this project will develop a biostereometrics imaging system suitable to be used in the assessment of body composition and yield of primal cuts on warm carcasses. Biostereometrics is the spatial or spatial-temporal analysis of biological form or function based on principles of analytic geometry. This technique defines the surface of an object by a finite set of three dimensional coordinates generated from the analysis of four pairs of two dimensional images (convergent orientation). The coordinates can be manipulated as desired to accurately determine surface area, volumes of specific parts or the whole, lengths, etc.Applications:This project should result in the development of an automated biostereometrics imaging system for use in carcass evaluation. The availability of accurate carcass composition data on a real time and cost effective basis should significantly influence post-slaughter processing practices and indirectly affect breeding, selection, feeding, and marketing practices. The ability to link live animal and carcass data allows rapid production changes to be made thereby maximizing productivity.
