FACTORS INFLUENCING FAT COMPOSITION IN MUSCLE AND ADIPOSE-TISSUE OF FARM-ANIMALS

Fat deposition can be characterized chemically by continual accretion of Lipids, primarily in the form of triacylglycerols, and morphologica lly by adipocyte differentiation and hypertrophy. The relative proport ion of nutrients and the fatty acid composition are influenced by nume rous factors including diet, fatness, age/body weight, gender, breed, environmental temperature, depot site, maintenance and hormones. Depos ition of body fat can be modulated by nutritional and hormonal means. The level of food intake and the composition of food regulates the rat e of fatty tissue growth and the composition of lipids. Exogenous endo crine substances have effects on adipose tissue metabolism. For exampl e, porcine somatotropin reduces lipid deposition by decreasing lipogen esis. There is a correlation between the amount of fatty tissue and th e fatty acid composition. The differences between animals of different gender are partially due to the amount of fat deposited. Finally, the potential for dietary variation of Lipid composition in monogastric a nimals is much greater than in ruminants. In young sheep and cattle, t here is a limited possibility to influence fatty acid content. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.