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 Gregory, K. E. Articles by Koch, R. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Gregory, K. E. Articles by Koch, R. M.

Relationships among Certain Live and Carcass Characteristics of Beef Cattle¹

University of Nebraska, Lincoln and , and United States Department of Agriculture

Abstract

Three groups of yearling steers were subjectively evaluated for different traits by three graders immediately prior to slaughter. Live estimates were made of carcass weight, fat thickness at the 12th rib, rib-eye area at the 12th rib, percent kidney fat and estimated cutability. In addition, slaughter grade and a score for muscling were obtained. Carcass data obtained on these steers included carcass weight, fat thickness at 12th rib, rib-eye area at 12th rib, percent kidney fat, estimated cutability and carcass grade. Means and standard deviations for live scores and estimates and carcass scores and measures, intra-class correlations among graders for live scores and estimates, correlations of live estimates and scores with carcass measures and scores, and correlations among various carcass measures and scores were computed.

The results of this study indicate that experienced cattle appraisers can subjectively estimate group means for carcass weight, fat thickness at 12th rib, percent kidney fat, rib-eye area at 12th rib, cutability and carcass grade reasonably accurately, provided the graders have a knowledge of the feeding and management program to which the cattle have been subjected and a knowledge of live weight.

¹ Department of Animal Husbandry, Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 1198, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Fxperiment Station. Contribution from Regional Project NC-1, Improvement of Beef Cattle Through Breeding Methods.

² Beef Cattle Research Branch, Animal Husbandry Research Division, A.R.S., Lincoln, Nebraska.

³ Standardization Branch, Livestock Division, A.M.S., U.S. D.A., Washington 25, D. C.

⁴ Acknowledgment is made to George A. Hormel & Co., Fremont, Nebraska, especially Roger A. Orr, and to American Stores Company, Lincoln, Nebraska, for the cooperation received in securing the carcass data.