• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.401-414
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• 2006

Twenty eight Holstein steers 12 months old and weighing about 300kg were andomly allotted into one of four groups being fed ammoniated rice straw(ARS) and substituted 30%, 40% and 50% crushed bamboo chip for ARS to determine the effects of different levels of bamboo chip on performance, digestibility and carcass characteristics. Daily weight gain was reduced as the substitution levels of bamboo chip for ARS as a roughage source increased but there were no differences in daily weight gain between steers fed ARS alone and 30% bamboo chip for ARS. Concentrates intakes were not different between treatments by the substitution levels of bamboo chip for the whole fattening period. Roughage intake tended to increase as the substitution levels of bamboo chip increased. Total feed intake was not affected by the substitution levels of bamboo chip. However, feed efficiency got worse with increasing levels of bamboo chip. Animals fed the roughage substituting 30% bamboo chip for ARS were higher in profit by 13% than animals fed ARS alone as a roughage source. Digestibilities of Dry matter(DDM) and crude fiber(DCF) were highest in animals fed ARS alone as a roughage source. DDM's were lower in higher substitution levels of crushed bamboo chip but there were no differences in DCF among animals fed different levels of bamboo chip as a roughage source. Crude protein digestibility was not affected by ammoniated rice straw or by the different levels of bamboo chip. Dressing percentage and backfat thickness were not affected by ammoniated rice straw or by the levels of bamboo chip but ribeye area was narrowed as the levels of bamboo chip increased. Beef color, fat color, texture, maturity and marbling score were not affected by feeding of ammoniated rice straw or by the levels of bamboo chip. According to these results, it may be concluded that profit can increase when Holstein bulls are castrated and roughage containing ammoniated rice straw plus 30% bamboo chip is offered.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.593-606
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• 2005

Present study was conducted to investigate the optimal feeding levels for producing the high quality meat on the basis of the information deriving from the comparison of the growth performance and carcass characteristics among breeds(Holstein vs F1, Holstein♀×Hanwoo♂), sex(steer vs heifer) and interaction between breed and sex. Thirty two animals on 4 treatments(i.e. eight head each) were used for 540 days from seven to 24 months of age. The results obtained are summarized as follows; the range of average daily gains was 0.733 to 1.018, 0.994 to 1.255, 0.947 to 1.259 and 0.736 to 0.824kg for the growing, the early-fattening, the mid- fattening and the finishing periods, respectively. The range of average daily gains for the entire period was 0.882 to 1.061kg. The gains were higher for Holstein(7.3%) and the steers(10.5%) than F1 and the heifers, respectively. Concentrates and total digestible nutrients intakes per kg gain were higher for Holstein and the heifers than F1 and the steers, respectively. These findings may indicate that feed utilization is higher for Holstein than F1, and higher for the steers than the heifers. In carcass characteristics, back fat thickness was thicker for Holstein than F1, and rib-eye area was smaller for Holstein than F1. The rib-eye area per kg carcass weight was larger for F1 and the heifers than Holstein and the steers, respectively. Meat color was better for Holstein than F1, but the sex distinction did not show any differences. In physicochemical properties of longissimus dorsi, shear force, cooking loss, water holding capacity and the panel test scores of juiciness, tenderness and flavor for F1 and the heifers were better than those for Holstein and the steers, respectively. According to the above results, we may conclude that F1 and heifers rather than Holstein and steers are recommended for high quality meat production. In steers and heifers of Holstein and F1, the optimal feeding levels may be 1.9% of apparent body weight for concentrates and 25% of concentrates intake for rice straw.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for reproductive and productive traits and to apply their estimates to selection strategies in a swine population. Reproductive and productive traits considered in this study were number of born alive piglet (NBA), number of weaned piglet (NW), loin eye area (LEA), days to 90 kg (D90KG), back fat thickness (BF), and lean meat content (LEAN). Data were collected from 9,886 litters on 2,447 sows for reproductive traits and 10,181 gilts and boars for productive traits from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2008 in a swine GGP farm. The statistical model to estimate genetic parameters for considering traits was a multiple traits animal model with including animal and maternal additive effects and litter effects on reproductive traits and animal additive effects on productive traits as random as well as some of fixed effects. For estimating (co) variance components of several random effects, restricted maximum likelihood methodology was used on this assumed model. The estimated heritabilities by animal additive effects and maternal effects were 0.07 and 0.02 for NBA and 0.03 and 0.02 for NW, respectively. Genetic correlation estimate for direct genetic effects between NBA and NW was 0.14. Heritability estimates for direct genetic effects were 0.19, 0.39, 0.36, and 0.43 for LEA, D90KG, BF and LEAN, respectively. The genetic correlation of LEA with LEAN was 0.35. Productive traits were antagonistically correlated with reproductive traits. From these results it is concluded that, if selection is done for strong positive effects of reproductive traits, then this would decline productive performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.801-818
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• 2007

