Lean meat yield estimation using a prototype 3D imaging approach.

Lean Meat Yield (LMY, %) of carcass is an important industry trait, which currently is not routinely measured in Australian beef abattoirs. Objective on-line technology to determine LMY is key for wider adoption. This paper presents a proof-of-concept approach for estimating the LMY of beef carcasses from the 3D information provided by RGB-D cameras. Moreover, a specifically designed on-line data acquisition system for abattoir applications is presented, consisting of three cameras moving on a scanning rig to generate 3D carcass side reconstructions. The hindquarter is then segmented consistently across all the 3D models to extract curvature information and LMY estimated via non-linear regression based on Gaussian Process models. Sides from 119 carcasses at two different commercial abattoirs were used to evaluate this approach. Results from this preliminary study (RMSE = 3.91%, R2 = 0.69) using curvature, P8 fat and HSCW indicate that 3D imaging of beef carcasses is a viable and relatively accurate technology to estimate LMY.

Technological Quality, Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Profile of Broiler Meat Enhanced by Dietary Inclusion of Black Soldier Fly Larvae.

We evaluated the effects of full-fat black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on broiler carcass composition, cut yield, and breast meat quality. Broilers were fed for 42 days with up to 20% dietary inclusion of BSFL (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%). On day 42, 120 broilers were slaughtered, and images were taken using computed tomography. Breasts, drumsticks, and thighs were collected for cut yield determination. The pH, color, lipid oxidation, cooking loss, shear force, amino acid profile, and fatty acid profile of the breast meat were assessed. There was no dietary effect on carcass composition or meat quality parameters except for fatty and amino acids compositions. When 20% BSFL was included in the diet, individual fatty and amino acids, such as lauric and myristic acids, aspartic acid, glutamine, and lysine, increased by 22.0-, 5.50-, 1.08-, 1.06-, and 1.06-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). Although total polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased, eicosapentaenoic fatty acids (EPA) increased by 78% in the 20% BSFL inclusion group. In conclusion, up to 20%, dietary full-fat BSFL did not affect key meat characteristics but positively increased the levels of the health-claimable omega-3 fatty acid EPA.

Prediction of ossification from live and carcass traits in young beef cattle: model development and evaluation.

Physiological maturity, measured as carcass ossification [10 unit increments (100, 110, 120, …)], is used by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Meat Standards Australia carcass grading systems to reflect age-associated differences in beef tenderness and determine producer payments. In most commercial cattle herds, the exact age of animals is unknown; thus, prediction of ossification in association with phenotypic prediction systems has the capacity to assist producer decision making to improve carcass and eating quality. This study developed and evaluated prediction equations that use either live animal or carcass traits to predict ossification for use in phenotypic prediction systems to predict meat quality. The average ossification in the model development dataset was 138 with a SD of 21 and a range between 100 and 200. Model development involved regressing various combinations of live animal traits: age at recording, sex, live weight (BW), average daily gain, ultrasound scanned eye muscle area, 12/13th rib and subcutaneous P8 rump fat thickness; or carcass traits: age at slaughter, sex, hot standard carcass weight (HSCW), carcass eye muscle area, marble score, rib, and P8 rump fat (CP8) thickness, against ossification. The models were challenged with data from 3 independent datasets: 1) Angus steers produced by divergent selection for visual muscle score; 2) temperate (Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn and Murray Grey) steers and heifers; and 3) tropically adapted (Brahman and Santa Gertrudis) steers and heifers. Five models with adjusted R2adj above 0.55 were evaluated. When challenged with dataset 1, the absolute mean bias (MB) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) ranged from 0.1 to 4.2, and 9.8 to 10.7, which are within the bounds of the 10 point increment on the ossification scale. When subsequently challenged with dataset 2, MB and RMSEP ranged from 2.8 to 13.4, and 19.6 to 23.7, respectively; and with dataset 3, MB and RMSEP ranged from 14.4 to 17.5, and 23.3 to 31.9, respectively. Generally, when compared in relation to the ossification scale, all evaluated models had similar accuracy. For predicting meat quality, the model containing live animal traits considered most useful was [85.35 + 0.16 × BW + 10.94 × sex - 0.09 × sex × BW (adjusted R2 = 0.59; SE = 13.51)] and the most useful model containing carcass traits was [107.15 + 11.53 × sex + 1.10 × CP8 + 0.16 × HSCW - 0.15 × sex × HSCW (adjusted R2 = 0.60; SE = 13.39)].

Prediction of stage of pregnancy in prolific sheep using ultrasound measurement of fetal bones.

The use of ultrasound to estimate stage of pregnancy was assessed in 32 ewes of a prolific genotype carrying 7 singleton fetuses and 9 twin, 10 triplet and 6 quadruplet litters that were scanned on six occasions from 60 to 120 days of gestation. At least one ultrasound measurement per ewe of fetal metacarpal bone length (MCL), biparietal diameter (BPD), or of both bones was made on over 90% of attempts (n = 152). Measurement of MCL was made on 78% of attempts (n = 371), of BPD on 73% of attempts, and of both bones on 62% of attempts. The equation developed from BPD (mean absolute error (MAE) = 3.2 days) was similar to that developed from measurement of MCL (MAE = 3.3 days) in its capacity to predict stage of pregnancy. Accuracy of prediction was improved using equations that included mean values within litters for BPD (MAE = 2.5 days) and MCL (MAE = 2.6 days). Further improvement in predictive capacity was achieved using multiple regression equations developed from measurement of both bones (individual fetuses: MAE = 2.6 days; equations including mean values within litters: MAE = 2.2 days). The results demonstrate that ultrasound can be used to estimate stage of pregnancy in prolific ewes, and that the use of mean values for bone measurements from different fetuses within litters and/or measurement of bones with different growth allometry can increase the reliability of estimates. The utility of the procedure depends on the number of fetuses measured per ewe, the number of bones measured per fetus and, hence, the time required to measure bones and the degree of accuracy required.