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Automatic assessment of sheep carcasses by image analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

G. W. Horgan ,
S. V. Murphy  and
G. Simm
G. W. Horgan
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural Statistics Service, The King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ
S. V. Murphy
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
G. Simm
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
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Abstract

The commercial value of animal carcasses depends not only on their weight but also on their composition and shape (termed conformation). This is usually assessed subjectively by a skilled inspector. In this paper an attempt is described to assess the saleable meat yield of sheep carcasses by automatic digital image analysis. A low-cost system based on a still video camera and a personal computer was used. The results indicate that better prediction of saleable meat yield can be obtained using objective measures of carcass shape than from subjective conformation scores. Information from the intensities of colour components was not found to be useful, possibly due to difficulties with lighting and image quality. Recommendations are made for implementing a practical system.

Keywords

carcassconformationimagerymeat yieldsheep

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 60 , Issue 2 , April 1995 , pp. 197 - 202
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1995

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