NON-INVASIVE METHOD TO ESTIMATE THE SLAUGHTER VALUE OF CATTLE
Keywords:
cattle, slaughter value, X-ray Computer TomographyAbstract
The aim of this series of experiments was to examine the opportunity of application of
X-ray Computer Tomography (CT) in cattle production. Altogether 191 animals of
different breeds and genders were used in the study. In Experiment 1, the tissue
composition of cuts between 11-13th ribs (n=136), was determined by CT and
correlated with tissue composition of intact half carcasses prior to dissection and
tissue separation. Results indicate that tissue composition of rib samples determined by
CT closely correlates with tissue composition results by dissection of whole carcasses.
In Experiment 2, tissue composition of rib samples by CT (n=40) were compared to
the results of EUROP carcass classification. CT analysis has higher predictive
value in estimation of actual tissue composition of cattle carcasses than EUROP
carcass classification. The results of Experiment 3 showed that calves with higher
muscle tissue area at the age of 7 days determined by CT will also have more meat
in carcass. On the other hand, the cross sectional area of longissimus muscle can
be used as a useful reference scan for the evaluation of meat of carcass.
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