Volume of Beef Round Related to Carcass Composition

Three linear carcass measurements recorded on the chilled carcass were used to compute volume of round. Computed round volume was compared to actual weight of round. Correlations between computed volume of round and round weight at 6 months of age and market weight were 0.96 and 0.83, respectively. Correlations between round weight and carcass lean at 6 months and market weight were 0.96 and 0.93, respectively. Correlations between round volume and carcass lean at 6 months and market weight were 0.97 and 0.80, respectively. Carcass lean developed at a significantly faster rate than carcass fat up to 6 months of age. Correlations between carcass lena and fat at 6 months and market weight were −.06 and −.20, respectively.