Rock oysters of the genus Saccostrea are the dominating group of filter-feeding communities on rocky beaches worldwide. The edible rock oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) is used as food and fish bait along the Indian coast. Morphometric analyses of S. cucullata from Baindur, Karnataka (India) were performed from June 2010 to May 2011, aiming to establish relationships between length and weight (total weight, shell weight, meat wet weight and meat dry weight). Morphometric relationships between length (L)-breadth (B) and length (L)-width (W) were B = 6.4952 + 0.4619 L and W = 3.1806 + 0.3276L, respectively. The equations of the length (L)-total weight (TW), length (L)-shell weight (SW), length (L)-meat wet weight (WW) and length (L)-meat dry weight (DW) were TW = 0.001227L2.3973, SW = 0.001165L2.3164, WW = 0.000037L2.1327 and DW = 0.000030L2.3289, respectively. The allometric growth pattern revealed changes in shell shape and weight variation throughout ontogeny in rocky habitats. The condition index and meat yield of S. cucullata exhibited seasonality, with higher values recorded during the periods post-monsoon and pre-monsoon.

A total of 432, one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned as a 2 × 4 factorial design (pellet or mash and 0, 25, 50, and 75% whole sorghum levels) in a completely randomised experiment, having six replicates with nine birds per replicate. Body weight and feed intake were measured on a pen basis at 10, 25, and 35 days of age and feed conversion ratio calculated. Pelleting diets significantly improved (P<0.05) feed intake, body weight and carcass yield of broiler chickens at 10 and 24 days of age. Heavier relative gizzard weights with lower pH (P<0.05) were recorded for broiler chickens offered mash diets at 35 days old. Feed conversion ratio at 35 days of age increased (P<0.035, quadratic effect) with higher levels of whole sorghum and levelled off at 75% inclusion rates. Relative gizzard weight at 35 days was marginally increased (P<0.033, linear effect) in line with rising sorghum levels. Similarly, relative bursa and liver weights at 35 days increased (P<0.037, quadratic effect and P<0.033, linear effect, respectively) with sorghum inclusion. The results showed that pelleted diets gave superior performance compared to mash diets. Although higher levels of sorghum inclusion in mash diets enhanced gizzard development, performance parameters of birds at 35 days of age were poorer, with 125 g less body weight and an increase in FCR from 1.51 to 1.62 for the 0% and 75% sorghum levels respectively.

This study aimed to assess the influence of growth and reproductive cycle on the meat yield and proximate composition of the banded murex (Hexaplex trunculus) from the Ria Formosa lagoon (Algarve coast, southern Portugal). Samples of the edible portion (all soft-body tissues) were analysed monthly during one year. The average meat yield was 37.9±4.6%, with females containing more edible content (39.1±4.7%) than males (36.8±4.2%). The proximate composition comprised 70.7±1.4% moisture, 20.1±1.2% protein, 1.6±0.3% fat, 3.0±0.3% ash, and 4.6±1.2% carbohydrate, corresponding to an energetic value of 119.2±7.5 kcal/100 g wet weight. The meat yield was influenced by specimen size, increasing significantly during growth. Both meat yield and proximate composition presented seasonal fluctuations related to the reproductive cycle, which coincided mainly with the periods of maturation and spawning of this species in the Ria Formosa. Finally, H. trunculus meat yield and proximate composition were compared with similar information available for other marine gastropods.

