γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a natural stress-reducing substance and is actively used as a human health supplement. However, minimal research has been conducted on its use in cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of GABA on the growth performance, complete blood count, blood metabolites, and carcass characteristics of fattening Hanwoo steers. Twenty-one fattening steers were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: control (basal diet: concentrate feed + rice straw), T1 (basal diet + GABA supplement at 0.8% of feed/head/day), and T2 (basal diet + GABA supplement at 1.6% of feed/head/day). Feed intake and conversion ratio did not differ among the treatments. However, the average daily gain during the early fattening period increased linearly to 0.80 kg, 0.86 kg, and 0.92 kg in the control, T1, and T2 groups (p<0.05). Plasma γ-glutamyl transferase (37.5, 58.2, 42.8 U/ℓ) and creatinine (1.32, 1.34, 1.49 ㎎/㎗) levels in the GABA supplement group were increased compared to those in the control group. The carcass weight (422.7, 427.1, 454.1 kg), rib eye area (86.67, 92.57, 91.14 cm2), and marbling score (3.67, 4.29, 4.14) were numerically higher in the GABA supplement group than in the control group. Thus, GABA supplementation positively affected the average daily gain and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. However, the effect of the GABA supplement level of GABA was small, and further research using rumen-protected coating technology on GABA is necessary.

This study investigated the effects of π-ray treated feeds on the growth performance, carcass composition, internal organ weight, and sensory evaluation of broilers. One hundred and eighty broiler chicks were used as experimental animals. These were divided into four treatment groups according to the π-ray treated feed supplement level: 0% (control) 1%, 3%, and 5%. The π-ray treated feeds did not significantly affect on the body weight gain (2,484–2,602 g), feed intake (4,747–4,944 g), and feed efficiency (1.90–1.98) in broilers (p>0.05). Also, carcass protein (20.2–20.4%) and fat (4.6–4.9%) contents were not affected. The lengths (178.0, 182.7, 198.0, and 190.3 cm) and weights (38.4, 41.2, 44.2, and 38.9 g/kg of body weight) of the small intestine were slightly but not significantly higher in the π-ray treatments than in the control. Further, there were no overall effect of the π-ray treatment on the abdominal fat pad (2.3, 2.1, 2.1, and 1.8%), and cecum (6.7, 4.0, 5.6, and 6.0 g/kg of body weight) and gizzard (16.8, 15.2, 18.0, and 16.6 g/kg of body weight) weights of the broilers in the present study (p>0.05). The stickiness (2.25, 4.25, 4.50, and 4.38) and flavor (2.44, 4.25, 4.31, and 4.38) of cooked breast meat were higher in the π-ray treatments than in the control (p<0.01). This study also found that, in humans, eating cooked breast meat of broilers that were fed π-ray treated feeds had a positive effect on the blood circulation in the capillaries. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that dietary π-ray treatment has a positive effect on the sensory evaluation of broilers, without any negative effect on their body weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency, and that the consumption of these broilers is beneficial for humans on their blood circulation.