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Ultrasound Carcass
Data
Articles:
Ultrasound Carcass Data Collection
Guidelines for Submitting Ultrasound
Carcass Data
For more information:
APTC (The Beef Cattle
Ultrasound Technician Annual Proficiency
and Testing Certification Program site -
includes Technician list)
CUP (Centralized Ultrasound
Processing)
Request Ultrasound Barnsheet
Ultrasound Carcass Data Collection
The collection of progeny carcass
records and subsequent development of
Carcass EPDs is an important part of the
genetic documentation of Gelbvieh cattle
in the US. Progeny test schemes like
the AGA's Sire Carcass Test Program, are
an effective, accurate means for
building a data set of carcass records.
Clearly, cost is the significant
deterrent hindering broader collection
of progeny carcass data by Gelbvieh
breeders.
During the
last several years, the use of
Ultrasound technology to gather carcass
records has advanced considerably. Not
only has the software used to analyze
ultrasound images improved, but the
number and proficiency of technicians
has also improved. Properly trained
technicians can accurately utilize
ultrasound technology to measure
differences in carcass traits in both
live feedlot and breeding cattle.
Ultrasound scanning is reasonably priced
and represents a good opportunity for
Gelbvieh breeders to collect information
on carcass traits on a large number of
breeding animals in a cost effective
manner.
Recent
research utilizing ultrasound carcass
records collected on Brangus cattle
suggests that ultrasound measures
collected after 1994 will provide
quality information for inclusion in
genetic evaluations. There are strong
genetic correlations between ultrasound
records collected on yearling bulls and
heifers and carcass records retrieved on
related fed steers and heifers. It is
important to document these correlations
in Gelbvieh cattle. Should these
correlations be satisfactory, ultrasound
records from Gelbvieh breeding cattle
and feedlot steers, could be used to
calculate Carcass EPDs.
At its April
1999 meeting, the AGA Board of Directors
approved a staff proposal for the
collection of ultrasound carcass data
from Gelbvieh breeders. The data
collected will be used to evaluate the
utility of ultrasound carcass records in
the calculation of Carcass EPDs for
Gelbvieh cattle. Ultrasound data
collected in previous years maybe
submitted to the AGA for inclusion in
ultrasound database.
In recent
years, ultrasound scanning technology
has improved dramatically. However, the
accuracy of the scan information relies
heavily upon the competency of
technicians operating the scanning
equipment and interpreting the images.
For that reason, data submitted to the
AGA should be from currently accredited
ultrasound technicians. Currently, we
use the
Iowa State University-Centralized
Ultrasound Processing
(CUP) Lab.
Technicians must be certified by the
Beef Cattle Ultrasound Technician APTC
program. Technicians are certified
by trait, Ribeye Area, Fat Thickness and
Intramuscular Fat. Be sure that the
technician you select is certified in
each trait for which you plan to submit
data, and that the technician utilizes
the equipment to scan your animals on
which they are currently certified.
AGA Guidelines for Submitting Ultrasound
Carcass Information
January 2002 - Official
Ultrasound Barnsheets must be requested
from the AGA.
The
American Gelbvieh Association is
currently gathering ultrasound carcass
information to assess the possibility of
generating EPDs for carcass traits from
ultrasound data. Many AGA members are
collecting ultrasound information. For
your ultrasound data to be included in
an AGA ultrasound evaluation, the
following guidelines must be met:
-
Ultrasound data must be processed
through
Centralized Ultrasound Processing
(CUP) facility at Iowa State
University.
-
AGA
has no official requirements
regarding ultrasound equipment
provided the technician is
APTC certified and can generate
the required ultrasound information.
-
All
animals must be on file (registered
or computed) with the AGA prior to
submitting ultrasound data to the
AGA.
-
Data
must be submitted to the AGA on
official CUP Gelbvieh Barn Sheets
obtained through the AGA. Contact
the
AGA for more information or to
request a barnsheet
-
Ultrasound Data Required:
a. Percent IMF - intramuscular
fat (0.00 %)b. Ribeye area (00.0
sq. inches)
c. Rib fat thickness (0.00
inches)
d. Rump fat (0.00 inches)
-
In
addition to actual ultrasound data,
AGA requires the following
information:
a. AGA registration number of
each animal
b. Date scanned
c. Actual weight on the date
scanned
d. Technician name (must be
certified)
e. Ultrasound equipment used
-
Ultrasound carcass data must be
collected between 320 and 410 days
of age (same date range as yearling
data). For convenience, you may want
to schedule ultrasound data
collection for the same date when
other yearling data is collected.
-
AGA recommends that
ALL animals are weighed and scanned
for a given contemporary group.
-
Animals should be in good flesh at
the time of scanning. Bulls should
be scanned prior to being taken off
of gain test. Heifers should be
scanned following a growing or
developing program. Scanning at
these times allows animals to
express maximum genetic differences
for marbling and fat thickness.
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