• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.180-187
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• 2015

This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding by-product feed (BF)-based silage on the performance, blood metabolite parameters, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. The BF-based silage was composed of 50% spent mushroom substrate, 21% recycled poultry bedding, 15% cut ryegrass straw, 10.8% rice bran, 2% molasses, 0.6% bentonite, and 0.6% microbial additive (on a wet basis), and ensiled for over 5 d. Fifteen steers were allocated to three diets during the growing and fattening periods (3.1 and 9.8 months, respectively): a control diet (concentrate mix and free access to rice straw), a 50% BF-based silage diet (control diet+50% of maximum BF-based silage intake), and a 100% BF-based silage diet (the same amount of concentrate mix and ad libitum BF-based silage). The BF-based silage was fed during the growing and fattening periods, and was replaced with larger particles of rice straw during the finishing period. After 19.6 months of the whole period all the steers were slaughtered. Compared with feeding rice straw, feeding BF-based silage tended (p = 0.10) to increase the average daily gain (27%) and feed efficiency (18%) of the growing steers, caused by increased voluntary feed intake. Feeding BF-based silage had little effect on serum constituents, electrolytes, enzymes, or the blood cell profiles of fattening steers, except for low serum Ca and high blood urea concentrations (p<0.05). Feeding BF-based silage did not affect cold carcass weight, yield traits such as back fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, yield index or yield grade, or quality traits such as meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, marbling score, or quality grade. However, it improved good quality grade (1+ and 1++) appearance rates (60% for the control group vs 100% for the BF-based silage-fed groups). In conclusion, cheap BF-based silage could be successfully used as a good quality roughage source for beef cattle.

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

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1629-1640
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• 2015

This study was performed to compare carcass traits, sensory characteristics, physiochemical composition, and contents of nucleotides, collagen, and free amino acids among quality grades (QG) and to understand the association between QG and above parameters in loin and rump of Korean cattle steer. Loin and rump samples were obtained from 48 Korean cattle steers with each of four QG (QG 1++, 1+, 1, and 2; average 32 months of age). Carcass weight and marbling score (MS) were highest in QG 1++, whereas texture score measured by a meat grader was highest in QG 2. A correlation analysis revealed that MS (r = 0.98; p<0.01) and fat content (r = 0.73; p<0.01) had strong positive correlations with QG and that texture had a strong negative correlation (r = -0.78) with QG. Fat content in loin was highest but protein and moisture contents were lowest in QG 1++. Our results confirmed that a major determinant of QG is the MS; thus, intramuscular fat content. The International Commission on Illumination $L^*$, $a^*$, and $b^*$ values in loin were highest in QG 1++. Numeric values of shear force in loin were lowest in QG 1++, whereas those of tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptability tended to be highest in QG 1++ without statistical significance. QG was strongly correlated with juiciness (r = 0.81; p<0.01) and overall acceptability (r = 0.87; p<0.001). All sensory characteristics were higher (p<0.05) in loin than those in rump. Adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP) and inosine-5'-monophosphate (IMP) contents in both loin and rump did not differ among QGs. No nucleotide (AMP, IMP, inosine, hypoxanthine) was correlated with any of the sensory traits. Total, soluble, and insoluble collagen contents in loin were higher in QG 1++ than those in QG 1. All three collagens had lower content in loin than that in rump. All three collagens were positively correlated with tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptability. Glutamic acid content did not significantly differ among the four QGs in either loin or rump. In conclusion, it is confirmed that QG is associated with sensory traits but nucleotide contents in beef may not be a major factor determining meat palatability in the present study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1084-1089
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• 2015

