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Towards automatic interpretation of sheep ultrasound scans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. A. Glasbey ,
I. Abdalla  and
G. Simm
C. A. Glasbey
Affiliation:
Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ
I. Abdalla
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ
G. Simm
Affiliation:
Genetics and Behavioural Sciences Department, Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
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Abstract

Ultrasound imaging is widely used in animal breeding to provide in vivo estimates of the carcass composition of candidates for selection. Although the technique is less accurate than more recent medical imaging methods, such as X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, it is relatively cheap and mobile. Therefore large numbers of animals can be measured. Most current ultrasound scanners require some degree of manual interpretation of images, which is time consuming and liable to vary both between and within individuals. Hence, this study investigated the automatic interpretation of ultrasound scans from sheep. A computer algorithm is proposed for identifying tissue boundaries. Estimates of tissue depth are shown to be comparable with those obtained by manual interpretation, for images of 72 sheep scanned twice at the position of the 13th thoracic vertebra. The root-mean-square errors of subcutaneous fat depth and m. longissimus muscle depth ivere 0·7 mm and 1·7 mm, respectively.

Keywords

carcass compositionfatlongissimus dorsisheepultrasound
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 62 , Issue 2 , April 1996 , pp. 309 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1996

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References

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