Analysis of seasonal effect on Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) birth weight

Data on birth weight was collected from 100 local breeding farms from 2016 to 2019 according to the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation Hanwoo Genetic Improvement Center program. The 41,081 Hanwoo calves (male: 20,978, female: 20,016, Freemartin: 87) enumerated were classified and analyzed by sex, year, month, and seasons. Seasons were classified as spring: March–May, summer: June–August, fall: September–November, and winter: December–February. Slaughter age and carcass weight data were collected from 8,868 Hanwoo castrated steers born between 2016 and 2017. Slaughter age was divided into six groups: < 28 months, 28 months, 29 months, 30 months, 31 months, and ≥ 32 months. Carcass weight divided three groups: < 435 kg, 435 kg ≤ carcass weight ≤ 486 kg, and > 486 kg.

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for the compare average birth weight data using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) 9.4 software (SAS, Cary, USA); the Duncan’s multiple comparison test was used for making comparisons among groups. All data are expressed as mean ± SD. The null hypothesis was rejected when the probability was p < 0.05.

The general linear model procedure of the SAS software was used to test the significance of birth weight traits. The linear model for birth weight was as follows:

where,

y_ijke represents Hanwoo birth weight

μ is the total mean

M_i is the ith fixed effect of calving month (1 to 12)

SA_j is the jth fixed effect of slaughter age group (1 to 6)

Car_k is the kth fixed effect of carcass weight group (1 to 3)

e_ijke is the residual error.

The least squares method was used to estimate the environmental effects on calving month, season, and carcass traits. The linear model was analyzed using the SAS 9.4 package and variance analysis was performed using a Type III squared fit for unbalanced data among the four squares presented in the SAS/general linear model analysis. The statistical significance of the differences between the least squares averages of the treatments was tested with the following null hypothesis at a significance level of 1%: Ho: least squares means (LSM) (i) = LSM (j), where LSM (i (j)) is the least squares average of the I (j) effects (I ≠ j).

To determine the correlation between birth month and birth weight in Hanwoo calves, a total of 20,978 male and 20,016 female calves were analyzed. The average birth weight of male calves was 30.47 kg and that of female calves was 28.16 kg (Table 1). The birth weight of male calves was significantly more than that of female calves. Many factors influence the growth of a developing fetus, including sex. Previous reports have shown that female calves, twins, and calves born to first-parity cows had lower birth weight than male calves, single births, or calves born to multiparous cows, respectively [9]. Another report described that male calves were heavier than their contemporary females throughout the pre-weaning growth period [10]. Commonly, bull carcasses showed higher yield but lower quality than those of cows and steers. According to data from 1970 to 2006, Hanwoo birth weight was 24.35 kg which is lower than in the present study [11]. Another research group also described a lower birth weight of Hanwoo calves, 23.02 kg (1974–1995) [12]. National Hanwoo genetic evaluations are implemented by recording birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, carcass weight, eye muscle area, backfat thickness, and marbling score. The yearling weight was 315.54 kg in 1998, and had increased to 355.06 kg in 2011. Yearling weight and carcass weight have improved remarkably over the past 15 years [13]. In recent years, breeding of Hanwoo has been aimed at increasing carcass weight that related with increasing economic benefit of farm.

The male calves born in March were the largest, weighing 30.84 kg. The July-born male calves weighing 29.11 kg were the smallest. Male calves born in February, March, April, September, October, November, and December were significantly larger than the calves born in January, June, and July. The female calves born in March were the largest in comparison to those born in the other months and weighed 28.5 kg. The July-born female calves weighed 27.59 kg and were smaller than those born in the other months. Female calves born in March, September, and November were significantly larger than the July-born calves. In Korea, the climate in July is very hot and humid. During this period, the feed intake rate and growth gain is reduced in domestic animals. Typically, fetus growth is substantial during the last period of the pregnancy. Pregnant cows cannot consume enough feed in July and this influences the growth of the fetus.

