title: Ultrasound Use for Body Composition and Carcass Quality Assessment in Cattle and Lambs.
abstract: Genetic evaluation for carcass quality traits has evolved over time, in large part because of introduction of new technology, such as ultrasound measures of body composition. Ultrasound-measured body composition traits emulate important carcass traits, are very informative for selection purposes, are acquired before final selections of seed stock candidate animals are made, and have seen high adoption rates by beef seed stock producers. The Ultrasound Guidelines Council certifies technicians who collect and interpret ultrasound data for beef producers. Multiple traits important to beef quality and quantity are evaluated at the same time with one scan session.
authors.affiliation: Genetics, Breeding, and Animal Health Research Unit, USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center, PO Box 166, 844 Rd 313, Clay Center, NE 68933, USA. Electronic address: jr.tait@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Richard Gregory
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Tait
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D063427:Food Quality; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Beef quality; Body composition; Genetic improvement; Lamb quality; Longissimus; Marbling; Ultrasound