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{{Short description|Fats and oils which are derived from animals}}
{{Infobox oils
|name=Lard
|image=Reuzel.jpg
|imagesize=300px
|caption= Wet-rendered lard, from pork fatback.
|composition=
|fat=
|water=
|solids=
|sterols=
|fatcomposition=y
|sat= 38–43%: [[Palmitic acid]]: 25–28% [[Stearic acid]]: 12–14% [[Myristic acid]]: 1%
|interster=
|unsat= 56–62%
|monoun=47–50%: [[Oleic acid]]: 44–47% [[Palmitoleic acid]]: 3%
|polyun=[[Linoleic acid]]: 6–10%<ref>National Research Council. (1976). [http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?chapselect=yo&page=203&record_id=22&Jump+to+Specified+Page.x=0&Jump+to+Specified+Page.y=0 Fat Content and Composition of Animal Products.]; p. 203. Washington, DC: Printing and Publishing Office, National Academy of Science. {{ISBN|0-309-02440-4}}</ref>
|o3=
|o6=
|o9=
|properties=y
|energy_per_100g={{convert|3770|kJ|kcal|abbr=on}}
|melt=backfat: {{convert|30|–|40|C|F}} leaf fat: {{convert|43|–|48|C|F}} mixed fat: {{convert|36|–|45|C|F}}
|boil=
|smoke={{convert|121|-|218|C|F}}
|roomtemp=
|sfi20=
|sg20=0.917–0.938
|refract=
|iodine=45–75
|acid=3.4
|aciddeg=
|ph=
|sapon=190–205
|unsapon=0.8%
|reichert=
|polenske=
|kirschner=
|shortening=
|peroxide=
}}

'''Animal fats''' are [[lipid]]s derived from [[animals]] which are used by the animal for a multitude of functions, or can be used by humans for dietary, sanitary, and cosmetic purposes. Depending on the temperature of the fat, it can change between a solid state and a liquid ([[oil]]) state. Chemically, both fats and oils are composed of [[triglycerides]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=11.3: Triglycerides- Fats and Oils |url=https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/American_River_College/CHEM_309:_Applied_Chemistry_for_the_Health_Sciences/11:_Lipids_-_An_Introduction/11.03:_Triglycerides-_Fats_and_Oils |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Chemistry LibreTexts |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Jadhav |first1=Harsh B. |last2=Annapure |first2=Uday S. |date=2023-08-01 |title=Triglycerides of medium-chain fatty acids: a concise review |journal=Journal of Food Science and Technology |language=en |volume=60 |issue=8 |pages=2143–2152 |doi=10.1007/s13197-022-05499-w |issn=0975-8402 |pmc=9217113 |pmid=35761969}}</ref> Although many animal parts and secretions may yield oil, in commercial practice, oil is extracted primarily from [[Rendering (food processing)|rendered]] tissue [[fat]]s from livestock animals like [[pigs]], [[chickens]] and [[Cattle|cows]]. Dairy products yield animal fat and oil products such as [[butter]].

== Chemical structure ==
Animal fats are composed of [[triglyceride]]s, which are a type of [[ester]] molecule in which [[glycerol]] is bonded to three [[fatty acid]]s.<ref name=":2" /> The three fatty acids that bond to the glycerol will determine the complexity and type of the triglyceride. If the three fatty acids are the same, then the triglyceride will be considered a simple triglyceride.<ref name=":2" /> However, most triglycerides contain differing fatty acids, causing them to have differing characteristics. Animal fat is a combination of many different triglycerides.<ref name=":0" /> Fatty acids can be broken down into two categories, saturated and [[Unsaturated fat|unsaturated fats]]. Most animal fats are [[Saturated fat|saturated fats.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saturated Fat |url=https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/saturated-fats |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=www.heart.org |language=en}}</ref>

