The composition, fat distribution and yield of carcass beef from steers and heifers when entire, spayed, pregnant or fitted with an intravaginal device

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (123) ◽  
pp. 354 ◽  
Author(s):  
GR Saul

An experiment at the Pastoral Research Institute, Hamilton, compared the carcass composition and yield of one group of 14 Hereford steers, and four groups of 14 heifers, either spayed, fitted with an intravaginal device, pregnant or entire. The animals were slaughtered at 18 or 22 months when average fat depths and carcass weights were 5.8 mm and 188.0 kg, or 7.5 mm and 219 kg, respectively. When compared at a constant carcass weight, the steers generally had heavier boneless primary cuts, with less fat than the heifers (P<0. 05). Steers also had less channel and kidney fat, subcutaneous fat, intra-muscular and inter-muscular fat and consequently less total fat than heifers (P<.05) . Differences between heifer groups were generally small and non-significant. When compared at the same age, differences between heifers and steers in carcass fatness were generally not significant (P>0. 05) but trends similar to those described above were apparent. Estimated yield of carcass beef (muscle plus saleable fat) was affected by sex, fat depth and level of fat specified in the carcass beef. When lean carcass beef (1 5% fat) was specified, steers yielded about 3.8% more than heifers at the same weight and fat depth, but when fatter carcass beef (20% fat) was specified, this difference was reduced to about 3.2%. Removal of channel and kidney fat from the carcass brought the yield of steer and heifer carcasses to within about 3.0% of each other.

1980 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Wood ◽  
H. J. H. MacFie ◽  
R. W. Pomeroy ◽  
D. J. Twinn

ABSTRACTIn order to investigate the effects of type of breed on carcass composition, an examination was made of 361 lambs from four breeds: Clun Forest and Colbred (termed ewe breeds); and Suffolk and Hampshire (termed ram breeds). The animals were in four carcass weight groups averaging 15, 17, 19 and 21 kg.Percentage subcutaneous fat was influenced more by carcass weight than by breed, whereas both carcass weight and breed had similar effects on percentage lean. At the mean carcass weight of 18 kg, Colbreds, the leanest breed, had a similar value for percentage lean (about 57 % of carcass tissue weight) to the carcasses over all breeds weighing 15 kg; and Cluns, the fattest breed, had a similar value (about 54%) to those weighing 21 kg. Since the ram breeds were intermediate in composition between the two ewe breeds there was no effect of type of breed on carcass composition. The breed differences were related to eventual mature size and to the stage of maturity at each carcass weight, as judged by body length and bone weight measurements. However, Colbreds were bigger and leaner than published estimates of their mature weight suggested. Humerus weight was a good predictor of lean or total fat weight, explaining 83 % ofvariation when used as a predictor along with carcass weight.Type of breed had a marked effect on internal fat deposition, the ewe breeds having heavier weights of both kidney knob and channel fat (KKCF) and caul fat (omental fat) than the ram breeds; and on the length oflimb bones, the ewe breeds having longer but thinner bones than the ram breeds. The order of the relative growth of the tissues and fat depots was: subcutaneous fat > caul fat > KKCF > intermuscular fat > lean > bone. Therefore, the internal fat depots were later maturing than intermuscular fat.The percentage of prime cuts in the carcass was not affected by carcass weight. Colbreds had significantly lower values than the other breeds. Suffolks had the lowest lean to bone ratio.


1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
HR Johnson ◽  
RM Butterfield ◽  
WJ Pryor

(1) Total side fat (total dissected fat plus intramuscular fat) was examined in 23 bovine carcasses in four weight ranges. (2) The partition of fatty tissue between five depots revealed relative rises in intermuscular and subcutaneous depots and relative declines in intramuscular, kidney, and channel fats with increasing carcass weight. (3) Intermuscular and subcutaneous fats reached high levels relative to total side fat at different stages. Intermuscular fat rose quickly to c. 45.0% of total side fat at about 2.0 kg total side fat (c. 56 days) whilst subcutaneous fat reached 29.0% at c. 13.0 kg total side fat (c. 270 days). (4) Intramuscular fat did not show an increase relative to total side fat as carcass weight increased. Its contribution to total fat was greatest in the lightest sides and reached a minimal value at c. 13.0 kg total side fat, which it maintained thereafter. (5) All regressions of the weight of five fat depots on total side fat were highly significant (P < 0.01). (6) There appears to be a need for precise definition of fat distribution patterns in breeds and strains of cattle in order that carcasses of optimum composition might be produced.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 368-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Z. Adamczewski ◽  
C. C. Gates ◽  
R. J. Hudson

