THE MEASUREMENT OF SUBCUTANEOUS FAT THICKNESS IN COLD BEEF CARCASSES WITH AN AUTOMATIC PROBE

Abstract
Left sides from 360 cold beef carcasses were probed at the 11th rib site for fat thickness at three positions (1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 positions). Each probe measurement was repeated and the fat thickness at the three sites was then measured using a ruler. Comparison of probe readings with ruler measures showed that the probe consistantly overpredicted fat thickness by margins ranging from 3 to 8 mm (P < 0.001). Regression of probe readings on ruler measures showed that only in the 1/4 position was the slope not different (P > 0.05) from unity. Regression of the first probe reading on the repeated reading also showed that the slope for the 1/4 position was not different (P > 0.05) from unity. Key words: Beef, carcass grading, fat thickness, FDI

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