Abstract
ObjectiveThis 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.MethodsSixty 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.ResultsGrowing 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.ConclusionGrowth 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.
Highlights
To maximize productivity and carcass traits of beef cattle, it is common practice to provide a high amount of formulated concentrate diet in the feeding systems of many countries
The BW of the CON group was significantly (p
In carcass quality traits, marbling score index, one important meat quality, tended to be higher (p = 0.098) in the CON group compared to the TMR group, but there was no significant difference in meat quality grade between two groups except for meat color
Summary
To maximize productivity and carcass traits of beef cattle, it is common practice to provide a high amount of formulated concentrate diet in the feeding systems of many countries. There is increasing demand for low-cost alternative feedstuffs in livestock operations This has focused attention on a total mixed ration (TMR) for beef production, which contains agricultural by-products, several grains and functional herbs as sources of feed ingredients [1,2]. We applied two different feeding systems (CON vs TMR) in beef production to evaluate the effects of feeding system on growth performance, serum biochemical profiles, and carcass traits in Hanwoo steers
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