책임운영기관 농촌진흥청 국립축산과학원 (로고)

Alfalfa hay varieties have been developed and cultivated in Korea to enhance the self-sufficiency rate of domestic roughage. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of feeding domestic and imported alfalfa on the growth performance and economic feasibility of Hanwoo bulls. This study was conducted using eight Hanwoo bulls, aged 6 to 7 months, during their growing period. Hanwoo bulls were divided into two groups: one group fed imported alfalfa and the other group fed domestic alfalfa. Dry matter intake, weight gain, and blood metabolites were analyzed for two months of the growing stage. There was no significant difference between the two groups in dry matter intake and body weight. However, the price of domestic alfalfa is lower than that of imported alfalfa, so feeding domestic alfalfa is expected to have a positive effect on reducing production costs. Further study is needed to compare not only the growth performance but also carcass characteristics after slaughter by feeding domestic alfalfa to Hanwoo for a longer period during their growing stage.