We started taking measurements of muscle and backfat on farm in 1998 when the Hampshire Down recording scheme began. Since 2000 we have sent ram lambs to Scottish Agricultural College at Edinburgh for CT scanning. This method of measuring the whole body of the live animal by hundreds of cross sectional X-rays, produces very accurate figures for killing out percentage, overall muscle, bone and fat and gigot shape. Importantly for us it also reveals what proportion of muscle lies in the loin and leg - the valuable cuts.

Measurements of Kelsey rams taken in 2010 show an average increase in muscle depth in the loin of 2.48 mm and a reduction in fat depth of -0.11mm compared with the breed average in 1998. This puts the average Kelsey ram lamb born in 2010 in the top 10% of the breed.

After CT scanning in 2010 ram lamb 18U106447 was awarded the highest EBVs for a Hampshire so far for muscle depth (+5.74mm) and gigot muscularity (+10.46mm).

Kelsey Flock on the BBC

We featured on the BBC television programme, "Jimmy's Food Factory"; where David demonstrated the X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning side of the business with our new ram lambs.

Watch first-hand how it all works via the BBC clip below:

If the clip does not work - you can view it here: BBC One.