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Genetic parameters of carcass joint weights estimated from Video Image Analysis measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

E. Rius Vilarrasa*
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural Collage, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
L. Bunger
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural Collage, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
S. Brotherstone
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
K. R. Matthews
Affiliation:
Meat and Livestock Commission, Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
W. Haresign
Affiliation:
Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom
M. Davies
Affiliation:
ADAS Rosemaund, Hereford, England, United Kingdom
R. Roehe
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural Collage, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Extract

The majority of market lamb produced in UK results from crossing terminal sire rams with crossbred ewes. The selection of terminal sire breeds over the past 15 years for improved carcass composition has shown positive benefits on carcass quality of their crossbred progeny (Simm et al. 2001). However, faster rates of genetic improvement would be achieved if information from these terminal sire crossbred lambs could be used in the genetic evaluation of terminal sire breeds. Incorporating crossbred information into purebred selection programmes has been modelled and the results show that it is an effective way of improving carcass quality (Jones et al. 1999). However, this is currently compromised by limitations on how individual carcass data can be collected for incorporation into breeding programmes. An innovative technology based on Video Image Analysis (VIA) of lamb carcasses is being evaluated for introduction into UK lamb abattoirs. VIA systems can provide an objective, automatic, consistent and accurate way of measuring carcass composition. However, little is known of genetic parameters for VIA measurements of lamb carcasses. Therefore the aim of the present research project was to estimate the genetic parameters of VIA carcass measurements in crossbred lamb population.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2008

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References

Jones, H.E., Simm, G., Dingwall, W.S., Lewis, R.M. 1999. Animal Science. 69, 553–561 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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Simm, G., Lewis, R. M., Collins, J. E. and Nieuwhof, G. J. 2001. Journal of Animal Science. 79, E255–259E CrossRefGoogle Scholar