Significant Relationships in Pork Carcass Evaluation

Abstract

The 207 hogs slaughtered for this study consisted of 122 Landrace-Poland crosses, 76 Hampshires, and 9 Durocs of approximately 206 lb. liveweight. The yield of the five primal cuts was negatively correlated with the backfat thickness measurements and the weight of ham fat trim. The loin eye cross section area, loss in carcass weight during the chill period and the yield of loin, ham or shoulder, were correlated with the yield of four lean cuts. These same variables were also significantly correlated with the yield of the five primal cuts, but to a lesser degree than with the four lean cuts. The cross section area of the loin eye, cross section area of the ham lean and dressing percent were significantly correlated with the yield of total lean. The single variable most highly associated with the yield of total lean was the cross section area of the loin eye. This variable was also highly correlated with the yield of the four lean and five primal cuts. The correlations, in order of magnitude, between the four lean cuts and each of the live hog probes were hip probe, ham probe and shoulder probe. Copyright © . .