Effects of weaning and castration ages on growth performance, blood metabolites, and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steers

Lim, Hwan; Ahn, Jun Sang; Kim, Min Ji; Son, Gi Hwal; Park, Joong Kook; Shim, Jae Yoon; Kim, Il Young; Kim, Ji Hyung; Cho, Sung Myoun; Kwon, Eung Gi; Shin, Jong Suh; Park, Byung Ki

doi:10.1186/s40781-018-0188-2

Table 2 Effects of weaning and castration ages on growth performance of Hanwoo steers

From: Effects of weaning and castration ages on growth performance, blood metabolites, and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steers

Item	Treatment^c				P-value
Item	W80C90	W80C180	W130C90	W130C180	P-value
	Growing period (3–12 months of age)
Initial body weight (kg)	112.7 ± 12.3	114.9 ± 13.8	118.7 ± 10.8	110.7 ± 13.7	0.062
Final body weight (kg)	314.6 ± 31.3	317.5 ± 29.2	320.2 ± 24.0	299.0 ± 23.8	0.277
Average daily gain (kg)	0.74 ± 0.08	0.75 ± 0.08	0.74 ± 0.07	0.70 ± 0.06	0.362
Concentrate (DM, kg)	3.58 ± 0.58	3.58 ± 0.58	3.58 ± 0.58	3.58 ± 0.58	–
Rice straw (DM, kg)	1.78 ± 0.25	1.78 ± 0.25	1.78 ± 0.25	1.78 ± 0.25	–
Dry matter intake (kg)	5.36 ± 0.57	5.36 ± 0.57	5.36 ± 0.57	5.36 ± 0.57	–
Feed conversion ratio	7.24^ab ± 0.60	6.96^b ± 0.65	7.24^ab ± 0.51	8.68^a ± 0.53	0.011
	Early fattening period (13–22 months of age)
Initial body weight (kg)	314.6 ± 31.3	317.5 ± 29.2	320.2 ± 24.0	299.0 ± 23.8	0.277
Final body weight (kg)	569.5 ± 40.5	584.7 ± 56.2	583.8 ± 57.8	570.7 ± 48.9	0.828
Average daily gain (kg)	0.84 ± 0.05	0.88 ± 0.11	0.87 ± 0.12	0.90 ± 0.13	0.500
Concentrate (DM, kg)	5.82 ± 1.11	5.82 ± 1.11	5.82 ± 1.11	5.82 ± 1.11	–
Rice straw (DM, kg)	2.39 ± 0.21	2.39 ± 0.21	2.39 ± 0.21	2.39 ± 0.21	–
Dry matter intake (kg)	8.21 ± 0.45	8.21 ± 0.45	8.21 ± 0.45	8.21 ± 0.45	–
Feed conversion ratio	10.06 ± 0.77	9.70 ± 1.41	9.71 ± 1.31	9.41 ± 1.59	0.714
	Late fattening period (23–31 months of age)
Initial body weight (kg)	569.5 ± 40.5	584.7 ± 56.2	583.8 ± 57.8	570.7 ± 48.9	0.838
Final body weight (kg)	756.5 ± 60.1	783.0 ± 79.3	781.8 ± 75.6	766.1 ± 72.9	0.793
Average daily gain (kg)	0.65 ± 0.09	0.69 ± 0.12	0.69 ± 0.08	0.68 ± 0.17	0.868
Concentrate (DM, kg)	7.97 ± 0.81	8.13 ± 0.64	8.13 ± 0.64	8.13 ± 0.64	–
Rice straw (DM, kg)	0.96 ± 0.34	0.96 ± 0.34	0.96 ± 0.34	0.96 ± 0.34	–
Dry matter intake (kg)	8.93 ± 0.83	9.09 ± 0.64	9.10 ± 0.64	9.10 ± 0.64	–
Feed conversion ratio	13.77 ± 3.93	11.98 ± 2.03	11.87 ± 1.66	12.10 ± 2.39	0.642
	Entire period (3–31 months of age)
Initial body weight (kg)	112.7 ± 12.3	114.9 ± 13.8	118.7 ± 10.8	110.7 ± 13.7	0.062
Final body weight (kg)	756.5 ± 60.1	783.0 ± 79.3	781.8 ± 75.6	766.1 ± 72.9	0.793
Average daily gain (kg)	0.75 ± 0.06	0.78 ± 0.07	0.77 ± 0.05	0.77 ± 0.08	0.739
Concentrate (DM, kg)	5.72 ± 2.33	5.78 ± 2.37	5.75 ± 2.43	5.75 ± 2.43	–
Rice straw (DM, kg)	1.73 ± 0.65	1.73 ± 0.65	1.69 ± 0.67	1.69 ± 0.67	–
Dry matter intake (kg)	7.45 ± 2.17	7.50 ± 2.19	7.45 ± 2.33	7.45 ± 2.33	–
Feed conversion ratio	10.2 ± 4.09	9.35 ± 3.05	9.26 ± 3.11	9.30 ± 3.31	0.879

Means ± standard deviation
^a,bMeans with different superscripts within the same row are significantly different (P < 0.05)
^cW80C90: weaning at 80 days of age and castration at 90 days of age; W80C180: weaning at 80 days of age and castration at 180 days of age; W130C90: weaning at 130 days of age and castration at 90 days of age; W130C180: weaning at 130 days of age and castration at 180 days of age

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