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Evaluation of live and carcass techniques for predicting beef carcass composition
M F Miller1, H R Cross, J F Baker
1Department of Animal Science, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
Meat Science
|November 8, 2011
Summary
Determining beef composition is most accurately achieved using the 9-10-11th rib section. This method provides precise carcass composition estimates across all beef ages and sizes, outperforming specific gravity and deuterium oxide dilution.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Meat Science
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Accurate determination of beef composition is crucial for livestock management and trade.
- Variability in animal age, size, and composition necessitates reliable analytical methods.
- Existing methods for assessing carcass composition have limitations in precision and applicability across different animal classes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the most accurate and precise methods for determining beef carcass composition.
- To evaluate the efficacy of various techniques in explaining variability in beef composition.
- To compare the predictive accuracy of different methods across diverse beef animal demographics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of separable and chemical composition of the 9-10-11th rib section.
- Measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness.
- Assessment of specific gravity and deuterium oxide dilution.
- Utilizing ultrasound for live animal measurements.
Main Results:
- The 9-10-11th rib section provided the most accurate prediction of percentage fat in fed steers (R(2)=0.85).
- This rib section proved most accurate and precise for estimating carcass composition across and within all age classes.
- Specific gravity explained 68% of carcass fat variation overall but was less effective within age classes.
- Deuterium oxide dilution accounted for 77% of chemical fat variation overall but showed similar limitations within age classes.
- Ultrasound was an accurate live measure for chemical fat percentage across all age classes.
Conclusions:
- The 9-10-11th rib section is the superior method for precise beef carcass composition analysis.
- While specific gravity and deuterium oxide dilution offer some predictive value, they are less effective within specific age groups.
- Ultrasound presents a viable non-invasive option for estimating live animal fat percentage.
