Anatomical and joint dissection studies of tissue weight distribution in buffalo bulls and cows: Part 2-Fat partition...

Six buffalo bulls and six buffalo cows were slaughtered between, respectively, 430-560 kg and 405-585 kg liveweight. Sex differences in fat partition and distribution were examined using one-way analyses of covariance on data converted to logarithms. Buffalo bulls and cows showed no significant differences in the partition of total body fat between the carcass and the offal or between the different components of the total carcass fat (subcutaneous, SCF; intermuscular, IMF; kidney and channel, KCF) and those of the total offal fat (caul; mesenteric; heart). In addition, no significant differences between bulls and cows were detected with respect to the partition of the entire side fat between its component depots (SCF; IMF; KCF) and the partition of the dissected side fat (DSF) between its elements (SCF; IMF). Bulls did not differ significantly from cows in the distribution of IMF between cuts. However, bulls had more of their total SCF in the buttock cuts (P < 0·05) and pistol (P < 0·001) and BLRC (P < 0·01) expensive cut groups, while cows had more weight of total SCF contained in the flank (P < 0·05) and the 7th-10th rib (P < 0·01). The weight of total DSF was greater (P < 0·05) in the buttocks of bulls and (P < 0·01) in the flanks of cows.