Wharetoa Genetics use the InnerValue™ CT Scanning System to Maximise Genetic Gain

Wharetoa has been using the InnerValue™ CT scanning system to select animals for it’s Meatmaker® composite for the last two years, and the InnerValue™ system for the six years prior to that. This has helped Wharetoa to maximize genetic progress for meat production in the Meatmakers®, and to achieve top results in a number of industry evaluations including the SIL ACE (Advanced Central Evaluation) and the Lamb Oscars.

CT scanners are medical scanners normally found in hospitals, but which can be used to measure the weight of meat and fat very accurately in a live animal. The InnerValue™ system involves ultrasound scanning all of the ram lambs to identify the top performing group of rams, and then CT scanning that group to identify the very best rams which put the most meat into the highest value parts of the carcass. Breeding values are calculated for the weight of meat in the hind leg, loin and shoulder cuts. These are the same meat cuts that Alliance’s VIAScan yield grading system measures. This means that Wharetoa is able to select animals directly on the basis of their performance for meat yield, which offers substantial improvements over and above selecting animals on their ultrasound scanning performance alone.

Neville Jopson, AbacusBio Ltd, Dunedin

Garth & Chris Shaw
Wharetoa, RD4, Balclutha,
South Otago, New Zealand

T/F: 03 415 9074
E: wharetoa@farmside.co.nz