Carcass ultrasonography for the evaluation of meat quality of senepol beef

Abstract

With the aim of improving meat production, livestock farmers have adopted technologies and selected quality animals, increasing the efficiency of livestock farming. In this context, ultrasound has proven to be a promising tool for selecting quality carcasses, as it is a non-invasive, fast and accurate technique that can be performed at different points on the animal's body. This technique consists of emitting high-frequency sound waves that, when penetrating the animal's tissue, generate real-time images of the internal structure of the carcass. These images make it possible to evaluate the thickness of subcutaneous fat, size and shape of the muscles, marbling and other important characteristics for the selection of animals with quality carcasses. In the specific case of the Senepol breed, the use of ultrasound to select meat animals has improved production, quality and competitiveness. This breed is known for its high-quality meat, and selecting animals using ultrasound can help maintain this characteristic, in addition to ensuring greater production efficiency. In view of the above, this study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and quality of carcasses of Senepol breed animals, in which the parameters of body structure measurements were evaluated; WEIGHT; AOL; AOL/100; RATI; SEA; EGS; EGS/100; PICANHA, using carcass ultrasound as an evaluation method and strengthening the importance of its use in livestock farming.