The relationship between serum vitamin A level of Japanese black cattle and light reflection on the pupil

In order to make better beef with high marbling score, breeders need to control serum vitamin A level from 30 IU/dl to 50 IU/dl during the middle fatting phase. Today, serum vitamin A level of beef cattle is usually measured by blood assay. However, blood assay has some disadvantages such as it is cost and time-consuming. For establishment of new method for prediction of serum vitamin A level, this study examined the relationship between serum vitamin A level of Japanese black cattle and the light reflection on pupil. Light reflection measurement was carried out by image processing. This study showed that B in RGB components around halation area on cattle's pupil of color images has possibility of correlation with serum vitamin A level.