This study was carried out to determine the effects of processing methods of barley as a proper source of grain in diets of Hanwoo on fermentation pattern in the rumen fluid and digestibility of the diets, the growth performance and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo. The degree of ruminal pH change in the cows fed diets of the Corn(corn basis) and GDRB(ground and dry-rolled barley) tended to be greater than those in the cows fed other two diets (ground barley, GB and dry-rolled barley, DRB). The diet of GDRB showed the lowest ruminal pH(5.5), indicating the rapid degradation of the diet in the rumen. Although ammonia concentration was not affected by diet, the GR and DBR diets maintained the low concentrations of ruminal ammonia compared with other two treatments. And the effects of feeding processed barley grain on body weight gain and meat quality of Hanwoo steers were as follows. Steers fed DRB diet had the highest body weight, 683.0kg at 28 months old, while those fed the GDRB showed the lowest body weight, 653.3kg. The average daily gain(ADG) was similar between the steers fed Corn and GR throughout the whole period, but the GDRB showed the lowest ADG. The steers fed the DRB showed the significant increase in ADG(0.89kg/d from 19 to 23 months old and 0.43kg/d from 24 to 28 months old) compared with those fed other diets. Feeding diets containing corn and/or barley did not influence live body weight, cold carcass weight, carcass yield, back-fat thickness and carcass grade of Hanwoo steers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2015

This study was carried out to evaluate accurately physical characteristics of total mixed rations (TMR) by investigating the effects of physically effective neutral detergent fiber content on the growth performance and carcass characteristics in fattening steers. Twelve Hanwoo (Bos Taurus coreanae) steers aged 26 months were used in this trial. Steers were offered one of two total mixed ration (TMR) diets - High or Low physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) content groups-that were differentiated by mixing time. The carcass traits of the experimental animals were evaluated by Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation (KAPE) after slaughter. Body weight gain during the experimental period was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the High group ($30.00{\pm}10.27kg$) compared with the Low group ($17.20{\pm}6.34kg$), and daily weight gain was also high in the former. Although there was no significant difference, the carcass weight was higher in the High group ($414.60{\pm}34.28kg$) compared with the Low group ($377.80{\pm}11.97kg$). However, the beef quality grade of the Low group ($1^{++}$) was higher than that of the High group ($1^+$). Increases in body weight gain, daily gain, and carcass weight for the High group were mainly influenced by a high level of dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility; consequently, back-fat thickness increased and the beef quality grade was lowered. Because growth performance and carcass characteristics were affected by the physical traits of the diet, we suggested that proper peNDF content is also needed for fattening steers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.731-744
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• 2005

