• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.443-448
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate changes of blood metabolites and enzyme activities at different slaughter ages of Hanwoo cattle. Blood samples were taken from six hundred thirty two steers (24~33 months of age) and one hundred twenty eight bulls (17~24 months of age) by venipuncture from caudal vein immediately prior to slaughter. Glucose concentrations were linearly increased (P<0.001) with increases of the slaughter age in steers, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations were linearly decreased (P<0.001) with increases of the slaughter age in steers. Likewise, glucose and albumin concentrations in bulls were linearly decreased (P=0.009 and P<0.001, respectively) with increases of the slaughter age. BUN, cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol concentrations were linearly increased (P<0.001, 0.018 and 0.002, respectively), and creatinine concentrations were quadratically increased (P=0.009) with increases of the slaughter age. Activity of gamma glutamyltransferase (${\gamma}$-GT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was linearly increased (P<0.001) with increases of the slaughter age in both steers and bulls, whereas alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was not affected by increasing slaughter age. In addition, the concentrations of ${\gamma}$-GT and AST were higher (P<0.05) for bulls than those of steers at 24 months of age. Increased levels of ${\gamma}$-GT and AST indicate impaired liver function; it may be associated with increases of concentrate level which is a concomitant of the extended fattening periods in Hanwoo feeding. In conclusion, the results in the present study may be one of the useful information for diagnosis of the metabolic disorder in Hanwoo cattle.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.411-418
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• 2012

KIT gene is the major causative gene for coat color variation in diverse animal species. This gene regulates melanocyte migration from the neural crest to target tissues and the mutation of this gene can affect dominant white phenotypes in animals. Because this gene has a major influence for the coat color variation, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 14 Korean cattle (Hanwoo) and 5 Holstein individuals were investigated. The Hanwoo DNA samples included three different colored (5 Black, 5 Yellow and 4 Stripe) animals. Total 126 polymorphisms have been identified and 23 of them are located in the exon region. Also, 5 bp (TTCTC) and 3 bp (TCT) intronic indels in intron 3 and intron 5, respectively, were identified. Out of 23 exonic polymorphisms, 15 SNPs are the missense mutations and the rest of the SNPs are silence mutations. The neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed for the different colored animals using the obtained KIT gene sequences. Holstein breed showed a clear breed-specific cluster in the phylogenetic tree which is differed from Hanwoo. Also, three colored Hanwoo animals were not discriminated among the breeds. The KIT gene polymorphisms identified in this study will possibly give some solutions for the color variations in cattle with further verifications.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.918-922
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• 2010

Due to the large amount of beef imported from the USA to Korea, Korean consumers have become increasingly interested in the country of origin since it can affect market prices. Previously, Bos indicus and Bos taurus-specific markers were developed for the purpose of cattle breed identification, specifically discrimination of Australian beef. In this study, six SNP markers derived from Illumina 50K bovine SNP chip data were used for the discrimination between Korean cattle (Hanwoo) and imported beef from USA. PCR-RFLP genotyping methods were also developed, which indicates that these markers can be applied relatively easily compared to other markers. Taking into account a discrimination rate of 55% based on MC1R marker between Hanwoo and imported beef from USA, two additional markers, SNPs 23803 and 34776, were ideal and resulted in probability of identification of 0.942 and probability of misjudgment of 0.03. Therefore, the markers developed in this study can greatly contribute to the correct discrimination between beef from USA and Hanwoo beef.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.239-245
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• 2006

This study examined whether adult bovine muscle satellite cells from 30-month-old Hanwoo cattle are multipotential. The satellite cells were found to have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into myoblasts with the formation of multinucleated cells. In addition, treatment with the peroxisome proliferator activating receptor-${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) agonist, rosiglitazone, promoted their trans-differentiation into adipocytes with significant increases in glycerol accumulation and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Western blot analysis revealed that increased levels of the adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and of CCAAT/enhancerbinding protein were closely related to rosiglitazoneinduced differentiation of the cells. These findings demonstrate that satellite cells from adult Hanwoo cattle are multipotent, and that their trans-differentiation into adipocytes can be induced by rosiglitazone.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2004

Myostatin is a transforming growth and differentiation factor-${\beta}$ family member that acts as a negative regulator of muscle growth. Previously, mutations in the myostatin gene were known to be related to double muscling phenotypes in cattle. Because myostatin gene is highly related to muscle mass, also meat quality, in cattle, we sequenced whole myostatin mRNA and investigated the SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) in Korean cattle (Hanwoo). The results indicated that Hanwoo had an SNP in nt2385 and this mutation can be a useful marker with further verifications. We also investigated expression patterns of the myostatin gene from various muscle tissues and organs. Northern blotting results indicated that myostatin expression was restricted in muscles with variable expression levels. The results presented here can be used as a valuable information for meat quality related traits and muscle mass in cattle.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.1064-1075
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• 2021

