The estimation of the composition of lamb carcases by use of an image analyser, "classimat", on multiple cross-sections

One side of each of 20 lamb carcases was dissected into muscle, bone and fat. The other side of each lamb was cross-sectioned at 11 sites. Photographs of cross-sections were scanned with an image analyser ("Classimat") to measure muscle, bone and fat at each site. Estimations of composition of the carcase were compared with the dissection yield. With the results of all 11 scans available in stepwise multiple regressions, 86%, 73% and 98% of the variation in the weight of muscle, bone and fat respectively was explained; and 99%, 37% and 91% respectively of the variation in percentage muscle, percentage bone and percentage fat was explained. With the results of five selected scans available in stepwise multiple regressions, 70%, 73% and 86% of the variation in the weight of muscle, bone and fat respectively was explained; and 89%, 37% and 91% of the variation in percentage muscle, percentage bone and percentage fat was explained. It is concluded that the technique could be developed as a useful method of assessing the composition of carcases of groups of experimental animals.