title: Prediction of intramuscular fat levels in Texel lamb loins using X-ray computed tomography scanning.
abstract: For the consumer, tenderness, juiciness and flavour are often described as the most important factors for meat eating quality, all of which have a close association with intramuscular fat (IMF). X-ray computed tomography (CT) can measure fat, muscle and bone volumes and weights, in vivo in sheep and CT predictions of carcass composition have been used in UK sheep breeding programmes over the last few decades. This study aimed to determine the most accurate combination of CT variables to predict IMF percentage of M. longissimus lumborum in Texel lambs. As expected, predicted carcass fat alone accounted for a moderate amount of the variation (R(2)=0.51) in IMF. Prediction accuracies were significantly improved (Adj R(2)>0.65) using information on fat and muscle densities measured from three CT reference scans, showing that CT can provide an accurate prediction of IMF in the loin of purebred Texel sheep.
authors: Animal Breeding and Genomics, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK. Electronic address: neil.clelland@sruc.ac.uk.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Clelland
authors: Animal Breeding and Genomics, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Bunger
authors: Animal Breeding and Genomics, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: McLean
authors: Animal Breeding and Genomics, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Conington
authors: Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), Rural Centre, West Mains, Ingliston, Newbridge EH28 8NZ, UK.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Maltin
authors: Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Knott
authors: Animal Breeding and Genomics, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
authors: N R
authors: NR
authors: Lambe
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D063427:Food Quality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry*; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D013649:Taste; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats
keywords: Intramuscular fat; Lamb; Meat quality; X-ray computed tomography