Development of a muscle specific ultrasound backscatter model to improve the non-invasive assessment of porcine meat quality

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Daniel Mörlein; Professor Dr. Kay Raum
• Subject Area: Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Husbandry
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 27050905

Numerous studies indicate relationships of muscle structure and composition with meat quality. Non destructive estimation of such parameters is still unsolved while ultrasound has already proven its potential for livestock applications. Previous investigations conducted by the applicants were promising but yet not satisfying in terms of prediction of meat quality parameters such as IMF, since the relation between IMF and several acoustic parameters were empirically derived. Therefore the principal mechanisms of ultrasound backscatter in muscle tissue remain unclear. Microelastic tissue imaging developed by the applicants in combination with sophisticated backscatter models are hypothesized to improve the interpretation of ultrasound backscatter data of muscle tissue. In particular, as a result of the intended systematic survey of the effects of muscle structure and composition on ultrasound backscatter we (a) intend to further elucidate the relationship of tissue composition with microelastic properties and (b) anticipate that with this knowledge ultrasound based meat quality assessment can be considerably improved.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Michael Wicke (†)