U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska
Date of this Version
1982
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Carcasses from 1,121 steers (progeny of Hereford or Angus cows mated to Hereford, Angus, Charolais, Simmental, Limousin, South Devon, or Jersey sires by artificial insemination) were examined to develop equations to estimate percentage of retail product. The independent variables chosen and resultant accuracy of the equations developed, reflect different kinds of measurements that could be used to predict cutability over a wide range of data collection conditions.
Of 18 traits readily obtained in the cooler, adjusted fat thickness, rib eye area, estimated kidney and pelvic fat, hot carcass weight, and marbling score were the most important in predicting percentage of retail product. A multiple regession equation involving these five independent variables accounted for 79.2% of the variation in percentage of retail product.
Results showed that adequate alternatives other than complete cutout of carcasses do exist to determine yields of retail product. Reasonably precise estimates of percentage or retail product can be made based on prediction equations involving independent variables measured on carcasses in the cooler alone or in combination with partial cutout data. These estimates should be especially useful when a large number of carcasses are to be evaluated.
Comments
Published in Beef Research Program Progress Report (1982) No. 1: 39-40