Table 4 Effects of castration age on growth performance of Hanwoo steers
Item | Castration agea | SE | Pr > |t| | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
C90 | C180 | |||
Growing period (3–12 months of age) | ||||
Initial body weight (kg) | 115.7 ± 12.2 | 112.8 ± 14.2 | 3.511 | 0.072 |
Final body weight (kg) | 317.4 ± 28.8 | 308.3 ± 28.8 | 8.447 | 0.292 |
Average daily gain (kg) | 0.74 ± 0.07 | 0.73 ± 0.08 | 0.023 | 0.914 |
Concentrate (DM, kg) | 3.58 ± 0.58 | 3.58 ± 0.58 | – | – |
Rice straw (DM, kg) | 1.78 ± 0.25 | 1.78 ± 0.25 | – | – |
Dry matter intake (kg) | 5.36 ± 0.57 | 5.36 ± 0.57 | – | – |
Feed conversion ratio | 7.24 ± 0.57 | 7.24 ± 0.64 | 0.188 | 0.991 |
Early fattening period (13–22 months of age) | ||||
Initial body weight (kg) | 317.4 ± 28.8 | 308.3 ± 28.8 | 8.447 | 0.292 |
Final body weight (kg) | 576.6 ± 50.4 | 577.7 ± 53.1 | 13.293 | 0.991 |
Average daily gain (kg) | 0.86 ± 0.10 | 0.89 ± 0.12 | 0.031 | 0.224 |
Concentrate (DM, kg) | 5.82 ± 1.11 | 5.82 ± 1.11 | – | – |
Rice straw (DM, kg) | 2.39 ± 0.21 | 2.39 ± 0.21 | – | – |
Dry matter intake (kg) | 8.21 ± 0.45 | 8.21 ± 0.45 | – | – |
Feed conversion ratio | 9.88 ± 1.11 | 9.56 ± 1.54 | 0.350 | 0.351 |
Late fattening period (23–31 months of age) | ||||
Initial body weight (kg) | 576.65 ± 51.52 | 577.72 ± 54.24 | 52.897 | 0.944 |
Final body weight (kg) | 769.15 ± 70.94 | 774.56 ± 78.28 | 74.700 | 0.803 |
Average daily gain (kg) | 0.67 ± 0.09 | 0.69 ± 0.16 | 0.128 | 0.682 |
Concentrate (DM, kg) | 8.05 ± 0.71 | 8.13 ± 0.62 | – | – |
Rice straw (DM, kg) | 0.96 ± 0.33 | 0.96 ± 0.33 | – | – |
Dry matter intake (kg) | 9.01 ± 0.73 | 9.1 ± 0.62 | – | – |
Feed conversion ratio | 12.82 ± 3.02 | 12.04 ± 2.09 | 2.595 | 0.511 |
Entire period (3–31 months of age) | ||||
Initial body weight (kg) | 115.7 ± 12.2 | 112.8 ± 14.2 | 13.241 | 0.076 |
Final body weight (kg) | 769.2 ± 70.9 | 774.6 ± 78.3 | 74.700 | 0.803 |
Average daily gain (kg) | 0.76 ± 0.07 | 0.78 ± 0.08 | 0.079 | 0.449 |
Concentrate (DM, kg) | 5.74 ± 2.36 | 5.76 ± 2.38 | – | – |
Rice straw (DM, kg) | 1.71 ± 0.66 | 1.71 ± 0.66 | – | – |
Dry matter intake (kg) | 7.45 ± 2.23 | 7.47 ± 2.24 | – | – |
Feed conversion ratio | 9.73 ± 3.59 | 9.33 ± 3.11 | 3.361 | 0.665 |