• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.345-352
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• 2006

Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) have a good capacity to produce heavily marbled meat of high value. The intramuscular fat in Hanwoo is known to be deposit from 12 months of age by degree of slightly visible and significantly developed in 28 months of age. Lipogenesis gene expression profiling in longissimus dorsi at early and late fattening stage will be helpful to understand the mechanism of intramuscular fat deposition in skeletal muscle. Therefore, we analysed the gene expression patterns of six genes related lipid metabolism (FABP4, GLUT4, LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD) between early and late fattening stage. The mRNA expression of FABP4 at late fattening stage (27 months old) was higher about 3.0 fold than at early fattening stage (12 months old) in each three individuals of Hanwoo. However, GLUT4 mRNA expression was not different at late fattening stage compared with at early fattening stage. On the other hand, The expression patterns of LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD genes related lipid metabolism were significantly over-expressed about 3.5 fold, 2.7 fold, 3.7 fold and 7.5 fold at late fattening stage, respectively. Thus, these results suggested that lipogenesis in skeletal muscle at late fattening stage is due to increasing uptake of fatty acid by FABP4 and lipogenesis gene expression such as LPL, ACC, ACL and SCD.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1714-1720
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze the effects of stocking density on growth and carcass quality, and behavior of Hanwoo cattle to conform with global trends, targeting animal welfare production through the practice of environmentally friendly condition. Methods: Thirty six steers were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (C: 5 heads, T1: 4 heads, T2: 3 heads) and reared in separate pens with a constant stocking density of $50m^2$ (C: $10m^2/head$, T1: $12.5m^2/head$, T2: $16.67m^2/head$) per group from 12 to 30 month of age. Growth performance, behavior and carcass quality traits of each steer were recorded and compared between the treatment groups. Results: In general, the average daily gain during the fattening period was lower in group T2 than in T1 and the control groups. However, carcass weight and dressing percentage was lower in the control group than in T1 or T2 groups (p<0.05). Also, marbling score at 30 months of age was the lowest in the control group (p<0.05), while the three heads group (T2) had the greatest longissimus muscle area and marbling score (p<0.05). The behavior of walking time was the greatest in T2 group, while self-grooming and fighting occurred with the most frequency in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results show that the steers in more spacious stocking density had better carcass quality and wellbeing related behaviors, indicating that a lower density has a positive effect on raising management and carcass quality. Thus it is a need to install appropriate pens fitted to welfare-oriented management practices from growing to fattening period in Hanwoo cattle.

• 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.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.997-1006
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the national methane emission from livestock enteric fermentation. For methane emission estimation, livestock were mainly categorized to cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats and horses, and cattle were further sub-categorized to calves, fattening cattle, breeding cows in Hanwoo and calves, fattening cattle and lactating cows in dairy cattle. Tier 2 methane emission factors were deduced based on the characteristics of animal performances, live weight, slaughter weight, daily weight gain, and feed digestibility in each category. Tier 2 emission factors of Hanwoo range from 39 to 49 kg/head/year and it is similar to that of Tier 1(47kg/head/year). Tier 2 emission factor of dairy cattle was 107 kg/head/year and it is slightly lower than that of Tier 1(118kg/head/year). Total methane emission from livestock enteric fermentation by Tier 2 method was estimated to be 126.8 tones in 2001. The methane emissions by Hanwoo, dairy cattle, swine, goats, horses and sheep were 61.70, 47.76, 13.08, 2.25, 0.17 and 0.01 tones, respectively. By the use of Tier 2 method instead of Tier 1, the accuracy and reliability of methane emission estimates from livestock enteric fermentation in Korea is considered to be improved.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.587-594
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• 2012

TMR (total mixed ration) feed was developed by adding mugwort and was fed to Korean black cattle. The effects on the physicochemical properties of the Korean black cattle, when fed mugwort, were investigated, as was the feasibility of producing beef with high quality and functionality. Korean black cattle were reared by using basal TMR (control) and basal TMR supplemented with mugwort of middle fattening 4.6% and late fattening 6.5% (treatment). The content of total catechin in Korean black cattle fed with the control and treatment was 0.262 and 0.379 mg/kg, respectively, while the content of epicatechin was 0.042 and 0.059 mg/kg, respectively, both of which were a significant increase from feeding the cattle TMR with mugwort ($p$ <0.05). There was no significant difference between the control and treatment in terms of $L^*$ (lightness), $b^*$ (yellowness), pH, VBN (volatile basic nitrogen) content, bacterial counts, water-holding capacity, freezing loss, thawing loss, cooking loss, cohesiveness, chewiness, shear force, and sensory score. TBARS (2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and springiness for the control were significantly higher than the treatment ($p$ <0.05). The $a^*$ (redness), EDA (electron donating ability), hardness, and gumminess for the treatment were significantly higher than for the control ($p$ <0.05). These results suggest that the feed containing mugwort can be used to improve color and increase antioxidant ability as functional feed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.697-704
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• 2015

