Effects of calving season on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the effect of calving season on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economic efficacy of Hanwoo (Korean native) steers. Three hundred and forty-four Hanwoo calves were employed. The calves were divided into the following two groups: spring-born calves (end of February to April; n = 167) and autumn-born calves (end of August to October; n = 177). The average daily gain (ADG) of the 3–6 months, fattening period(12-30 months of age) and experimental period (birth-30 months of age) tended to be higher for spring-born calves than for autumn-born calves(p < 0.01). The body conformation traits almost part was higher spring-born calves than autumn-born calves(p < 0.05). Spring-born calves also had higher carcass weight and back fat thickness than autumn-born calves (p < 0.05) and net income. Thus, based on birth weight, growth performance, carcass weight, and farmers’ income, we recommend that calves should be produced in spring rather than autumn on seasonal breeding farms.

KEYWORDS:

• Hanwoo
• calving season
• growth performance
• carcass characteristics

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant “Development of precise feeding program for the pregnancy, calf, growing and fattening stages of Hanwoo based on nutritional metabolic imprinting (PJ016226)” from the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant ‘Development of precise feeding program for the pregnancy, calf, growing and fattening stages of Hanwoo based on nutritional metabolic imprinting (PJ016226)’ from the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea.