Rapid and non-destructive determination of lean fat and bone content in beef using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

• Published in: Meat science 2018-12, Vol.146, p.140-146
• Main Authors: López-Campos, Óscar, Roberts, Jordan C., Larsen, Ivy L., Prieto, Nuria, Juárez, Manuel, Dugan, Michael E.R., Aalhus, Jennifer L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon - methods; Adipose Tissue; Animals; Body Composition; Bone; Bone and Bones; Carcass cut-out; Cattle; DXA; Fat; Lean; Least-Squares Analysis; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Red Meat - analysis; Yield
• ISSN: 0309-1740; 1873-4138
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.07.009

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was evaluated for its accuracy in predicting total lean, fat and bone in beef carcass sides and primal cuts. Left carcass sides (n = 316) were broken down into primal cuts, scanned using DXA and then dissected to fat, lean and bone. The DXA estimates for bone, lean and fat from the primals (n = 237) were used to calibrate partial least squares regression (PLSR) models for predicting tissue weights. Models were validated using 79 additional carcass sides, which were broken into primals, scanned using DXA, and subsequently dissected to fat, lean and bone. Models were highly accurate for predicting tissue weights for the entire carcass side (lean R2 = 0.991, fat R2 = 0.985 and bone R2 = 0.941) and within most primal cuts. Results suggest DXA technology can be utilized to accurately predict carcass tissue composition for whole carcass sides and within most primals. •DXA can accurately predict tissue composition from primal cuts and full beef carcass sides.•The DXA yield models developed are robust and could perhaps be applied more broadly.•DXA could provide highly accurate carcass composition data for genetic and nutritional improvement to the beef industry and to researchers.