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Background: Shortening the fattening period can reduce production costs and inedible fat, but may simultaneously negatively affect productivity and profitability. We hypothesized that increasing the crude protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN) in the formula feed could address the issues associated with shortened fattening periods without adversely affecting rumen fermentation. This study investigated the effect of a simultaneous increase of crude protein and TDN contents compared to conventional formula feed on growth performance, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics and meat composition of late fattening Hanwoo steers. Methods: Thirty Hanwoo steers were randomly assigned to one of two dietary groups: control group (16.4% crude protein and 83.6% TDN based on dry matter) and treatment group (17.4% crude protein and 84.6% TDN based on dry matter). Result: The rumen parameters were similar between the control and treatment groups. Likewise, the effect of additional crude protein and TDN contents in the formula feed showed no significant impact on the growth performance or blood metabolites. The carcass weight and yield index were slightly higher in the treatment group compared to the control, yet these differences were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the dietary treatment did not affect marbling score, meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, pH, surface colors, drip loss, cooking loss, sensory characteristics, or fatty acid composition in the longissimus muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Odors from livestock facilities are mainly caused by livestock manure. This causes deterioration of the health of the farm workers and the productivity of livestock. Complex additives with different actions are required to effectively reduce fecal contaminants. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of combined odor reducing additive (CORA) supplementation on the odor emission of feces and the growth performance of Hanwoo steers. Methods: Ninety-six Hanwoo steers were randomly assigned to the following four groups: control group fed with CORAunsupplemented formula feed; T0.05 group fed with 0.05% CORA-supplemented formula feed; T0.1 group fed with 0.1% CORAsupplemented formula feed and T0.2 group fed with 0.2% CORA-supplemented formula feed. The CORA comprised 88% zeolite, 3% Bacillus licheniformis, 3% Bacillus polyfermenticus and 6% saponin. Result: The fecal NH3-N gas emission was significantly lower in the T0.2 group than in the control group (P<0.05). The fecal H2S gas emission at 20 d of incubation was lower in the T0.2 group than in the control group (P<0.05). The fecal NH3-N concentration was lower in proportion in all the groups with different supplementation levels of CORA than in the control group after 7 d of incubation (P<0.05). The number of fungi in feces was lower in the treatment groups than in the control group and the lowest was for T0.2 group (P<0.05). The results of this study indicated that CORA supplementation can reduce the emission of harmful gases (NH3-N and H2S) and odor-causing substances in feces and inhibit mold growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical-window birefringence is frequently a major obstacle in experiments measuring changes in the polarization state of light traversing a sample under investigation. It can contribute a signal indistinguishable from that due to the sample and complicate the analysis. Here, we explore a method to measure and compensate for the birefringence of an optical window using the reflection from the last optical surface before the sample. We demonstrate that this arrangement can cancel out false signals due to the optical-window birefringence-induced ellipticity drift to about 1%, for the values of total ellipticity less than 0.25 rad. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing rumen-protected choline with soluble vitamins (RPCSV) on growth performance, plasma profiles, and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steers. Forty-five steers were fed 0 (T0), 50 (T50), or 100 g (T100) of RPCSV daily for 6 months. The average daily gain was not affected by RPCSV supplementation. The concentrations of total bilirubin (P < 0.05), aspartate glutamyltransferase (P < 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.01), glucose (P < 0.01), nonesterified fatty acids (P < 0.05), blood urea nitrogen (P < 0.01), and triglycerides (P < 0.01) differed depending on the RPCSV supplementation period in each treatment group. Backfat thickness (P < 0.05) and yield index (P < 0.01) were affected by RPCSV supplementation. Thus, the results of this study indicated that plasma profiles related to energy, protein, and lipid metabolism increased due to improved liver function with RPCSV supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of full-fat oil seeds on milking performance, milk composition, and milk quality in lactating Holstein cows. Animals for the experiment were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. The control group was fed a CON diet (total mixed ration + hay + concentrate), T1 was fed the CON diet + 600 g flaxseed, and T2 was fed the CON diet + 600 g flaxseed + 200 g chia seeds. Supplementation with flaxseed or flaxseed + chia seeds had little effect on milk yield, feed intake, and feed efficiency of lactating Holstein cows. The content of protein and nonfat- solids was higher in T1 than in control (P < 0.05) during the first period, but overall, the addition of flaxseed or flaxseed + chia seeds had a low influence on milk composition. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents increased with the supplementation of flaxseed or flaxseed + chia seeds (P < 0.05). The percentage of n-3 fatty acids and the antioxidant activity of raw milk also increased as a result of flaxseed or flaxseed + chia seed administration (P < 0.05). Thus, in this study, mixed flaxseed and chia seed supplementation exerted a positive effect on lactation persistency, functional fatty acid concentration (CLA, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and n-3 fatty acid), and antioxidant activity in lactating Holstein cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fermented carrot by-product diets (FCBD) supplementation in fattening pigs on their growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality. Ninety-six crossed pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc), weighing approximately 76 kg, were divided into four groups of 8 heads (four barrows and four gilts) per pen, and the experiment was replicated thrice. The basal diet (C) was substituted with 3% (T1), 6% (T2) and 9% (T3) FCBD, and pigs were fed the experimental diet for 45 days. Feed efficiency was higher (푃 < 0.05) in T1 and T3 than in C. Quality grade was higher (푃 < 0.05) in T2 and T3 than in C, and the ratio of high-quality grades was higher in treatment groups than in C. Therefore, FCBD supplementation improved quality grade in fattening pigs, and it was expected that an increase in the utilization ratio of FCBD would reduce the cost of animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of castration age on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economic efficacy of Hanwoo steers. There is an increasing interest in extending castration age to enhance the yield of desirable traits in beef, e.g. carcass weight and longissimus muscle area. The calves were divided into four groups based on their age at castration. Body length at 12 months increased with increasing castration age (푝 < 0.05). Average daily gain and cold carcass weight were higher in the group castrated at 11–12 months than in the group castrated at <10 months (푝 < 0.05). Marbling scores were higher in the groups castrated at <10 months of age than in the groups castrated at >11 months (푝 < 0.05). The present results suggest that the most appropriate castration age is below 12 months in Hanwoo cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]