Chemerin, highly expressed in adipose and liver tissues, regulates glucose and lipid metabolism and immunity in these tissues in ruminants and mice. Our previous reports showed that chemerin is involved in adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in adipose tissue as an adipokine. The aim of the present study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the coding region of the chemerin gene and to analyze their effects on carcass traits and intramuscular fatty acid compositions in Japanese Black cattle. The SNPs in the bovine chemerin gene were detected in 232 Japanese Black steers (n = 161) and heifers (n = 71) using DNA sequencing. The results revealed five novel silent mutations: NM_001046020: c.12A>G (4aa), c.165GT (92aa), c.321 A>G (107aa), and c.396C>T (132aa). There was no association between 4 of the SNPs (c.12A>G [4aa], c.165GG [107aa], and c.396C>T) and carcass traits or intramuscular fatty acid compositions. Regarding the remaining SNP, c.276C>T, we found that cattle with genotype CC had a higher beef marbling score than that of cattle with genotype CT, whereas cattle with genotype CT had a higher body condition score (p<0.10). Further, cattle with genotype CC had significantly higher C18:0 content in their intramuscular fat tissue than that of cattle with genotype CT (p<0.05). On the other hand, cattle with genotype CT had significantly higher C14:0 and C16:0 content in their intramuscular fat tissue (p<0.05). Moreover, the number of individuals carrying the minor allele of c.276C>T SNP is small. It is suggested that the c.276C>T SNP of the chemerin gene has potential in cattle breeding using modern methods, such as marker assisted selection. So, further functional and physiological research elucidating the impact of the chemerin gene on bovine lipid metabolism including fatty acid synthesis will help in understanding these results.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1441-1448
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• 2008

This experiment was carried out to study the carcass characteristics, chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the Longissimus muscle (LM) of bulls (10) and steers (17) finished in a pasture system. Animals (1/2 Zebu vs. 1/2 Aberdeen Angus) were fed in a pasture system (Hermatria altissima) and with a supplement of soybean meal, cracked corn, urea, limestone and mineral salts, twice a day. Both animal groups were slaughtered at 27 months of age, with an average 508.88 kg of live weight. Final weight, hot carcass weight and texture were similar (p>0.05) between bulls and steers. Carcass dressing, fat thickness, color and marbling were higher (p<0.02) in steers. Conversely, the Longissimus area was greater (p<0.05) in bulls. Moisture levels were higher (p<0.01) in bulls. Ash, crude protein, total lipids and total cholesterol levels were higher (p<0.10) in steers. C14:0, C16:0, C16:1 n-7 and C18:1 n-9 fatty acids percentages were higher (p<0.06) in steers. C16-1 n-10, i 17:0, C19:0, C18:2 n-6, C18:3 n-3, C20:2 n-3 C20:4 n-6, C20:5 n-3, C22:1 n-7, C22:4 n-6 and C22:5 n-3 fatty acids percentages were higher (p<0.05) in bulls. The percentage of the other fatty acids was similar (p>0.05) in bulls and steers. The levels of monounsaturated fatty acids were higher (p<0.02) in steers while polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-3, n-6, PUFA/SFA and n6:n3 ratios, were higher (p<0.05) in bulls. The CLA contents (mg/g lipids) were similar (p>0.10) in bulls and steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1334-1341
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• 2007

