Prediction of the commercial yield of beef from carcasses destined for the Japanese market by using measurements from the carcass and non-carcass parts

1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 489 ◽  
Author(s):  
ER Johnson ◽  
B Ball

Yield of saleable beef was predicted in 4 genotypes of bullocks (Hereford, Brahman, Brahman x Hereford and Simmental x Hereford). Simple and multiple regression equations were used to determine how well 4 fat thickness measurements (12th rib and rump measurements SC3 SC5 and SC7) individually, with or without the inclusion of hot side weight, foreshanks weight and short cut tongue weight predicted the yields of saleable beef. Each of the 4 fat thickness measurements (alone) predicted percentage yield of saleable beef with low r.s.d.'s at the means. The regression coefficients for the 4 fat thickness measuring sites were negative and significant in the Hereford, Brahman and Brahman x Hereford groups. In the Simmental x Hereford cattle, the regression coefficients for the rump sites (SC3, SC5 and SC7) were positive but significant only in SC5 which had the lowest r.s.d. (1.56%) of all sites. Twelfth rib fat thickness, with a common regression coefficient for all 4 genotypes (P<0.01) and an r.s.d. of 1.81%, was the next most useful fat thickness measurement. The addition of hot side weight improved the prediction of percentage saleable beef yield at the SC3 and SC5 sites, but not in the pure-bred Brahman bullocks. For populations that include British, European and Bos indicus cattle and their crosses, SC5 fat thickness (alone) was the best determinant of percentage yield of saleable beef. Neither quadratic analyses nor the addition of foreshanks weight or short-cut tongue weight to the fat thickness measurements improved the accuracy of linear regression in any of the 4 genotypes. The errors in prediction of percentage yield of saleable beef (0.28-0.67%) attributable to incorrect rump site location (of up to 4.0 cm) are unlikely to jeopardise the commercial value of yield of saleable beef predicted from measurements made on the rump. Whilst the Brahman and Brahman x Hereford cattle produced high-yielding carcasses for the Japanese chilled beef market and the Simmental x Hereford cattle, by judicious management could equal this yield, carcass yields of the Hereford cattle were about 4-5% lower at all levels of fat thickness. The ability of Hereford cattle to satisfy this market, economically, is seriously questioned.

1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 483 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Ball ◽  
ER Johnson

Saleable beef yields from the carcasses of 38 Brahman crossbred bullocks, 42 Brahman crossbred females, 75 Hereford bullocks and 35 Hereford females were recorded in the boning room of an export abattoir. Regressions of saleable beef yield on 12th rib fat thickness and on rump P8 fat thickness were examined for breed and sex effects. Linear regression analysis showed that rump P8 fat thickness and 12th rib fat thickness predicted percentage yield of saleable beef with prediction errors at the mean (of the predictor variables) of 2.3 and 2.1 respectively. The inclusion of hot side weight with either fat thickness measurement in prediction equations did not significantly reduce the prediction errors. Either rump (P8) fat thickness or 12th rib fat thickness alone could be used to predict the weight of saleable beef, giving a prediction error of 12.4 kg, and the inclusion of hot side weight in these equations significantly reduced this error to 3.6 kg and 3.2 kg respectively. Quadratic analysis did not improve the accuracy of the prediction of percentage yield of saleable beef from either P8 alone or P8 plus hot side weight but it did reduce the prediction errors of saleable beef weight from P8 plus hot side weight to 3.5 kg. Regressions of percentage yield of saleable beef on 12th rib fat thickness did not vary significantly between Brahman crossbred bullocks and Brahman crossbred females, but they did between Hereford bullocks and Hereford females, and between each of the Hereford groups and the Brahmans. With increasing subcutaneous fat thickness Hereford females maintained a higher percentage of saleable beef than did the Hereford bullocks. Brahman crossbred cattle showed important yield advantages (1-3%) over Hereford cattle at all levels of fat thickness studied.


