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Ultrasonic Determination of Backfat Depth and Loin Area in Swine

US Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, NE 68933^1,2,3,

Abstract

Backfat depth and longissimus muscle area measurements were obtained ultrasonically on live swine at about 90 kg body weight. The repeatability for the various measurements was acceptable. Ultrasonic measurements were compared to measurements obtained on vertically hanging carcasses from the same animal in three experiments. Comparable carcass and ultrasonic measurements were not always the same, but the same relationship between the two was obtained in most experiments. The discrepancy probably resulted in part from the different anatomical locations measured in the live animal than in the carcass and from the different orientation of the body, i.e., horizontal for the live animal and vertical for the carcass. Ultrasonic measurements were as well correlated as comparable carcass measurements with several indicators of body composition, i.e., chemical composition variables and average backfat thicknesses.

¹ Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, SEA-AR.

² Mention of a trade name, proprietary product or specific equipment does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the USDA and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.

³ Appreciation is extended to M. Stones and J. Byrkit for excellent stenographic work.