Animal Husbandry and Feed Science ›› 2019, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (10): 70-76.doi: 10.12160/j.issn.1672-5190.2019.10.014

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Research Progress of Yellow Fat in Beef

TIAN Ru-gang1,WANG Xiao1,LI Hui1,ZHAO Meng1,ZHAO Yan-fang2,WEI Xia2,AO Yong-ping3,WANG Le-le4   

  1. 1.Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences,Hohhot 010031,China;
    2.Animal Epidemic Prevention and Control Center of Ewenki Autonomous Banner,Ewenki Autonomous Banner 021123,China;
    3.Animal Husbandry Workstation of Ewenki Autonomous Banner,Ewenki Autonomous Banner 021123,China;
    4.Ulanqab Medical College,Jining District 012000,China
  • Received:2019-07-31 Online:2019-10-30 Published:2019-12-17

Abstract: In recent years, the price of beef has continued to rise in domestic and foreign markets. In China, the gap between market demand and supply is constantly increasing. Fat color is one of the important factors affecting the price and quality of beef. The fat coloring is mainly associated with the deposition of carotenoids in adipose tissue in vivo. Non-genetic and genetic factors are considered to be related to this phenomenon. In this paper, the genetic and non-genetic mechanisms underlining the formation of fat color in beef were discussed. Firstly, the data on effect of beef fat coloring on its price and rating were collected, the reasons involving the formation of yellow fat in beef cattle were analyzed, and the genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the fat color in beef was discussed. Secondly, the metabolism process of β-carotene and two associated genes of BCO2 and BCMO1 were briefly introduced. Finally, the research status of fat was summarized. We hope this review may provide new insights into the further study on fat color in beef.

Key words: beef, fat color, β-carotene, BCO2, BCMO1