The Eureka Reporter, CA
09-07-06
Ultrasound technology boosts beef industry
by Mike Morrow
Cutting edge technology may have the answer to an age-old question throughout
Humboldt County:
“Where’s the beef?”
An ultrasound procedure to measure meat content on cattle recently was
introduced at the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale, receiving high praise from
one of the area’s foremost authorities.
“It’s been my dream that we’d come to this, that we’d have this technology
available to more of us,” said Lauren Shuman of Bridgeville, a leading breeder
and a founder of the yearly carcass contest at the Fair.
“I’ve always believed we could do more, that we could do something that would
lead to satisfying our consumers. I know that every bull we’ve purchased over the
past 15 years has been gone through the ultrasound process. It’s important that
more people get this opportunity.”
During the fair, Brett A. Setter, a certified ultrasound technician from the
Sacramento area, scanned live cattle to show the amount of fat, the size of its
ribeye and other factors important in the business.
“Whether someone is a pure bred breeder or selling on the grid, they should
know the full potential of their animals,” Setter said. “The traits we ultrasound for
are hereditary and will be passed down to the offspring. Knowing the genetic
makeup of cattle will assist an individual in his or her bull buying, replacement
heifers and breeding decisions. The more someone knows about his or her
cattle, the more marketable they are. And that translates into profits.”
Results of the Humboldt County Fair will be announced on Sept. 13 at a
combined youth event at the Agriculture Center in Eureka.
The event is sponsored by the Humboldt Cattlemen’s Association and the
Humboldt Cattlewomen’s Association, with cash prizes being awarded to the top
individuals from the carcass measuring contest.
The ultrasound process was developed by Iowa State University and the
Agricultural Research Service to determine the fat and marbling qualities of
cattle.
Ultrasound is delivered with a noninvasive, hand-held probe that emits sound
waves, which then are turned into images displayed on a monitor so researchers
can see inside the body.
According to the ARS, “the probe is placed on the animal’s back (the part used in
rib-eye steak) to see how lean and muscular the animal is as well as how much
marbling it has. Marbling—the little pieces of fat in the middle of steaks—adds
flavor.”
Setter spent a day in Ferndale, using ultrasound equipment to record and
measure cattle submitted by Fair participants. He also spent time answering
questions, particularly from youngsters, about the process.
“The fair was a thorougly enjoyable day for me,” Setter said. “It certainly was one
of the better fairs I’ve set up at. Cattle were in great condition and a few of them
scanned out extremely well. I think we had four or five steers come out with 18
inch or bigger ribeyes. Very nice showing and the kids should be commended on
their work. I hope to be apart of the fair for years to come.”
Dr. Alan French, the Fortuna optometrist who raises cattle on his ranch in
Hydesville, said the ultrasound eleminates the need for guesswork, that the
results are exact.
“If we are going to feed eight billion people in this world, we need this type of
efficiency,” French said.
The ultrasound process takes from four to seven minutes. Results are recorded
and then sent to the National Centralized Ultrasound Processing Lab in Ames,
Iowa, or another center for interpretation. From there, the data is returned to the
local breeders’ association for processing.
“Before,” French said, “the (cattle) had to be hanging from the meat locker for
three days before they could be measured. They used measuring sticks, tape
measures, calculating devices … now, it’s just the ultrasound machine.”
While it’s doubtful the machines, priced at about $30,000 each, ever will be within
the grasp of ranchers, the ultrasound process is being made available at county
fairs and other events.
Setter also provides on-site ultrasound on his family ranch in Jackson, Calif.