• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.993-1004
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• 2009

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of non-ionic surfactant (NIS) supplementation on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility and performance of beef steers fed high-roughage diets. The objective of experiment 1 was to investigate the effects of NIS supplementation on in vitro ruminal fermentation of cultures administered with corn and barley as grain substrate and rice straw and timothy hay as roughage substrate. The in vivo ruminal fermentation, nitrogen balance and digestibility of nutrients were also examined with steers fed a high-roughage diet in experiment 2. The aim of experiment 3 was to determine the responses to NIS of growing steers fed a high-roughage diet. In experiment 1, ammonia nitrogen concentration for NIS supplementation was higher (p<0.05) than for the control with all substrates. However, concentrations of total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetate, butyrate and valerate of the incubated roughage substrates, rice straw and timothy hay, were higher (p<0.05) for NIS supplementation than for the control whereas VFA concentrations in the cultures of corn and barley were unaffected. These results indicated that effects of NIS on ruminal fermentation are diet dependent, specifically on roughage sources. In experiment 2, ruminal pH of steers supplemented with NIS was lower (p<0.05) than the control. Ruminal concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, acetate, total VFA and urinary concentrations of purine derivatives were increased (p<0.05) by NIS supplementation. In experiment 3, supplementation of NIS increased (p<0.05) intakes of total feed and corn silage, average daily gain, and feed efficiency of growing steers although they varied depending on supplementation level. Due to the roughage-specific feature of NIS effects, NIS appears to enhance ruminal fermentation of fibrous parts of feeds and, consequently, performance of steers fed a high-roughage diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1486-1494
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• 2017

Objective: This research analyzed behavioral characteristics of Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) steers during each season and growth stage to enable measurement of the animals' welfare level for precision livestock farming. Methods: A hundred-eight beef steers were divided into three equal groups at a Hanwoo farm according to their growth stage: growing stage (GS), 8 months; early-fattening stage (EFS), 19 months; and late-fattening stage (LFS), 30 months. Twelve behavioral categories were continuously recorded for 13 day-time hours in each four seasons with three replications. Results: Time spent standing was found to be significantly longer in summer at all growth stages (p<0.05). Hanwoos at the GS spent significantly longer standing time in spring and summer than those at the EFS and LFS (p<0.05). Lying time in summer was the shortest for all growth stages (p<0.05). Steers at the LFS spent significantly longer lying time than that at the GS (p<0.05) in summer. For GS and EFS, time spent eating in spring and autumn were longer than in summer and winter (p<0.05). Eating time was the longest for the GS in spring, autumn, and winter, excluding for the LFS in winter (p<0.05). Regarding ruminating, steers at the LFS spent significantly shorter time than those at other stages in all seasons (p<0.05). GS and EFS steers showed the longest walking time in summer compared with other seasons (p<0.05). At GS and LFS, drinking time in summer was the longest of all seasons (p<0.05). Sleeping time was significantly shorter in summer compared with the other seasons (p<0.05). Self-grooming time was the longest in winter for all growth stages (p<0.05). Conclusion: Steers were found to have more variable behavioral patterns during summer and the GS and less active behaviors during the LFS, thus extra care seems necessary during the GS, LFS, and summer period.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.627-632
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate the supplementation effect of selenium on beef color stability. A total of 15 Hanwoo steers were divided into 3 groups and 2 groups were administered with 0.9 ppm of one of two organic-selenium products, Organic-Se and Se-SMC (Se-spent mushroom compost) for 4 mon. The third group was the control group, which was not with fed selenium during the same period. The result of this study showed that there was no significant difference in meat color between the control and treatments when Hunter $L^*$, $a^*$, $b^*$, chroma, hue and total color difference (${\Delta}E$) were measured after 30 min of blooming. When the oxymyoglobin (OxyMb) contents were measured after beef samples were ground and stored for 48 h at $20^{\circ}C$ in an incubator, they were 26.04%, 28.52% and 33.78% for the control, Organic-Se and Se-SMC after 14 d of storage and 12.65, 18.98 and 18.72 after 21 d of storage at $4^{\circ}C$, respectively (p<0.05). The control had a significantly higher metmyoglobin (MetMb) content than Organic-Se and Se-SMC (p<0.05). This result indicated that selenium supplementation was effective in preventing the oxidation of myoglobin(Mb) and production of MetMb and thus was able to maintain the purplish fresh red color of the meat.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.585-592
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• 2003