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
ER Johnson

Predictions of carcass composition based on anal fold and 12th rib fat thickness measurements were compared in 12 Hereford heifers and 12 Hereford steers. For carcass proportions, simple regression equations indicated that heifers had less muscle (2-3%), more fat (2.5-4%), and more bone (0.9%, 12th rib only). Empty liveweight did not improve the accuracy of prediction of any carcass component when added to anal fold fat thickness. Chilled carcass weight and 12th rib fat thickness slightly improved the accuracy of prediction of muscle and fat proportions compared with prediction using each measurement alone. Multiple regression indicated that the heifers had 2.5-3% less muscle and 34% more fat. For predictions of the weights of carcass components at a given fat thickness measurement, simple regression indicated that heifers had less muscle than steers (by about 6 kg), but for bone and fat the intercepts did not differ significantly between sexes. In multiple regression, empty liveweight contributed strongly to the predictions of weights of all 3 carcass components. In all regressions in which the weight of each of the 3 carcass components was regressed on a weight and a fat thickness measurement together, except for muscle and fat regressed on chilled carcass weight and 12th rib fat thickness, the fat thickness measurement failed to contribute significantly to prediction. Although chilled carcass weight and 12th rib fat thickness together contributed (P<0.01) to the prediction of muscle weight and fat weight, chilled carcass weight was the stronger contributor. Regression indicated that heifers had about 3 kg less muscle and 3.5 kg more fat than steers. Multiple regression analysis showed that heifers and steers had about the same weight of bone.


1979 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 751 ◽  
Author(s):  
ER Johnson

Ninety-five steers were used to develop a method of estimating the weights or percentages of the four carcass tissues—muscle, bone, fat and connective tissue—while the carcasses were still on the slaughter floor. From an investigation of a number of non-carcass parts it was found that three measurements could be used to estimate all four carcass components. The measurements were (a) short-cut tongue weight; (b) foreshanks weight; (c) hot side weight. Simple and multiple regression equations were developed to estimate the weights of muscle, bone and connective tissue in the chilled side, and the accuracy of the estimates was compared with that of recorded prediction methods. The most useful equations employed short-cut tongue weight and hot side weight to estimate total side muscle weight, and foreshanks weight to estimate both total side bone weight and total side connective tissue weight. Fat weight was estimated from hot side weight and the estimates of the weights of the other three carcass components. This technique was more accurate than the Australian Beef Carcase Appraisal System and Butterfield's equation, both of which use fat thickness measurement at the 10th rib. When fat thickness measurement was included in regression equations, the estimates of muscle weight and fat weight were slightly improved. Advantages of using the 'non-carcass parts' technique are as follows. All four major carcass components are predicted; the carcass components can be recorded as absolute weights or percentages of chilled side weight; chilled side components are predicted whilst the hot side is still on the slaughter floor; no commercial loss occurs in carcass, offals or by-products; all measurements used in prediction are weights; and fat thickness measurements may be included in the prediction. The additional information enables producers to make a more critical assessment of the nutritive performance and genetic progress of their herds.


1983 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. M. Jones ◽  
C. R. Haworth

ABSTRACTOne hundred and fourteen pig carcasses were measured within 1 h of slaughter for fat thickness at three locations using the SFK Fat-O-Meater. The three fat thickness locations were the last rib and 3rd and 4th last ribs measured 70 mm from the dorsal mid-line over the m. longissimus, and the lumbar fat thickness which was recorded on the anterior face of the m. glutens medius on the dorsal mid-line of the split carcass. Lean depth measurements were also recorded at the last rib and 3rd and 4th last ribs for all carcasses. After overnight chilling the leanness of each carcass was estimated using an EMME SA-1 machine. The carcasses were then separated into the major tissues. The weight of trimmed North American commercial joints (standard of 6 mm subcutaneous fat) and their lean content were best predicted by half carcass weight (residual s.d. = 0·78 and 1·23 kg respectively), whereas the EMME machine readings alone had low precision (residual s.d. = 1·51 and 1·41 kg respectively). The proportion of North American commercial joints in a carcass and their lean content were best predicted by lumbar fat (residual s.d. = 16·5 and 25·8 g/kg). The digital readout of lean content provided by the EMME machine appeared to be more related to carcass weight than lean weight, as residual s.d. for regressions increased when the overall sample was divided into two weight classes. Multiple regression equations indicated that half carcass weight and fat thickness measurements gave the best precision to predict joint and lean weights, whereas fat thickness and lean depth measurements gave the best prediction of carcass joint and lean proportions.