Ninety Hanwoo steers(initial BW=167.2$\pm$13.4kg) were used to determine the effect of energy concentrations in concentrates and slaughter age on performance, carcass characteristics. Steers were allotted by BW to one of eighteen pens. Eighteen pens were randomly allotted to a low(70-70-71-72% for the growing, the early, the middle or the late fattening periods), medium(70-71-72-73%) or high(70-72- 73-74%) TDN level of concentrates. Five steers for each treatment of energy level were slaughtered every one month from 26 month of age to 31 month of age. Concentrates was fed restrictedly to achieve a predicted gain of 0.7-0.9kg from growing stage to middle fattening stage. All steers were fed orchard grass(Dactylis glomerata L.) hay as roughage during the growing period, fed rice straw gradually substituted for orchard grass hay during the early fattening period, and fed rice straw only thereafter. Overall body weight and feed intake were not affected by TDN levels of concentrates. Average daily gain for all treatments was higher than 0.9kg/d during the 19-21 month of age and decrease thereafter, but sustained above 0.7kg/d. Mean concentrates intake for all treatments was 1.0-1.3% of live BW during the growing period and 1.5% during the early fattening. Thereafter, it decreased up to 1.4% during the middle fattening and 1.0% during late fattening period. Delay of slaughter end point resulted in a gradual increase of rib-eye area, back fat thickness and marbling score, especially after slaughter age of 29 month there was significant increases(P<0.05). The appearance rate of 1+ and 1 grade related to the slaughter ages was 100% at 29, 30 and 31 months of age, whereas those at 26, 27 and 28 months were 93, 86 and 80%, respectively. Dressing rate was significantly(P<0.05) increased and rate of retailed cut weight significantly(P<0.05) decreased when slaughter age increased. In economic analysis, there was pronounced increase in net income up to 32-46% after slaughter age of 29 months. Under the conditions of this study, high TDN intake is not necessarily required for high quality Hanwoo meat production and slaughter age of 29 month might be the optimum for Hanwoo steers.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.769-782
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• 2005

Twenty four Holstein steers fed commercial concentrates with rice straw(T1), mixed grass hay(T2), or wet brewer’s grains based TMR ad libitum(T3) were used to investigate the effects of roughage feeding type during the growing and early-fattening periods on growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics. Growth performance and feed efficiency were investigated during the feeding trial conducted from 6 to 23 mo of age, and carcass characteristics were investigated after slaughter. Body weight at slaughter and daily gains were 751 to 802 kg(mean 782 kg) and 1.064 to 1.159 kg/d(mean 1.122 kg/d), respectively, showing that those for T2 were highest followed by T3. Compared with T1, the daily gain for T2 was improved by 8.9%. The TDN intakes per kg gain were 6.87, 7.17 and 7.15 kg for T1, T3 and T2, respectively, indicating that feed efficiency for T2 was improved(approx. 5%) compared with T1. The feeding treatments did not change dressing percentage(mean 60.8%), back fat thickness(6.68 mm) and rib-eye area(84.0$cm^2$). Neither meat quality characteristics nor physicochemical properties were significantly different among the treatments. However, economic analysis accounting for 882.8, 991.7 and 943.8 thousand won per head for T1, T2 and T3, respectively, indicated that T2 and T3 increased(7-12%) total net income compared with T1. Therefore, it may be concluded that high quality meat of Holstein steers can be produced if they are fattened until 23 mo of age and that feeding mixed grass hay as roughage or TMR containing mainly wet brewer's grains during the growing and early-fattening periods can improve growth performance compared with feeding rice straw.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.219-226
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• 2006

The wastes (the needle leaves and branches) produced from thinning the forest were fermented under an anaerobic condition (pine silage) to utilize as a forage source of ruminants. An in situ trial was conducted with two ruminally fistulated Korean native cows by 4 replicates (2 bags per cow), and in vivo digestibility of pine silage was estimated with five Korean native steers by 5 replicates in incomplete double turn-over design. In order to investigate feed efficiency and carcass traits, forty eight Korean native bulls were assigned to four treatments (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% of pine silage) with a completely randomized design in 12 pens accommodating 4 animals per pen. The amounts of concentrate and roughage allowed to experimental animals were in the range of 2.5% and 0.6% of body weight, respectively. Animals had freely accessed to mineral block and water in stanchion barn.An in situ crude protein digestibility of the roughage sources when suspended for 48 hrs in the rumen was higher for feeding the pine silage than the rice straw, whereas NDF digestibility was vice versa. No differences between the treatments were observed in in vivo digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein and NDF. Daily body weight gain was significantly (P<0.01) higher for the pine silage substitutions compared with the rice straw feeding except for the 25% silage feeding. The pine silage feeding did not affect feed efficiency.In carcass traits, marbling score tended to be higher for the 50% pine silage treatment than the other treatments while back fat thickness tended to be the thinnest for the rice straw feeding. From these results, it may be recommended to substitute pine silage, as a forage source, for rice straw by 50 percent.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.397-408
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• 2011

