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.
Implications
Ultrasound technology has advanced rapidly in the last two decades and will become an increasingly important tool in all segments of the beef industry. As a research and management tool, ultrasound will increase understanding of the growth and development curves of the various beef breeds, including patterns of fat deposition. It will also enhance the ability to accurately select seedstock for improved carcass merit and to properly sort cattle in the feedlot for improved feeding efficiency and targeted marketing. Future applications of ultrasound could also aid in selection of replacement females requiring lower production inputs, and in the development and calculation of cow maintenance expected progeny differences.
Key Words: Cattle, Carcass Grading, Management, Ultrasound
© 2002 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved.
J. Anim. Sci. 80(E. Suppl. 2):E183-E188
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