This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Chromium-Methionine (Cr-Met) chelate feeding for different durations on growth and carcass characteristics in the late fattening stage of Holstein steers. Nine Holstein steers were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (3 head per treatment) including Non Cr-Met chelate feeding (NCM, av. BW of 433.3 kg), Cr-Met chelate feeding for 2 months (2CM, av. BW of 459.6 kg), and Cr-Met chelate feeding for 4 months (4CM, av. BW of 490.0 kg), respectively. The feeding amount of Cr-Met chelate to an animal was limited to 400 ppb/day. Dry matter intake showed no differences among all the treatments (p>0.05). Average daily gain was also higher in the animals fed Cr-Met chelate diets than NCM (p<0.05). Carcass weights were also observed to be higher in Cr-Met chelate feeding treatments, especially in 4CM compared with other treatments (p<0.05). Although no significant differences were observed on back fat thickness and rib eye area(p<0.05), but 4CM showed much higher effects than NCM and 2CM. Marbling score meat color, fat color, texture, and maturity were not affected by treatments (p>0.05). The variations in meat quality were smaller in 4CM compared to other treatments. 4CM showed higher total and net income than other treatments (p<0.05). Therefore, the current study concluded that Cr-Met chelate supplementation for 4 months could increase daily gain, carcass characteristics, and profitability of Holstein steers in the late fattening stage.

ABSTRACT   INTRODUCTION   MATERIALS AND METHODS   RESULTS AND DISCUSSION   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS   REFERENCES

• 송영삼(강원대학교 동물생명과학대학) | Young Sam Song
• 가세미 네자드 잘일(강원대학교 동물생명과학대학) | Jalil Ghassemi Nejad
• 오상집(강원대학교 동물생명과학대학) | Sang Jip Ohh
• 이배훈(강원대학교 동물생명과학대학) | Bae Hoon Lee
• 김현섭(국립축산과학원) | Hyun Sup Kim
• 성경일(강원대학교 동물생명과학대학) | Kyung Il Sung Corresponding author