Patent US 5,208,747

Ultrasonic scanning of live animals and carcases particularly for grading, which scanning is preferably carried out on live animals to determine expected carcase composition, comprises use of an elongate scanning element along a line parallel to the lie of the spine. The method and apparatus enable data to be obtained for processing to identify thicknesses of the skin/fat layer and the muscle layer there adjacent and also the fat content of the muscle.