earticle

영어

This study was conducted to investigate whether dietary levels of copra and palm meals affect the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat properties of Hanwoo steers. Eighty-one Hanwoo steers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary groups: T1 (conventional level of palm and copra meals), T2 (20% copra meal and 15% palm meal), and T3 (30% copra meal and 20% palm meal). During the growing and early fattening periods, the average daily gains and formula feed intakes of T2 and T3 were higher than that of T1; however, those differences were not statistically significant. The dietary levels of copra and palm meals did not affect carcass weight, back fat thickness, and rib-eye areas. Marbling scores and meat quality grades were lower in T3 than in T1 and T2; however, those differences were not statistically significant. Meat color, fat color, texture, and maturity were similar among the treatment groups. In addition, dietary levels of copra and palm meals did not affect the chemical and fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi muscles in Hanwoo steers. Thus, the present results indicate that high supplementation levels of copra and palm meals do not negatively affect the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat properties of Hanwoo steers.