Ultrasound for Carcass Merit

Before the use of ultrasound in beef cattle, formal progeny testing was the only method to collect carcass data on seedstock. Test bulls, as well as reference sires, are bred to cows with the resulting progeny finished to slaughter and carcass measurements taken. This method is time consuming, expensive and impractical for many producers.

Ultrasound technology provides a way to gather data correlated to carcass genetic predictions without harvest. The traits measured are Rump Fat Thickness, Rib Fat (Fat Thickness), Rib Eye Area (REA), and Percentage Intramuscular Fat (%IMF). These traits are heritable. Genetic evaluation of these traits will allow breeders to select animals with the carcass traits that they desire for their breeding program.

EPDs are more useful than actual data to give a best genetic prediction of the carcass merit of the animal. Ultrasound data, like other measured performance data, can vary year to year due to changes in feed (drought/nutrition), age at scanning, etc.

Although the ultrasound program is voluntary, the Canadian Angus Association would like all breeders on the Canadian Angus Performance Program (CAPP) to participate.