Abstract
Data on 141 hogs fed in Record of Performance trials at Beltsville, Md., in the fall of 1947 were used to determine the relative value of certain body measurements for predicting (a) the combined yield of ham, loin, bacon, picnic shoulder, and shoulder butt, and (b) the yield of lean meat in the hams. The eight live-hog measurements studied were: length from ear to tail, height at shoulders, width at shoulders, width of middle, width at hams, depth at chest, depth of middle, and circumference at chest. An analysis of the data with respect to the repeatability of single measurements on the same hog gave repeatability values ranging from 0.558 for height at shoulders to 0.767 for width of middle. Repeatability values estimated on the basis of averages of four measurements were found to be considerably higher than those based on only one measurement. Gilts averaged about 0.8 cm. less in width of middle and yielded about 1.0 percent more of the five cuts and about 0.72 percent more lean meat in the hams than barrows of the same weight and breeding. For both barrows and gilts, depth of middle was the most important item in determining the yield of the five cuts. Next in importance were width of middle and height at shoulders for the barrows and height at shoulders and width at shoulders for the gilts. From the analysis of the yield of lean meat in the hams it was found that width at hams was the most important of the measurements for barrows as well as for gilts. This was followed by depth of middle and width of middle for the barrows and by depth at chest and width of middle for the gilts. Regression equations are presented for predicting yield of five cuts and yield of lean meat in hams from certain of the eight body measurements studied. Although the predictive value of the measurements studied was not as great as might be desired, it is concluded that the use of certain body measurements offers possibilities of being a valuable tool in estimating carcass yields from the live animal. Copyright © . .