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Veterinary sciences2026; 13(3); 280; doi: 10.3390/vetsci13030280

Finishing Performance, Meat Quality, and Economic Efficiency of Retired Thoroughbred Versus Belgian-Cross Geldings Under an Identical Total Mixed Ration: A Pilot Study.

Abstract: This study evaluated a 181-day finishing system for horses entering the Korean meat chain by comparing retired thoroughbred geldings and Belgian-crossbred geldings under identical management and an ad libitum forage-based total mixed ration. Ten geldings ( = 5 per group) were individually housed, with body weight and feed intake recorded monthly. After slaughter, carcass traits and meat quality grade were assessed, and longissimus thoracis et lumborum samples were analyzed for proximate composition. Belgian-crossbreds consumed more dry matter (18.68 vs. 13.60 kg DM/day), corresponding to 2.3% vs. 2.4% of body weight, but showed markedly greater growth (average daily gain 1.063 vs. 0.290 kg/day) and higher gain-to-feed (0.059 vs. 0.024) than retired Thoroughbreds. Carcass weight and marbling-related traits favored Belgian-crossbreds, including higher intramuscular fat in longissimus thoracis et lumborum (9.15% vs. 3.22%). Despite higher total feed cost per head, the economic feed conversion ratio was substantially lower in Belgian-crossbreds (13,133 vs. 35,088 KRW/kg gain), resulting in a positive gross margin estimate, whereas retired Thoroughbreds showed a negative margin under the same system. These results suggest that meat-type horses may be better suited to short, intensive finishing, while alternative utilization or tailored finishing strategies may be needed for retired racehorses.
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Publication Date: 2026-03-18 PubMed ID: 41893697PubMed Central: PMC13029992DOI: 10.3390/vetsci13030280Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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Finishing Performance, Meat Quality, and Economic Efficiency of Retired Thoroughbred Versus Belgian-Cross Geldings Under an Identical Total Mixed Ration: A Pilot Study

Overview of the Study

  • This study compared the finishing performance, meat quality, and economic efficiency of retired Thoroughbred geldings and Belgian-cross geldings over a 181-day finishing period.
  • Both groups were fed an identical forage-based total mixed ration and managed under the same conditions to evaluate their suitability for entering the Korean meat chain.

Study Design and Methods

  • Subjects: 10 geldings total, divided into two groups—5 retired Thoroughbred geldings and 5 Belgian-crossbred geldings.
  • Housing: Individually housed to control for environmental factors and feed intake measurement.
  • Duration: 181 days of finishing period.
  • Feeding: Ad libitum access to the same total mixed ration, primarily forage-based.
  • Measurements:
    • Body weight and feed intake recorded monthly.
    • Post-slaughter carcass traits assessed.
    • Meat quality grading conducted, including marbling assessment.
    • Muscle samples (longissimus thoracis et lumborum) analyzed for proximate composition, including intramuscular fat content.

Key Findings: Feed Intake and Growth Performance

  • Feed Intake:
    • Belgian-crossbreds consumed more dry matter daily (18.68 kg) compared to Thoroughbreds (13.60 kg).
    • When adjusted for body weight, feed intake was roughly similar between groups (2.3% Thoroughbred vs. 2.4% Belgian-crossbred).
  • Growth Performance:
    • Belgian-crossbreds showed a significantly greater average daily gain (1.063 kg/day) compared to Thoroughbreds (0.290 kg/day).
    • The gain-to-feed ratio (efficiency of converting feed to body mass) was higher in Belgian-crossbreds (0.059) versus Thoroughbreds (0.024), indicating better feed efficiency.

Meat Quality and Carcass Traits

  • Carcass Weight: Belgian-crossbreds produced heavier carcasses than Thoroughbreds, reflecting their greater growth rate.
  • Marbling and Intramuscular Fat (IMF):
    • Belgian-crossbreds had better marbling scores and higher intramuscular fat content in the studied muscle (9.15% vs. 3.22%).
    • This suggests superior meat quality in terms of juiciness and flavor potential in Belgian-crossbreds.

Economic Efficiency

  • Total Feed Cost:
    • Belgian-crossbreds consumed more feed and thus had higher total feed costs per head.
  • Feed Conversion Ratio (Economic):
    • Despite higher feed costs, Belgian-crossbreds had a substantially lower economic feed conversion ratio (13,133 KRW/kg weight gain) than Thoroughbreds (35,088 KRW/kg).
    • This indicates that Belgian-crossbreds convert feed to gain more cost-effectively.
  • Profitability:
    • Belgian-crossbreds had a positive gross margin, meaning the revenue from meat production exceeded costs.
    • Retired Thoroughbreds had a negative gross margin under this finishing system, indicating an economic loss.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Meat-type horses like Belgian-crossbreds appear well suited to short, intensive finishing systems aimed at meat production.
  • Retired Thoroughbreds may require alternative utilization strategies or customized finishing protocols to be economically viable.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of breed and type-specific management in horse meat production systems.
  • The findings provide a pilot basis for further research into optimizing horse finishing systems tailored to different breeds for meat quality and economic returns.

Cite This Article

APA
Park C, Jeong C, Son M, Yi J. (2026). Finishing Performance, Meat Quality, and Economic Efficiency of Retired Thoroughbred Versus Belgian-Cross Geldings Under an Identical Total Mixed Ration: A Pilot Study. Vet Sci, 13(3), 280. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13030280

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
PII: 280

Researcher Affiliations

Park, Chanwool
  • Gyeonggi Province Livestock Promotion Center, Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government, Suwon 16508, Republic of Korea.
  • School of Animal Life Convergence Science, Hankyung National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea.
Jeong, Chansung
  • Gyeonggi Province Livestock Promotion Center, Gyeonggi-do Provincial Government, Suwon 16508, Republic of Korea.
Son, Miyeon
  • Department of Food and Resource Economics, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
Yi, Junkoo
  • School of Animal Life Convergence Science, Hankyung National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea.
  • Gyeonggi Regional Research Center, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea.

Grant Funding

  • RS2025-01910001 / National Research Foundation of Korea
  • 2025 / Gyeonggi Regional Innovation System & Education Project(Gyeonggi RISE Project)

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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