Evolution of various adipose deposits in growing rabbits and sheep

Abstract

SUMMARYThe importance of the different adipose deposits with respect to the total dissectible fatty tissue in growing rabbits and lambs was studied. Development of the subcutaneous fat in the lamb is late and occurs after birth. In contrast, the internal types of fat, such as the perirenal and pelvic fat, represent at birth an important percentage of the total fat. They tend to lose part of their relative importance between 0 and 250 days after birth. In the rabbit the situation concerning the development of subcutaneous and perirenal fat is inverted. For both species the intermuscular fat remains almost constant in relative importance during the whole growth period.After the period required for the establishment of the different fat deposits, we could observe in lambs, and to a smaller degree in rabbits, a relative growth which tends to become isometric with regard to the total fat deposits.