RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTRIBUTES OF BEEF CATTLE RAISED USING ULTRASOUND TECHNOLOGY AND PRICES RECEIVED AT THE PACKERS: A HEDONIC PRICE ANALYSIS

Sluggish growth in per capita consumption and a downward pressure on beef price at the farm level has required producers to raise cattle that precisely target the meat attributes desired by consumers. Ultrasound technology can help farmers to produce a carcass with an optimal mix of marbling and muscling, and external fat. The results of this study show a high level of accuracy of ultrasound technology in predicting carcass attributes. An estimated hedonic regression model shows that the carcass attributes are reflected on the implicit beef price. Ultrasound technology helps producers to produce carcass with the desired attributes, thus obtain a higher price.Demand and Price Analysis,

VALUE OF ULTRASOUND-BASED PREDICTIONS OF CARCASS QUALITY GRADE

This paper addresses the quality and value of data derived from ultrasound technology. It attempts to determine whether or not ultrasound is a strong enough predictor of beef carcass quality grade to be an economical tool used to improve the current state of the beef industry.Marketing,

IMPACTS OF PRICE CHANGES ON OPTIMAL FEEDING PERIODS FOR SLAUGHTER YEARLINGS

Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Economically Optimal Distiller Grain Inclusion in Beef Feedlot Rations: Recognition of Omitted Factors

With the rapid expansion of the ethanol industry, the feeding landscape familiar to the feedlot industry is changing. While concerns regarding rising corn prices persist, many within the industry are looking at distiller’s grains, a by-product of ethanol production, to serve as a feed substitute. The question remains as to what extent these two feed sources are substitutable. The purpose of this study is to identify the economically optimal inclusion rate of distiller’s grains in beef feedlot rations, considering an array of often omitted factors. Most currently prevailing recommendation rates are strictly biologically based and frequently reference only one feeding trial. Unique economic factors considered in this research include the impact of by-product inclusion rates on animal performance (utilizing recently conducted meta-analysis from 17 relevant feeding trials), enhanced likelihood of death loss from heightened sulfur content, and manure disposal costs. Results indicate that excluding these factors can significantly impact optimal inclusion levels and that reliance on a single or few feeding trials may greatly bias results.distiller’s grains, livestock rations, manure disposal cost,

Economically Optimal Distiller Grain Inclusion in Beef Feedlot Rations: Recognition of Omitted Factors

With the rapid expansion of the ethanol industry, the feeding landscape familiar to the feedlot industry is changing. While concerns regarding rising corn prices persist, many within the industry are looking at distillers grains, a by-product of ethanol production, to serve as a feed substitute. The question remains as to what extent these two feed sources are substitutable. The purpose of this study is to identify the economically optimal inclusion rate of distillers grains in beef feedlot rations, considering an array of often omitted factors. Most currently prevailing recommendation rates are strictly biologically based and frequently reference only one feeding trial. Unique economic factors considered in this research include the impact of by-product inclusion rates on animal performance (utilizing recently conducted meta-analysis from 17 relevant feeding trials), enhanced likelihood of death loss from heightened sulfur content, and manure disposal costs. Results indicate that excluding these factors can significantly impact optimal inclusion levels and that reliance on a single or few feeding trials may greatly bias results.Livestock Production/Industries,

Roundup 1999

Roundup is the major beef cattle education and outreach event sponsored by the Agricultural Research Center-Hays. The purpose is to communicate timely, applicable research information to producers and extension personnel. The research program of the Agricultural Research Southeast Agricultural Research Center Center-Hays is dedicated to serving the people of Kansas by developing new knowledge and technology to stabilize and sustain long-term production of food and fiber in a manner consistent with conservation of natural resources, protection of the environment, and assurance of food safety. Primary emphasis is on production efficiency through optimization of inputs in order to increase profit margins for producers in the long term. Roundup 1999 was held at the Agricultural Research Southeast Agricultural Research Center Center--Hays, KS, April 1, 199

Prediction of crude fat content of longissimus muscle of beef using the ratio of fat area calculated from computer image analysis: Comparison of regression equations for prediction using different input devices at different stations

