A comparison of the optical intrascope, the Hennessy & Chong Fat Depth Indicator and the Danish MFA probe to predict pig carcass backfat thickness

Abstract Two automatic backfat measurement devices (the New Zealand Hennessy & Chong Fat Depth Indicator (FDI) and the Danish Meat Fat Automatic (MFA) probe) were compared with the Optical Intrascope (OI) as alternative devices to predict P 2 backfat thickness (65 mm from the dorsal mid-line at the level of the posterior edge of the head of the last rib) in pig carcass classification schemes. Prediction equations of P 2 backfat thickness (mm) taken on the cold carcass (cold P 2 ) were developed for two operators who made independent hot carcass P 2 measurements (hot P 2 ) with the O1, FDI and MFA on each of 114 carcasses. The OI and FDI were found to be of equivalent precision in predicting cold P 2 with the same operator (residual standard deviation, RSD = 1·29 and 1·30, respectively). The MFA was significantly ( P Between operator measurements of hot P 2 with the FDI (RSD = 1·17) had significantly ( P