This study analyzed the effect on weight and average daily gain, carcass grade, and blood characteristics and immunity in case of dietary addition of pegmatite to Hanwoo steers. Relative to Hanwoo steers, initial body weight was 257.3±11.74 kg (8-months old after birth). Forty-eight Hanwoo steers were fed for 24 months using random arrangement (4 treatment plots×4 heads×3 repeat). The treatment plot (498.75~500.82 kg) had higher weight during the early fattening stage compared with that of the control plot (474.37 kg) (p<0.05). Regarding total cholesterol of the blood, the value was similar to one during initiation of testing, but the value increased gradually based on the progress of fattening. In addition, the triglyceride was considerably low in T2~T3 plots with high addition of pegmatite during the late fattening stage compared with other treatment plots (p<0.05). This study revealed a tendency in the IgG content that represented immunity as the addition of pegmatite became higher (p>0.05). This study found that the treatment plot (441.55~452.10 kg) had higher carcass weight compared with the control plot (436.30 kg). However, this study revealed that the treatment plot (2.30~2.55 points) had higher carcass quantity grade compared with the control plot (2.11 points). This study found that the control plot (3.55 points) had higher carcass quality grade compared with the treatment plot (2.67~3.09 points) (p>0.05).
With studies combined, it was determined that dietary addition of pegmatite to the feed as clay minerals in fattening Hanwoo steers would improve feed intake, body weight gain and carcass quantity grade.