• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1266-1270
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• 2006

This study was carried out to determine the contents of vitamins A and E in carcass fat from Japanese Black and F1 cross cattle, because the method of controlling the amount of vitamin A in feed has been used in the production of expensive beef with high marbling in Japan. We determined the contents of tocopherol and retinol in subcutaneous and perirenal fats for 40 carcasses of Japanese Black and F1 (Holstein${\times}$Japanese Black crossed) cattle that had been sent to market from 10 prefectures. In bovine fat, free ${\alpha}$-tocopherol was present in the greatest amount, the level of ${\gamma}$-tocopherol was about 10% and there was only a trace of ${\delta}$-tocopherol. The means${\pm}$standard deviation of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol content in subcutaneous and perirenal fats were $0.68{\pm}0.33mg/100g$ and $0.54{\pm}0.23mg/100g$, respectively. The means${\pm}$standard deviation of retinol content in subcutaneous and perirenal fats were $2.9{\pm}4.5{\mu}g/100g$ and $2.9{\pm}5.1{\mu}g/100g$, respectively. Both vitamins differed widely between animals and were present at a relatively low level compared to other reports (${\alpha}$-tocopherol 2.4-5.4 mg/100 g fat tissue and $30-220{\mu}g/100g$ muscle tissue). The correlation coefficients between subcutaneous and perirenal fats for retinol and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol content were 0.97 (p<0.01) and 0.82 (p<0.01), respectively, which showed high correlation. However, the correlation coefficients between retinol and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol contents for subcutaneous and perirenal fats were 0.11 and 0.08, respectively, which showed low correlation. Breed effect was observed in both vitamins. These results indicated that vitamins A and E in fat from Japanese Black and F1 cross cattle under the vitamin A controlling method are present at relatively low levels and feeds need to be supplemented with vitamin E.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to investigate the relationships of muscle fiber characteristics to dietary energy density [3.0(Low-E) vs. 3.2 (Med-E) Mcal DE/kg)] and slaughter weight [SW; 110, 125, and 138 kg] in finishing pigs (gilt vs. barrow) using a $2{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial treatment design. Forty-one longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) samples were analyzed histochemically, with growth performance and physicochemical data for the 41 animals and their LM out of 192 animals and 72 LM used in a previous study retrospectively included. The ADG was less (P<0.01) in the Low-E than in the Med-E group (0.93 vs. 0.73 kg) whereas lightness ($L^*$) and redness ($a^*$) of LM were greater in the Low-E group SW did not influence these variables. The diameter and perimeter of the type I (slow-oxidative), type IIA (fast oxido-glycolytic) and type IIB (fast glycolytic) fibers increased with increasing SW whereas densities of the fibers decreased. However, the number and area percentages of the fiber types were not influenced by SW or dietary energy density. The percentage and per-$mm^2$ density of type IIB fibers were negatively correlated with SW (r = -0.33 and -0.57, with P<0.05 and <0.01, respectively), whereas type I fiber number percentage was positively correlated with SW (r = 0.31; P<0.05). Marbling score was negatively correlated (P<0.05) with type I (r = -0.36) and type IIB (r = -0.39) fiber densities. The $a^*$ was correlated (P<0.01) with both type I and type IIB fiber number percentages in the opposite way (r = 0.42 and -0.47, respectively). However, $L^*$ (lightness), drip loss and $pH_{24h}$ were not correlated with the fiber number percentage or density of any fiber type. Collectively, results indicate that muscle fibers grow by hypertrophy during the late finishing period, but that fiber characteristics other than the size are not significantly influenced by dietary energy density or SW.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2010