Crude fat content of longissimus (ribeye) muscle of beef cattle was predicted from a ratio of fat area (RFA) to area of ribeye muscle calculated from computer image analysis (CIA). Cross sections of 64 ribeyes taken from the 6–7th rib from cattle at experiment station A and cross sections of 94 ribeyes taken from the 6–7th rib from cattle at Experiment Station B were used in this study. Slices (1 to 1.5 cm in thickness) of just the Longissimus dorsi were homogenized and sampled for chemical estimation of crude fat content using petroleum ether. Crude fat content as determined from chemical analysis was used as the true estimate of fat content. A CCD (charge-coupled device) camera was used as the input device at Experiment Station A, and a single-lens reflex camera was used at Experiment Station B to photograph ribeyes for CIA. The contour comparison method, which assigns a threshold value for each marbling particle, was used to obtain accurate binarization in this study. Minimum and maximum of chemical measurements of crude fat were 2.1 and 39.8%, and for CIA calculation of the RFA were 6.1 and 56.8%, respectively. This range covered almost the complete range of the beef marbling standard used in carcass grading in Japan. The equation for the regression of the crude fat content (Y) on RFA (X) calculated from CIA for all of the data was Y = .793X − 3.04 with r2 = .96. Regression equations for prediction of crude fat percentage from RFA taking into consideration the effect of experiment station were Y = .741X − 2.22 with r2 = .91 for Experiment Station A, and Y = .782X − 2.54 with r2 = .91 for Experiment Station B. Analysis of covariance showed that the effects of experiment stations on intercepts and slopes were not significant (P \u3e .10). The ranges of differences between actual and predicted crude fat content from the prediction equation that was calculated without consideration of the effect of station were − 6.4 to 4.0%. CIA of cross sections of the ribeye muscle seems to have potential for prediction of crude fat content

Prediction of crude fat content of longissimus muscle of beef using the ratio of fat area calculated from computer image analysis: Comparison of regression equations for prediction using different input devices at different stations

Crude fat content of longissimus (ribeye) muscle of beef cattle was predicted from a ratio of fat area (RFA) to area of ribeye muscle calculated from computer image analysis (CIA). Cross sections of 64 ribeyes taken from the 6–7th rib from cattle at experiment station A and cross sections of 94 ribeyes taken from the 6–7th rib from cattle at Experiment Station B were used in this study. Slices (1 to 1.5 cm in thickness) of just the Longissimus dorsi were homogenized and sampled for chemical estimation of crude fat content using petroleum ether. Crude fat content as determined from chemical analysis was used as the true estimate of fat content. A CCD (charge-coupled device) camera was used as the input device at Experiment Station A, and a single-lens reflex camera was used at Experiment Station B to photograph ribeyes for CIA. The contour comparison method, which assigns a threshold value for each marbling particle, was used to obtain accurate binarization in this study. Minimum and maximum of chemical measurements of crude fat were 2.1 and 39.8%, and for CIA calculation of the RFA were 6.1 and 56.8%, respectively. This range covered almost the complete range of the beef marbling standard used in carcass grading in Japan. The equation for the regression of the crude fat content (Y) on RFA (X) calculated from CIA for all of the data was Y = .793X − 3.04 with r2 = .96. Regression equations for prediction of crude fat percentage from RFA taking into consideration the effect of experiment station were Y = .741X − 2.22 with r2 = .91 for Experiment Station A, and Y = .782X − 2.54 with r2 = .91 for Experiment Station B. Analysis of covariance showed that the effects of experiment stations on intercepts and slopes were not significant (P \u3e .10). The ranges of differences between actual and predicted crude fat content from the prediction equation that was calculated without consideration of the effect of station were − 6.4 to 4.0%. CIA of cross sections of the ribeye muscle seems to have potential for prediction of crude fat content

Perception of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on various curation and preservation techniques for the development of natural history gallery in Malaysia: a qualitative study

Preserving animal’s body or part of the animals have become an important and wellknown conservation medium to ensure that the future generations are still able to enjoy the biodiversity and all the incredible species that live within it. This paper aims to present a qualitative study on perception and preference of subject matter experts (SMEs) on various curation and preservation methods that is suitable for certain animals for the development of Natural History Gallery. Interview with the SMEs were done by using semi-structured questionnaire and prior to this, permission were gained from the respondents by signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF). The findings suggest that the preservation methods of specimens ultimately depend on the purpose of specimens collected, either to be preserved as research specimens or exhibition specimens. The information gained form this study will be valuable as directive for the development of natural history gallery in Malaysia