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