Previous research has suggested that cattle predisposed to dark cutting can be identified from live animal or carcass
characteristics. This hypothesis was tested using production and phenotype data from an existing data set
collected from heifers (n = 467) on study at three farms. Carcasses in the data set graded Canada AAA (n =
136), AA (n = 296), A (n = 14), and B4 (dark cutting, n = 21). Farm was identified as significant (P =
0.0268) by CATMOD analysis and slaughter weight and carcass weight accounted for the variation in dark cutting
frequency across the farms. Analysis of variance indicated that dark cutting heifers had reduced weight at
weaning (P b 0.0001) and at slaughter (P b 0.0001), and produced reduced weight carcasses (P b 0.0001). Results
of logistic regression indicated that the probability of dark cutting was decreased in heifers slaughtered at live
weight greater than 550 kg and in carcasses weighing greater than 325 kg