1983 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Chadwick ◽  
A. J. Kempster

SUMMARYFat thickness measurements, taken over the M. longissimus between the 6th and 13th ribs by the automatic-recording probes, SFK Meat-Fat probe (MF), Hennessy and Chong Fat Depth Indicator (FDI) and Ulster probe (UP), and a simple ruler probe (RP), were compared with one another and a visual fat score (VSC) in terms of the precision with which carcass lean and subcutaneous fat percentages were predicted. The comparisons were made in four separate trials with RP and VSC common to all of them. A total of 182 carcasses were involved; 130 of these were probed both hot and cold. Comparisons were made among carcasses of the same weight.VSC was the best single predictor in most circumstances. Fat thickness measurements taken on the cold carcass provided a more precise prediction than those taken on the hot carcass. There was an interaction between the relative precision of the MF and RP probes and the condition of the carcass: the former generally gave the more precise prediction on cold carcasses and the latter on hot carcasses. Measurements taken by FDI tended to be better predictors than those taken by RP on both hot and cold carcasses. The use of two fat thickness measurements gave an improvement in precision over the best individual fat thickness measurements. There was also an improvement in precision in most circumstances when a fat thickness measurement was used in addition to VSC.There was little indication that specific fat measurements were particularly precise predictors when taken by specific probes, and no fat measurement was consistently the best predictor. A measurement taken 7·5 cm from the dorsal mid line at the 6th rib occurred most commonly in pairs of measurements giving the most precise prediction.


1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Diestre ◽  
A. J. Kempster

AbstractData for 1002 pigs slaughtered between 1979 and 1982 from the Meat and Livestock Commission's Commercial Pig Evaluation scheme were used to examine the relative precision of different measurements for predicting carcass lean concentration. The sample covered the main market weights in Britain and comprised gilts and barrows. The overall means of carcass weight and lean concentration were 66·1 (s.d. 20·00) kg and 499 (s.d. 44·2) g/kg. Predictors were examined when used in addition to carcass weight.Of the measurements taken on the intact or centre-split carcass, fat thickness measured by optical probe 65 mm from the dorsal mid line over the m. longissimus at the last rib was the most precise predictor of lean concentration (residual s.d. = 24·6 g/kg). The precision was improved significantly when a mid-line loin fat thickness measurement was added (residual s.d. = 23·7). The stability of the selected regression equations was examined by applying them to data for three other sets of carcasses (totalling 489 carcasses) sampled from commercial abattoirs between 1975 and 1983. Biases (predicted minus actual lean concentrations) ranged from +13 to −25 g/kg.Among the measurements taken on the cut surface at the last rib, fat thickness 8 cm from the dorsal mid line was the most precise predictor (residual s.d. = 22·4 g/kg). The precision was improved significantly when m. longissimus depth was added (residual s.d. = 20·3 g/kg). Prediction bias with these measurements was similar to that recorded with the intact or split-carcass measurements. In both cases, bias tended to increase with the number of independent variables in the prediction equations.


1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Alliston ◽  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
M. G. Owen ◽  
M. Ellis

ABSTRACTMeasurements of the m. longissimus and overlying fat at the last rib were taken on 39 live entire male pigs using three ultrasonic machines of differing complexity: Sonatest (simple A-mode machine), Scanogram (modified linear scanner) and Danscanner (‘real time’ scanner). Each machine had a different operator and interpreter. The pigs were from two lines of Large White, one selected for efficiency of lean-tissue gain (20 pigs) and the other a genetic control line (19 pigs). They were measured in the week prior to slaughter at approximately 90 kg live weight (91·4 (s.e. 4·4) kg).The analysis was pooled within line and the precision of carcass lean prediction at constant live weight examined for the three machines. Standard deviation of lean in carcass at equal live weight was 16·2 g/kg.A single fat thickness measurement taken by the Sonatest gave the most precise prediction (residual s.d. = 12·9 g/kg). Marginally poorer relationships were recorded for a similar measurement taken by the Scanogram (13·5 g/kg) and Danscanner (13·3 g/kg). Precision was not improved from the use of additional fat thickness measurements or, in the case of the scanning machines, from the addition of fat area over the m. longissimus or the area of the muscle itself. The results confirm that the Scanogram and Danscanner do not offer significant advantages over the simpler and cheaper Sonatest in the circumstances considered.


