Eye Muscle Area

Eye Muscle Area (EMA) EBVs are estimates of genetic differences between animals in eye muscle area at the 12/13th rib site in a 400 kg carcase.

EMA EBVs are calculated by measuring the area of the cross section of the longissimus dorsi muscle between the 12 and 13th rib via either live animal ultrasound scanning or direct measurement of carcases in the abattoir, and/or genomic information. EMA EBVs are expressed in square centimetre units.

Higher EMA EBVs indicate the animal is expected to produce progeny with larger eye muscle area, relative to carcase weight.