Energetics of carcass muscle and fat growth of composite types at different harvest times

• Author / Creator

  Welegedara, Nilusha P. Y.

• The energy requirements to produce muscle and fat in five beef composites relative to harvest age were determined. In Exp. 1, the proportion of muscle in the whole carcass decreased and fat increased with harvest age (P < 0.01). Based on energy apportioned to muscle and fat, to obtain lean beef, the optimum time to harvest M1 is 399 d, M2 is 399 d or 427 d, M3 is 372 d or 399 d, M4 is 456 d and TX > 456 d. Small framed composites deposited energy fat subcutaneously and large framed intermuscularly. In Exp. 2, the energy used to deposit muscle and fat in the primal cuts was determined. The proportion of fat energy began to exceed 50% of the total energy at different ages in primal cuts of composites. The ratio of energy required for muscle: fat was highest in the round and lowest in the flank.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Harvest times
  • Muscles
  • Fat
  • Energetics

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3N103

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.