Accuracy of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, weight, longissimus lumborum muscle depth and GR fat depth to predict half carcass composition in sheep
F. R. Dunshea A B C E , D. Suster B , P. J. Eason B , R. D. Warner B , D. L. Hopkins D and E. N. Ponnampalam BA Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
B Department of Primary Industries, 600 Sneydes Road, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.
C The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
D NSW Department of Primary Industries, Centre for Sheep Meat Development, Cowra, NSW 2794, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: fdunshea@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47(10) 1165-1171 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA07039
Submitted: 2 February 2007 Accepted: 7 May 2007 Published: 19 September 2007
Abstract
A Hologic QDR4500W dual energy X-ray absorptiometer (DXA) was used to measure body composition in 60 sheep half carcasses ranging from 8 to 28 kg. Half carcasses were from ewes and wethers of mixed genetics. Values determined by DXA, including total tissue mass (TTM), lean tissue mass (LTM), fat tissue mass (FTM) and bone mineral content (BMC), for the half carcass were evaluated by comparison with chemically determined composition. In the case of BMC, the relationship was with chemically determined ash content. Liveweight and chemically determined lean, fat and ash were strongly related to DXA-derived values for TTM, LTM, FTM and BMC, respectively (R2 = 0.999, 0.986, 0.989 and 0.920, respectively). However, because DXA estimates were different from chemically determined values in this sample of carcasses, they needed to be adjusted with the use of appropriate regression equations to correct the in-built algorithms. These data demonstrate the efficacy of DXA as a non-destructive method for determining the composition of the sheep half carcass.
Acknowledgements
The animals sampled for this paper were generated at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Centre for Sheep Meat Development, Cowra as part of the Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre. The team at Cowra is thanked for their management of the flock and the efficient execution of the slaughter program. Specifically we wish to thank David Stanley (NSW DPI) who has managed the database arising from this large collaborative program and the team members from other research groups who assisted with data collection. The excellent cooperation of Junee Abattoir employees and management is gratefully acknowledged. The study was funded by Meat and Livestock Australia and the Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Centre.
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