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Ultrasonic Estimates of Fat Thickness and Longissimus Dorsi Area in Lambs¹

University of Missouri, Columbia

Abstract

Two hundred thirty-five live lambs were studied over a 3-year period to determine the usefulness of an ultrasonic procedure for measuring the l. dorsi muscle area and fat thickness. The l. dorsi muscle area in 81% of the lambs was ultrasonically predicted within 0.2 sq. in. of the actual area. A progressive increase in magnitude of correlations was noted during successive years. Ultrasonic and carcass fat thickness measurements taken at the 13th rib and 6-7th lumbar vertebrae were significantly (P<.01) correlated with carcass fat trim. Width and depth of the l. dorsi muscle were both highly correlated with l. dorsi muscle area. The l. dorsi muscle area was correlated with the weight of dissected muscles from the leg and loin. There was no significant difference between area of the l. dorsi muscle from lambs sired by rams of different phenotypic scores.

These results indicate that fat thickness and l. dorsi area of live lambs can be ultra-sonically measured with acceptable accuracy.

¹ Contribution from the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series Number 2826.

² Present Address: Department of Animal Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington.

³ The authors express appreciation to Branson Instruments, Inc., Stamford, Conn., for the use of their ultrasonic equipment.