ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT OF LONGISSIMUS-DORSI MUSCLE AND BACKFAT, ASSOCIATED WITH METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE TRAITS, DURING FATTENING OF INTACT AND CASTRATED MALE CATTLE

Ultrasonic measurements of longissimus dorsi muscle diameter, backfat thickness and skin thickness were validated and related to metabolic a nd endocrine traits in growing intact and castrated male cattle. Predi ction of carcass components based on ultrasonic measures of longissimu s dorsi muscle diameter and backfat thickness before slaughter was fea sible. The ultrasonic technique was found to be a sensitive method to detect changes of longissimus dorsi muscle diameter, backfat thickness and skin thickness during fattening of bulls and steers. Changes seen during fattening were associated with metabolic and endocrine traits. The ultrasonic technique can basically be used to evaluate the nutrit ional status in growing bulls and steers. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B. V.