Estimation of the intramuscular fat content of m. longissimus thoracis in crossbred beef cattle based on live animal measurements

Zenon Nogalski; Paulina Pogorzelska-Przybyłek; Ireneusz Białobrzewski; Monika Modzelewska-Kapituła; Monika Sobczuk-Szul; Cezary Purwin

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.11.026

Estimation of the intramuscular fat content of m. longissimus thoracis in crossbred beef cattle based on live animal measurements

Meat Sci. 2017 Mar:125:121-127. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.11.026. Epub 2016 Dec 6.

Authors

Zenon Nogalski¹, Paulina Pogorzelska-Przybyłek², Ireneusz Białobrzewski³, Monika Modzelewska-Kapituła⁴, Monika Sobczuk-Szul¹, Cezary Purwin⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cattle Breeding and Milk Quality Evaluation, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 5/137, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
² Department of Cattle Breeding and Milk Quality Evaluation, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 5/137, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: paulina.pogorzelska@uwm.edu.pl.
³ Department of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 2, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
⁴ Department of Industrial Commodity, Basics of Techniques and Energy Management, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Pl. Cieszyński 1, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
⁵ Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Sciences, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Oczapowskiego 5/248, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.

PMID: 27940421
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.11.026

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of live animal measurements in estimating the intramuscular fat (IMF) content of m. longissimus thoracis (MLT) in beef cattle. Live animal measurements were performed in young crossbred bulls (96) and steers (59), the offspring of Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows and beef bulls (Limousin, Hereford and Charolais), at the end of the fattening period. The content of intramuscular fat was determined in samples from MLT by chemical analyses. A prediction model was developed by stepwise regression. In the validation model, the values of R²=0.74, RMSE=0.37% were determined. The results indicate that selected biometric (chest width, chest girth) ultrasound measurements (thickness of subcutaneous rump and back fat) and selected blood parameters (triglycerides) can be used to predict IMF content with satisfactory precision and accuracy. The analyzed parameters could constitute a valuable tool in the process of selecting beef quality traits and determining the slaughter value of young beef cattle.

Keywords: Beef; Blood parameters; Intramuscular fat; Selection; Ultrasound.

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue / chemistry*
Animals
Body Composition
Cattle
Dietary Fats / analysis*
Female
Food Quality
Linear Models
Male
Models, Theoretical
Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry*
Phenotype
Red Meat / analysis*

Substances

Dietary Fats