A total of 9360 offspring of 12 purebred Duroc sires and 692 Landrace × Yorkshire sows were evaluated for six osteochondrosis traits in the left elbow joints at slaughter. Osteochondrosis traits, growth pre- and post weaning, and meat content at slaughter were analysed simultaneously by a multivariate genetic model. Castrates scored worse than female pigs for nearly all osteochondral traits. Heritability of elbow osteochondrosis was moderate (0·02 to 0·28) and, thus, selection against the disorder is possible. Phenotypic correlations among joint surface abnormalities, cartilage thickness, subchondral lesions and cracks in the cartilage at the osteochondral junction in the medial condyle ranged from 0·33 to 0·69, whereas genetic correlations ranged from 0·75 to 0·97. Phenotypic correlations of the sagittal central groove with other abnormalities in the medial condyle were low and insignificant but genetic correlations were strongly significant (0·66 to 0·77). Depression of the proximal edge of the radius was to some extent phenotypically correlated to abnormalities in the medial humeral condyle (around 0·2), while genetic correlations ranged from 0·05 to 0·52. Significant genetic correlations among osteochondral traits indicate that all are part of the osteochondrosis complex. Abnormalities in the joint surface showed the strongest genetic correlations with other osteochondrosis variables in the elbow joint and were moderately inherited (h2 = 0·22), which indicates that this trait can be used as a marker to select against osteochondrosis. Osteochondral traits had no significant genetic correlations with growth to weaning and to 30 kg, slight negative (favourable) genetic correlations with growth from 30 to 100 kg, and slightly positive (unfavourable) genetic correlations with meat content in carcass.

Two experiments were completed with grower-finisher pigs to determine if pigmeat output, as measured by carcass gain per m2 per year, could be increased, by 1: increasing group size or 2: split-marketing pen groups. In experiment 1, 390 pigs (mean initial live weight 36·7 (s.d. 1·99) kg) were assigned to one of three treatments each with 10 replicates: 11, 13 or 15 pigs per single-sex group in pens measuring 11·04 m2. Space allowance was 1·00, 0·85 and 0·74 m2 per pig, respectively. Pelleted food was provided ad libitum. There were no differences (P > 0·05) between group sizes in growth rate, food intake, food conversion ratio, carcass growth and carcass food conversion ratio, backfat and muscle depth or carcass lean content. Pigmeat output per unit area increased with each increase in group size (234, 279 and 314 kg/m2 per year for 11, 13 and 15 pigs: P < 0·001). In experiment 2, 26 groups of 13 pigs (mean initial live weight 38·3 (s.d. 2·15) kg) were assigned to one of three treatments: 1D - group sold on 1 day (no. = 9), 2D - group sold over 2 days (14 days apart, no. = 10), or 3D - group sold over 3 days (each 7 days apart, no. = 7). Pigs were given a standard liquid diet three times daily. No differences (P > 0·05) were observed between treatments for overall growth rate, food intake, food conversion ratio, carcass weight, carcass lean content, backfat and muscle depth, carcass growth and carcass food conversion ratio or killing-out proportion of pigs. Split-marketing increased cycle length (67·7, 75·9 and 76·8 days for 1D, 2D and 3D, respectively; P < 0·001). Live and carcass daily growth rates per pig place decreased with increase in number of sale days (live: 772, 680, 670 g/day and carcass: 658, 575, 571 g/day; P < 0·001). Carcass gain per unit area decreased in split-marketed groups (358, 318, 312 kg/m2 per year for 1D, 2D and 3D, respectively: P < 0·05). Carcass weight variation (s.d.) within pen decreased with each increase in number of sale days (s. d. 5·28, 3·81 and 1·74, respectively; P < 0·001). In conclusion, pigmeat output, as measured by carcass gains per m2 per year, was improved with increase in group size and by marketing all pigs in a group on a single day.

