title: Comparison of feeding systems: feed cost, palatability and environmental impact among hay-fattened beef, consistent grass-only-fed beef and conventional marbled beef in Wagyu (Japanese Black cattle).
abstract: The objective of this article is to compare feed cost, palatability and environmental impacts among feeding systems of high concentrate (HC), high hay (HH) and grass-only-fed (Gof) groups. Feed cost was the sum of costs paid for feed intake times the price of feed per kilogram. Palatability was measured by a panel taste test using HH and Gof beef and analyzed for differences. Environmental impacts were calculated based on 1 kg of Japanese beef yield of CO(2) equivalents (eq) and animal end weights at each feeding stage. Results showed that the HH and Gof feeding systems could significantly reduce feed costs by approximately 60% and 78%, respectively, from the HC. In the panel taste test, 50% and 47.50% of panelists indicated that HH beef was 'extremely delicious' and 'acceptable,' respectively, while 15% indicated that Gof beef was 'extremely delicious'; 62.50% indicated that Gof beef was 'acceptable.' Environmental impacts of each feeding system in terms of CO(2) equivalents (eq) were 9.32, 6.10 and 2.04 tonnes of eq for the HC, HH and Gof, respectively. The HH was an economical system that produced moderate impacts on the environment and had impressive taste.
authors: Kuju Agriculture Research Center, Kyushu University, Oita, Japan.
authors: Khounsaknalath
authors: K
authors: Sithyphone
authors: Mitsuyasu
authors: M
authors: Yabe
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Horita
authors: Keisuke
authors: K
authors: Hayashi
authors: Tomiko
authors: T
authors: Fumita
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Shiotsuka
authors: Tetsuji
authors: T
authors: Etoh
authors: Fumio
authors: F
authors: Ebara
authors: Olavanh
authors: O
authors: Samadmanivong
authors: Jochen
authors: J
authors: Wegner
authors: Takafumi
authors: T
authors: Gotoh
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000191:economics; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D013649:Taste