Effects of Feeding Patterns of Concentrate on Growth Performance, Blood Parameters and Carcass Characteristics in Fattening Hanwoo Cows

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding patterns of concentrates on growth performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo cows.Randomly-allocated groups, restricted concentrate feeding (T1), restricted concentrate feeding for 6 months and ad libitum 2 months (T2), restricted concentrate feeding for 4 months and ad libitum 4 months (T3), were contained with 9 animals.According to feeding patterns of concentrate, growth performance was not significantly different among the treatment groups.However, ADG tended to be higher in T2 group (0.75 kg/d) compared to the other groups (T1: 0.62 kg/d, T3: 0.72 kg/d).DMI was not significantly different among the treatment groups, interestingly, rice straw intake was significantly higher in T1 group compared with others (p<0.05).There were significant difference among feed conversion ratio, which are 17.8, 12.8, and 14.1 kg for T1, T2, and T3 (p<0.05),respectively.The serum level of albumin, triglyceride, glucose and GPT were greater in T3 group compared to other groups at fattening 6 to 8 months (p<0.05).The results of yield traits, carcass weight, back fat thickness and rib eye area were not differ among treatment groups, but yield index was significantly greater in T2 group compared to T1 group (p<0.05).The 'A' appearance rate (%) of meat yield grade was highest in T2 group for 78%.The marbling score, meat color, fat color, texture and maturity in quality traits were not differ among the treatment groups.However, marbling score and appearance rate (%) of over 1st meat quality grade were tend to be increased at T3 rather (4.0, 56%) group compared with other groups (T1: 3.4, 56%; T2: 3.6, 33%).Thus, the present study suggested that restricted concentrate feeding (1.6% of BW) for 4 months during early fattening periods and ad libitum feeding for 4 months during late fattening periods are recommendable.