The Jeju native pigs of 168 heads (116 barrows and 52 gilts) were examined to investigate the carcass characteristics related to gender, meat quality grades and yield grades. The averages of carcass characteristics for Jeju native pigs were 72.94 kg for carcass weight, 20.98 mm for backfat thickness, 38.14 for Hunter L*, 4.68 for a*, 6.04 for b*, 5.61 for pH, 3.61 for visual plate meat color, 3.36 for marbling scores, 1.83 for meat quality grades and 2.08 for yield grades, respectively. The carcass weight of gilts was significantly higher than that of barrows (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between barrows and gilts in carcass percent, backfat thickness, and meat color. The pH of barrows was significantly higher than that of gilts (p<0.05). The differences between gender groups were significantly noticed in carcass quality grades, and yield grades (p<0.05). The carcass weight, carcass percent, backfat thickness, and marbling scores for pigs with high grades(1 and 2 grades) were significantly higher than those for pigs with low grades (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference among 4 carcass grades. The carcass weight, carcass percent, backfat thickness, pH, and meat color for carcass with high yield grades were significantly higher than those for carcass with low grades (p<0.05). The meat colors for Hunter L*, a* and b* were not significantly shown in carcass yield grades.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.703-710
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• 2005

Data from Hanwoo steers and bull calves were analyzed to see the phenotypic and genetic relationships between carcass traits from four different covariance models. Four models fit test station and test period as fixed effect of contemporary group and sire as random effect assuming paternal half-sib relationships among animals. Each model fits one of linear covariate (s) of different slaughter end points-age at slaughter in the first order, age at slaughter in the first and second order, slaughter weight or back fat thickness at 12-13th rib of cold carcass. Age at slaughter in its second order was not significant. Age at slaughter accounted for signifi- cant amount of genetic variances and covariances of carcass traits. Heritability estimates of back fat thickness, rib eye area, carcass weight, marbling score and dressing percentage were 0.34, 0.22, 0.24, 0.42 and 0.18, respectively at constant age basis. The genetic correlation between carcass weight and the other variables were all positive and low to high in magnitude. Genetic correlations between back fat thickness and rib eye area and between marbling score and dressing percentage were low but negative. Variance and covariance structure between these traits were shifted to a great extent when these variables were regressed on slaughter weight or on back fat thickness. These two covariates counteracted to each other but they adjusted each carcass variable or their interrelationship according to differential growth of body components, bone, muscle and fat. Slaughter weight tended to decrease genetic variances and covariances of carcass weight and between component traits and back fat thickness tended to increase those of rib eye area and between rib eye area and carcass weight.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1225-1229
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• 2008

A total of 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers on bovine chromosome 5 were used for allelic association tests with phenotypic characteristics in Hanwoo. The data analyzed in this study were collected from 326 steers. Chi-square tests were performed to compare the frequencies of individual alleles between the high and the low breeding value groups. The following breeding values were analyzed for QTL effects. The frequency of allele 239 of DIK2828 showed a significant difference between the high and the low breeding value groups in the breeding value of marbling score (MSBV). The allele 279 of BMC1009 was found to show significant differences in allelic distribution for the breeding value of cold carcass weight (CWBV) and the breeding value of backfat thickness (BFBV) and allele 285 showed significant differences in allelic distribution for CWBV, BFBV, and MSBV. The allele 200 of DIK4329 showed significant differences in allelic distributions for the breeding values of longissimus muscle area (LMABV) and BFBV. In this study, we identified the QTL for carcass traits at around 20 (DIK2828), 41 (BMC1009) and 95 (DIK4329) cM in chromosome 5. The results provided a useful reference for further positional candidate gene research and marker-assisted selection for fat metabolism and carcass traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1553-1558
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of stocking density or group size on feed intake, daily gain, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo (Korean indigenous breed) steers reared from 7 months to 31 months of age. Thirty Hanwoo steers were divided into four groups with three replicates each (a total of 12 pens). In each group, one (G1), two (G2), three (G3), and four steers (G4) per pen were allocated as treatments. Pen size was $32.0m^2$, and therefore Hanwoo steers in G1, G2, G3, and G4 were reared under different space allowances, i.e. 32.0, 16.0, 10.6, and $8.0m^2$/steer, respectively. Steers were reared following a conventional beef cattle management method in Korea, and were offered a fixed amount of commercial concentrate with ad libitum forages. Results were subjected to analysis of variance with stocking density as the main effect, and significance was declared at p<0.05. Although total feed intake was not significantly altered, it numerically increased in animals of low stocking density (G1) compared to those subjected to high stocking density treatment (i.e. G4). Feed conversion ratio was higher (p<0.05) in G3 compared to G1 and G2. Animals in G1 (low stocking density) grew faster (p<0.05) than those of high stocking density (G3 and G4). Back fat thickness, meat yield index, and meat yield grade were similar among all levels of stocking density. However, longissimus muscle area was larger in G1 and G2 (p<0.01) compared to G3 and G4, and animals in G3 produced smaller carcasses (p<0.05). Carcass quality traits, including marbling score, meat color, fat color, texture, maturity and meat quality grade, as determined by a group of experts, were not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, lower stocking density resulted in increased feed efficiency, daily gain, and carcass weight in Hanwoo steers. However it remains unclear whether such differences are the results of stocking density or group size, or a combination of both. Nonetheless, these results confirm previous studies reporting a negative effect of increased stocking density on animal productivity. Further, animal welfare under an intensive farming system in relation to economical return is discussed.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of dietary protein level and phase feeding regimens on performance, carcass characteristics and pork quality in growing-finishing pigs. In both experiments, growing pigs (n=90; barrows; Landrace $\times$ Yorkshire $\times$ Duroc) were allotted to 3 treatments. Each treatment had 3 replicate pens comprising 10 pigs in each. In Exp. 1, pigs (average body weight $25.06{\pm}0.57\;kg$) were fed diets having low (17.50-14.50-12.51%), medium (19.49-17.50-13.87%) or high (22.47-19.49-16.36%) CP concentration (LP, MP and HP diets, respectively) diets during grower-finisher I-finisher II phases, respectively. Feeding of MP diet resulted in higher (P<0.05) ADG and better FCR than pigs fed LP diet. Pigs fed HP diet had lower (P<0.05) pork color and marbling score. Meat of pigs fed LP diet had higher (P<0.05) Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), while meat of pigs fed HP and LP diets had greater drip loss than pigs fed MP diet. In addition, meat from pigs fed LP diet was darker while meat of pigs fed HP and MP diets was paler and redder. In Exp. 2, pigs (average body weight $10.40{\pm}0.61\;kg$) were subjected during 126 days to three or four phase regimes of different duration. The treatments T1 and T2 were subjected to four phase feeding regimens (grower I, grower II, finisher I and finisher II) for 22, 42, 32 and 30 days (T1) and 40, 40, 25 and 21 days (T2), respectively, while T3 was subjected to three phase feeding regimen (grower I, grower II and finisherI) for 40, 56 and 30 days, respectively. Duration of phase feeding regimens had no effect (P>0.05) on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of pigs. These results suggest that both high and low levels of CP have a negative effect on performance and pork quality; however, alterations in the phase feeding regimens do not have any discernible effect on the performance and pork quality in growing-finishing pigs.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.51-73
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• 2024

This study investigated how birth weight differences in piglets affected carcass and muscle fiber properties as well as meat quality at slaughter. Within litters, piglets were grouped according to their birth weight as either normal (NBW; 1.62-1.73 kg) or low (LBW; 1.18-1.29 kg). At 5 weeks of age, NBW piglets were randomly transitioned to control (C) or isocaloric high fat diets derived from non-dairy (HF), while LBW piglets were randomly transitioned to high fat diets derived from non-dairy (HF) or dairy sources (HFHD). Piglets were reared in individual pens under standardized housing and feeding conditions. Live weight was recorded weekly, and pigs were slaughtered at 12 weeks of age. Hot carcass weights, dressing percentages, lean meat yield, and primal cut proportions were determined. The m. longissimus thoracis was collected from the right side of the carcass for measurement of physical and chemical properties of meat and muscle fiber characteristics. Results indicated that LBW pigs compensated for their live weight compared to NBW pigs at 6 weeks of age. The mean muscle fiber diameter of LBW-HFHD group is significantly higher than NBW-C and NBW-HF group, and the type I muscle fiber diameter is significantly higher than NBW-C group. Dairy fat inclusion in LBW pig diet reduced carcass back fat thickness. This increased the calculated lean meat yield to be comparable to that of NBW pigs fed a commercial diet. Incorporating dairy-sourced high-fat into LBW pigs' diets appears to be an effective strategy for producing carcasses equivalent to NBW pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.143-154
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• 2009

