title: Estimation of beef marbling in the Longissimus muscle with computer image analysis of ultrasonic pictures of the Iliocostalis muscle area.
abstract: This study investigated an objective method for estimating beef marbling using ultrasonic images of the Iliocostalis muscle and the Lomgissimus muscle area sections. Thirty-one Japanese Black cattle steers were used in this study. The end of the left side shoulder blade bone was scanned using an ultrasonic device. Ultrasonic images were captured of the Longissimus muscle area and that around the Iliocostalis muscle area. Twenty items were measured in the two images using computer image analysis software. The level of beef marbling was measured according to the Beef Marbling Standard (BMS) for carcass grading, and the percentage of ether-extractable fat content in the Longissimus muscle (EE). The difference in the gray level between the Iliocostalis muscle and intermuscular fat (X10) was used to estimate the BMS and the EE, which were highly correlated (r(2)  = 67.72% and 61.30%). An equation was developed using four parameters from the two ultrasonic images, which could estimate the BMS (r(2)  = 85.88%). This equation could also estimate the EE (r(2)  = 68.98%). The equations used to estimate beef marbling were based on one to four parameters that included X10. Thus, ultrasonic images of the Iliocostalis muscle area section are important for estimating beef marbling.
authors.affiliation: Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nade
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D064170:Paraspinal Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Iliocostalis muscle; beef marbling; ultrasonic image