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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Genetics and Animal Breeding » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #317582
Title: Ultrasound use for body composition and carcass quality assessment in cattle and lambs

Author
item Tait Jr, Richard

Submitted to: Veterinary Clinics of North America
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2015
Publication Date: 2/25/2016
Citation: Tait Jr, R.G. 2016. Ultrasound use for body composition and carcass quality assessment in cattle and lambs. Veterinary Clinics of North America. 32:207-218. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2015.09.007.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Genetic evaluation for carcass quality traits has evolved over time, in large part due to introduction of new technology such as ultrasound measures of body composition. Ultrasound measured body composition traits emulate important carcass traits, are very informative for selection purposes, are acquired before final selections of seedstock candidate animals, and have seen high adoption rates by beef seedstock producers. Technicians who collect and interpret ultrasound data for beef producers are certified by the Ultrasound Guidelines Council. Multiple traits important to beef quality and quantity are evaluated at the same time with one scan session. Ultrasound scanning for body composition traits fits nicely into most seedstock producer’s performance evaluation system, with measures collected when animals are approximately 1 year old.