Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
In a barn just outside the Stadium at Canadian Western Agribition, a few bulls and cows line up to be taken through Rod Wendorff’s chute.
He proceeds to spread a blob of congealed lubricant between the twelfth and thirteenth rib of an animal before snapping a picture with his ultrasound device.
Who would have thought we would someday be able to evaluate beef marbling off a living cow? Yet that is precisely what this UGC-certified (Ultrasound Guidelines Council) technician is doing for breed associations at Regina’s Agribition.
"This is a marketing tool for them," he says. "First, we have to get a clean surface. Ultrasound won’t read through air. We have to put a couplant on it. I use canola oil. The ultrasound gives me a picture, and then I have software that will analyse the picture in the computer. I learned how to do this at Kansas State University, and every two years I have to go back to get re-certified."
On Wendorff’s worktable lies about $40,000-worth of equipment.
"We have been measuring backfat, ribeye muscle size, marbling and lean meat yield here at Agribition," he explains.
According to the Canadian Blonde d'Aquitaine Association, ultrasound has been used to measure fat depth in beef cattle since the 1950s, and research at the University of Saskatchewan suggests that ultrasound backfat and ribeye area measurements can accurately predict the lean meat yield of yearling bulls.
This technology can be a valuable tool for seedstock producers interested in improving the carcass merit of their cattle, according to Wendorff.
"Every year, we get more people using this technology," he says. "There are now EPDs (Estimated Progeny Differences) for it, so you can identify the cattle that will help you increase the trait that you want. With those, within a breed, you can tell what they will pass on—how good they are on a certain trait."
Carcass traits are moderately to highly inherited; therefore, carcass characteristics in a bull are likely to be passed on to his progeny.
Wendorff and his company—Windy Ridge Ultrasound—may be based out of Raymond, Alberta, but he seems to spend a lot of time in Saskatchewan.
"I have been doing it for five or six years now," he says, "and at the time I was the only one certified in Canada. I love this work. I like being around cattle and the cattle people. I used to manage an $80-million payroll for the City of Lethbridge. Cattle are easier to get along with than people sometimes. With cattle, if you get kicked, at least you usually deserve it."
For more information, contact:
Rod Wendorf
UGC Certified Technician
Windy Ridge Ultrasound
(403) 752-4066
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