Twenty-seven barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) carcass sides were dissected on Coats Island, Northwest Territories, Canada, to calibrate indices of dissectible fat, muscle, and bone. Carcass muscle weight was accurately predicted from weight of the gastrocnemius muscle (In (carcass muscle, kg) = −2.791 + 1.071 In (gastrocnemius, g); r2 = 0.98), and carcass bone weight was accurately predicted from weight of the femur (In (carcass bone, kg) = −4.878 + 1.137 In (femur, g); r2 = 0.98). These allometric relationships held for calves and adults and for animals gaining and losing fat. The subcutaneous, intermuscular, pelvic, and internal omental and perirenal fat depots were weighed for each of 23 animals. The intermuscular and subcutaneous depots were largest and subcutaneous fat increasingly predominated at advanced fatness. Total dissectible fat in the five depots was most accurately predicted from depth of back fat and weight of kidney fat (dissectible fat (kg) = −0.178 + 1.058 depth of back fat (cm) + 24.147 kidney fat (kg); r2 = 0.98) and the regression was unaffected by age or condition. Comparison with similar studies suggests that such within-tissue relationships may be valid for all subspecies of Rangifer.


1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Wood ◽  
H. J. H. MacFie

ABSTRACTFat thickness and measurements of the m. longissimus (‘eye’ muscle) were taken at the last rib in 350 lambs' carcasses which were fully dissected. The lambs were from two ewe breeds, Clun and Colbred, and two ram breeds, Suffolk and Hampshire, and the carcass weight range was 15 to 21kg. Castrated males and females, and singles and twins, were evenly represented.Rib fat thickness (J) was a slightly more precise predictor of the weights of lean, subcutaneous fat and subcutaneous plus intermuscular fat, when used in a multiple regression equation along with carcass weight, than fat thickness directly above the greatest depth of the ‘eye’ muscle (C). Both of these were more precise predictors than ‘eye’ muscle width and depth. Accounting for breed, either by allowing for different intercepts or completely different regression lines, did increase the proportion of variation in tissue weights explained by carcass weight and J or C, but to a small and, it was considered, commercially unimportant extent. This was despite differences in conformation between the breeds, reflected in this work by smaller ‘eye’ muscles in the ewe than the ram breeds and also in maturity, which might have been expected to influence tissue, including fat, distribution.The results indicate that breed differences in partition and distribution within and between the carcass fat depots in sheep are smaller than those between the carcass and intra-abdominal fat depots.


2012 ◽  
Vol 166 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Frederiksen ◽  
K Højlund ◽  
D M Hougaard ◽  
T H Mosbech ◽  
R Larsen ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTestosterone therapy increases lean body mass and decreases total fat mass in aging men with low normal testosterone levels. The major challenge is, however, to determine whether the metabolic consequences of testosterone therapy are overall positive. We have previously reported that 6-month testosterone therapy did not improve insulin sensitivity. We investigated the effect of testosterone therapy on regional body fat distribution and on the levels of the insulin-sensitizing adipokine, adiponectin, in aging men with low normal bioavailable testosterone levels.DesignA randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study on 6-month testosterone treatment (gel) in 38 men, aged 60–78 years, with bioavailable testosterone <7.3 nmol/l, and a waist circumference >94 cm.MethodsCentral fat mass (CFM) and lower extremity fat mass (LEFM) were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and thigh subcutaneous fat area (TFA) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Adiponectin levels were measured using an in-house immunofluorometric assay. Coefficients (b) represent the placebo-controlled mean effect of intervention.ResultsLEFM was decreased (b=−0.47 kg, P=0.07) while CFM did not change significantly (b=−0.66 kg, P=0.10) during testosterone therapy. SAT (b=−3.0%, P=0.018) and TFA (b=−3.0%, P<0.001) decreased, while VAT (b=1.0%, P=0.54) remained unchanged. Adiponectin levels decreased during testosterone therapy (b=−1.3 mg/l, P=0.001).ConclusionTestosterone therapy decreased subcutaneous fat on the abdomen and lower extremities, but visceral fat was unchanged. Moreover, adiponectin levels were significantly decreased during testosterone therapy.


