Video imaging is accurate predictor of lamb weigh and compostion
Make movie stars of your lambs and improve your ‘intramuscular fat’ estimations. It seems that video imaging analysis (VIA) can accurately predict weight and composition of finished shorn lambs, in a non-disruptive manner, and substantially improves the estimation of intramuscular fat.
The SAC’s Nicola Lambe shared the results of a trial that set out to investigate the use of linear dimensions obtained from video image analysis to assess live weight, carcass composition and meat quality in lambs, with delegates at this year’s British Society of Animal Science annual conference.
Predictors of carcass and meat quality are sought that can be measured in the live animal, preferably at a young age, on-farm, and with minimum stress to the growing animal. “Several in vivo methods of assessing these traits indirectly in lambs have been developed, but most of these are expensive and require restraint and/or handling of animals, which can cause stress and affect growth rate,” said Dr Lambe.
In the study, carried out in conjunction with Silsoe Livestock Systems, mixed batches of male and female Texel and Scottish Blackface lambs were photographed at finishing – at a commercial slaughter weight and condition score – after being shorn. Ages ranged from 101 days to 205 days and live weight from 29kg to 47kg.
The digital images were processed to collect a synchronised set of linear dimensions taken from three views. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the relationships of these dimensions with conformation and meat quality data collected post slaughter, including total dissected weights of muscle and fat in one carcass side, chemically extracted intramuscular fat in the loin, shear force of leg, and loin muscles, and ultimate pH in leg and loin muscles.
“And we found that the VIA dimensions predicting composition in the two divergent breeds reflect changes in tissue proportions and distribution that are known to occur with maturity,” said Dr Lambe.
“One potential use for this measurement method may be to select lambs with preferred weights and composition for slaughter, using a camera above a feeder or drinker in a finishing shed.”
Presented to the British Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, March 31 to April 2, 2008, Scarborough, UK.
Full details: Lambe NR, Schofield CP, Navajas EA, Roehe R and L. Bünger: “Video imaging analysis of live lambs to predict live weight, carcass composition and meat quality.”
summary (pdf) Presentation_048lambe (pdf)
For further information visit http://www.bsas.org.uk/Publications/Annual_Conference_Proceedings/ or contact BSAS on 0131 4 45 4508 bsas@sac.ac.uk
