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Probing Beef Cattle to Predict Carcass Fatness^{1, 2,}

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

Abstract

Fat thickness was measured in the live animal and in the carcass on 380 bulls, steers and heifers. Simple correlation coefficients between the live and carcass measurements over the l. dorsi at the 12–13th rib ranged from 0.21 to 0.90, with a major portion of the estimates between 0.50 and 0.80. All analyses were computed within breed and sex group.

The second phase of this study was comprised of 13, 10 and 8 Angus bulls, steers and heifers, respectively, and 20 Hereford steers. Probes of fat thickness were taken at seven locations on the live animal. These probes were then examined for their association with carcass fat thickness and percent carcass fat trim by simple correlation analysis. The probes taken over the l. dorsi in the vicinity of the 12–13th rib would have some predictive value for estimating carcass backfat and percentage carcass fat trim. Prediction equations are presented.

¹ This paper represents a portion of the senior author's thesis submitted to the Graduate School, Oklahoma State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

² The study was conducted in cooperation with the U.S.D.A., A.R.S. at the Fort Reno Livestock Station and is approved for publication by the Director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station as contribution No. 1397.

³ Present address: Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames.

⁴ The thermister probing needle and temperature dial were obtained from the Cole-Parmer Instrument Company. The needle has thermister beads located near its tip which detect and relay temperature to the dial.