Institution: | aLaboratory of Animal Science, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Matsue-shi, 690-8504, Japan bCentral Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, 3120, Philippines cPhilippine Carabao Center at University of the Philippines Los Banos B.M. Gonzalez Animal Science Complex UPLB, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines dUnité de Recherche sur les Herbivores, Equipe Tissu Adipeux et Lipides du Lait, INRA, Theix, 63122 St-Genès-Champanelle, France ePhilippine Carabao Center, Science city of Munoz, 3120, Philippines fInstitute of Agriculture and Forestry, Tsukuba University, Tsukuba-shi, 305-8572, Japan |
Abstract: | Buffalo meat is tasty and indistinguishable from beef, and has been described as being lean and low in cholesterol in comparison with beef. However, little is known about the plasma hormone and metabolic profiles related to fat metabolism in buffalo, and how their levels are affected by species and sex. In this study levels of plasma hormones and metabolites were compared between species and sexes. Ten growing crossbred Brahman cattle and ten growing crossbred buffaloes (five males and five females in each), with an average age of 22 months were used. The animals were fed on an experimental diet composed of corn silage, brewer's spent grain and a concentrate mixture at a 50:30:20 ratio on a dry matter basis during a fattening period of 6 months. Blood samples were collected every month during the experiment, and were analysed for plasma leptin, insulin, glucose, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations. Plasma leptin, insulin and TC concentrations increased during fattening and were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cattle than in buffaloes. These concentrations in cattle showed a big difference between sexes in comparison with buffaloes, and were higher in females than in males. The plasma glucose and TG concentrations did not differ (P > 0.05) between cattle and buffaloes. The crude fat content of longissimus muscle was significantly higher in cattle than in buffalo. Differences in body fat deposition seem to have an influence on plasma leptin, insulin and TC concentrations differently between cattle and buffaloes. |