Growth curve estimates for wither height, hip height, and body length of Hanwoo steers (Bos taurus coreanae)

Abstract

Growth curves in Hanwoo steers were estimated by Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, Logistic, and Brody nonlinear models using growth data collected by the Hanwoo Improvement Center from a total of 6,973 Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) steers 6 to 24 months old that were born between 1996 and 2015. The data included three parameters: A, mature size of body measurement; b, growth ratio; and, k, intrinsic growth rate. Nonlinear regression equations for wither height according to Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, Logistic, and Brody models were      ,     ,     , and     , respectively, while those for hip height were      ,     ,     , and     , respectively. Equations for body length      ,     ,     , and     , respectively, for the same models. Among the four models, the Brody model resulted in the lowest mean square error, with mean square errors of 31.79, 30.57, and 42.13, respectively, for wither height, hip height, and body length. Also, an estimated birth wither height, birth hip height, and birth body length (77.98, 80.57, and 70.97 cm, respectively) were lower in the Brody model than in other models. An inflection point was not observed during the growth phase of Hanwoo steer according to the growth curves calculated using Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, and Logistic models. Based on the results, we concluded that the regression equation using the Brody model was the most appropriate among the four growth models. To obtain more accurate parameters, however, using data from a wider production period (from birth to shipping) would be required, and the development of a suitable model for body conformation traits would be needed.