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Ultrasound applications in beef cattle carcass research and management

Department of Animal and Dairy Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762

Abstract

Application of ultrasound as a research tool to study bovine carcass characteristics, including growth and development physiology, represents a technological breakthrough that has revolutionized our basic understanding of biology in cattle. However, practical applications of ultrasound to the beef industry hold tremendous potential to enhance overall management and improve beef production systems. Estimation of carcass characteristics in live animals, including backfat thickness, longissimus muscle area, percent intramuscular fat, rump fat, and gluteus medius depth, allow for sorting and selecting cattle for carcass merit. These practical applications of ultrasound hold great potential to return substantial net income on a per animal basis in the beef industry. Development of integrated management systems that combine ultrasound with new and existing technologies, such as linear measurement, video imaging, and thermal imaging, may further enhance practical applications.

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