INFLUENCE OF SAMPLE ORIENTATION ON PREDICTION OF FRESH HAM LEAN CONTENT BY ELECTROMAGNETIC SCANNING

To evaluate the effect of orientation of hams during electromagnetic s canning on the estimation of dissected lean content, hams were scanned horizontally, posterior first (POS) or dorsal first (DOR), and vertic ally, medial side (aitchbone) first (MED; standing on the butt face). Weight and percentage of dissected lean were estimated using scan peak for each orientation, ham weight, and fat thickness. The mean scan pe ak for the MED orientation was approximately twice as great as peaks f or the POS and DOR orientations, which suggests that this orientation may offer greater predictive accuracy by reducing the signal to noise ratio. Results, however, indicated that all orientations were equally effective at predicting lean weight and percentage, with R-2 values of .95 and .75 and root mean square errors of .21 kg and 2.6%, respectiv ely.