Lean Meat Yield Where the $$$$ are! Graham Gardner

Outline Who won the bone-out comp! … and a few details about the carcases…

Greg boned-out 6 Carcases!

The leaner ones had less fat…

The leaner ones had more muscle!

Lean animals have more muscle

Lean meat yield % is higher ÷

18kg Heavier = less lean meat yield%

So if they’ve got more muscle... Shouldn’t they be worth more???

The leaner ones are worth more!

$33!!

So is GR tissue depth the best indicator of lean meat yield %?

GR didn’t predict this! Remember this!

+150g GR didn’t predict this!

Lean animals have more muscle

Does palpated GR predict lean meat yield %?

R 2 =0.087; RMSE=2.67 Palpated GR and HSCW

Would more accurate measures help predict lean meat yield %?

Knife GR & HSCW R 2 =0.30; RMSE=2.34

C-site Fat, EMA & HSCW R 2 =0.40; RMSE=2.16

Already in Australia! VIAscan Lean Meat Yield Total Fat % GR based Fat Score Primal Size Primal Weight

VIAscan predicts lean meat yield R 2 =0.45; RMSE=2.30

Future measurement tech? Eye muscle Ultrasound 2D X-Ray Fat-o-meter Devices for yield measurement Developing yield measurement devices DEXA

CAT scanning For calibration

Knowledge of yield means precision management! $273

The leaner ones are worth more! $273

Conclusion Leanness = better retail value $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ … if you can predict it, you can fix it…

But what about the retail yield competition!

The leaner ones are worth more! Heather Dalla $210 Ewin Price $196 Ruth Corrigan $235 Greg Smeather $268 Michael Blake $303 Tony Hamilton $281

Fatter Animals have less lean meat yield %

Need the Information Nucleus Flock/CRC technology to develop: – Large amounts of data – Calibration – Boning decisions – Feedback Not a trivial job What’s next?

Can we improve it through the supply chain? Suppliers can select for yield

Key terminal sire traits - Sheep Let’s focus here! For carcase improvement… Growth (PWWT) Reduced fat depth (PFAT) Eye muscle depth (PEMD)

PWWT ASBV

PWWT

Carcase Weight PWWT – They’re heavier!

So which ASBV delivers yield? Lean Meat Yield Heritability = 0.39

ASBV effects: PWWT FatLean Bone Females +3.3% +3.0%+7% -2.5% +16.5% -7.3%

ASBV effects: PEMD FatLean Bone -7.4%+3.6%

49 PEMD – increases loin wt Loin Weight Δ 7.3%

50 PEMD – increases loin wt Loin Weight Δ 7.3% Round Wt +0% Topside Wt +0% Loin Wt +7.3% GR tissue depth +5.4% C-site Fat depth -14% Shortloin Fat Wt 0% 5 th Rib Fat depth 0%

ASBV effects: PFAT FatLean Bone -13.7%+4.6%+5.4%

52 PFAT – increases muscle wt Loin Weight + 6% GR tissue depth -17% C-site Fat depth -25% Shortloin Fat Wt -9% 5 th Rib Fat depth -18% Round Wt +3.5% Topside Wt +0% Loin Wt +6%

Carcase Traits Summary! Growth (PWWT) - For heavier carcase Reduced fat depth (PFAT) - For leaner carcase Eye muscle depth (PEMD) - For more muscle where you need it!

Key terminal sire traits - Sheep Growth (PWWT) - For heavier carcase Reduced fat depth (PFAT) - For leaner carcase Eye muscle depth (PEMD) - For more muscle where you need it! But how do we combine them?

Meat Index Carcase Plus Index 60% focus on increasing growth 20% focus on reducing fatness 20% focus on increasing muscling

Carcase plus FatLean Bone Females +5.9% % +8.3% +6.4% +7.3% - 4.9%- 5.3% +9.2%

100 sires/dams, range of production systems – 5 years