and carcass weight were 46.25% and 52.38%.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.1667-1673
• /
• 2012

The objective of this study was to estimate economic weights of Hanwoo carcass traits that can be used to build economic selection indexes for selection of seedstocks. Data from carcass measures for determining beef yield and quality grades were collected and provided by the Korean Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation (KAPE). Out of 1,556,971 records, 476,430 records collected from 13 abattoirs from 2008 to 2010 after deletion of outlying observations were used to estimate relative economic weights of bid price per kg carcass weight on cold carcass weight (CW), eye muscle area (EMA), backfat thickness (BF) and marbling score (MS) and the phenotypic relationships among component traits. Price of carcass tended to increase linearly as yield grades or quality grades, in marginal or in combination, increased. Partial regression coefficients for MS, EMA, BF, and for CW in original scales were +948.5 won/score, +27.3 $won/cm^2$, -95.2 won/mm and +7.3 won/kg when all three sex categories were taken into account. Among four grade determining traits, relative economic weight of MS was the greatest. Variations in partial regression coefficients by sex categories were great but the trends in relative weights for each carcass measures were similar. Relative economic weights of four traits in integer values when standardized measures were fit into covariance model were +4:+1:-1:+1 for MS:EMA:BF:CW. Further research is required to account for the cost of production per unit carcass weight or per unit production under different economic situations.