Studies of fat distribution in the bovine carcass. II. Relationship of intramuscular fat to the quantitative analysis of the skeletal musculature

Abstract

(1) The fat content of individual muscles of a steer was determined. (2) The intramuscular fat content of 'standard muscle groups' of Angus steers was determined and related to total dissected fat and to muscle weight distribution. (3) The partitioning of intramuscular fat among the standard muscle groups was not affected by the percentage of dissectible fat except in two small muscle groups. (4) The regressions of the weights of standard muscle groups on total muscle weight were not significantly different when calculated on muscle weights as dissected, or minus intramuscular fat content. (5) It is concluded that the differences in muscle weight distribution observed during the fattening process are due to factors other than intramuscular fat.