Table 4
Effects of castration age on growth performance of Hanwoo steers

Item	Castration agea		SE	Pr > |t|
	C90	C180
	Growing period (3–12 months of age)
Initial body weight (kg)	115.7 ± 12.2	112.8 ± 14.2	3.511	0.072
Final body weight (kg)	317.4 ± 28.8	308.3 ± 28.8	8.447	0.292
Average daily gain (kg)	0.74 ± 0.07	0.73 ± 0.08	0.023	0.914
Concentrate (DM, kg)	3.58 ± 0.58	3.58 ± 0.58	–	–
Rice straw (DM, kg)	1.78 ± 0.25	1.78 ± 0.25	–	–
Dry matter intake (kg)	5.36 ± 0.57	5.36 ± 0.57	–	–
Feed conversion ratio	7.24 ± 0.57	7.24 ± 0.64	0.188	0.991
	Early fattening period (13–22 months of age)
Initial body weight (kg)	317.4 ± 28.8	308.3 ± 28.8	8.447	0.292
Final body weight (kg)	576.6 ± 50.4	577.7 ± 53.1	13.293	0.991
Average daily gain (kg)	0.86 ± 0.10	0.89 ± 0.12	0.031	0.224
Concentrate (DM, kg)	5.82 ± 1.11	5.82 ± 1.11	–	–
Rice straw (DM, kg)	2.39 ± 0.21	2.39 ± 0.21	–	–
Dry matter intake (kg)	8.21 ± 0.45	8.21 ± 0.45	–	–
Feed conversion ratio	9.88 ± 1.11	9.56 ± 1.54	0.350	0.351
	Late fattening period (23–31 months of age)
Initial body weight (kg)	576.65 ± 51.52	577.72 ± 54.24	52.897	0.944
Final body weight (kg)	769.15 ± 70.94	774.56 ± 78.28	74.700	0.803
Average daily gain (kg)	0.67 ± 0.09	0.69 ± 0.16	0.128	0.682
Concentrate (DM, kg)	8.05 ± 0.71	8.13 ± 0.62	–	–
Rice straw (DM, kg)	0.96 ± 0.33	0.96 ± 0.33	–	–
Dry matter intake (kg)	9.01 ± 0.73	9.1 ± 0.62	–	–
Feed conversion ratio	12.82 ± 3.02	12.04 ± 2.09	2.595	0.511
	Entire period (3–31 months of age)
Initial body weight (kg)	115.7 ± 12.2	112.8 ± 14.2	13.241	0.076
Final body weight (kg)	769.2 ± 70.9	774.6 ± 78.3	74.700	0.803
Average daily gain (kg)	0.76 ± 0.07	0.78 ± 0.08	0.079	0.449
Concentrate (DM, kg)	5.74 ± 2.36	5.76 ± 2.38	–	–
Rice straw (DM, kg)	1.71 ± 0.66	1.71 ± 0.66	–	–
Dry matter intake (kg)	7.45 ± 2.23	7.47 ± 2.24	–	–
Feed conversion ratio	9.73 ± 3.59	9.33 ± 3.11	3.361	0.665