Objective grading of rib eye traits using the Q-FOM™ camera in Australian beef carcasses

The objective of this study was to develop calibration models against rib eye traits and independently validate the precision, accuracy, and repeatability of the Frontmatec Q-FOM™ Beef grading camera in Australian carcasses. This study compiled 12 different research datasets acquired from commercial processing facilities and were comprised of a diverse range of carcass phenotypes, graded by industry identified expert Meat Standards Australia (MSA) graders and sampled for chemical intramuscular fat (IMF%). Calibration performance was maintained when the device was independently validated. For continuous traits, the Q-FOM™ demonstrated precise (root mean squared error of prediction, RMSEP) and accurate (coefficient of determination, R²) prediction of eye muscle area (EMA) (R² = 0.89, RMSEP = 4.3 cm², slope = 0.96, bias = 0.7), MSA marbling (R² = 0.95, RMSEP = 47.2, slope = 0.98, bias = -12.8) and chemical IMF% (R² = 0.94, RMSEP = 1.56%, slope = 0.96, bias = 0.64). For categorical traits, the Q-FOM™ predicted 61%, 64.3% and 60.8% of AUS-MEAT marbling, meat colour and fat colour scores equivalent, and 95% within ±1 classes of expert grader scores. The Q-FOM™ also demonstrated very high repeatability and reproducibility across all traits.