Texas A&M University (TAMU) ANSC108 General Animal Science Laboratory Final Practice Exam

Dressing percentage is an important metric in animal science as it indicates the efficiency of meat production. It is calculated by taking the weight of the carcass after slaughter and dividing it by the live weight of the animal before slaughter, usually expressed as a percentage. A higher dressing percentage suggests that a greater proportion of the animal's weight is converted into meat, which is a key factor in evaluating the productivity and profitability of meat production systems.

This efficiency is crucial for producers, as it directly impacts economic returns. If an animal has a low dressing percentage, it may indicate excessive fat or bone relative to muscle, meaning that less of the animal contributes to the meat yield that can be marketed. Therefore, understanding and optimizing dressing percentage can help producers make better decisions regarding breeding, feeding, and management practices to enhance meat production efficiency.