1979 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1207 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Thompson ◽  
KD Atkins ◽  
AR Gilmour

Half-carcasses of 108 wether and ewe lambs from six genotypes, slaughtered at 34, 44 and 54 kg liveweight, were dissected into subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, muscle, bone and connective tissue. The six genotypes were the progeny of Dorset Horn and Border Leicester rams mated to Merino, Corriedale and Border Leicester x Merino first-cross ewes. As carcass weight increased, the proportion of subcutaneous and intermuscular fat increased (b > 1 ; P < 0.05) and the proportion of muscle and bone decreased (b < 1; P < 0.05). Lambs sired by Border Leicester rams had more subcutaneous fat (12.7%), more intermuscular fat (7.6%) and more bone (5.7%) than lambs sired by Dorset Horn rams at the same carcass weight (P< 0.05). Similarly, lambs sired by Dorset Horn rams had more muscle (7.2%) than lambs sired by Border Leicester rams at the same carcass weight (P < 0.05). Breed of dam had no effect on carcass composition. Wether lambs had a greater proportion of bone (5.7%) than ewe lambs at the same carcass weight (P < 0.05). The breed of sire effect and the lack of a breed of dam effect on carcass composition, in conjunction with estimated mature weights for the breeds, suggest possible differences between sire and dam breeds in the partitioning of fat between the carcass and non-carcass depots. ____________________ *Part I, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 30: 1197 (1979).


2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 311-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Skapetas ◽  
E. Sinapis ◽  
J. Hatziminaouglou ◽  
A. Karalazos ◽  
J. Katanos

Forty male lambs of the mountain Greek breed were used to evaluate the effect of age at slaughter on carcass characteristics and composition. The slaughter of lambs was carried out at the age of 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days. The slaughter procedure, carcass dissection and carcass composition were realized according to the standard method of CIHEAM-AGRIMED programme. The results of this work showed that the lambs of different age groups did not differ in dressing percentage significantly. The proportion of muscles showed a tendency of increase with the increasing slaughter age but the differences were not significant. The proportion of total fat in carcass increased with the increasing slaughter age from 20.84 to 23.59% for the age group of 30 and 90 days, respectively (P &lt; 0.05). On the contrary, as the age at slaughter increased, the proportion of bones decreased (P &lt; 0.05). Subcutaneous, intermuscular, perinephric and pelvic fats increased with the slaughter age, but only the subcutaneous fat was influenced significantly (P &lt; 0.05). Among the different commercial cuts proportions of long leg, first 5 ribs and shoulder decreased, while those of last 8 ribs-loin and breast-flank increased (P &lt; 0.05). The overall results suggest that the slaughter age of lambs of the mountain Greek breed should be increased from the present ~45 days to more advanced age of 75 or 90 days in order to improve the farmers&rsquo; profits without serious negative effects on the quality of carcasses or meat of lambs. &nbsp; &nbsp;


1974 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Murray ◽  
N. M. Tulloh ◽  
W. H. Winter

SUMMARYA study was made of the effect on body composition of growing Angus steers from 300 to 440 kg at three different rates. The rates were: High (H) 0·8 kg/day, Low (L) 0·4 kg/day and High-Maintenance (HM) 0·8 kg/day followed by a period during which body weight was maintained constant.The animals were individually penned and the different growth rates were achieved by controlling intakes of a pelleted feed. Two animals (part of H treatment) were killed at 300 kg and the remaining 27 animals (nine in each treatment), were killed at common body weights of 330, 363, 400 and 440 kg.Analyses of covariance were used to compare linear regression equations representing results from each treatment. In order to do this, the logarithmic transformation of the allometric equation, y = axb, was used. As a proportion of empty body weight (EBW), hot carcass weight (HCW) was greater in both the HM and L groups than in the H group, indicating a greater offal component of EBW in the H animals. The loss in weight of the dressed carcass during storage at 2 °C for 24 h was similar in all three groups and was 0·98% of HCW. The proportions of HCW in the fore- and hind-quarters were similar in each group.At the same dissected side weight (DSW), the weight of bone was significantly greater in both the HM and L groups than in the H group indicating that bone development was related to both age and carcass weight. There were no significant differences between the groups in the proportions of either muscle or total fat. However, the proportion of kidney and channel fat in the H group was greater than in the HM and L groups and the proportion of subcutaneous fat was also greater in the H than in the L group. The amount of connective tissue in the three groups followed, in general, group differences in bone. Analyses of the dissected components of the separate fore- and hind-quarters showed that the difference between the H and L groups in the proportion of subcutaneous fat in the DSW was due to a relatively greater development of this fat in the fore-quarter of the H animals.No differences were found between treatments in the proportion of ‘expensive muscles’ relative to total side muscle (TSM). However, there were treatment effects on the proportions of TSM formed by certain groups of muscles; two examples are: the proportion of group 4 muscles (abdominal muscles) was higher and the proportion of group 6 muscles (distal muscles of the fore-leg) was lower in the H than in the L treatments. Bone weight distribution was similar in all treatments.There were differences between the H and HM groups in the relative growth ratios for all fat tissues (subcutaneous, intermuscular and kidney and channel fat) compared with total side fat. However, in the H and L groups, the relative growth ratios for corresponding fat categories were similar. The weight of kidney and channel fat in the left side of the carcass was significantly greater than in the right side of the carcass in all treatments.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. M. Jones ◽  
W. M. Robertson ◽  
M. A. Price ◽  
T. Coupland

