Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T09:25:11.692Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Changes in body composition relative to weight and maturity of large and small strains of australian merino rams. 4. Fat depots and bones

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. M. Butterfield  and
J. M. Thompson
R. M. Butterfield
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia
J. M. Thompson
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia
Get access

Abstract

Maturing patterns are established for the weight of bones relative to the weight of total bone and for the weight of fat depots relative to the weight of total body fat in two strains of Merino rams of different mature size. The maturing coefficients for all bone and fat depots are tabulated.

In the mature animals the partitioning of fat in each strain was similar, except for scrotal fat which was more abundant in the smaller strain. The maturity patterns of the depots were not different for the strains and also not different from the pattern of total fat, except in the case of scrotal fat. Accordingly, comparisons of the partitioning of fat were similar at equal maturity to the comparisons made at equal weight.

The distribution of weight among the bones was similar at maturity for both strains. However, unlike the fat depots, the individual bones had maturity coefficients which were mostly different from that of total bone. The limb bones, with the exception of the scapula, were early maturing relative to total bone. Accordingly, when compared at equal weight, limb bones, except the scapula, were a higher proportion of total bone weight in the larger strain and the differences between the strains were reduced when compared at equal maturity.

A summary of conclusions from this series of papers shows that tissues and organs had similar maturity coefficients in both strains of rams, and that stage of maturity was important in comparisons of proportions of tissues which have maturity coefficients which differed greatly from 1·0, but of little consequence where the maturity coefficient was close to 1·0

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , December 1983 , pp. 423 - 431
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1983

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

REFERENCES

Berg, R. T., Andersen, B. B. and Liboriussen, T. 1978. Growth of bovine tissues. 4. Genetic influences on patterns of bone growth and distribution in young bulls. Anim. Prod. 27: 71–77.Google Scholar
Butler-Hogg, B. W. 1982. Fat partitioning in Clun and Southdown lambs. Anim. Prod. 34: 377 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M., Griffiths, D. A., Thompson, J. M., Zamora, J. and James, A. M. 1983a. Changes in body composition relative to weight and maturity in large and small strains of Australian Merino rams. 1. Muscle, bone and fat. Anim. Prod. 36: 29–37.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. and May, N. D. S. 1966. Muscles of the Ox. University of Queensland Press. Brisbane.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M., Zamora, J., James, A. M., Thompson, J. M. and Reddacliff, K. J. 1983b. Changes in body composition relative to weight and maturity in large and small strains of Australian Merino rams. 3. Body organs. Anim. Prod. 36: 461–470.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M., Zamora, J., James, A. M., Thompson, J. M. and Williams, Jean. 1983c. Changes in body composition relative to weight and maturity in large and small strains of Australian Merino rams. 2. Individual muscles and muscle groups. Anim. Prod. 36: 165–174.Google Scholar
Cianzio, D. S., Topel, D. G., Whitehurst, G. B., Beitz, D. C. and Self, H. L. 1982. Adipose tissue growth in cattle representing two frame sizes: distribution among depots. J. Anim. Sci. 55: 305–312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fourie, P. D., Kirton, A. H. and Jury, K. E. 1970. Growth and development of sheep. II. Effect of breed and sex on the growth and carcass composition of the Southdown and Romney and their cross. N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 13: 753–770.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, S. D. M., Price, M. A. and Berg, R. T. 1978. Effects of breed and sex on the relative growth and distribution of bone in cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 58: 157–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kempster, A. J. 1980. Fat partition and distribution in the carcasses of cattle, sheep and pigs: a review. Meat Sci. 5: 83–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kempster, A. J., Cuthbertson, A. and Jones, D. W. 1977. Bone weight distribution in steer carcasses of different breeds and crosses, and the prediction of carcass bone content from the bone content of joints. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 89: 675–682.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, J. M., Atkins, K. D. and Gilmour, A. R. 1979. Carcass characteristics of heavyweight crossbred lambs. III. Distribution of subcutaneous fat. intermuscular fat. muscle and bone in the carcass. Aust. J. agric. Res. 30: 1215–1221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, J. D., MacFie, H. J. H., Pomeroy, R. W. and Twinn, D. J. 1980. Carcass composition in four sheep breeds: the importance of type of breed and stage of maturity. Anim. Prod. 30: 135–152.Google Scholar