Application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and ultrasound to determine carcass quality in lamb

Constantly increasing requirements concerning carcass quality in lamb as well as the demand for a cost-efficient organisation of performance testing have also led to a discussion in Germany about the application of ultrasound to determine the carcass value. Therefore, a total of 44 lamb carcasses of Meat Merino, German Blackface and Merino Land sheep from performance testing stations were investigated by means of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Institute for Animal Breeding Mariensee. To ascertain morphological differences and conformation a set of parallel transverse images was acquired covering the entire back region. Different loin muscle depths and loin muscle areas were measured in consecutive slices cranially and caudally of the last rib. In addition, the volume of the entire loin muscle was calculated. The highest correlation between muscle depth/area and muscle volume as well as rating notes was found at the 3rd lumbar vertebra. Due to this relationship and the full development of the loin muscle this body region can be recommended as a position for ultrasound measurements. Results of German breeds included in this study are comparable with investigations from other countries.

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