Ultrasonographic evaluation of back and hip measurements and their relationship to lipid profile in Brahman cattle

Objective. To establish the relationship between ultrasonographic measurements of muscle and fat in back and hip of Brahman cattle fed for cattle shows and their association with serum levels of total cholesterol (CT), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), β-hydroxybutirate (β-OHB), and free thyroxin (T4). Materials and methods. One hundred and eighty animals were purposively selected. The age varied between 9 and 24 months. Ultrasonographic measurements from the loin eye area (AOL), depth of gluteus medius (PMGM), backfat thickness (EGD), and hip fat thickness (EGA) from each animal were recorded. Blood serum samples were collected to determine total cholesterol (CT), lipoproteins (HDL and LDL), triglycerides (TG), and thyroxin (T4). Correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted. Results. Gender and weight were related to muscle and fat coverage measurements in the backs and hips of the animals. Differences in serum metabolites were also related to gender and weight. Although there was a significant correlation between the ultrasonographic measurements and serum metabolites, the associations were weak. Conclusions. The relationship between ultrasonographic measurements of back and hip with serum lipid metabolites is weak, which indicates that those metabolites are not suitable to predict the productive performance of Brahman cattle fed for cattle shows.