UrbanShepherds.org

Using Loin Eye Ultrasound Scanning

This product was developed with support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — National

Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or

the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Laura DeYoung Minnig

UrbanShepherds.org

Agenda

• Value of using ultrasound– For selecting breeding stock– To set required muscle quality attributes necessary to produce a higher

quality product

• Scanning Demonstration

UrbanShepherds.org

• Lambs need to capture premiums/avoid discounts when sold

Profitability Goals

Production Maternal Lambing HealthGrowth Rate Daughters’

Mothering AbilityLambing Ease Footrot

Carcass Traits Lambing Ease Survivability Fecal Egg Count

Days to Slaughter Efficiency of Finishing Progeny

UrbanShepherds.org

UrbanShepherds.org

Yield GradeYield Grade

Fat thickness

(inch)

% Carcass as BCTRC(leg, loin, rack, shoulder)

1 0.15 and less 47.4 or greater

2 0.16 to 0.25 45.6 to 47.3

3 0.26 to 0.35 43.8 to 45.5

4 0.36 to 0.45 42.0 to 43.7

5 > 0.46 41.9 or less

UrbanShepherds.org

Fat Lamb: Yield Grade 5

UrbanShepherds.org

Lean Lamb: Yield Grade 1

UrbanShepherds.org

Loin Eye as Indicator

UrbanShepherds.org

Processor Profitability

Loin Eye Back Fat Frame

UrbanShepherds.org

Equivalent Breeding Values• Started in 1990.• Quality issues were identified as a problem as wool market was decreasing.• Research and selection resulted in increased carcass weight and increased

economic value.• Most of the increase was due to improved performance (growth).• A common industry goal of improved meat quality was part of the success.• LAMBPLAN was key to allowing producers to improve selection

effectiveness.

UrbanShepherds.org

≥

NSIP Values vs Visual Confirmation

Source: Shultz

UrbanShepherds.org

Heritability of TraitsTraits Percentage

Number Born 10%

60 day weight 10%

120 day weight 20%

240 day weight 40%

Fat Thickness 30%

Rib-Eye Area 35%

Carcass Weight 40%Weight of Trimmed Cuts 45%

UrbanShepherds.org

Carcass Traits

• Fat Depth– Predicts differences in offspring performance

in carcass eye muscle depth between the 12th and 13th rib.

– It is derived from ultrasound measurements of loin muscle depth in live animals and adjusted to standard post weaning weight of 120 pounds.

UrbanShepherds.org

Carcass Traits

• Loin Muscle Depth– Predicts differences in offspring performance

in carcass eye muscle depth between the 12th and 13th rib.

– It is derived from ultrasound measurements of loin muscle depth in live animals and adjusted to standard post weaning weight of 120 pounds.

UrbanShepherds.org

Carcass EBV = 5.06 x PWWT EBV – 13.36 x Fat Depth EBV + 7.83 x Muscle Depth EBV

UrbanShepherds.org

Opportunity for Improvement

Table 2: Leeds et al.Table 1: Emenheiser et al.

2.5 = 16.1 3.0 = 19.4

UrbanShepherds.org

Among breeds:–Very few documented differences in flavor–Excessive fat at slaughter is the most important problem–Increased muscling has some potential to increase value

UrbanShepherds.org

Source: David Notter

UrbanShepherds.org

Source: David Notter

UrbanShepherds.org

Source: David Notter

UrbanShepherds.org

Administrative and technical support for the Co-Op will be provided by Urban Shepherds.

Open to any producers to join

UrbanShepherds.org

Co-Op Goals

• To provide quality lamb to local restaurants and groceries.

• To recruit producers to participate in selling lamb locally.

• To assist members in producing the required product demanded: consistent quality lamb.

UrbanShepherds.org

American vs. Australian/New Zealand

• Average lamb ribeye areas:– American = 2.9 – Australian/New Zealand = 2.9– 80% of American lambs ≥2.5– 15% of Australian/New Zealand ≥ 2.5• American lambs tended to produce heavier carcass weights,

greater subprimal/primal cut sizes, and larger ribeye areas than are, reportedly, produced by New Zealand and Australian lambs (Genho 2002)

UrbanShepherds.org

Measure Muscle Eye and Back Fat

Source: OSIA Lamb 509

UrbanShepherds.org

Our Solution • Set required muscle quality attributes

necessary to produce a higher quality product. 

• Use carcass ultrasound of lamb crops for market acceptance and to measure muscle quality deficiencies for improvement

UrbanShepherds.org

Carcass Scanning for Value-Priced Lamb

• Used for selection of seedstock

– NSIP Certified Ultrasound ScannerSource: Cup Lab Training

UrbanShepherds.org

• Ultrasound images can be collected and read for rib-eye area (REA), rib fat thickness (Fat), and percent intramuscular fat (% IMF) which relates to marbling levels.

UrbanShepherds.org

Scanning • A trained technician can

capture an ultrasound image in about 30 seconds with reasonable accuracy.

• The images estimate traits that influence the carcass value of market lambs—such as loin muscle area, loin muscle depth, and back-fat thickness.

UrbanShepherds.org

Lamb Scanning Ages• Lambs should be scanned at around 5 months

of age and be around 90 lbs, this is to ensure that there is good variation in the lambs measurements, especially the fat depth which is often difficult to measure in the more lean breeds. The date of births should already be entered on the database and the breed recorded when the lambs will be ready to be recorded.

UrbanShepherds.org

• Farmers must have an accurate weighing create there on the day and the technician will verify the scales with a measured weight.

• All lambs must have their ID tags recorded on the database before scanning can occur.

• Breeders should have their lambing notebooks present on the day in order to clear up any issues that may arise on the day.

• Ideally lambs should be housed at least an hour before the technician starts to scan to ensure lambs are under as little stress as possible at the time of scanning.

UrbanShepherds.org

Random Sample• Breeders present all their lambs for

scanning even if they do not plan on scanning all their lambs as the lambs must be selected at random by the technician, both males and females. The technician will exclude any late born lambs or any lambs that are thriving very poorly due to some medical or nutritional problem.

UrbanShepherds.org

• The Co-op will conduct carcass ultrasound of lamb crops for acceptance (as well as for NSIP EBVs). The expected outcome, will be better meat quality and marketing, leading to increased profitability and competitiveness for Ohio regional producers.

UrbanShepherds.org

Demonstration

UrbanShepherds.org

Thanks to:

• For more information: www.northcoastlambcoop.org