title: A relationship between bovine fat colour and fatty acid composition.
abstract: Subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained from pasture-grazed (n = 13) and short-term (70 days) grain-fed (n = 13) cattle. The yellow colour of the adipose tissue was assessed by Minolta b(∗) value readings and by determination of total carotenoids and the two measurements gave a correlation coefficient of 0·79 (P < 0·01). The fatty acid composition of the samples varied with fat colour. As the b(∗) value and the carotenoid content of the fat increased, there was a significant increase in the total percentage of cis mono-unsaturated fatty acids and a decrease in saturated fatty acids (P < 0·01). Consequently, the ratio of cis mono-unsaturated to saturated fatty acids was found to be higher in those samples exhibiting a greater yellow colour.
authors: CSIRO Division of Food Processing, Meat Research Laboratory, PO Box 12, Cannon Hill, Queensland 4170, Australia.
authors: G H
authors: GH
authors: Zhou
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Yang
authors: R K
authors: RK
authors: Tume