Bioelectrical impedance analysis for the prediction of hot carcass weight in buffalo calf

Abstract

Twenty young buffalo male calves were fed ad libitum with a total mix ration and with vitamin-mineral integration for 14 months. Seven days before slaughter, the animals were weighed and bioelectrical impedance measurements were collected in live animals. Physical and chemical characteristics were assessed on the Longissimus dorsi muscle after slaughter. Correlations and regression equations were calculated to determine the possible use of bioelectrical impedance for evaluating hot carcass weight. Bioelectrical impedance analysis at different frequencies, simple correlation and analysis of regression were examined for all the data collected, supporting the possibility of hot carcass weight prediction with equation at multifrequency. The results show that, probably due to the variability in animal live weight, the distribution of the colour parameters was not normally distributed. Moreover, using different frequencies of resistance and reactance, hot carcass weight in buffalo may be predicted with the following equation: Y=98.47–8.84(Rs100KHz)+4.41(Rs1000 KHz)-116.27(Xc5 KHz)+51.04(Xc50 KHz)+20.30(Xc100 KHz)-33.92(Xc500 KHz)+9.01(Xc1000 KHz)±ε (Adjusted R Square value of .907 and SE of 5.728) However, further studies are required to improve the technique also in buffalo, after standardization of the method.

Keywords

• Buffalo, Bioelectrical impedance, Hot carcass weight.