Tropical Beef: Is There an Axiomatic Basis to Define the Concept?

Area of Science:

• Animal and Meat Science
• Food Science
• Tropical Agriculture

Background:

• Cattle production in tropical regions represents over half of the global supply.
• Tropical cattle breeds (Bos indicus) and production systems are diverse and largely uncharacterized.
• A clear definition for

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the quality and nutrient composition of meat from cattle raised in tropical environments.
• To determine if a scientific basis exists for defining "tropical beef".
• To characterize meat from Bos indicus and related breeds under tropical conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of animal and meat science studies focused on tropical cattle production.
• Analysis of data on meat quality parameters (e.g., texture, fat content, macronutrients).
• Evaluation of factors influencing meat composition, including breed, age, and environment.

Main Results:

• Tropical beef is typically lean (≤3.6% intramuscular fat) and tough (>46 N), with carcasses often having low yields.
• Macronutrient composition (moisture, protein) is similar to beef from other regions.
• Fatty acid profiles are influenced by breed and production systems; mineral content varies with the environment.

Conclusions:

• A scientific basis exists to define "tropical beef" as a distinct concept.
• Despite being lean and tough, tropical beef is acceptable to consumers and culturally significant.
• Tropical beef plays a vital role in food security in many tropical countries.