Plasma carotenoid concentrations early in life can be used as a selection criterion for fat colour in heifers

Title Plasma carotenoid concentrations early in life can be used as a selection criterion for fat colour in heifers
Publication Type Conference Paper
Year of Publication 1996
Authors AF, Death , TW Knight , RW Purchas , ST Morris , and DL Burnham
Conference Name Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production
Date Published Jan
Publisher New Zealand Society of Animal Production
Abstract

Plasma carotenoid (PC) concentrations were measured at 2-5 month intervals in 20 Hereford x Jersey (HJ) and 20 Hereford x Friesian (HF) once bred heifers from 10-35 months-of-age. Half of the heifers were slaughtered at 31 months-of-age and the rest at 35 months-of-age. The colour of the subcutaneous and intermuscular fat was measured using a chromameter and c* values were calculated. Subcutaneous and intermuscular fats in HJ heifers were yellower (i.e. they had higher c* values) than in HF heifers. Regression equations that included breed, date of slaughter and PC concentrations at 10-12 months-of-age, accounted for 56% of the variation in c* values for subcutaneous fat and 40% of the variation in c* values for intermuscular fat (P<0.001).

URL http://www.nzsap.org/proceedings/1996/plasma-carotenoid-concentrations-early-life-can-be-used-selection-criterion-fat
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