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

## TL;DR

Belgian-crossbred horses outperformed retired Thoroughbreds in meat production efficiency and quality under identical feeding conditions in a Korean study.

## Contribution

This study provides empirical evidence on the meat production efficiency of retired racehorses versus meat-type horses under identical feeding systems.

## Key findings

- Belgian-crossbreds gained weight faster and produced heavier usable meat compared to retired Thoroughbreds.
- Belgian-crossbreds had higher intramuscular fat content, improving meat quality and flavor.
- Despite higher feed costs, Belgian-crossbreds had a better economic feed conversion ratio and positive profit margin.

## Abstract

Horses leaving racing in South Korea can enter the meat market, but it is unclear whether retired racehorses are efficient producers of meat. In this study, we compared retired Thoroughbred geldings with Belgian-crossbred geldings during a 181-day feeding period under the same conditions of the same housing and the same mixed diet with free access. Belgian-crossbred horses ate more, but gained weight much faster and produced heavier usable meat weight at slaughter. Their loin meat also contained more fat within the marbling, which can make the cooked meat juicier and more flavorful for consumers. Although the total feed cost per animal was higher for the Belgian-crossbreds, the feed cost needed to produce one kilogram of weight gain was much lower, giving a positive estimated profit. Retired Thoroughbreds showed the opposite trend. These results can help farmers choose suitable animals and feeding strategies, improving resource use and farm income.

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 (n = 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.