The influence of age and gender on emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) fat

Studies were carried out to determine the influence of age and sex on two types of fat (back fat and abdominal fat) in the emu, as these are factors that influence the composition of animal tissues. The material involved 26 emus at the age 1 (6 males), 3 (6 males) and 15 years (8 females and 6 males), kept on the same farm and fed the feed of the same nutritional value. The basic chemical composition, cholesterol and mineral content, as well as fatty acid profile of back and abdominal fat of emu were determined. Abdominal fat was characterized by higher content of fat and ash, as well as Mn and Ba. Back fat, on the other hand, showed a higher level of protein, cholesterol, C16:1 and the elements K, P, Si, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Se and Cu. With age, regardless of the type of fat tissue, fat content decreased and water content increased. The highest content of protein, ash, cholesterol, some fatty acids (C18:0, C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c), generally higher content of MUFA, PUFA and the elements K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Pb, Se, Cr, Cd, were found in the fatty tissue of 15-year-old emus. Sex did influence the content of Si, Ca, Cu, Sr, which was higher in the fatty tissue of males. The composition of emu storage fat is determined by factors such as age, sex and the location of the fat tissue in the body.