Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T05:08:53.259Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Chemical fat in the musculature of the sheep carcass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

W. J. Pryor  and
G. H. Warren
W. J. Pryor
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, Queensland University and Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Sydney University
G. H. Warren
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, Queensland University and Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Sydney University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Forty merino sheep of mixed ages including lambs, ewes, wethers and rams were slaughtered and dissected. The chemical fat content often muscle groups in each sheep was measured directly and the mean value for the musculature of the whole carcass calculated.

A characteristic pattern of chemical fat deposition was shown with the intercostal muscle group and the abdominal group being consistently highest in fat content, the shin and hind-limb muscles lowest and other intermediate. The pattern of growth of intramviscular fat was consistent with differences in activity of the muscle groups in the maintenance of posture. It was postulated that variations in fat content in muscle groups are affected by differences in blood flow.

A highly significant relationship was established between dry matter and chemical fat content for each of the muscle groups. The regression was characteristic for each muscle group, and differed for most groups.

Regressions between individual muscle group fat and that of total musculature fat revealed that no group was consistently the best predictor of the total carcass musculature fat though there was considerable difference between the groups. It was concluded there is no group which could be used for prediction purposes commercially.

In a group of 14 other ewes subjected to weight loss up to 30%, and half of which were implanted with resorcylic acid lactone, no discernible effects on muscle group fat content were revealed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 80 , Issue 2 , April 1973 , pp. 219 - 224
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Antal, J. (1966). Changes in blood flow during exercise in unanaesthetized animals. Circulation in Skeletal Muscle. Ed. Hudlicka, O.. Oxford: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Basmajian, J. V. (1967). Muscles Alive. Their Functions Revealed by Electromyography, p. 148, 2nd edition. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.Google Scholar
Brännäng, E. (1966). Studies on monozygous cattle twins. LantbrHogsk. Annlr, 32, 329.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. (1963 a). A study of the musculature of the steer carcass. Ph.D. Thesis, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. (1963 b). Estimation of carcass composition: The anatomical approach. 4–1. Symposium on Carcass Composition and Appraisal of Meat Animals. Ed. Tribe, D. E.. East Melbourne: C.S.I.R.O.Google Scholar
Callow, E. H. (1947). Comparative studies of meat. I. The chemical composition of fatty and muscular tissue in relation to its growth and fattening. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 37, 113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callow, E. H. (1948). Comparative studies of meat. II. The changes in carcass during growth and fattening and their relation to the chemical composition of the fatty and muscular tissues. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 38, 174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, E. R. & Clark, E. L. (1940). Microscopic studies of the new formation of fat in living adult rabbits. Am. J. Anat. 67, 255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fourie, P. D. (1962). Growth and development of sheep. A carcass dissection technique. N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 5, 190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, E. R., Butterfield, R. M. & Pryor, W. J. (1973). Studies of fat distribution in the bovine carcass. I. The partition of fatty tissues between depots. Aust. J. agric. Res. 23, 381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, E. R., Pryor, W. J. & Butterfield, R. M. (1973). Studies of fat distribution in the bovine carcass. II. Relationship of intramuscular fat to the quantitative analysis of the skeletal musculature. Aust. J. agric. Res.(in Press).Google Scholar
Lohse, C. L., Moss, F. P. & Butterfield, R. M. (1971). Growth patterns of muscles of Merino sheep from birth to 517 days. Anim. Prod. 13, 117.Google Scholar
Lohse, C. L., Pryor, W. J., & Butterfield, R. M. (1973). The use of growth patterns of muscle measurements, chemical data, energy and muscle weights to differentiate between normal and recovering muscle. Aust. J. agric. Res.(in Press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McMeekan, C. P. (1940). Growth and development in the pig with special reference to carcass quality characters. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 30, 276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pryor, W. J. & Butterfield, R. M. (1967). Gross energetic efficiency of the edible carcass tissue growth of calves. Aust. vet. J. 43, 145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, A. J. F., Doney, J. M. & Gunn, R. G. (1971). The distribution of chemical fat in the bodies of Scottish Blackface ewes. Anim. Prod. 13, 503.Google Scholar
Walker, D. E. (1961). A study of the growth and development of Jersey cattle. N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 4, 99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, P. N. (1954). Growth analysis of the domestic fowl. II. Effect of plane of nutrition on carcass composition. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 44, 67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar