Several research trials have evaluated the impact of ractopamine (RAC, Paylean r , Elanco Animal Health) on barrows and gilts of various genetic populations (GP). Overall, the desirable response of RAC to increase daily carcass lean gain, improve feed efficiency, and increase carcass lean percentage has been observed in GP of substantially different lean growth rates and carcass lean percentage...

The study pertains to estimation of carcass cuts in Soviet Chinchilla bucks. The results indicate that the slaughter weight significantly influences the weight of the fore legs (P< 0.05) and hind legs (P< 0.01). The quadratic regression equations provide the best estimators for all the carcass cuts and the carcass as a whole. The accuracy of the predictors is highest for

BACKGROUND Tail biting is a common welfare problem in pig production and in addition to being a sign of underlying welfare problems, tail biting reduces welfare in itself. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tail biting on different pre and post mortem indicators of stress in slaughter pigs and on carcass and meat characteristics. A total of 12 tail bitten (TB) and 13 control (...

The objectives were to study the relationship between in vivo ultrasound measurements and cold carcass measurements at 4 anatomical points along the backbone of lambs and to determine appropriate regression equations to estimate carcass composition by using ultrasonic measurements at each anatomical point. The lambs (n = 114) used were suckling lambs (BW = 11.09 kg), light lambs (BW = 22.43 kg)...

Composting is an alternative method of carcass disposal in those situations when conventional methods are inadequate. With proper maintenance and monitoring, carcass composting systems can be safe and efficient with minimal environmental impacts. Importantly, proper composting eliminates many pathogens and may reduce levels of carcass contamination with spore-forming bacteria, prions, and other...

Fatty acid profiles and cholesterol content of whole-carcass ground tissue were compared from 26 transgenic (T) pigs expressing a bovine growth hormone gene (bGH) to 26 sibling control (C) pigs. All pigs were fed a common diet and were slaughtered at five different live weights: 14, 28, 48, 68, and 92 kg. The left side of each intact carcass was ground and tissue samples were analyzed for lipid...

Computer models were used to simulate the feedlot segment of an integrated beef production system. Five breeds, Angus (A), Charolais (C), Hereford (H), Limousin (L), and Simmental (S), in three mating systems, pure-breeding and two- and three-breed rotational crossbreeding, were evaluated for feedlot and carcass performance. Breed data were taken from the literature. Feeder calves (steers and n...

Five hundred thirty-four steers were evaluated over a 2-yr period to develop and validate prediction equations for estimating carcass composition from live animal ultrasound measurements and to compare these equations with those developed from carcass measurements. Within 5 d before slaughter, steers were ultrasonically measured for 12th-rib fat thickness (UFAT), longissimus area (ULMA), rump f...

The objective of this study was to estimate economic weights of Hanwoo carcass traits that can be used to build economic selection indexes for selection of seedstocks. Data from carcass measures for determining beef yield and quality grades were collected and provided by the Korean Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation (KAPE). Out of 1,556,971 records, 476,430 records collected from ...