This study was carried out to assess bioenergy conversion efficiency by biogas and solid fuel production in the cattle feedlot manure discharged from beef cattle barn. Feedlot manure was sampled from the cattle farmhouse located in Yong-in, Gyeonggi during the mid-fattening stage, periodically. The chemical characteristics, BMP (Biochemical methane potential) and HV (Heating values) of feedlot cattle manures were analyzed. Total solid contents of cattle feedlot manure were in the range of 29.98~44.28%, and volatile solid contents were in the range of 23.53~24.47%. In the anaerobic digestion of cattle feedlot manure, the methane production potential has increased from 0.141 to $0.187Nm^3kg^{-1}-VS_{added}$. The methane production of fresh cattle feedlot manure showed the range $0.141{\sim}0.187Nm^3kg^{-1}$-Manure (average $0.047Nm^3kg^{-1}$-Manure), the LHVs (lower heating values) of the produced methane were in the range of $316{\sim}560kcalkg^{-1}$-Manure (average $400kcalkg^{-1}$-Manure). In the direct combustion of fresh cattle feedlot manure, the LHVs were measured in the range of $747{\sim}1,271kcalkg^{-1}$-Manure (average $916kcalkg^{-1}$-Manure), and LHVs of solid fuel which have the water content of 20% were in the range of $2,694{\sim}2,876kcalkg^{-1}$-Manure (average $2,791kcalkg^{-1}$-Manure). Then, the drying energy of average $443kcalkg^{-1}$-Manure was consumed in the production of solid fuel which has a water content of 20%. Therefore, the direct combustion of cattle feedlot manure showed about 2.3 times higher LHV than the LHV of methane produced by anaerobic digestion. And LHV of solid fuel was about 6.0 times higher than the LHV of methane produced by anaerobic digestion. Then, the production of solid fuel presented more bioenergy conversion efficiency than the biogas production in the bioenergy use of cattle feedlot manure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.954-959
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• 2004

In a herd of 24 spring-born steers, plasma leptin and performance of selected purebred (n=5) and backcrossed Hereford (n=5) were compared in a year-round summer grazing and winter feedlot fattening. Bimonthly blood collection and body weight measurement were accomplished. The plasma samples were analyzed for leptin, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, NEFA and glucose. The experimental design utilized one-way ANOVA with breed as the treatment. The purebred obtained higher plasma NEFA (p<0.001) compared to backcross, regardless of seasonal feeding systems (SFS). The backcross showed gradual increase and nonresponsiveness of plasma leptin to SFS. During summer grazing, attenuation of plasma leptin and sudden elevation when shifted to winter feedlot fattening were observed in purebred. Plasma leptin obtained linear relationship with body weight of purebred (r=0.53;p<0.001) and backcrossed Hereford (r=0.49; p<0.01). The purebred and backcrossed Hereford, when shifted to summer grazing, resulted to sustained and restricted daily gain, respectively. Therefore, cattle breeds of higher growth potential exhibit significant elevation of plasma leptin after 400 kg BW, when animal starts to deposit significant body fat.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2018

Hanwoo cattle have been genetically selected for enhancing meat quality and meat quantity since the last few decades. Beef consumption in South Korea has also increased to 11.6 kg per year in 2016 and is expected to continue to increase. For improving meat quality, Hanwoo cattle has been raised a high-energy corn-based diet for long fattening periods, which causes not increment of fat percentage in the loin muscle but increment of feeding costs. Consumer demands on the Korean beef industry are driving differing beef production systems and also changes to the beef grading system. For a sustainable Hanwoo industry, researcher in Korea have attempted to develop feeds for efficient fattening periods and precision feeding systems based on genetic information for Hanwoo cattle. Therefore, representatives of government, academics, and market association need to provide efficient collaboration for the future prospective or develop a precise management system for Hanwoo industry in Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 1993

Sixteen Korean native bulls weighing about 211 kg were randomly allotted to investigate the effect of different dietary calcium levels on performance. Feeding period was divided into growing period and fattening period for 180 days. Four calcium levels (0.44, 0.58, 0.72 and 0.86%) were used to each period. Bulls fed the diet containing 0.72% calcium had greater body weight gain and consumed more feed than bulls fed diets containing 0.44, 0.58 and 0.86% calcium and improved in feed efficiency. Bulls fed the diet containing 0.44% calcium were worst in performance. It can be concluded that Korean native bulls in growing and fattening period required no more than 0.72% calcium in diet that contained 0.55% phosphorus, and appeared that when ratio of calcium to phosphorus intake was 1.45, performance of Korean native bulls was most beneficial.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.523-542
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• 2024

Hanwoo and Jeju Black cattle (Jeju Black) are native breeds of Korean cattle. Jeju Black cattle are recognized as natural monuments and are known to exhibit slower growth rates compared to Hanwoo. While several studies have analyzed the genetic characteristics of these cattle, there has been limited research on the differences in their microbiome. In this study, rumen fluid was obtained from three Hanwoo steers and three Jeju Black steers, and three different diets (total mixed rations [TMRs] for growing, early fattening, and late fattening periods) were used as substrates for in vitro fermentation. The in vitro incubation was conducted for 3 h and 24 h following a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. After both incubation periods, fermentation characteristics were analyzed, and ruminal microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, employing both QIIME2 and PICRUSt2. The results revealed significant differences in the ruminal microbiota due to the inoculum effect. At the phylum level, Patescibacteria and Synergistota were found to be enriched in the Jeju Black inoculum-treated group. Additionally, using different inocula also affected the relative abundance of major taxa, including Ruminococcus, Pseudoramibacter, Ruminococcaceae CAG-352, and the [Eubacterium] ruminantium group. These microbial differences induced by the inoculum may have originated from varying levels of domestication between the two subspecies of donor animals, which mainly influenced the fermentation and microbiome features in the early incubation stages, although this was only partially offset afterward. Furthermore, predicted commission numbers of microbial enzymes, some of which are involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, fatty acids, and alpha amylase, differed based on the inoculum effect. However, these differences may account for only a small proportion of the overall metabolic pathway. Conversely, diets were found to affect protein biosynthesis and its related metabolism, which showed differential abundance in the growing diet and were potentially linked to the growth-promoting effects in beef cattle during the growing period. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that using different inocula significantly affected in vitro fermentation characteristics and microbiome features, mainly in the early stages of incubation, with some effects persisting up to 24 h of incubation.