1986 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
J. P. Chadwick ◽  
D. D. Charles

SUMMARYCarcass data for 1053 steers from the Meat and Livestock Commission's beef breed evaluation programme were used to examine the relative precision of alternative fatness assessments for predicting carcass lean percentage. The data were from four trials and comprised both dairy-bred and suckler-bred cattle by a wide range of sire breeds.A visual assessment of carcass subcutaneous fat content to the nearest percentage unit (SFe) was the single most precise predictor both overall (residual S.d. = 2·28) and within breed (residual S.d. = 2·05). Precision was improved by the addition in multiple regression of the percentage perinephric and retroperitoneal fat (KKCF) in carcass, a visual score of the degree of marbling in the m. longissimus and selected fat thickness measurements taken by calipers on cut surfaces (residual S.d. = 2·11 (overall) and 1·90 (within breed)).When the best overall equation was applied to the breed means, there was substantial bias (predicted – actual carcass lean percentage). Biases ranged from +2·5 (purebred Canadian Holstein and Luing) to – 1·3 (Limousin crosses).Breeds differed significantly in carcass lean content when compared at equal levels of fatness measurements. The differences depended both on the precision with which the measurements predicted carcass lean content and the observed differences in carcass composition that existed before adjustments to equal fatness were made.The robustness of prediction equations was examined by applying them to independent sets of data (a total of 334 carcasses) from four other trials involving steers, heifers, cows and young bulls. Equations were stable for cattle of the same breed, sex and similar levels of fatness but important bias was found between more extreme types of cattle.


1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
J. P. Chadwick ◽  
D. W. Jones ◽  
A. Cuthbertson

ABSTRACTThe Hennessy and Chong Fat Depth Indicator and the Ulster Probe automatic recording instruments developed for measuring fat thickness were tested against the optical probe for use in pig carcass classification and grading.Fat thickness measurements were taken using each probe 60 mm from the dorsal mid-line over the m. longissimus at the positions of the 3rd/4th lumbar vertebrae, 3rd/4th last ribs and last rib on a total of 110 hot carcasses covering the range of market weights in Great Britain. The standard deviation of carcass lean proportion at equal carcass weight was 35·4 g/kg.The instruments differed little in the precision of carcass lean proportion prediction: residual standard deviation (g/kg) for the multiple regression with carcass weight and the best individual fat measurement for each probe were: last rib optical probe, 22·1; last rib Ulster Probe, 22·7; and 3rd/4th last rib Fat Depth Indicator, 21/6. Residual standard deviation (g/kg) for carcass lean proportion prediction from carcass weight and all three fat measurements in multiple regression were 21·3 optical probe, 21·3 Ulster Probe and 201 Fat Depth Indicator.Similar mean fat measurements were obtained from the optical probe and Fat Depth Indicator, and for these instruments, but to a lesser extent for the Ulster Probe, the regression relationships with each other and with fat thickness measurements taken on the cut surface of the cold carcass were also similar.The differences recorded in precision are unlikely to be sufficiently important to influence the choice of one probe rather than another.


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 857-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDRÉ FORTIN

Fat thickness at four locations over the longissimus muscle was measured ultrasonically on 33 live ram lambs ranging in live weight from 16.0 to 37.0 kg. Simple and multiple regression equations were developed to assess the effectiveness of fat thickness as measured by three different ultrasonic instruments (Krautkrämer USM #2, Scanoprobe Model 731A and Scanogram Model 722) to predict cutability. Weight of trimmed or boneless cuts (shoulder + loin + rack + leg) was predicted with more precision than percentage of cuts. Fat thickness alone or combined with weight at scanning was of no significant value (P > 0.05) in the prediction of percentage of trimmed cuts. Percentage of boneless cuts was predicted more efficiently from weight at scanning alone than from fat thickness alone or combined with weight at scanning. Weight of cuts (trimmed or boneless) was also estimated from the fat measurement (P < 0.01), the weight at scanning (P < 0.01) or a combination of both variables. For the latter, fat thickness did not contribute significantly (P > 0.05). The optimal location of the fat measurement depended on the ultrasonic instrument used. Fat thickness measured with the Krautkrämer was more efficient in its prediction of cutability than fat thickness measured with the Scanoprobe or Scanogram. However, over the range of liveweights studied, the usefulness of fat thickness measured on live ram lambs to predict cutability is questionable.


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