Economic Impacts of Ultrasonographic Fetal Sex Determination on Hanwoo Cattle Profitability and Market Dynamics

Abstract

(1) Background: The Hanwoo cattle industry, valued for its premium beef, faces economic challenges due to fluctuating market prices, rising production costs, and profitability disparities based on calf sex, with male calves fetching higher prices and creating income imbalances for breeding farms. (2) Methods: This study assessed the economic impact of ultrasonographic fetal sex determination, a technology enabling fetal sex identification between 55 and 100 days of gestation, using 107 pregnant Hanwoo cows, of which 104 were successfully assessed with a 96.1% accuracy rate across all gestational stages. (3) Results: Economic analysis revealed that farms employing this technology achieved higher profitability by adjusting prices based on calf sex, with male calves significantly enhancing asset value; however, the technology's financial benefits were influenced by market dynamics, implementation costs, and sex ratios. (4) Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of ultrasonographic fetal sex determination to improve Hanwoo farm profitability and sustainability, provided its adoption is accompanied by careful consideration of costs and market conditions.

Keywords: Hanwoo; breeding profitability; economic analysis; fetal sex determination; ultrasonography.

Figure 1

Key anatomical markers for fetal sex determination in Hanwoo cows using ultrasound at 86–100 days of gestation. (a) Female; (b) male; (c) female genital tubercle (FGT); male genital tubercle (MGT); umbilical cord (UC); fore limbs (FLs); scrotum (SCR).

Figure 2

Still image ultrasound of a fetus between 50 and 70 days of pregnancy. (a) Female; (b) male, hind limbs (HLs); fore limbs (FLs); umbilical cord (UC); male genital tubercle (MGT); female genital tubercle (FGT).

Figure 3

Still image ultrasound of a fetus between 71 and 85 days of pregnancy. (a) Female aerial view; (b) female posterior view; (c) male, hind limbs (HLs); fore limbs (FLs); umbilical cord (UC); male genital tubercle (MGT); female genital tubercle (FGT); scrotum (SCR).

Figure 4

Still image ultrasound of a fetus between 86 and 100 days of pregnancy. (a) Female aerial view; (b) female posterior view; (c) male aerial view; (d) male posterior view; fore limbs (FLs); umbilical cord (UC); male genital tubercle (MGT); female genital tubercle (FGT); scrotum (SCR).