Recently, a high level of dietary crude protein (CP) has become of interest as a possible practice to improve the carcass quality of beef cattle, and its level has been increasing in the field. However, there is little scientific evidence that supports this. This study was conducted to test whether a high dietary CP level would improve growth performance, body metabolism, and carcass traits in Hanwoo beef cattle. A total of 32 Hanwoo finishing beef cattle (18 multiparous cows, six heifers, and eight steers) participated in a 12-weeks feeding trial. Two kinds of total mixed rations were prepared to contain two different CP; 156 g/kg for the control (CON) and 173 g/kg of CP for the treatment (HCP), while maintaining a similar level of metabolizable energy. The experiment was ended when more than half of the steers reached the target body weight (730 kg). Blood was collected at the end of the experiment. After harvesting, the carcass trait was evaluated at the slaughterhouse according to Korean standards. The carcass yield score and grade were also calculated based on revised criteria. Overall, dry matter intake, average daily gain, blood metabolites concentration, and the carcass traits, except for backfat thickness and the yield score, did not differ between the treatments. The HCP had lower backfat thickness than those of CON. There was no difference in the carcass yield grade, but the yield score was higher in the HCP treatment. According to the newly revised carcass grading criteria, both yield score and grade were higher in HCP than in CON. Increasing CP supply decreased the carcass's backfat thickness without altering growth performance and body metabolism, resulting in improved yield score and grade. Therefore, feeding a high CP diet may be beneficial in the farm income, although it may also increase feed cost and nitrogen excretion to the environment.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.395-404
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• 2019

This paper investigated the changes in Hanwoo breeding farms and herds according to their farm size and farm types based on traceability data in the Hanwoo industry. The major results are summarized as follows. First, the notion that small sized farms are breeding farms and middle or large sized farms are fattening farms is wrong. The results show that middle or large farms are not only fattening cattle but also breeding female cattle. Based on cattle data for over 6 months and under the criteria of a female cow ratio of 10 and 90% using the 2/4 quarter of 2018, the results show that the ratio of fattening only farms is 5.7%, that of breeding only farms is 59.0%, and that of fattening and breeding farms is 36.1%. The ratios of fattening, breeding, and both are 13.3, 13.5, and 73.2%, respectively, for a farm size with over 100 cattle. Second, this study found that the ratio of breeding farms over total farms has been increasing continuously over the last 5 years. This trend is apparent in the middle or large sized farms. However, the birth rate of cows is relatively lower in the middle and large sized farms than in the small sized farms. Hence, we can infer that the demand for a detection system for standing estrus in female cattle will increase. Additionally, the government should prepare relevant policies to stabilize the managerial conditions of middle or large sized farms.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.203-209
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• 2005

Real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is currently considered as the most sensitive method to detect low abundant DNAs in samples. Compared to conventional PCR, real-time PCR has a high reliability because of excluding false-positive results and can allow a simultaneous faster detection and quantification of target DNAs. This study was carried out to identify the Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) beef by genotyping after DNA extraction of commercial beef in 41 restaurants. Since Hanwoo, Holstein and imported cattle meat have different patterns in the MC1R gene associated with the coat colors of cattles (C-type, C/T-type or T-type), we could identify the genotype using real-time PCR The result of real-time PCR assay for beef samples in 41 restaurants which are asserted to sell Hanwoo beef only, showed that 29 of 41 samples were Hanwoo beef gene type (T-type) and 12 of 41 samples were Holstein or imported cattle gene type (C-type or C/T-type). Therefore, the proportion of Han-woo beef was $70.7\%$ and the proportion of Holstein or imported cattle meat was $29.3\%(C/T-type; 12.2\%,\;C-type; 17.1\%)$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1241-1245
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• 2004

Two separate trials were conducted to determine effects of dietary level of whole flaxseed (WFS; 0, 10 and 15%) on feed intake, weight gain, and carcass yield and quality of Korean Hanwoo cattle. The daily gains of bulls (Trial 1) were not different among treatment groups, but those of cows (Trial 2) fed WFS 15% were higher (p<0.01) than others. Feed intake of both bulls and cows tended to decrease as dietary level of WFS increased. However, feed conversion ratio (feed/gain) of bulls tended to be improved by dietary inclusion of WFS and was significantly improved (p<0.01) in cows by increasing level of WFS. Neither carcass weight nor dressing percentage were affected by WFS level. Back fat thickness of bulls was decreased (p<0.01) by dietary inclusion of WFS and the same trend was observed in cows without statistical significance. Loin-eye area of bulls was not different among treatment groups but was significantly higher (p<0.01) in cows fed WFS. Carcass yield and quality were not improved by WFS addition. The results indicate that WFS is an acceptable fat source in diets of finishing beef cattle to increase energy density without any adverse effects.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.550-556
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• 2009

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the relationship of slaughter age and carcass traits of Hanwoo cattle. A total number of 11,284 heads of cattle (4,624 bulls, 6,120 steers, and 540 females) were used in the experiment (Exp.) 1. In the Exp. 2, 3,887 heads of steers slaughtered at age of 24-36 mon were used. After 24 h post-slaughter chilling, the carcasses were weighed and evaluated by an official grader of carcass traits according to the Korean carcass grading standard. Backfat thickness was the main variable in yield index and grade whereas marbling score was the main variable in carcass quality grade. Meat color was an important factor affecting carcass quality grade of bulls; fat color was an important factor affecting those of steers and females; and maturity was an important factor affecting that of females. After 24-mon-old, extension of slaughter age did not automatically increase the quantity and quality of meat. However, 29 mon of age can be regarded as the optimum time to slaughter steers to attain the highest take home money for farmers.