Predicting Live Body Wight of Yearling Beef Heifers Using 3D Imaging

Authors

Dalton J. Anderson, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Yijie Xiong, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Andrea K. Watson, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
J. Travis Mulliniks, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Date of this Version

2024

Citation

2024 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

UNL Beef, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the accuracy of using 3D imaging technology as a method to predict shrunk body weight (BW) of growing yearling beef heifers. Red Angus x SImmental heifers (n = 69, BW = 726 ± 62 lbs; 12 months of age) were utilized for data collection. A time-of-flight depth camera (Azure Kinect, Microsoft) was used to collect depth videos as heifers walked out of the chute. Ideal image frames were identified from videos and used to determine the body volume of each heifer. Prediction of BW using images produced an R² (estimate of model fit) = 0.89 and SEM (standard error of the mean, estimate of variation) = 7.28 lb. These results indicate it is possible to accurately predict heifer BW using dorsal depth images. This presents producers with the potential to improve management of grazing livestock without the need for moving cattle across a scale, which can reduce cattle stress and labor costs.