== In animals ==

{{Main|Fat#Biological importance}}

Fat serves many purposes within an animal's body. Some of these include insulating the body to regulate internal body temperature, serving as an energy reserve, and cushioning the feet.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-26 |title=The Physical Properties of Fats in Mammals |url=https://bioengineering.hyperbook.mcgill.ca/the-physical-properties-of-fats-in-mammals/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Bioengineering Hyperbook |language=en-US}}</ref> Many mammalian animals that live in cold regions of the globe, including both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, have developed a thick layer of fat just below the skin called [[blubber]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Khudyakov |first1=J. I. |last2=Allen |first2=K. N. |last3=Crocker |first3=D. E. |last4=Trost |first4=N. S. |last5=Roberts |first5=A. H. |last6=Pirard |first6=L. |last7=Debier |first7=C. |last8=Piotrowski |first8=E. R. |last9=Vázquez-Medina |first9=J. P. |date=2022-12-14 |title=Comprehensive molecular and morphological resolution of blubber stratification in a deep-diving, fasting-adapted seal |journal=Frontiers in Physiology |language=English |volume=13 |doi=10.3389/fphys.2022.1057721 |doi-access=free |pmid=36589428 |pmc=9795062 |issn=1664-042X}}</ref> This blubber helps these animals to reduce the amount of heat that is lost to the colder outside environment. Fat is a poor conductor of heat; therefore, it allows the heat that the animal produces to remain in their body for a longer period of time.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Fat is also used by animals for the storage of energy. The type of fat that is used for energy storage is known as [[adipose tissue]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Harvey |first1=Innocence |last2=Boudreau |first2=Anik |last3=Stephens |first3=Jacqueline M. |date=2020-12-09 |title=Adipose tissue in health and disease |journal=Open Biology |volume=10 |issue=12 |article-number=200291 |doi=10.1098/rsob.200291 |pmc=7776562 |pmid=33292104}}</ref> This adipose tissue is made up [[Adipocyte|adipocytes]] which store the energy in the [[Chemical bond|chemical bonds]] of triglycerides.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tamang |first=Sanju |date=2024-03-19 |title=Fat Cells: Definition, Types, Structure, Functions, Diseases |url=https://microbenotes.com/fat-cells-adipocytes/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=microbenotes.com |language=en-US}}</ref> For example, prior to an animal going through hibernation, an animal will build up large reserves of adipocytes to ensure it has the energy to survive the long slumber.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Scopes |first1=Eleanor R. |last2=Broome |first2=Alice |last3=Walsh |first3=Katherine |last4=Bennie |first4=Jonathan J. |last5=McDonald |first5=Robbie A. |date=2024 |title=Conservation implications of hibernation in mammals |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mam.12346?msockid=13b559cb8a0f60672bf0495d8b1d61e4 |journal=Mammal Review |language=en |volume=54 |issue=3 |pages=310–324 |doi=10.1111/mam.12346 |issn=1365-2907|doi-access=free }}</ref> Fat is also used by animals to create foot pads.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Clemente |first1=Christofer J. |last2=Dick |first2=Taylor J. M. |last3=Glen |first3=Christopher L. |last4=Panagiotopoulou |first4=Olga |date=2020-03-02 |title=Biomechanical insights into the role of foot pads during locomotion in camelid species |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-60795-9 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=3856 |doi=10.1038/s41598-020-60795-9 |bibcode=2020NatSR..10.3856C |issn=2045-2322|pmc=7051995 }}</ref> These foot pads aid in the longevity and health of the animal by absorbing the impacts that occur when the animal walks, runs, or jumps. These foot pads are present in many animals including [[Cat|cats]], [[Dog|dogs]], [[Horse|horses]], and even larger mammals like [[Elephant|elephants]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />

