Ultrasonic measurements in live goats. Prediction of weight of carcass joints

The accuracy of the use of nine ultrasonic measurements of lumbar fat thickness. nine measurements of longissimus dorsi depth. four measurements of sterna! fat thickness. for predicting the weight of carcass joints were assessed in 27 adult Blanca Celtiberica goats ranging in stemal body condition score from 1.5 to 4.5. Comparison between the ultrasonic measurements assessed in live goats with the same measurements taken on carcass were established and the best relationships were obtained between the 1st-2nd and the 3rd-4th lumbar vertebras on the left side. Nevertheless the highest correlations were obtained between the ultrasonic sterna! fat thickness and the same. measurements taken on carcass. Between 77 and 93% of the variation in weight of carcass joints were accounted for by variation in ultrasonic measurements taken on sternum and lumbar region. The ultrasonic muscle depth assessed between the 3rd-4th lumbar vertebra accounted for 88. 83 and 84% of variation in the weight of main carcass joints: leg. rib and shoulder. respectively