Application of Ultrasonic Reflection Techniques in Evaluating Fatness and Leanness in Pigs

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Abstract
The usefulness of an ultrasonic probing technique for measuring thickness of fat and lean tissues was explored with 158 live hogs. Since the procedure of measurement differed in some respects, the data were treated in two groups. Results showed the ultrasonic measurements of fat were highly related to both live probe and backfat thickness. Live probe, backfat, and ultrasonic measurements of fat were equal in value for predicting lean and primal cut-out. Fat thickness measured ultrasonically could be used to predict carcass value, but it offered little advantage over commonly used probing procedures. However, the possibility of applying ultrasonics in the grading of pork carcasses on the rail in a systematic and perhaps automatic manner appears feasible. Ultrasonic estimates of the depth of the loin eye muscle over the center of the back in the live hogs were significantly related to depth and area determinations taken from a tracing. The ultrasonic estimate of lean depth on the carcass was improved when the effect of fat thickness was removed. Copyright © . .

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