ACOUSTIC VOLUMETER FOR THE RAPID ESTIMATION OF THE FAT CONTENT OF AN ANIMAL

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO PREDICT THE FAT CONTENT OF LIVE ANIMALS DESIGNED FOR FOOD. SUCH KNOWLEDGE MAY BE USED TO GUIDE DIET REGIMENS, BREEDING AND SELECTION PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE A LEANER PRODUCT. ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN METHODS OF ESTIMATING THE FAT FRACTION IS BASED ON THE MEASUREMENT OF TOTAL BODY DENSITY (WEIGHT/VOLUME). THE METHOD IS NOT USED IN PRACTICE BECAUSE THE VOLUME MEASUREMENT HAS TRADITIONALLY REQUIRED SUBMERGENCE IN WATER - AN EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING MEASUREMENT. THE PROPOSED VOLUMETER IS BASED ON ACOUSTIC PRINCIPLES IN AIR AND REQUIRES ONLY THAT THE OBJECT BE IN AN ALMOST TOTALLY ENCLOSED CHAMBER. THE UNIQUE FEATURE IN THE PROPOSED METHOD ELIMINATES THE INACCURACY IN THE MEASUREMENT CAUSED BY CHANGES IN THE SOUND SPEED WHICH DEPENDS ON THE TEMPERATURE OR HUMIDITY OF THE AIR. A DEVICE SUITABLE FOR MEASURING THE VOLUME OF SWINE (15-100 KG) WILL BE DESIGNED, BUILT AND CALIBRATED AND THEN USED TO MEASURE THE VOLUME OF SEVERAL LIVE SWINE WHOSE VOLUME WILL BE DETERMINED BEFORE AND AFTER SLAUGHTER. THE ACCURACY, UTILITY, AND ESTIMATED PRODUCTION COST OF THE VOLUMETER WILL BE USED TO ASSESS THE FEASIBLITY OF THE DEVICE.