Four trials were conducted to determine the applicability of a specific gravity method to estimate total New York-dressed carcass fat. Specific gravity values were compared to abdominal fat pad measurements, and total carcass moisture and fat values. Carcasses were produced over a very wide range of total carcass fat, from 6.5 up to 18.8%, by feeding one of five test diets with calorie-to-protein ratios ranging from 61 to 260. Total carcass fat was estimated on each New York-dressed carcass using specific gravity and abdominal fat pad weight. Each carcass was then ground, homogenized, and analyzed for total moisture and total fat. Results indicated that total carcass moisture had the best correlation with total analyzed carcass fat (r = -.95). Abdominal fat pad percent and weight resulted in the next best correlations (r = +.92 and r = +76, respectively), while specific gravity resulted in the poorest correlation (r = -.73). The low correlation value for specific gravity is thought to be due primarily to entrapped air in the lungs and air sacs of the New York-dressed carcasses. (