Using video image analysis (VIA) to assess abattoir carcase yields and produce genomic breeding values (GEBV) for genetic improvement of beef carcase traits

Beef carcases in the abattoir are currently valued based on carcase weight, EUROP conformation grid and 1–5 fat class. In order to breed cattle with improved carcase attributes, the pedigree sector select animals based upon Estimated Breeding Values (EBV) for 400 day live weight (a proxy for carcase weight), ultrasound scanned muscle depth (a proxy for conformation) and ultrasound fat depth (a proxy for fat). These traits are recorded on pedigree animals at 400 days of age.

New technologies and methodologies have been developed recently which can be adopted by the beef industry to improve genetic evaluations for carcase traits. Imaging technologies have developed allowing for Video Image Analysis (VIA) traits of carcases from the abattoir to be routinely collected on all animals slaughtered. Recent research has shown that carcase traits measured by VIA in the abattoir can be used for genetic evaluations to identify genetically superior animals for carcase traits (Pabiou et al., 2010; 2011). With carcase traits being measured late in life, in high volume and on commercial animals, they are an ideal subset of traits to benefit from genomic selection. Genomic selection was first proposed in 2001 (Meuwissen et al., 2001) but was not practical until the bovine genome was available in 2006. Since then it has been implemented in the dairy industry across the world, including the UK, but is yet to be widely implemented in beef.