Have You Ever Seen a Hanwoo Worth Over 15 Billion Won?... Korea's Top-Ranked Certified Proven Bull

Gyeongbuk Livestock Technology Research Institute Bull Selected as Certified Proven Bull
Ranks First Nationwide in Proficiency Test by National Institute of Animal Science

The Gyeongbuk Livestock Technology Research Institute announced on July 1 that, as a result of the "2025 First Half Livestock Improvement Council Hanwoo Subcommittee" held by the Livestock Resources Development Division of the National Institute of Animal Science, 18 new certified Hanwoo proven bulls (KPN, Korean Proven Bull's No.) that passed the proficiency test were selected. Among them, one bull produced by the Gyeongbuk Livestock Technology Research Institute itself was finally chosen as a certified proven bull (KPN1707).

KPN1707 demonstrated exceptional genetic capabilities, ranking first among the 26 bulls (18 newly selected and 8 eliminated candidates), and placed sixth out of all 125 certified proven bulls, including the 99 currently available for sale.

This Hanwoo certified bull, which ranked first nationwide in the proficiency test, is not traded on the market but is known to have a value of about 15 billion won.

An official from the Gyeongbuk Livestock Technology Research Institute stated, "This bull, which ranked first nationwide among certified proven bulls based on scores for marbling, weight, and other factors, is not traded on the market, but its overall value, considering semen production and future offspring, is estimated to be about 15 billion won."

The semen from the newly selected certified proven bulls will be produced and prepared by the Hanwoo Improvement Center of NongHyup Agribusiness Group, and will be available for sale to Hanwoo farms nationwide starting in August.

As an incentive for the selection of KPN1707, Gyeongbuk Province will be given priority allocation of 50% (50,000 doses) of the bull's semen, and after conducting a demand survey in cities and counties within the province by the end of the year, paid supply will begin in 2026.

The Hanwoo certified proven bull program is a national Hanwoo improvement initiative conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The National Institute of Animal Science, the Hanwoo Improvement Center of NongHyup Agribusiness Group, and provincial livestock research institutes from Gyeongbuk, Gangwon, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Chungnam, and Chungbuk are participating in the project.

The selection of Hanwoo certified proven bulls is carried out by the National Institute of Animal Science, which conducts a comprehensive nationwide genetic evaluation of Hanwoo cattle. Final selection is made through strict review and assessment by the Livestock Improvement Council (Hanwoo Subcommittee).

The Hanwoo proficiency test process is divided into contemporaneous and progeny tests. It takes about 66 months in total to become a certified proven bull, including 28 months for the contemporaneous test and 38 months for the progeny test.

Since 1999, the Gyeongbuk Livestock Technology Research Institute has been working to promote the excellence of Gyeongbuk Hanwoo and to produce and distribute superior breeding stock to Hanwoo farmers in the province. As a result, a total of 660 bulls have undergone contemporaneous testing, and 47 of these have been selected as candidate proven bulls.

Of the 47 candidate proven bulls selected, 14, including the one selected this time, have become certified proven bulls, and two (KPN1812, KPN1919) are currently undergoing progeny testing.

Lee Jaesik, Director of the Gyeongbuk Livestock Technology Research Institute, stated, "The Hanwoo certified proven bull development project is the most fundamental initiative for Hanwoo improvement. The newly selected certified proven bull, KPN1707, possesses genetic capabilities that are not inferior to KPN586, the best certified proven bull produced by the research institute so far, and is expected to generate additional revenue of more than 15 billion won. The Livestock Technology Research Institute will do its utmost to enhance the competitiveness of Gyeongbuk Hanwoo and increase the income of Hanwoo farmers."