Slip points of subcutaneous adipose tissue lipids do not predict beef marbling score or percent intramuscular lipid

Abstract

We hypothesized that slip points of subcutaneous (s.c.) adipose tissue lipids would predict USDA beef marbling scores or percent intramuscular lipid (%IML). M. longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and s.c. adipose tissue from 79 feedlot-finished Angus steers were analyzed for lipid slip point, %IML, and fatty acid composition. The s.c. monounsaturated:saturated fatty acid (MUFA:SFA) ratio and s.c. lipid slip points were highly correlated (R2 = 0.557; P < 0.001), but the correlation between s.c. lipid slip point and LD lipid MUFA:SFA ratio was low (R2 = 0.112; P < 0.01). Similarly, there was a low correlation between LD lipid slip point and s.c. lipid slip point (R2 = 0.185; P < 0.001). Neither USDA marbling score nor %IML were correlated with s.c. lipid slip point (R2 = 0.001; P > 0.05). These data indicate s.c. adipose tissue lipid slip point did not predict USDA marbling scores or %IML in the conventionally fed Angus steers of this study.