To analyze the correlation between birth season and birth weight in Hanwoo calves, the seasons were divided as spring (March–May), summer (June–August), autumn (September–November), and winter (December–February). The birth weights of male calves were 30.69 ± 4.41, 30.03 ± 4.05, 30.46 ± 4.35, and 30.62 ± 4.35 kg in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively (Table 2). Male Hanwoo calves born in spring were the largest and the smallest were summer-born. Spring born calves were significantly larger than summer- and autumn-born calves. In addition, male Hanwoo calves from summer were significantly smaller than those born in the other seasons. The birth weights of female calves were 28.35 ± 3.81, 27.72 ± 3.69, 28.28 ± 3.80, and 28.24 ± 3.90 kg in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. Female Hanwoo calves born in spring were the largest and the smallest were summer born. Female Hanwoo calves born in the summer were significantly smaller than those born in the other seasons. The birth weight of spring-, autumn-, and winter-born calves were not significantly different from each other. A previous study from Brazil showed that the mean birth weight of the calves did not differ among the seasons of the year at birth and calf sexes; however, cows with below average lengths of gestation calved lighter calves [14]. A study conducted in Texas reported that year, calf sex, dam age, stocking rate, birth season, birth weight, and weaning age were significant factors affecting weaning weight. Fall-born calves were heavier at weaning (267.6 kg) than either winter- (252.0 kg) or spring-born calves (240.9 kg) [15]. However, the climate of Korea is very different from that of these countries. The temperature on the Korean peninsula is increasing continuously, and hot and humid summers and cold and dry winter are expected. According to these climatic conditions in Korea, the effects of birth seasons on Hanwoo birth weight will be different from those observed in cattle in other countries.

To determine the correlation of birth weight with carcass month and weight, 8,868 Hanwoo steers born in 2016–2017 were analyzed. The results of the linear model for BW showed that the June-born male Hanwoo calves were the smallest (Table 3). In addition, the slaughter age had a negative correlation with birth weight (Table 3). This data indicates that slaughter age was increased to ensure adequate carcass weight which in turn was related to the period in which cattle were raised. Furthermore, carcass weight had a positive correlation with birth weight (Table 3). The group with small carcass weight (< 435 kg) had a birth weight of 28.94 ± 0.11 kg, and the medium (435–486 kg) and large (> 486 kg) carcass weight groups had a birth weight of 30.41 ± 0.11 kg and 32.29 ± 0.12 kg, respectively.

Climatic conditions affect animal performance. Thermal stress lead to energy maintenance requirements increase and growth rates reduce can result in sizable economic losses to producers of beef cattle. However, very little information is available on seasonal effects in Hanwoo production traits including quality and yield grade in Korea. A previous report described that both marbling score and quality grade of Hanwoo steer carcasses were generally the best in autumn and the worst in spring. In addition, yield grade of Hanwoo steer carcasses was the lowest in winter (November to January) and the highest in spring and summer (May to September) [4].

The temperature-humidity index (THI) can be used to determine the influence of heat stress on the productivity of farm animals. THI is divided into categories that potentially indicate the level of heat stress. A previous study identified a THI < 71 as the thermal comfort zone, 72 to 79 as mild heat stress, 80 to 90 as moderate heat stress, and > 90 as severe heat stress [16]. Weather conditions in the Korean peninsula are hot and humid during summer, and THI values are between 73 and 80 in summer [4]. According to Armstrong’s classification, the summer season resulted in moderate stress to Hanwoo. Therefore, the heat stress during late gestation is related to lower birth weight of calves, which suggests compromised fetal growth [17]. Furthermore, the heat stress has negative affect on Hanwoo industry including reduction of reproductive pergormance and fetal development [18]. However, in this study we focused correlation of birth weight and other economic characters during seasonal changing.

In conclusion, our study investigated the birth weight pattern in Hanwoo during different months and seasons and evaluated the seasonal effect of heat stress on characteristics of economic value. Specifically, the birth weight of Hanwoo calves in the summer season was significantly reduced thereby influencing growth rate after weaning. In addition, birth weight had a negative correlation with slaughter age and a positive correlation with carcass weight. This report contributes toward evaluating the effect of high temperature on performance characteristics and improving breeding strategies and production management systems of Hanwoo for overall superior performance.