1. Carcass Shows & Ultrasound Bernie O’Rourke & Ron Russell UW - Madison Gary Onan & Dewey Wachholz UW – River Falls

2. Types of Evaluation Visual Appraisal (What do they look like) Estimation with our eye - Judging Visual Appraisal (What do they look like) Estimation with our eye - Judging Carcass Merit – Carcass Shows Carcass Merit – Carcass Shows Actual measurementsActual measurements Sometimes we can’t see carcassSometimes we can’t see carcass Machines to measure carcass traits Machines to measure carcass traits Carcass traits area highly heritable.Carcass traits area highly heritable.

3. Why collect carcass trait information? Youth project development of meat animal projects should include information on how their animal is viewed as a food product (too fat, too lean, didn’t grade (Beef), etc. Youth project development of meat animal projects should include information on how their animal is viewed as a food product (too fat, too lean, didn’t grade (Beef), etc. Without carcass trait information, youth will not know how to improve their project in the future Without carcass trait information, youth will not know how to improve their project in the future Reminder that youth are a producer of food – should be as ideal as possible. Reminder that youth are a producer of food – should be as ideal as possible.

4. Method of Evaluation Counties Reported (52 of 72)

5. Who ranks the data – Ultrasound Counties Reported

6. Criteria Used Ultrasound - Lambs Counties Reported

7. Criteria Used Ultrasound - Pork Counties Reported

8. Criteria Used Ultrasound - Beef Counties Reported

9. Carcass Show - Advantages Provide the opportunity to educate youth of another segment /final segment of the livestock industry Provide the opportunity to educate youth of another segment /final segment of the livestock industry Presents the actual carcass on the rail allowing the participants to truly see the compositional traits of their animals Presents the actual carcass on the rail allowing the participants to truly see the compositional traits of their animals Provides objective evaluation of livestock via provision of absolute / accurate carcass measurements (depending on expertise of evaluation) allowing the assessment of carcass value Provides objective evaluation of livestock via provision of absolute / accurate carcass measurements (depending on expertise of evaluation) allowing the assessment of carcass value

10. Carcass Show - Advantages cont. Carcass composition is directly assessable, allowing for more accurate and complete evaluation of lean qualityCarcass composition is directly assessable, allowing for more accurate and complete evaluation of lean quality Develops more confidence in the producer to consumer chain— community developmentDevelops more confidence in the producer to consumer chain— community development Facilitates community development via two-way interaction with local business operator / retailerFacilitates community development via two-way interaction with local business operator / retailer

11. Carcass Show Disadvantages Requires additional help—this can, however, be a great educational tool Requires additional help—this can, however, be a great educational tool Requires the presence of and the cooperation of one or more locker operators Requires the presence of and the cooperation of one or more locker operators Can be traumatic to some individuals – balance against value of reality education and experience Can be traumatic to some individuals – balance against value of reality education and experience May be viewed as “evaluation” of live show and judge quality while carcass shows only measure the “carcass” May be viewed as “evaluation” of live show and judge quality while carcass shows only measure the “carcass”

12. Ultrasound A Live Animal Tool to measure VALUE A Live Animal Tool to measure VALUE Provides estimations of what the carcass characteristics may be (fat thickness, ribeye or loin eye measurements, etc…) without harvesting the animal. Provides estimations of what the carcass characteristics may be (fat thickness, ribeye or loin eye measurements, etc…) without harvesting the animal. However, there is some error However, there is some error Good technicians correlations with carcass measurements are typically.85-.90Good technicians correlations with carcass measurements are typically.85-.90 Marbling measurements typically result in same grade as carcass or 1/3 grade deviationMarbling measurements typically result in same grade as carcass or 1/3 grade deviation

13. Ultrasound Pork quality Pork quality Ultrasound cannot measure color or firmnessUltrasound cannot measure color or firmness Some technicians can measure intramuscular fat (marbling)Some technicians can measure intramuscular fat (marbling)

14. How does ultrasound work? The probe puts out high frequency sound waves which pass through tissues at different rates The probe puts out high frequency sound waves which pass through tissues at different rates Air 330 m/s (meters/second) Air 330 m/s (meters/second) Fat1430 m/s Fat1430 m/s Water 1500 m/s Water 1500 m/s Muscle1620 m/s Muscle1620 m/s Bone3500 m/s Bone3500 m/s At each change in tissue density, some waves reflect back and some continue through the animal. At each change in tissue density, some waves reflect back and some continue through the animal. Frequency and intensity of the reflected waves generates an image portrayed on the screen. Frequency and intensity of the reflected waves generates an image portrayed on the screen.

15. B-mode Ultrasound system

16. Moving animals Moving animals Dirty animals don’t get a good imagine Dirty animals don’t get a good imagine

17. Applications for Ultrasound Breeding Stock Breeding Stock Tool for making genetic improvementTool for making genetic improvement Select superior animalsSelect superior animals Generate Expected Progeny DifferencesGenerate Expected Progeny Differences Feedlot Feedlot Sorting cattle into market groupsSorting cattle into market groups Estimate days on feedEstimate days on feed Maximize economic returnsMaximize economic returns County Fairs County Fairs

18. Carcass Measurements

20. Summary of Ultrasound Advantages Advantages Doesn’t require meat plantDoesn’t require meat plant No need for further fair staff work the following weekNo need for further fair staff work the following week Results available for market animal saleResults available for market animal sale Results may be more accurate in situations where the:Results may be more accurate in situations where the: plants strip significant fat during hide, skin or pelt removal plants strip significant fat during hide, skin or pelt removal plants must hot-rib plants must hot-rib Results may be more comparableResults may be more comparable shows where multiple plants are used shows where multiple plants are used

21. Summary of Ultrasound Disadvantages: Disadvantages: Significant time required at fair to collect data—especially for cattleSignificant time required at fair to collect data—especially for cattle Increases cost of show—technician feesIncreases cost of show—technician fees Results may be inaccurateResults may be inaccurate Pork quality is not determinedPork quality is not determined Exhibitors have no opportunity to see carcassesExhibitors have no opportunity to see carcasses Limited opportunity for explanation of data to exhibitorsLimited opportunity for explanation of data to exhibitors

22. Things to think about… What are your program goals? What are your program goals? Carcass data rankingCarcass data ranking Performance/”Value added” rankingPerformance/”Value added” ranking Carcass winners and value added winners will seldom be the same carcass Carcass winners and value added winners will seldom be the same carcass Carcass champions may not come from efficient/productive market animalsCarcass champions may not come from efficient/productive market animals “Value added” champions may not exhibit “ideal” carcass characteristics.“Value added” champions may not exhibit “ideal” carcass characteristics.

23. Comments from survey Don’t hand out information before the live judge evaluates the show Don’t hand out information before the live judge evaluates the show