The relationship between plasma leptin concentrations and the distribution of body fat in crossbred steers |
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| Authors: | Tomoya YAMADA Shin-Ichi KAWAKAMI Naoto NAKANISHI |
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| Institution: | Department of Animal Feeding and Management, National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Nishinasuno-machi, Tochigi-ken, Japan |
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| Abstract: | The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between plasma leptin levels and fat distribution in crossbred steers. Twenty-four crossbred steers (Japanese Black × Holstein) were used in this study. Six steers belonged to the growing phase (11 months of age), and 18 steers to the finishing phase (from 21 to 28 months of age). Plasma leptin levels correlated positively with body fat weight ( r = 0.807, P < 0.01), body fat percentage ( r = 0.802, P < 0.01), visceral fat weight ( r = 0.807, P < 0.01), visceral fat percentage ( r = 0.780, P < 0.01), subcutaneous fat weight ( r = 0.745, P < 0.01), subcutaneous fat percentage ( r = 0.734, P < 0.01), intermuscular fat weight ( r = 0.793, P < 0.01), intermuscular fat percentage (0.775, P < 0.01), renal fat weight ( r = 0.694, P < 0.01), renal fat percentage ( r = 0.642, P < 0.01), subcutaneous fat thickness ( r = 0.755, P < 0.01), intermuscular fat thickness ( r = 0.721, P < 0.01), beef marbling score ( r = 0.706, P < 0.01) and the crude fat content of Musculus longissimus thoracis ( r = 0.592, P < 0.01). The location of fat deposits did not affect the correlation values. However, when steers were divided into growing ( n = 6) and finishing ( n = 18) groups, there was no significant correlation between plasma leptin levels and the carcass characteristics related to fat deposition (fat weight, fat percentage, carcass traits) in either group. These results suggest that plasma leptin levels in crossbred steers positively correlate with body fat content and carcass traits when these parameters vary widely. |
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| Keywords: | body fat distribution crossbred steer leptin |
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