AMSA Graduate Student Research Posters ( M . S . and Ph . D . Divisions ) and AMSA

wordThis study assessed the ability of two video image analysis (VIA) instruments, VIAscanTM and Canadian Vision System (CVSTM), to augment the assignment of USDA Yield Grades (YG) to beef carcasses, to the nearest tenth of a grade, under commercial operating conditions, and to test the accuracy of cutability predictions. Steer and heifer carcass sides (n = 290) were selected to vary in fatness, muscling and weight. Carcasses were assigned augmented YG (AYG), to the nearest tenth (i.e., YG 1.3, 2.6, 4.9), on an automated grading chain (360 head/hour) by each of the two VIA systems, and subsequently fabricated into closely-trimmed (.6 cm) subprimal cuts. Augmented YG that included line graders’ estimates for adjusted PYG, and VIA measured ribeye area were highly correlated (r =.92 and .95 for VIAscanTM and CVSTM, respectively) with Gold Standard YG (committee of experts, at their leisure). Cutability prediction accuracy increased to levels near those achieved by expert whole YG, where VIAscanTM AYG, CVSTM AYG and expert whole YG accounted for 59, 60, and 62 percent of the variation in fabricated yields of closely-trimmed subprimal cuts, respectively. Video Image Analysis technology for use in the augmentation of USDA YG appears to be a useful tool for increasing the accuracy and objectivity of USDA YG application, as well as for improving the accuracy of prediction of subprimal yields. Augmentation of USDA YG through use of VIA instrumentation improves USDA line graders YG assignment accuracy. Assigning USDA YG to the nearest tenth would provide substantial economic benefit to the beef industry, allowing fabrication styles and inventories to be more closely managed. VIA instrumentation is a viable augmentation option for use by USDA line graders in assigning YG to the nearest tenth.