== Human usage ==
{{See also|Cooking oil}}

=== Culinary uses ===
Many animal fats and oils are consumed directly, or indirectly as ingredients in food. Animal fats are commonly consumed as part of a [[western diet]] in their semi-solid form as either [[milk]], [[butter]], [[lard]], [[schmaltz]], and [[dripping]] or more commonly as filler in factory-produced meat, and [[fast-food]] products.<ref>{{citation |title=Meat Products with High Levels of Extenders and Fillers |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai407e/AI407E16.htm |access-date=2012-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207130013/http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai407e/ai407e16.htm |archive-date=2019-02-07 |publisher=Food and Agricultural Organization of the United States}}</ref> Certain fats, such as [[Schmaltz|goose fat]], have a higher [[smoke point]] than other animal fats, but are still lower than many vegetable oils such as olive or [[avocado]].<ref>{{citation |title=The Goose Fat Information Service |date=2012-03-19 |url=http://www.goosefat.co.uk/page/usage-recipes |access-date=2012-03-19 |publisher=Goosefat.co.uk}}</ref>

The oils serve a number of purposes in this role:
* Shortening – to give pastry a crumbly texture.
* Texture – oils can serve to make other ingredients stick together less.
* Flavor – some may be chosen specifically for the flavor they impart.
* Flavor base – oils can also "carry" flavors of other ingredients, since many flavors are present in chemicals that are soluble in oil.

Secondly, oils can be heated and used to cook foods. Suitability for this purpose depends on [[flash point]].

=== Other uses ===
There are many other human uses for animal fat, a few of which come from [[tallow]]. One of the uses of tallow is the production of soap through a process called [[saponification]]. The tallow is boiled or heated along with [[lye]], resulting in the production of a rough soap as well as glycerol.{{cn|date=December 2024}} The soap is then put through a purification process until it becomes a usable sanitary product.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Saponification Makes Soap |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/how-saponification-makes-soap-606153#:~:text=In%20the%20industrial%20manufacture%20of%20soap,%20tallow%20(fat,and%20the%20glycerol%20is%20recovered%20using%20vacuum%20distillation. |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=ThoughtCo |language=en}}</ref> Tallow is also used in the production of many skincare and cosmetic products.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-01 |title=The Benefits and Challenges of Formulating Tallow-Based Skincare |url=https://createyourskincare.com/the-benefits-and-challenges-of-formulating-tallow-based-skincare/#:~:text=Tallow%20can%20be%20used%20as%20a%20stand-alone%20ingredient,be%20used%20in%20both%20anhydrous%20products%20and%20emulsions. |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Create Your Skincare™ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Russell |first1=Margaret F. |last2=Sandhu |first2=Manmeet |last3=Vail |first3=Maddison |last4=Haran |first4=Christa |last5=Batool |first5=Unaiza |last6=Leo |first6=Jonatha |last7=Russell |first7=Margaret |last8=Sandhu |first8=Manmeet |last9=Vail |first9=Maddison |last10=Haran |first10=Christa |last11=Batool |first11=Unaiza |last12=Leo |first12=Jonathan |date=2024-05-24 |title=Tallow, Rendered Animal Fat, and Its Biocompatibility With Skin: A Scoping Review |url=https://www.cureus.com/articles/209121-tallow-rendered-animal-fat-and-its-biocompatibility-with-skin-a-scoping-review#!/ |journal=Cureus |language=en |volume=16 |issue=5 |doi=10.7759/cureus.60981 |doi-access=free |issn=2168-8184|pmc=11193910 }}</ref> Tallow contains vitamins E, D, K, and A as well as [[conjugated linoleic acid]] which have all been shown to have benefits to skin health.<ref name=":7" />

Raw animal oil derived from bones and other parts of animal [[carcass]]es used to be called ''[[oleum animale foetidum crudum]]'' or ''[[neatsfoot oil]]''.

== See also ==
*[[Vegetable fats and oils]]
*[[Kitchen rendering]]
*[[Triglyceride]]
*[[Suet]]
*[[Tallow]]
*[[Ghee]]

== References ==
{{Commons category|Animal oils}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Animal fats]]

Animal fat - Revision history

~2025-33401-23: /* Other uses */made a sentence flow smoother