A total of 281 lamb carcasses covering three weight groups (18–22.9, 23–25.9 and 26–30 kg) and fatness (< 3 mm, 3–5 mm and > 5 mm) were used to determine the usefulness of several carcass measurements for predicting saleable meat yield. Carcasses were measured for fat and muscle depth, 3–4 cm from the mid-line between the 10th and 11th ribs, 12th and 13th ribs and immediately adjacent to the 13th rib using a Hennessey Grading Probe. This technique also determined total tissue depth at 11 cm from the mid-line between the 10th and 11th and 12th and 13th ribs. The depth of tissues over the 12th rib 11 cm from the mid-line was measured with a ruler. Carcasses were also visually assessed for muscle development (conformation score) on a 5-point scale (1 = thinly fleshed; 5 = thickly fleshed). All carcasses were fabricated into primal cuts which were trimmed to 5 mm of fat and deboned to provide an estimate of saleable meat yield. Ewe lamb carcasses had a higher proportion of kidney fat than wethers in all weight and fat groups (which ranged from 2.6 to 17.9 g kg−1 carcass weight). Saleable meat yield decreased as carcasses became fatter, whereas weight group had little influence on saleable meat yield within a fat group. Ewe lamb carcasses had lower saleable meat yields than wether lamb carcasses, mainly because of their higher amounts of kidney fat. A ruler measurement of tissue depth over the 12th rib combined with carcass conformation score provided the most precise prediction (R2 = 0 61; RSD 17.1) of saleable meat yield. It was concluded that a simple manual system based on these two measurements provided an adequate prediction of saleable meat yield. The accuracy of the procedure would be increased by excluding kidney fat from carcass weight for the prediction of saleable meat yield. Key words: Lamb, carcass, composition, probe, fat, grade


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. M. JONES

Sixteen ewes and 22 rams (crossbred lambs) were grouped by sex and fed a diet based on grain and hay. All animals were slaughtered over a 4-wk period to give a range of slaughter weights (24.0–61.8 kg). After slaughter, one side of each carcass was broken into the four primal wholesale cuts (leg, loin, rib, shoulder) with the rest of the carcass discarded as trim. The four wholesale cuts were separated into fat (subcutaneous fat (SF), intermuscular fat (IF), kidney fat (KF) and body cavity fat (BCF)) muscle and bone. Depot fat accretion in the carcass was investigated using the allometric equation with side weight and side fat weight as the independent variables. Total rate of fat deposition relative to side weight was higher in ewes than rams, and ewes had more total fat than rams when comparisons were made at the same side weight (10.03 kg). However, growth coefficients for depot fat accumulation in a side and in the wholesale cuts relative to side fat were homogeneous between sexes indicating that sex did not affect the relative accumulation of fat. SF, however, had the highest growth coefficient (1.23) and IF the lowest (0.74). At equal total side fat ewes had significantly more IF in a side than rams, but overall the differences in the distribution of fat in the wholesale cuts were minor and commercially unimportant. It was concluded that the ewes had a faster rate of fat deposition than rams but both sexes followed the same pattern of differential fat accumulation, and that the distribution of fat was dependent mainly on the total amount of fat in a carcass. Key words: Fat, lambs, carcass


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