Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-tn8tq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-20T06:59:39.406Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prediction of carcass composition from carcass conformation in cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. J. Bass ,
D. L. Johnson ,
F. Colomer-Rocher  and
G. Binks
J. J. Bass
Affiliation:
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
D. L. Johnson
Affiliation:
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
F. Colomer-Rocher
Affiliation:
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
G. Binks
Affiliation:
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Conformation of carcasses from 98 steers from ten different sire breeds was classified according to two visual systems and two objective measurements, which were related to both commercial and dissected carcass composition of their hindquarters. The visual carcass conformation systems, unlike the objective systems, accounted for only a small percentage of the variation in some carcass traits after adjusting for the weights of the right hindquarter and of dissected fat from that hindquarter. Of the carcass conformation systems tested, the objective measurement of area appears to be the best predictor of carcass traits, with the variation in the weight of meat being reduced by 13·4% (P < 0·001) by the inclusion of area measurements. It is suggested that an objective assessment of carcass conformation might be of use in a national carcass classification or grading system.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 97 , Issue 1 , August 1981 , pp. 37 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bass, J. J., Baker, R. L., Carter, A. H. & Jones, K. R. (1975). The carcass composition of Angus, Hereford × Angus, Friesian × Angus, Charolais × Angus and South Devon × Angus steers. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 35, 112–118.Google Scholar
Bass, J. J., Colomer-Rocher, F., Baker, R. L., Carter, A. H., Jarnet, M. P. & Woods, E. G. (1976). Carcass composition of purebred and crossbred Angus steers. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 36, 198–203.Google Scholar
Bass, J. J., Robinson, C. & Colomer-Rocher, F. (1977). Value of conformation in New Zealand beef grading. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 37, 82–88.Google Scholar
Berg, R. T. & Butterfield, R. M. (1976). New Concepts of Cattle Growth. Sydney, Australia: Sydney University Press.Google Scholar
Colomer-Rocher, F., Bass, J. J. & Johnson, D. L. (1980). Beef carcass conformation and some relationships with carcass composition and muscle dimensions. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 94, 697–708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuthbertson, A. & Harrington, G. (1973). Development of beef classification in Great Britain. World Review of Animal Production IX (3), 66–75.Google Scholar
Everitt, G. C., Evans, S. T. & Ward, J. O. B. (1970). New Zealand beef production, processing and marketing. New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science 4, 113–129.Google Scholar
Everitt, G. C. & Jury, K. E. (1964). Implantation of estrogenio hormones in beef cattle. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 7, 158–173.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, A. V. (1975). The profile area of beef carcasses and its relationship to carcass composition. Animal Production 20, 355–361.Google Scholar
Harrington, G. (1976). The MLC beef carcass classification scheme. Proceedings of the Carcass Classification Symposium, Australian Meat Board (Adelaide 1976), B2.Google Scholar
Kempster, A. J. & Harrington, G. (1980). The value of conformation as an indicator of beef carcass composition within and between breeds. Livestock Production Science 7, 361–372.Google Scholar
New Zealand Meat Producers' Board (1975). New Zealand Export Grades. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Meat Producers' Board.Google Scholar
Pierce, J. C. (1957). The influence of conformation, finish, and carcass weight on the percentage yield of wholesale and retail cuts of beef. Reciprocal Meat Conference Proceedings 10, 119–138.Google Scholar
Pomeroy, R. W. (1977). Carcass classification. Biennial Report (1975–7), pp. 34–41. Meat Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, U.K.Google Scholar
Preston, T. R. & Willis, M. B. (1970). Intensive Beef Production. Oxford: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Royal Smithfield Club (1966). Report of Major Beef Research Project.Google Scholar