The current study was conducted to determine the relationships of vitamin A on meat quality of Hanwoo as a basic study to manipulate vitamin A contents in feeds to produce high quality beef. Concentrations of vitamin A in serum and liver of Hanwoo steers(n=328) were analyzed and correlation coefficients with carcass properties were evaluated. Mean vitamin A concentration in the serum of Hanwoo steers in the early fattening period was 212.0$\pm$32.7 IU/dl, and that in the late fattening period was 117.56$\pm$43.15 IU/dl. Mean vitamin A concentration in the liver of Hanwoo steers in the late fattening period was 143.62$\pm$110 IU/g expressing large variations might be depended on animals, feeds and farms. There were negative correlations between serum vitamin A concentration and marbling degree(r=-0.24, P<0.01), fat contents in M. Logissimus dorsi (r=-0.21, P<0.01), and beef quality grade(r=-0.20, P<0.01). Vitamin A-palmitate in liver also expressed negative correlations with fat contents in M. Logissimus dorsi (r=-0.18, P<0.01) and beef quality grade(r=-0.16, P<0.05). From the results obtained in the current study, we concluded that it might be possible to produce high quality beef in Hanwoo by manipulating vitamin A contents in the feeds. Further detailed studies, however, are necessary to determine vitamin A contents in feeds, feeding levels, and feeding periods.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.211-222
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the physico-chemical meat quality and sensory properties of Holstein steers(n=18, 4 months old, average body weight 160kg) which were divided into 3 groups and fed 2 different energy levels of total mixed rations(TMR)(T1, TDN 74~84%; T2, TDN 77~85%) until 18, 20 or 22 months old, respectively. For loin muscles, 22-month group of T1 and 20- and 22-month groups of T2 had higher fat contents than the other groups (P<0.05). T2 had higher WHC values for 18-month groups among 3 feeding groups (P>0.05). In sensory properties, T1 had higher tenderness, flavor-likeness and overall likeness for 20-month group than the other groups (P<0.05). T2 had higher tenderness, juiciness, flavor likeness and overall likeness in 20- and 22-months groups than 18-month group (P<0.05). For top round muscles, 22-month group had higher fat contents than the other groups of T1 and T2 (P<0.05). T1 had higher in redness(a* value) and yellowness (b* value) of 22-month group (P<0.05). T2 had higher WHC values, lower WBS and CL values in 18-month group than the other groups (P<0.05). In sensory properties, T1 had higher tenderness for 18 and 20-month groups and overall likeness (P<0.05). T2 had higher tenderness in 18-month group. The results of this study showed that longer feeding of agricultural by-product TMR increased the intramuscular fat contents, however, the 18 and 20-months finishing groups were advantageous for the meat quality and sensory properties of Holstein steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.457-463
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• 2014

Ultrasound measurements of backfat thickness (UBF), longissimus muscle area (ULMA) and marbling score (UMS) and carcass measurements of carcass weight (CW), backfat thickness (BF), longissimus muscle area (LMA), and marbling score (MS) on 7,044 Hanwoo steers were analyzed to estimate genetic parameters. Data from Hanwoo steers that were raised, finished in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do (province) and shipped to slaughter houses during the period from October 2010 to April 2013 were evaluated. Ultrasound measurements were taken at approximately three months before slaughter by an experienced operator using a B-mode real-time ultrasound device (HS-2000, FHK Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) with a 3.5 MHz linear probe. Ultrasound scanning was on the left side between 13th rib and the first lumbar vertebrae. All slaughtering processes and carcass evaluations were performed in accordance with the guidelines of beef grading system of Korea. To estimate genetic parameters, multiple trait animal models were applied. Fixed effects included in the models were: the effects of farm, contemporary group effects (year-season at the time of ultrasound scanning in the models for UBF, ULMA, and UMS, and year-season at slaughter in the models for CW, BF, LMA, and MS), the effects of ultrasound technicians as class variables and the effects of the age in days at ultrasound scanning or at slaughtering as linear covariates, respectively for ultrasound and carcass measures. Heritability estimates obtained from our analyses were 0.37 for UBF, 0.13 for ULMA, 0.27 for UMS, 0.44 for CW, 0.33 for BF, 0.36 for LMA and 0.54 MS, respectively. Genetic correlations were strongly positive between corresponding traits of ultrasound and carcass measures. Genetic correlation coefficient between UBF and BF estimate was 0.938, between ULMA and LMA was 0.767 and between UMS and MS was 0.925. These results suggest that ultrasound measurement traits are genetically similar to carcass measurement traits.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.810-817
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• 2016

The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of a high-energy diet on the level of serum metabolites and on carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. High energy diets have been used for enhancing intramuscular adipose tissue in high quality beef cattle. However, there is not much information about the physiological reactions to this diet. We hypothesized that a high energy diet would increase blood metabolites and the meat quality of Hanwoo steers during the early and final fattening periods. A $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement (High, Control, and Early, Final) in a completely randomized design was used to feed 24 Hanwoo steers. Two steers were kept in the same pen and 12 pens were used for the experiment. Blood was drawn from each steer on the first week of every other month from 11 to 28 months. Overall Average Daily Gain (ADG) and feed efficiency were not different between high energy and control diets (p > 0.05). However, Dry Matter Intake (DMI greater with the control diet than DMI with the high energy diet during the final fattening period (p < 0.05). Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were greater in the control diet group than in the high energy diet group during the final fattening period (p < 0.05). However, serum albumin, glucose, total protein, triglyceride, and phosphorus were greater in the high energy group than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Carcass traits or physico-chemical characteristics were not different between high energy diet treatment and the control. These data indicated that a high energy diet (+ 3% TDN) increased serum triglyceride during early fattening periods and decreased non-esterified fatty acids during final fattening periods in Hanwoo steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1117-1123
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• 2017

