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Physical Indices of Leanness in Swine

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater²

Abstract

An analysis of the measurements of 42 barrow carcasses of similar breeding indicated that carcass length was of little value as an index of percent separable lean (r²=0.06), and was of no value if carcass backfat was also considered. The leanmeter better indicated leanness (r²=0.48) than did carcass backfat thickness (r²=0.36), but was inferior to carcass backfat thickness and loin-eye area at the tenth rib (R²=0.70). Specific gravity of the ham was a good index of leanness (r²=0.69) and mutually supplemented loin-eye area (R²=0.79). The weights of lean and fat in the ham were highly associated with leanness (R²=0.92). The locations of eight cross sections and the abilities of their area components of fat and lean to explain variance in percent lean were the second thoracic vertebra, R²=0.79; the sixth thoracic vertebra, R²=0.81; the tenth thoracic vertebra, R²=0.85; the fourteenth thoracic vertebra R²=0.77; the third lumbar vertebra, R²=0.89, the second sacral vertebra, R²=0.77; the center of the ham R²=0.81; and the shank of the ham, R²=0.72. The indices generally showed a lower relation with weight of separable lean than with percent of separable lean. They were associated, however, more closely with leanness than with the protein of the lean.

¹ Present address, Research Branch, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada.

² Department of Animal Husbandry in co-operation with the Regional Swine Breeding Laboratory, AHRD, ARS, U.S.D.A.