The Korean native cattle, Hanwoo, is the most popular breed of beef cattle in Korea. However, the reproductive performance data are limited although reproduction is one of the most economically and biologically important in beef production. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate reproductive performance parameters including calving interval, parity for life time production. Data collected from 206,827 calvings were analyzed. There were no significant differences in calving interval and gestation days as parity increased from 2nd and 13rd parity cow, from spring to winter. However, we found a dramatic increase in calving interval after year 2000. About 1 month were increased per year ( y = 30.578x + 344.45 R² = 0.9157). Interestingly, we observed that parities for life time can be affected by birth weight. Calves with 23 kg at birth showed highest parities, 3.4±2.0 times. In summary, this study provides valuable data on reproductive performance of Hanwoo and the data presented here can be used as a standard target for optimising and enhancing reproductive performance.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and estimate timing of artificial insemination (AI) in Hanwoo heifer (Korean native cattle) that is the most popular breed of beef cattle in Korea. To determine changes in body weight of heifers around AI, body weight were measured at different stages either before or after AI. We found that daily body weight gain was higher in the pregnant cows after AI. We also investigate correlation between body mass measured by shoulder height and body length, and conception rates, used (body length+ height)2 instead of height2 for body mass index (BMI), and found that relatively more BMI heifers (>55) showed higher conception rates. Finally, we estimated body weight by measuring should height (SH), heart girth (HG), and body length (BL); BW=3.93372*HG-2.90985*SH-0.021*BL. In addition, we observed that HG is most closely correlated with BW; y(BW) = 1.77355*x(HG), R² = 0.98881. In summary, we can determine the best timing of AI using body measurement and its application including BMI.

Calculating break-even price of calf production is closely associated with reproductive efficiency. To determine the price, we need data from reproduction records including number of claves weaned, number of cows exposed for breeding, and annual cash coast per cow, and average weaning or market weight of claves sold and retained. Unfortunately, the data were not available in Korea native cow (Hanwoo). To evaluate the performance and the price, we collected calving interval from about 60,000 cows for last 10 years and estimated reproductive performance. Calving interval was increased 4.3% and pregnancy rate was decreased about 1.4∼2.8% year-on-year. Increases in growth rates of number of cow and semen per calf supported the low reproductive performance. Finally, break-even price was calculated using estimated percent calf crop and demonstrated that growth rate of break-even price is larger than that of annual cash per cow, suggesting cow-calf profitability and financial efficiency in Korea native cow (Hanwoo) is getting worse.