Assessment of slaughter value of sheep on the basis of linear measurements made on carcass digital images

Assessment of slaughter value of sheep on the basis of linear measurements made on carcass digital images. The aim of this study was to develop a method of assessing slaughter value of sheep using digital carcass images. Research material consisted of 38 ovine carcasses. Carcasses were classified in the EUROP grading system in terms of muscle and fat and photographed from three sides and then computer image analysis were used. Analyzed data of linear and area measurements of sheep carcasses using computer image analysis and compare them with the results of slaughter analysis conducted by the conventional method. To compare obtained results statistical analysis was performed. The correlation between computer linear measurements and meat cuts weight and EUROP classification were examined. The preliminary analysis showed the possibility of using computer image analysis to evaluate the meat yield of sheep, and the resulting measurements are correlated to the proportion of meat cuts and tissues, but in order to obtain high accuracy results further studies are needed.