This study identified hepatic differentially expressed genes (DEGs) affecting the marbling of muscle. Most dietary nutrients bypass the liver and produce plasma lipoproteins. These plasma lipoproteins transport free fatty acids to the target tissue, adipose tissue and muscle. We examined hepatic genes differentially expressed in a differential-display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (ddRT-PCR) analysis comparing high- and low-marbled Hanwoo steers. Using 60 arbitrary primers, we found 13 candidate genes that were upregulated and five candidate genes that were downregulated in the livers of high-marbled Hanwoo steers compared to low-marbled individuals. A BLAST search for the 18 DEGs revealed that 14 were well characterized, while four were not annotated. We examined four DEGs: ATP synthase F0, complement component CD, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) and phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP). Of these, only two genes (complement component CD and IGFBP3) were differentially expressed at p<0.05 between the livers of high- and low-marbled individuals. The mean mRNA levels of the PEBP and ATP synthase F0 genes did not differ significantly between the livers of high- and low-marbled individuals. Moreover, these DEGs showed very high inter-individual variation in expression. These informative DEGs were assigned to the bovine chromosome in a BLAST search of MS marker subsets and the bovine genome sequence. Genes related to energy metabolism (ATP synthase F0, ketohexokinase, electron-transfer flavoprotein-ubiquinone oxidoreductase and NADH hydrogenase) were assigned to BTA 1, 11, 17, and 22, respectively. Syntaxin, IGFBP3, decorin, the bax inhibitor gene and the PEBP gene were assigned to BTA 3, 4, 5, 5, and 17, respectively. In this study, the in silico physical maps provided information on the specific location of candidate genes associated with economic traits in cattle.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.748-755
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary palm oil supplementation on the quality of the carcass and meat of Hanwoo (Korean cattle). Thirty-month-old steers were fed on a concentration with or without (control) palm oil for 3 mon prior to slaughter. The samples of M. longissimus were taken from all carcasses and then stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 9 d. The carcass traits, total myoglobin content, pH value, total reducing ability, and myofibrillar fragmentation index were unaffected by supplementation with palm oil. However, the fat content, water-holding capacity, and tenderness were significantly increased by dietary palm oil (p<0.05). In the fatty acid composition, the palm oil group had a higher palmitic acid (C16:0) content and lower polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content compared to the control group (p<0.05). The lipid oxidation stability, myoglobin oxidation stability, and color stability were increased by dietary palm oil. It is concluded that supplemental palm oil increased the marbling and storage quality but decreased the PUFA in Hanwoo beef.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.393-403
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the productivity of Hanwoo steers by feeding self-product organic rice straw and concentrates(conventional, T1 and organic T2). Sixteen Hanwoo steers(8 months on the average) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Feeding trail was carried out in 2 treatment(8 heads/ treatment) by Hanwoo steers for 600 days form 8 to 28 months in age. The range of average daily gains of T1 and T2 were 0.76 to 0.77kg in the growing stage, 0.93 to 0.90kg in the first fattening stage, 0.99 to 0.84kg in the middle fattening stage, and 0.59 to 0.64kg in the latter fattening, respectively, and the gains for overall period was higher in T1 than in T2. Concentrates and total digestive nutrients(TDN)(T1) intakes per unit of kg gains were higher than T2 without significant difference. In carcass characteristics, the carcass weight in T1 were higher about 5% than in T2. According to the above results, it may be concluded that dry matter(DM) intakes, crude protein(CP) and TDN contents of feedstuff between treatments was no significant difference. but marbling in T2 score was higher than in T1 about 20%. There were no significant differences rib-eye area, back fat thickness and fat color(p>0.05).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2006

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of feeding levels of barley grain in diets of Hanwoo on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo. Twenty Hanwoo bull calves (initial mean body wt. 99kg) were randomly divided to examine the effects of 5 feeding levels of barley grains(addition levels: 0, 0 and 40% for FII40; 0, 0 and 60% for FII60; 0, 20 and 40% for F2040; and 0, 20 and 60% for F2060 during the growing, early fattening and late fattening periods, respectively) on growth performance and meat quality. Body weight was not affected by the feeding level of barley grains through the whole experimental period, although the body weight of Hanwoo bulls fed FII40 diet at 24 months old of age tended to be lower(591.5kg) than that of other animals(606.2～614.6kg). However, body weight gain in the bulls of the FII60 diet was slightly increased(P<.19). The feeding levels of barley grains did not influence on fasting body weight, carcass weight, carcass rate, lean meat, retailed cut, KPH fat and bone yield. The lean meat yield(89.82%) and fat yield(20.28%) tended to increase in Hanwoo bulls fed the F2060 compared with other treatments. Feeding of the diets of FII40 resulted in the higher marbling scores as 3.75, respectively than other diets.