Vitamins A and E in Carcass Fat from Japanese Black and F1 Cross Cattle

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the contents of vitamins A and E in carcass fat from Japanese Black and F1 cross cattle, because the method of controlling the amount of vitamin A in feed has been used in the production of expensive beef with high marbling in Japan. We determined the contents of tocopherol and retinol in subcutaneous and perirenal fats for 40 carcasses of Japanese Black and F1 (Holstein×Japanese Black crossed) cattle that had been sent to market from 10 prefectures. In bovine fat, free αtocopherol was present in the greatest amount, the level of γ-tocopherol was about 10% and there was only a trace of δ-tocopherol. The means±standard deviation of α-tocopherol content in subcutaneous and perirenal fats were 0.68±0.33 mg/100 g and 0.54±0.23 mg/100 g, respectively. The means±standard deviation of retinol content in subcutaneous and perirenal fats were 2.9±4.5 µg/100 g and 2.9±5.1 µg/100 g, respectively. Both vitamins differed widely between animals and were present at a relatively low level compared to other reports (α-tocopherol 2.4-5.4 mg/100 g fat tissue and 30-220 µg/100 g muscle tissue). The correlation coefficients between subcutaneous and perirenal fats for retinol and α-tocopherol content were 0.97 (p<0.01) and 0.82 (p<0.01), respectively, which showed high correlation. However, the correlation coefficients between retinol and α-tocopherol contents for subcutaneous and perirenal fats were 0.11 and 0.08, respectively, which showed low correlation. Breed effect was observed in both vitamins. These results indicated that vitamins A and E in fat from Japanese Black and F1 cross cattle under the vitamin A controlling method are present at relatively low levels and feeds need to be supplemented with vitamin E.

The potential for increasing the concentrations of micro-nutrients relevant to human nutrition in meat, milk and eggs

“…While both Dannenberger et al (2007) and Poto et al (2007) reported breed effects on muscle Cu, only Poto et al (2007) found differences in Zn. For vitamins A and E, Irie et al (2006) and Hogberg et al (2002) found that between-breed differences in concentrations in fat, muscle concentrations were unaffected (Hogberg et al 2002).…”

Plasma 8-Isoprostane Concentrations and Adipogenic and Adipokine Gene Expression Patterns in Subcutaneous and Mesenteric Adipose Tissues of Fattening <i>Wagyu</i> Cattle

“…Wagyu cattle are characterized by the ability to accumulate a high amount of adipose tissue [18] and are conventionally fed a low-β-carotene diet to improve the marbling scores [24]. Irie et al [14] reported that the concentration of α-tocopherol and β-carotene in conventional fattening diet is low, and Wagyu cattle farmed under conventional feeding system have a low carcass-tissue-α-tocopherol level. Our previous report also showed that the plasma and tissue concentration of α-tocopherol in the CT group was significantly lower than that in the HV group [40].…”

Surveillance of diarrhea‐causing pathogens in dairy and beef cows in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan from 2002 to 2011

“…Japanese beef cows are usually fed a diet that is low in vitamin A . In particular, no vitamin A is added to their feed during the middle finishing period (16–18 months old) . Many dietary factors, including vitamin A, are essential for gut and immune system development.…”