Correlations among variables measured on live beef cattle and variables measured on their carcasses

Author

Joe Jack Dement

Date of Award

12-1969

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Animal Husbandry

Major Professor

Robert R. Shrode

Committee Members

C. C. Chamberlain, R. L. Murphree

Abstract

A study of 48 yearling Angus bulls was undertaken to examine the possibility of estimating an animal's own carcass merit from certain easily obtainable live-animal measurements. A step-wise regression procedure was used to construct equations for predicting dressing percent, marbling score, kidney fat, carcass grade and percent yield from linear combinations of live-animal variables which included age; birth weight; slaughter weight; heart girth; distances along dorsal midline from withers to last rib, from last rib to hooks, and from hooks to pins and width at hooks. Dressing percent was best predicted by a combination of age, heart girth, width and birth weight (R = 0.48). Marbling score and carcass grade were best predicted by the same combination of independent variables, viz., age, heart girth, and slaughter weight (R = 0.39 and 0.28, respectively). Percent kidney fat was best predicted by a combination of age, heart girth, width and slaughter weight (R = 0.50). Percent yield was best predicted by age, width and birth weight (R = 0.41). It was concluded that the results provide a sound hypothetical basis for planning further studies of this kind.

Recommended Citation

Dement, Joe Jack, "Correlations among variables measured on live beef cattle and variables measured on their carcasses. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1969.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/8415