With the emphasis on producing finished stock to a required specification, it is important that the producer should be able to estimate the potential carcass characteristics of his stock.

MLC has produced two slide tape presentations for use with farming audiences which take a step-by-step approach to this subject. The slide tapes concentrate on the assessment of fat level, which is very much under the control of the producer. Carcass shape, on the other hand, is strongly related to breed and is far less manipulatable by short-term management.