Predicting beef carcass cutability1

Analyses were conducted to develop and 9-10-11 rib dissection traits, and 4) carcass traits and test the efficacy of beef carcass cutability predic- and 9-10-11 rib dissection and chemical traits. For tion equations. Data from 1,602 calf-fed steer car- each dependent variable, the best single predictor was cases (Germplasm Utilization Project; GPU) were a wholesale rib dissection trait, and the best higher used to develop the equations and an additional 1,160 order model contained at least one wholesale rib calf-fed steer carcasses (Germplasm Evaluation Pro- dissection trait. Equations developed explained 87, 88, ject; GPE) were used to validate the equations. In and 77% of the variation in RPYD, FATYD, and both experimental groups, USDA yield grade ranged BONEYD, respectively. When validated against GPE from 5 and the SD of yield grade was > .B carcasses, models developed from GPU carcasses indicating a relatively large amount of variation in explained 74, 78, and 69% of the phenotypic variation carcass cutability. Models were developed to predict and 96, 94, and 84% of the genetic variation in RPYD, boneless, totally trimmed retail product yield FATYD, and BONEYD, respectively. Prediction of (RPY D), fat trim yield (FATYD), and bone yield carcass cutability using carcass and wholesale rib (BONEYD) using 1) carcass traits, 2) carcass traits dissection traits should allow for rapid, precise, and and wholesale rib dissection traits, 3) carcass traits cost-effective assessment of variation in cutability.