Genetic improvement in beef cattle using a progeny testing system based on carcase merit.

A progeny testing system to measure beef carcase merit, the Abtech Test, has been developed. Nine carcase characteristics are measured objectively at a slaughter age of 300 days on the carcases of 12 steer progeny per sire. Five carcase characteristics were used to quantify the carcase, namely, carcase composition as submitted, carcase composition (adjusted to 20% total carcase fat), estimated lean meat yield (adjusted to 20% total carcase fat), muscle-bone ratio (adjusted to a common muscle plus bone weight), and eye muscle volume index (adjusted for total carcase muscle weight). Four carcase measurements used to describe quality were evaluated: eye muscle area at the 10th rib (adjusted for total carcase muscle weight), marbling of the eye muscle at the 10th rib (chemically determined and adjusted to 20% total carcase fat), muscle texture at the 10th rib (mean muscle bundle diameter) and fat colour (determined on intermuscular fat at the 10th rib under standard conditions). It is proposed that this testing system could be used for the genetic improvement of beef carcases.