HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wheat, J. D. Articles by Holland, L. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wheat, J. D. Articles by Holland, L. A.

Relationship between Slaughter and Carcass Grades in Beef Cattle^{1, 2,}

Kansas State University, Manhattan

Abstract

Members of the Department of Animal Husbandry at Kansas State University independently graded 688 Hereford heifers and steers to the nearest one-third of a grade just before they were slaughtered. Each carcass was graded to the nearest one-third of a grade by an official of the U.S.D.A. Federal Grading Service. Eighty-one percent of the carcass grades after ribbing ranged from average good to average choice.

Weighted average correlations between slaughter grade and carcass conformation ranged from .23 to .56. All were statistically highly significant except the .23, which was significant. All average correlations (which ranged from .28 to .55) between slaughter grade and carcass grade before ribbing were highly significant. Average correlations between slaughter grade and carcass grade after ribbing ranged from .07 to .39. All but two were highly significant and only .07 was nonsignificant. Repeatability of slaughter grade was .50.

Weighted average correlations between carcass conformation and carcass grade before ribbing, after ribbing, and degree of marbling were .42, .25, and .25, respectively. Correlations between carcass grade before ribbing and after ribbing averaged .53. Those between carcass grade before ribbing and degree of marbling averaged .45. Average correlation between carcass grade after ribbing and degree of marbling was .89.

¹ Contribution No. 234, Department of Animal Husbandry, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan.

² The authors express their appreciation to the members of the Animal Husbandry Department, and members of the U.S.D.A. Federal Grading Service for making the data available.

³ Associate Professor of Animal Husbandry.

⁴ Present address: Department of Animal Husbandry, New Mexico State University, University Park.