Video image analysis (VIA), carcass shape and colour data were collected for 1211 lambs of known gender, breed type and carcass weight over a 1-week period using the VIAscan® system developed by the Australian Meat Research Corporation. Classification data (thickness of soft tissue over the 12th rib (GR measurement) and subjective conformation scores on a five-point scale of the leg, loin and shoulder) were assessed by an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada grader after carcasses had chilled at 5°C for 3 to 6 h. Dissections into saleable meat yield (no. = 58) were performed after carcasses had chilled an additional 24 h. The timing of this study, which was dependent on availability of the VIA equipment, influenced the age and type of lambs available for analysis. The majority of lambs evaluated were wool-breed wethers, age > 10 months, of average GR (15·7 (s.d. 0·2) mm) and muscle conformation (3·0, s.d. 0·1). VIA improved the prediction of saleable meat yield (R2 = 0·71, residual s.d. = 14g/kg) compared with the current classification system (R2 = 0·52, residual s.d. = 18 g/kg). Although prediction ofGR measurement by VIA resulted in a large residual error (residual s.d. = 2·4 mm), the proportion of waste fat (perirenal and subcutaneous) and bone dissected from the carcass was accurately predicted (R2 = 0·62, residual s.d. = 11 g/kg). Proportions of leg (R2 = 0·71, residual s.d. = 7 g/kg) and shoulder (R2 = 0·62, residual s.d. = 9 g/kg) primals were also accurately predicted by VIA, although there were no significant predictors for the proportion of the loin (P > 0·15). VIA improved the prediction of saleable meat yield compared with the current classification system. However collection of additional data including some from extremely lean or well muscled animals would be required before VIA could be recommended to classify lamb carcasses

This experiment involved a commercial evaluation of carcasses of extensively reared crossbred lambs. These were sired by Suffolk rams from either a selection line or a control line of a Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) selection experiment, in which selection wasfor lean growth, or by Suffolk ‘reference sires’ from an industry co-operative breeding scheme (SSRS). The lambs were slaughtered at a target live weight of 42 kg between June and October 1992. In total, 421 lamb carcasses were included in the evaluation, 173 from six selection-line rams, 193 from six control-line rams and 55from three SSRS rams. Each of the carcasses was visually appraised for estimated subcutaneous fat proportion and for conformation of the shoulder, loin and leg, as well as being classified using conventional Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) scales for fat and conformation. Animals were slaughtered at an average age of 139·5 (s.d. 25·6) days and achieved an average cold carcass weight of 20·04 (s.d. 0·96) kg. Carcasses had an average estimated subcutaneous fat proportion of 122·3 (s.d. 22·4) g/kg — equivalent to MLC fat class 3L to 3H. Overall conformation scores, on a 15-point scale, averaged 8·63 (s.d. 1·80) points. Carcasses were cut into joints according to a leading supermarket specification. The weights of pairs of shoulder, flank, loin and leg joints were obtained for each carcass, as well as weights of bone and fat removed during jointing. Saleable meat weights and proportions averaged 15·31 (s.d. 0·76) kg and 765·9 (s.d. 10·0) g/kg respectively. At a constant carcass weight, the SAC selection-line progeny were significantly younger (-11 days), had a significantly higher carcass value (+£1·50), a significantly lower estimated subcutaneous fat proportion (-13 g/kg), and a significantly higher weight of saleable meat (+0·1 kg) and higher proportion ofsaleable meat (+4 glkg) than control-line progeny, but had lower conformation scores. SSRS progeny had similar growth and fatness to selection-line lambs, but had poorer conformation, and significantly more bone in the carcass than either of the SAC lines. When comparisons were made at a constant estimated subcutaneous fat proportion, all differences in conformation between SAC lines disappeared. However, SSRS progeny remained poorer in conformation. The SSRS rams werefrom afoundation generation of the scheme, and were not expected to be markedly superior for carcass characteristics. Carcass weight was byfar the most important predictor of weight of saleable meat, or leg and loin joint weights. Conformation and estimated fat proportion made only marginal improvements, if any, to the precision of prediction, with fat proportion being the more important of the two predictors.

The commercial value of animal carcasses depends not only on their weight but also on their composition and shape (termed conformation). This is usually assessed subjectively by a skilled inspector. In this paper an attempt is described to assess the saleable meat yield of sheep carcasses by automatic digital image analysis. A low-cost system based on a still video camera and a personal computer was used. The results indicate that better prediction of saleable meat yield can be obtained using objective measures of carcass shape than from subjective conformation scores. Information from the intensities of colour components was not found to be useful, possibly due to difficulties with lighting and image quality. Recommendations are made for implementing a practical system.