This study evaluated the effects of TMC (trace mineral-fortified microbial culture) supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality parameters of Hanwoo steers during the last 4 months of finishing period. The TMC was a combination of 0.4% trace minerals, 20.0% Na-bentonite, and 79.6% feedstuffs, which was inoculated with a mixed microbial culture (Enterobacter ludwigii, Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Twenty-four steers were blocked by initial BW (634 ± 16 kg) and randomly allocated to one of two treatments (control vs. 3.3% TMC). The effect of TMC supplementation on the growth performance was not significant. There was no incidence of urolithiasis in TMCfed steers. However 3 out 12 steers (25%) fed the control diet were observed to have urinary calculi. The carcass yield and meat quality parameters were not affected by TMC supplementation, however marbling score was increased in TMC-fed steers (P = 0.08). There was no effect of TMC treatment on the chemical composition of longissimus dorsi muscle (LM). The TMC supplementation increased concentrations of manganese (P < 0.01), cobalt (P = 0.02), iron, and copper (P = 0.06) in LM. In conclusion, TMC treatment did not negatively affect growth performance and meat quality parameters, and positively affected the trace minerals profile of LM.

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION
 Ⅱ. MATERIALS AND METHODS
  1. Preparation of TMC
  2. Animals and experimental designs
  3. Analysis of diets and meat
  4. Carcass traits
  5. Statistical analysis
 Ⅲ. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
  1. DMI and Body weight gain
  2. Urinary calculi occurrence
  3. Carcass traits and chemical and mineral compositionof meat
 Ⅳ. ACKNOLEDGEMENTS
 Ⅴ. REFERENCES

• Young Il Kim(Division of Food Biosciences, College of Health and Medical Life Sciences Konkuk University, Chung-Ju, Chung-Buk 380-701, Republic of Korea)
• Farhad Ahmadi(Division of Food Biosciences, College of Health and Medical Life Sciences Konkuk University, Chung-Ju, Chung-Buk 380-701, Republic of Korea)
• Sang Moo Lee(Department of Animal Science, Sangju Campus, Kyungpook University, Sangju, Kyungbuk, 42-711, Republic of Korea)
• Youn Hee Lee(Division of Food Biosciences, College of Health and Medical Life Sciences Konkuk University, Chung-Ju, Chung-Buk 380-701, Republic of Korea)
• Do Young Choi(Division of Food Biosciences, College of Health and Medical Life Sciences Konkuk University, Chung-Ju, Chung-Buk 380-701, Republic of Korea)
• Wan Sup Kwak(Division of Food Biosciences, College of Health and Medical Life Sciences Konkuk University, Chung-Ju, Chung-Buk 380-701, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author