Objective: This study was conducted to compare growth performance, blood components and carcass traits by two feeding systems (concentrate with roughage separately [CON] vs total mixed ration [TMR]) in Hanwoo steers, and to learn the relationship between blood components during fattening or finishing phases and carcass traits in Hanwoo steers. Methods: Sixty steers aged 8 months were allotted to two feeding systems and fed similar amounts of average dry matter and total digestible nutrient throughout whole experimental period according to each feeding program. Steers were weighed monthly, taken blood at the end of growing, fattening and finishing periods, and slaughtered at 30 month of age. Results: Growing performance was higher (p<0.05) in the CON group compared to the TMR group during fattening and finishing periods. The CON group was lower (p<0.05) in blood aspartic acid transaminase, blood urea nitrogen and retinol levels during growing period, but higher in triglyceride and cholesterol levels during fattening and finishing periods compared to the TMR group. The CON group was greater (p<0.05) in rib-eye area, and lighter (p<0.05) red in meat color compared to the TMR group. In the correlation coefficients between blood components of steers and carcass traits, retinol had a negative (p<0.05) correlation with marbling score and rib-eye area. Leptin had a positive (p<0.05) correlation with back fat thickness. Blood cholesterol and triglyceride were positively (p<0.05) correlated with carcass weight and rib-eye area. Conclusion: Growth performance, carcass ribeye area and meat color showed a more desirable result in the CON compared to the TMR in Hanwoo steers. Assessing the accumulated data of carcass traits with blood components including hormones-particularly retinol, cholesterol, triglyceride, and leptin-during the fattening or finishing phases, it may be possible to find a biomarker for determining beef quality in living animals.

• 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.22 no.3
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• pp.371-377
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• 2009

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of different dietary ratios of whole-crop corn silage and alfalfa hay on nitrogen (N) digestion, duodenal flow and metabolism across the portal-drained viscera (PDV) of growing beef steers, and to elucidate their relationships. Four steers (236${\pm}$7 kg BW) fitted with duodenal cannulae and chronic indwelling catheters into the portal and mesenteric veins and abdominal aorta were used in a 4${\times}$4 Latin square design. Animals were fed (at 12-h intervals) the 4 diets consisting of whole-crop corn silage (C) and alfalfa hay (A) in 80:20 (C8A2), 60:40 (C6A4), 40:60 (C4A6) and 20:80 (C2A8) ratios of which dietary crude protein (CP) was 10.5, 12.0, 13.5 and 15.0% of dry matter (DM), respectively. Feeding level was restricted to 95% of ad libitum intake to measure N digestion, blood flow and net flux of N across the PDV. Digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fiber and digestible energy intake linearly increased as the ratio of alfalfa hay increased. The N intake, duodenal flow and intestinal disappearance increased linearly with increasing alfalfa hay. Arterial and portal concentrations of ${\alpha}$-amino N showed a quadratic response to increasing levels of alfalfa hay and were the highest in steers fed the C6A4 diet. The net PDV release of ${\alpha}$-amino N and ammonia N increased linearly with increasing alfalfa hay, but urea N uptake by PDV did not differ among diets. As a percentage of apparently digested N in the total gut, net PDV release of ${\alpha}$-amino N linearly decreased from 66 to 48% with increasing alfalfa hay. Conversely, net PDV recovery of ${\alpha}$-amino N to intestinal N disappearance varied with increasing alfalfa hay accounting for 49, 50, 58 and 61% on C8A2, C6A4, C4A6 and C2A8 diets, respectively. Net PDV uptake of urea N, relative to apparently digested N, linearly decreased from 81 to 25% as alfalfa hay increased from 20 to 80% of DM intake. Considering PDV uptake of urea N, microbial efficiency and conversion of total tract digested N to PDV ${\alpha}$-amino N net supply, a diet consisting of 80% whole-crop corn silage and 20% alfalfa hay (10.5% CP) was the best, while considering the quantities of intestinal N disappearance and ${\alpha}$-amino N absorption, a diet of 20% whole-crop corn silage and 80% alfalfa hay (15% CP) would be preferred. The proportion of ${\alpha}$-amino N recovered by PDV relative to the intestinal N disappearance may vary with energy intake level of mixed forage diets.