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While selection processes at the JHL seek to take advantage of marketing
opportunities, hide color is not stressed as an overall priority. We
believe that as far as the final product is concerned, it isn't "the
wrapping" that's important.
Ultrasound technology allows
a look under the hide giving a snapshot of the genetic carcass traits the
animal is expressing. If the ultrasound shows the animal has the meat
characteristics we are looking for, at the very least the animal has the
potential to pass these expressed genetics on to its progeny. The JHL began
selecting bulls by ultrasound measurements in 1993 and its replacement
heifers in 2004.
 Because
of the narrowing margins in the feedlot, the JHL incorporated ultrasound
technology first in 1995 and consistently since 2000.
This feedlot technology has allowed us to provide a finished product
better than the "gate cut".
With ultrasound an individual animals' time on feed can be tailored,
allowing optimization of that animal's specific genetic potential - not
over or under feeding them.
Ultrasound also provides us better data reference to the dam's and
sire's potential.
Costly grid "outs" have also been limited.
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