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Genetic variation in wholesale carcass cuts predicted from digital images in cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2011

T. Pabiou ,
W. F. Fikse ,
P. R. Amer ,
A. R. Cromie ,
A. Näsholm  and
D. P. Berry
T. Pabiou*
Affiliation:
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Highfield House, Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7070, 75009 Uppsala, Sweden
W. F. Fikse
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7070, 75009 Uppsala, Sweden
P. R. Amer
Affiliation:
AbacusBio Limited, 442 Moray Place, Dunedin 9058, New Zealand
A. R. Cromie
Affiliation:
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Highfield House, Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland
A. Näsholm
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7070, 75009 Uppsala, Sweden
D. P. Berry
Affiliation:
Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Co. Cork, Ireland
*
†E-mail: tpabiou@icbf.com
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Abstract

The objective of this study was to quantify the genetic variation in carcass cuts predicted using digital image analysis in commercial cross-bred cattle. The data set comprised 38 404 steers and 14 318 heifers from commercial Irish herds. The traits investigated included the weights of lower value cuts (LVC), medium value cuts (MVC), high value cuts (HVC), very high value cuts (VHVC) and total meat weight. In addition, the weights of total fat and total bones were available on the steers. Heritability of carcass cut weights, within gender, was estimated using an animal linear model, whereas genetic and phenotypic correlations among cuts were estimated using a sire linear model. Carcass weight was included as a covariate in all models. In the steers, heritability ranged from 0.13 (s.e. = 0.02) for VHVC to 0.49 (s.e. = 0.03) for total bone weight, and in the heifers heritability ranged from 0.15 (s.e. = 0.04) for MVC to 0.72 (s.e. = 0.06) for total meat weight. The coefficient of genetic variation for the different cuts varied from 1.4% to 3.6%. Genetic correlations between the different cut weights were all positive and ranged from 0.45 (s.e. = 0.08) to 0.89 (s.e. = 0.03) in the steers, and from 0.47 (s.e. = 0.14) to 0.82 (s.e. = 0.06) in the heifers. Genetic correlations between the wholesale cut weights and carcass conformation ranged from 0.32 (s.e. = 0.06) to 0.45 (s.e. = 0.07) in the steers, and from 0.10 (s.e. = 0.12) to 0.38 (s.e. = 0.09) in the heifers. Genetic correlations between the same wholesale cut traits in steers and heifers ranged from 0.54 (s.e. = 0.14) for MVC to 0.79 (s.e. = 0.06) for total meat weight; genetic correlations between carcass weight and carcass classification for conformation and fat score in both genders varied from 0.80 to 0.87. The existence of genetic variation in carcass cut traits, coupled with the routine availability of predicted cut weights from digital image analysis, clearly shows the potential to genetically improve carcass value.

Keywords

genetic parameterspredictioncarcassbeefdigital images
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 5 , Issue 11 , 26 September 2011 , pp. 1720 - 1727
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2011

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