ABSTRACT
Carcass composition of meat animals has been of concern to livestock producers and meat processors for decades. The ultimate test for a carcass evaluation technique should be the precision and accuracy with which the technique establishes carcass value. Realistic carcass values can only be established by determining the value of the products that result from the carcass, based upon the selling price of those products as they leave the plant less the cost of production and profit margin. The economic cost of carcass evaluation is an important consideration, especially if the processor is expected to bear the financial burden on a voluntary basis. Economic projections on a cost per carcass basis should be determined for potentially viable technologies. Any technology must be capable of maintaining precision and accuracy at commercial line speeds. Since line speeds vary from operation to operation, some technologies may be suited for one type of operation but not others.
