Predicting lean meat yield in beef cattle using ultrasonic muscle depth and width measurements

Abstract

The value of live ultrasound longissimus dorsi depth and width measurements as predictors of estimated carcass lean meat yield of steers (CARLEAN-S) and bulls (CARLEAN-B) was studied. In trial 1, equations were developed to predict estimated lean meat yield of steers (n = 116) from carcass weight (Eq. 1) or liveweight (Eq. 2), fat depth and l. dorsi area or liveweight, fat depth and l. dorsi depth × width (Eq. 3). Equation 1 was most precise (RSD = 25.6 g kg-1), followed by Eq. 2 (RSD = 27.8g kg-1) and Eq. 3 (RSD = 30.2g kg-1). Equations 2 and 3 predicted CARLEAN-S with similar accuracy (SEP = 23.8 vs. 24.9 g kg-1, respectively) and were highly correlated with each other (r = 0.89) in an independent data set (n = 118). Repeatability and accuracy of pre-slaughter l. dorsi depth and width measurements were studied in yearling bulls (trial 2; n = 191). When ultrasound measurements were expressed as a percentage of the average ultrasound measurement, repeatabilities of l. dorsi depth (SER = 6.2 to 7.8%) and width (SER = 4.2 to 6.1%) measurements were similar to fat depth and l. dorsi area measurements (SER = 17.9 and 4.5%, respectively). When ultrasound measurements were compared to the corresponding carcass measurements, l. dorsi depth (SEP = 10.3 to 13.9%) and width (SEP = 6.7 to 8.5%) measurements were as accurate as fat depth and l. dorsi area measurements (SEP = 32.9 and 8.4%, respectively). Equations were developed to predict CARLEAN-B of yearling bulls (n = 82) from liveweight, 12th rib ultrasound fat depth and either l. dorsi depth × width measurements (Eqs. 4 and 5) or two l. dorsi depth measurements (Eq. 6). All equations had similar precision (RSD = 19.4 to 19.5 g kg-1) and predicted CARLEAN-B similarly (SEP = 25.0, 24.6 and 26.1g kg-1 for Eqs. 4, 5 and 6, respectively) in an independent data set (n = 109). All equations were highly correlated (r ≥0.97) with an equation using ultrasound fat depth and l. dorsi area in the independent data set. Longissimus muscle depth and width measurements were as valuable as l. dorsi area for predicting carcass composition of yearling beef bulls in the present study. Key words: Ultrasound, beef cattle, carcass traits