230 - Association of Lung Health with Carcass Performance

Abstract: The association of lung abnormalities with carcass performance was evaluated on data from 60,843 carcasses housed in the West Texas A&M University Beef Carcass Research Center database collected from 2010 to 2021 to quantify the relationship of lung health and carcass performance. Lung outcomes were scored as severity of consolidation (N = Normal and free of consolidation, 1 = 5 to 15% consolidation, 2 = 15 to 50% consolidation, 3 = >50% consolidation) and presence of fibrin tags (M = Minor fibrin, E = Extensive fibrin). Lung consolidation had a strong and detrimental effect (P < 0.01) on hot carcass weight, with lung scores of 1, 2, and 3 resulting in 4.2, 13.3, and 29.9 kg less carcass weight compared with carcasses with normal lungs. Minor and extensive fibrin tags (3.5 kg and 7.1 kg), independent of consolidation, resulted in lighter carcasses (P < 0.01) compared with those with normal lungs. Lung score did not have an effect on marbling score. Both lung tissue consolidation and fibrin tags effected 12^th rib fat thickness; lung consolidation (-0.09 to -0.21 cm) and fibrin tags (-0.14 to -0.19 cm) resulted in and less (P < 0.01) 12^th rib fat thickness compared with carcasses with normal lungs. Similarly, LM area was reduced (P < 0.01) in carcasses with lung consolidation (-1.5 to -5.5 cm²) or presence of fibrin tags (-2.3 to -2.7 cm²) compared with carcasses with normal lungs. Additionally, severity of lung consolidation and presence of fibrin tags reduced (P < 0.01) calculated yield grade; lung consolidation and fibrin tags resulted in a 0.08 to 0.20 and 0.09 to 0.13 reduction in overall yield grade. These data indicate that lung health is an important factor that impacts carcass performance, particularly carcass weight and yield grade parameters.