Conformation assessment of lamb carcasses and measurement using VIAscan

EUROP conformation score was assessed by two assessors on 635 lamb carcasses from a diverse range of genotypes. Differences between mean scores were found across measurement days with an overall correlation of r = 0.54 between scores of the two assessors. Carcass weight and GR were both significant as covariates such that as they increased (ie as carcasses became heavier and fatter) the EUROP scores decreased (ie less P’s and O’s). In a separate experiment based on 426 lamb carcasses from diverse genotypes it was shown that three different VIAscan measures could be used to predict EUROP scores (R = 58.4, r.s.d. = 0.53) independent of fat measures. Indications are that VIAscan could be used to provide objective assessment of EUROP scores. However a more robust approach would be to define classes for shape according to VIAscan measures using say industry agreed standards and then online prediction would be very accurate.