Table 3. Effect of castration timing on carcass yield and quality traits of Hanwoo steers

	Early castration (at 4–5 month of age, n=8)	Late castration (at 7–8 month of age, n=8)
Carcass yield traits
Back fat thickness (cm)	15.2 ± 3.02	11 ± 0.7
Rib-eye area (cm2)	98.8 ± 5.11	96.2 ± 8.58
Carcass weight (kg)	432.6 ± 25.2	450.2 ± 15.7
Dressing percentage (%)	63.94 ± 2.27	64.84 ± 1.86
Quality traits
Marbling score1)	7.8 ± 0.58	7.6 ± 0.75
Meat color2)	4.6 ± 0.24	4.6 ± 0.28
Fat color3)	3 ± 0.01	3 ± 0.01

Data are presented as the means ± SD.
Low fat (1 point) – high fat (9 point).
Very light cherry red (1 point) – very dark red (7).
White (1 point) – yellow (7 point).