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 Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gresham, J. D. Articles by McCurley, J. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gresham, J. D. Articles by McCurley, J. R.

Prediction of Mature Cow Carcass Composition from Live Animal Measurements

University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Brooksville, FL 33512

Abstract

Two trials were conducted with mature cows to develop prediction equations for estimating carcass composition from live animal measurements. Trial 1 involved 82 animals that were used to develop these equations. Subjective criteria (frame and condition scores) also were utilized along with live weight in development of prediction equations. Equations using subjective independent variables predicting energy and carcass tissue weights apparently were slightly more variable in precision (R² = .69 to .91) than those developed with objective variables (R² = .74 to .90). Equations predicting percent compositions from subjective variables had lower coefficients of determination (R² = .49 to .76) than those developed with objective variables (R² = .63 to .83). Forty-one animals similar to those used in Trial 1 served as a test group in Trial 2. Measured carcass composition was regressed on composition predicted by equations developed in Trial 1. These equations generally had slopes and intercepts with confidence intervals that included 0 and 1, respectively, indicating that most of the prediction equations were unbiased. This work indicates that carcass composition can be predicted from both objective and subjective measurements, with some accuracy and precision.

¹ Tennessee Agr. Exp. Sta., Martin, TN 38238.

² Present address: Texas A&M Res. and Ext. Center, Uvalde, TX 78801.

³ Present address: USDA-ARS, Subtropical Agr. Res. Sta., Brooksville, FL 33512.

⁴ Present address: Div. of Anim. and Vet. Sci., West Virginia Univ., Morgantown 26506.

⁵ The authors express appreciation to Reelfoot Packing Co., Union City, TN 38261 for supplying experimental animals and provision of slaughter and processing services.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M. Moorby, P. H. Robinson, W. J. Fisher, and R. T. Evans Comparison of Red Clover and Ryegrass Silage for Dry Cows and Influence on Subsequent Lactation Performance J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2008; 91(9): 3501 - 3511. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]