PREDICTION OF CARCASS AND EMPTY BODY-COMPOSITION OF STEERS BY K-40 EMISSION DETECTION

Although originally used for prediction of whole body composition (WBC ), use of K-40 emission detection was later suggested for determinatio n of empty body composition (EBC). Therefore, the present study was co nducted to validate existing equations developed to predict WBC and to develop more useful equations to predict EBC or carcass composition ( CC) of beef steers. Fourteen crossbred steers were detected for K-40 e missions and slaughtered and their chemical composition determined fro m chemical analyses and total body K determined from K-40 emissions. T he existing equation for percentage whole body lipid had a slope of .9 3 and an intercept of -1.62%, indicating a close approximation to perc entage of whole body lipid. Percentage of whole body protein was poorl y estimated by existing equations. Equations developed for prediction of EBC relied on both BW and predicted K. Coefficients of variation fo r prediction of empty body water or protein were within 5% and those f or prediction of empty body lipid were approximately 15%. These result s demonstrate that use of predicted K from K-40 emission detection enh ances the determination of EBC and CC.