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Prediction of carcass composition from carcass conformation in cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. J. Bass ,
D. L. Johnson ,
F. Colomer-Rocher  and
G. Binks
J. J. Bass
Affiliation:
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
D. L. Johnson
Affiliation:
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
F. Colomer-Rocher
Affiliation:
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
G. Binks
Affiliation:
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
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Summary

Conformation of carcasses from 98 steers from ten different sire breeds was classified according to two visual systems and two objective measurements, which were related to both commercial and dissected carcass composition of their hindquarters. The visual carcass conformation systems, unlike the objective systems, accounted for only a small percentage of the variation in some carcass traits after adjusting for the weights of the right hindquarter and of dissected fat from that hindquarter. Of the carcass conformation systems tested, the objective measurement of area appears to be the best predictor of carcass traits, with the variation in the weight of meat being reduced by 13·4% (P < 0·001) by the inclusion of area measurements. It is suggested that an objective assessment of carcass conformation might be of use in a national carcass classification or grading system.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 97 , Issue 1 , August 1981 , pp. 37 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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References

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