The study was carried to identify the impact on nation-wide genetic evaluation and to obtain basic materials for the development of strategies in Swine Improvement Network Project (SINP). Data consisted of pedigree records of 235,511 and performance records of 70,747 for Duroc from 1987 to 2010 were collected by Korea Animal Improvement Association. Performance traits included three point back fat thickness (Shoulder, Belly, Waist), loin area, days to 90 kg and average daily gain. Exchange of genetic resources cross the breeding farms was not high, and furthermore the sizable farms which can accommodate genetic evaluation within the farm were scarce. Three data sets (individual farm evaluation: I, two sub-group evaluation: S, and whole eight farm evaluation: P) were used for genetic analysis. Genetic variances were larger in subordinate farms than in joiners farms for connectedness, and consequently the heritabilities were generally higher in subordinate farms than in joiner farms with I. The standard errors of heritability were small in the order of I, S and P. Estimated average inbreeding coefficients were 1.12%, 0.95% and 1.53% for joiner and subordinate group with S and population with P, respectively. The estimated correlations of breeding values with I and P were lowest. The correlations of breeding values with I and P for traits ranged 0.22 to 0.45 for moved parent animals and 0.24 to 0.72 for all animals. The results in the study suggest that nation-wide evaluation uses more pedigree information and improves accuracy. Furthermore SINP for connectedness could help to improve the accuracy of evaluation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2009

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of slaughter weight (SW) of finishing pigs fed a low-energy diet on growth efficiency and carcass quality and thereby to assess the optimal SW. (Yorkshire $\times$ Landrace) $\times$ Duroc-crossbred gilts and barrows were fed a diet containing 3,060 kcal DE/kg from 80-kg BW and slaughtered at 110, 125, or 135 kg, after which the belly, the most preferred cut in Korea, as well as the least preferred cuts ham and loin were subjected to physicochemical and sensory analyses. Both ADG and ADFI were greater (P<0.05) in the group slaughtered at 125 or 135 kg than in the 110-kg-SW group, whereas the opposite was true for gain:feed (P<0.01). Backfat thickness (BFT), which increased with increasing SW (P<0.01 and P<0.05), was greater in barrows than in gilts (P<0.01); BFT of barrows at 125 kg (24.6 mm) was comparable to that of gilts at 135 kg (24.2 mm). Physicochemical characteristics of the belly, ham and loin were minimally affected, if not affected, by SW; of note, however, the redness of the ham increased between 110- and 125-kg SW (P<0.05). In sensory evaluation of the belly, the fat:lean balance, which is a most important quality trait in this cut, was best (P<0.05) at 125 kg of SW, but the overall acceptability of this cut was not changed by SW. In the ham and loin, the marbling score increased (P<0.01) between 110- and 125-kg SW, whereas color, aroma, off-flavor, and drip were unaffected by SW. In addition, the acceptability of the loin increased (P<0.05) between 110- and 125-kg SW. In cooked meats, none of color, aroma, off-flavor, juiciness, tenderness, taste, and acceptability was changed by SW, except for an increase (P<0.05) in darkness of loin color between 110- and 125-kg SW. In conclusion, the optimal SW for the present subpopulation on the present low-energy diet lie in between 125 and 135 kg for gilts and at 125 kg for barrows.