Pre- and postnatal study of the carcass growth of sheep 1. Growth of dissectable fat and its chemical components

Abstract

ABSTRACTTwenty-four prenatal (15 female), and 15 postnatal female Romney sheep, comprising a weight range from 3g to 60 kg, were dissected into their major carcass tissues. Adipose tissue was not dissectable from foetuses aged less than 80 days. The growth rates of the dissected adipose tissues and their chemical components, deoxyribonucleic acid, protein, and total lipid subdivided into phospholipid, cholesterol and triglyceride, were compared relative to the growth of the total carcass wet weight. Total side (half-carcass) adipose tissue grew at a rate substantially greater than total carcass weight. The subcutaneous adipose tissue of the forequarter grew at the fastest rate while that from the shoulder, sternum and internal cavity of the forequarter grew slowest, at rates which were not significantly different from that of the carcass. Of the chemical components, triglyceride and cholesterol grew at the fastest rate, deoxyribonucleic acid grew at the slowest rate, and phospholipid and protein grew at intermediate rates; all grew faster than the carcass. Predictions were made of the distribution of triglyceride in the carcass of the sheep at different stages of growth.