(Y $\times$ L) $\times$ D-crossbred gilts and barrows weighing $80.2\pm0.2$ kg were fed a "medium-energy" (ME) or "low-energy" (LE) diet (3.2 vs 3.0 M cal DE/kg) and slaughtered at 110, 125, or 138 kg, after which physicochemical and sensory quality traits of major primal cuts of resulting carcasses were analyzed, under a 2 (sex) $\times$ 2 (diet) $\times$ 3 (slaughter weight; SW) factorial arrangement of treatments. The ADG and ADFI were greater (P<0.01) in barrows than in gilts and also in 125- and 138-kg vs 110-kg SW. Moreover, ADG and gain:feed were greater in ME vs LE (P<0.01), whereas ADFI was greater in LE vs ME (P<0.01). Backfat thickness, which increased with increasing SW (P<0.01), was not affected by sex or diet. Carcass marbling score was greater (P<0.01) in gilts and LE than in barrows and ME, respectively. Carcass quality grade, which was superior in LE vs ME, was not affected by SW, whereas the yield grade decreased abruptly between 125- and 138-kg SW primarily due to the upper limit of carcass weight imposed on the A and B grades. Physicochemical characteristics including pH, drip loss, and variables pertaining to color of belly, ham, and loin were not affected significantly by any of the treatment factors, albeit statistically significant in some cases, in terms of quality criteria. In sensory evaluation, the acceptability of fresh belly was not influenced by any of the treatment factors. Marbling score of fresh ham was greater in LE vs ME (P<0.01) and tended to increase between 110- and 125-kg SW (P=0.10); in loin, the increase of this variable between the two SW was significant (P<0.01). Following cooking, LE was superior to ME in the acceptability in belly and ham, but the effect of SW was insignificant in any of the sensory quality traits evaluated in this study in any of the three major primal cuts. In conclusion, the present results suggest that SW can be increased to up to 138 kg without compromising carcass quality and that LE has some beneficial effects on quality of the whole carcass and the major primal cuts.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2013

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the decreased carcass grade due to overweight on meat quality traits of the loin and belly. Out of 500 carcasses from 85- to 150-kg market pigs, seven average-size $1^+A$ carcasses, seven 1A and twelve 1B carcasses almost weighing the upper limits allowed for the A (95 kg) and B (99 kg) grades, respectively, and 12 1B carcasses weighing 100 kg or greater were selected for the present study. Marbling score was greater in the $1^+A$ grade than in any other grade, whereas color and textural properties of the muscle and fat of the carcass did not differ among the four carcass grades. Physicochemical characteristics of the loin including the color, pH, chemical composition, and others pertaining to the textural properties changed minimally with decreasing carcass grade. Off-odor of the fresh loin and belly was not influenced by the carcass grade whereas dripping was lowest in the $1^+A$ grade; color and marbling were not influenced or minimally influenced by the carcass grade. Overall acceptability of the fresh primals, however, did not differ among the carcass grades. In cooked loin and belly, a trend of decreased taste and acceptability with decreasing carcass grade was evident, albeitat a low slope, with a significant difference detected between $1^+A$ and 2C grades. In conclusion, the decreased pig carcass grade due to overweight is accompanied by a slightly decreased meat quality, suggesting that the yield grade of pig carcass is also somewhat reflective of meat quality.