Scientia Agricultura Sinica ›› 2023, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (9): 1787-1799.doi: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2023.09.014

• ANIMAL SCIENCE·VETERINARY SCIENCE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

In Vivo Estimation of Lean Percentage, Fat Percentage, and Intramuscular Fat Content of Boars by Computed Tomography

REN ZhiQiang(), WANG ChenYang, KOU ZhongYun, CAI Rui, YANG GongShe, PANG WeiJun()   

  1. Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition and Muscle Development/College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi
  • Received:2021-05-21 Accepted:2023-03-16 Online:2023-05-01 Published:2023-05-10

Abstract:

【Objective】 The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) technology in the in vivo estimation of carcass and meat quality traits in boars, so as to achieve intelligent measurements of the phenome, and thus provide technical parameters for selection and feeding management of boars. 【Method】 In the present study, 40 Duroc boars of similar weight ((42.02±1.05) kg) and in good health were selected and starved for 24 h. After that, general anaesthesia was administered by intravenous injection of anaesthetic at the ear margins. The boars were placed on the CT scanning bed in the prone position of the head, front and tail, and the original image sequences were obtained by 16-slice spiral CT scanning. The images were then subjected to thin layer reconstruction with denoising, multi-planar reconstruction, and segmentation by image processing techniques in order to quantitatively analyze the images, and combined with B-ultrasound in vivo measurement and slaughter measurement to evaluate the carcass traits of boars, such as carcass composition, backfat thickness, eye muscle depth, eye muscle area, carcass straight length, and carcass sloping length. A prediction model for carcass leanness of breeding boars was constructed using partial least squares regression analysis with slaughter-measured leanness as the dependent variable and CT-measured backfat thickness, eye muscle depth, eye muscle area, carcass straight length, and carcass sloping length as the independent variables. The Soxhlet extraction method was used to determine the content of intramuscular fat (IMF) in the longissimus thoracis, gluteal medius, and semimembranosus samples, and then the correlation analysis was performed with the intramuscular fat content in the corresponding parts of the CT in vivo assessment.【Result】When analyzing the correlation between CT in vivo evaluation and slaughter determination of lean percentage, fat percentage, bone percentage, and skin percentage, it was found that the correlation coefficient (r) between the two parameters was above 0.85, showing a strong correlation (P<0.01); subsequently, after a one-variable linear regression analysis, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.832, 0.820, 0.800, and 0.740, respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between CT and slaughter measurements of backfat thickness, eye muscle depth, carcass straight length, and carcass sloping length. When measuring backfat thickness at the thoracolumbar junction (P2 point), the difference between B-ultrasound and slaughter measurements was significant (P<0.05), while the difference between CT in vivo assessment and slaughter measurements was not significant (P>0.05). In a regression model using partial least squares to predict the carcass lean percentage of boars, the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) and R2 were 0.1472 and 0.934, respectively. Furthermore, the content of intramuscular fat was measured by CT, and CT estimation and slaughter measurements of the longissimus thoracis, gluteus medius, and semimembranosus were strongly correlated (P<0.01), with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.837, 0.815, and 0.786, respectively. One-variable linear regression analysis revealed a highly significant positive linear correlation (P<0.01) between in vivo CT assessment and post-slaughter measured intramuscular fat content.【Conclusion】CT technology allowed accurate in vivo determination of carcass traits, such as lean percentage, fat percentage, bone percentage, backfat thickness, and eye muscle depth, as well as intramuscular fat content of meat quality indicators, which provided a technical support for the continuous improvement of breeding performance and thus more accurate selection of relevant traits.

Key words: computed tomography, boars, in vivo estimation, carcass traits, meat quality traits

Fig. 1

CT transverse section images of different parts of the boar A. Head; B. Neck; C. Chest; D. Loin; E. Buttocks"

Fig. 2

Image reconstruction and denoising of the boar"

Fig. 3

Multi-planar reconstruction of computed tomography images A. Multi-planar reconstruction; B. Transverse section; C. Median sagittal section; D. Coronal section"

Fig. 4

Image segmentation of lung and heart sites A. Original CT image; B. Remove the bed; C. Remove the visceral; D. Bone; E. Fat; F. Muscle and skin; G. Muscle; H. Skin"

Fig. 5

Cross-sectional images of the intramuscular fat measurement site A. Longissimus thoracis; B. Gluteus medius; C. Semimembranosus"

Fig. 6

Diagram of CT determination of intramuscular fat content A. Select the region of interest; B. Diagram of measurement results"

Table 1

Correlation between CT in vivo determination of carcass composition and true values measured at slaughter"

胴体组成
Carcass composition
相关系数
Correlation coefficient
瘦肉率 Lean percentage 0.912**
脂肪率 Fat percentage 0.905**
骨率 Bone percentage 0.894**
皮率 Skin percentage 0.860**

Fig. 7

Regression analysis of CT estimated value and actual carcass composition"

Fig. 8

Comparison of the variability of CT, B-ultrasound, and actual backfat thickness A. Diagram of backfat thickness determination; B. Backfat thickness measurement results"

Fig. 9

Comparison of the variability of CT, B-ultrasound, and actual eye muscle depth and eye muscle area A. Eye muscle depth; B. Eye muscle area"

Fig. 10

Comparison of the variability of CT and actual carcass straight length and carcass sloping length A. Carcass straight length; B. Carcass sloping length"

Table 2

Correlation between CT in vivo determination of intramuscular fat content and true values measured at slaughter"

测定肌肉
Measurement muscle
相关系数
Correlation coefficient
背最长肌 Longissimus thoracis 0.837**
臀中肌 Gluteus medius 0.815**
半膜肌 Semimembranosus 0.786**

Fig. 11

Regression analysis of CT and actual intramuscular fat content"

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