Non-Destructive Methods for Analysing the Body and Carcass Composition of Sheep and Goats

The ongoing development of rapid, non-destructive, and non-invasive techniques for evaluating meat species' body and carcass composition is transforming the meat industry’s methods, from the traditional practices of live weight, body condition score, and morphological measurements to technologies such as ultrasound scanning, video image analysis, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and bioelectrical impedance analysis, among others. These non-destructive and non-invasive techniques provide a more accurate, efficient, and animal-friendly approach to assessing body and carcass composition. These techniques are also poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and sustainability of meat production while meeting the growing demand for higher standards in the industry. This book reviews the use of these techniques for evaluating sheep and goats' body and carcass composition. Additionally, future trends in this field are highlighted and discussed.