Physical Indices of Leanness in Swine

Abstract
An analysis of measurements of barrow carcasses of similar breeding indicated that carcass length was of little value as an index of percent separable lean (r2 = 0.06) and was of no value if carcass backfat was considered. The leanmeter better indicated leanness (r2 = 0.48) than did carcass backfat thickness (r2 = 0.36), but was inferior to carcass backfat thickness and loin-eye area at the tenth rib (R2 = 0.70). Specific gravity of the ham was a good index of leanness (r2 = 0.69) and mutually supplemented loin-eye area (R2 = 0.79). The weights of lean and fat in the ham were highly associated with leanness (R2 = 0.92). The indices showed a lower relation with weight of separable lean than with percent of separable lean but were more closely allied with leanness than with protein of lean.