Journal of Animal Science, Vol 70, Issue 3 973-983, Copyright © 1992 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Application of ultrasound for genetic improvement

D. E. Wilson
Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.

Genetic improvement programs for livestock would be enhanced by the ability to accurately and easily measure body composition of live animals or to make measurements at anatomical reference points that can be used to accurately predict body composition. Advances in ultrasonic technology, such as real-time imagery and portable ultrasound units, have renewed interest among animal scientists working with genetic improvement programs and the livestock industry groups they serve. Ultrasound has been used for more than 30 yr and, for swine, has been demonstrated to improve significantly the accuracy of predicting body composition. However, many studies have shown less success in improving prediction of body composition from the use of ultrasonics to measure live beef cattle and sheep. The swine industry probably will be the first to benefit measurably from use of ultrasound technology in large-scale genetic improvement programs for carcass merit. Considerable research and development is needed before ultrasound technology can be effectively used in similar large-scale programs in the beef cattle and sheep industries.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Theriault, C. Pomar, and F. W. Castonguay Accuracy of real-time ultrasound measurements of total tissue, fat, and muscle depths at different measuring sites in lamb J Anim Sci, May 1, 2009; 87(5): 1801 - 1813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Tomiyama, T. Oikawa, M. A. Hoque, T. Kanetani, and H. Mori Influence of early postweaning traits on genetic improvement of meat productivity in purebred Berkshire pigs J Anim Sci, May 1, 2009; 87(5): 1613 - 1619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. R. B. Ribeiro, L. O. Tedeschi, J. R. Stouffer, and G. E. Carstens Technical note: A novel technique to assess internal body fat of cattle by using real-time ultrasound J Anim Sci, March 1, 2008; 86(3): 763 - 767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Silva, M. J. Gomes, A. Dias-da-Silva, L. F. Gil, and J. M. T. Azevedo Estimation in vivo of the body and carcass chemical composition of growing lambs by real-time ultrasonography J Anim Sci, February 1, 2005; 83(2): 350 - 357. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Stouffer History of Ultrasound in Animal Science J. Ultrasound Med., May 1, 2004; 23(5): 577 - 584. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. H. Crews Jr., E. J. Pollak, and R. L. Quaas Evaluation of Simmental carcass EPD estimated using live and carcass data J Anim Sci, March 1, 2004; 82(3): 661 - 667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. H. Crews Jr., E. J. Pollak, R. L. Weaber, R. L. Quaas, and R. J. Lipsey Genetic parameters for carcass traits and their live animal indicators in Simmental cattle J Anim Sci, June 1, 2003; 81(6): 1427 - 1433. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Stelzleni, T. L. Perkins, A. H. Brown Jr., F. W. Pohlman, Z. B. Johnson, and B. A. Sandelin Genetic parameter estimates of yearling live animal ultrasonic measurements in Brangus cattle J Anim Sci, December 1, 2002; 80(12): 3150 - 3153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. H. Crews Jr., N. H. Shannon, R. E. Crews, and R. A. Kemp Weaning, yearling, and preharvest ultrasound measures of fat andmuscle area in steers, bulls, and heifers J Anim Sci, November 1, 2002; 80(11): 2817 - 2824. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Sapp, J. K. Bertrand, T. D. Pringle, and D. E. Wilson Effects of selection for ultrasound intramuscular fat percentage in Angus bulls on carcass traits of progeny J Anim Sci, August 1, 2002; 80(8): 2017 - 2022. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. H. Crews Jr. and R. A. Kemp Genetic evaluation of carcass yield using ultrasound measures on young replacement beef cattle J Anim Sci, July 1, 2002; 80(7): 1809 - 1818. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]