Identification of SNPs in TG and EDG1 genes and their relationships with carcass traits in Korean cattle (Hanwoo)

Thyroglobulin (TG) gene was known to be regulated fat cell growth and differentiation and the endothelial differentiation sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor 1 (EDG1) gene involves blood vessel formation and known to be affecting carcass traits in beef cattle. The aim of this study was to identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in both TG and EDG1 genes and to analyze the association with carcass traits in Korean cattle (Hanwoo). The T354C SNP in TG gene located at the 3’ flanking region and c.-312A>G SNP located at 3’-UTR of EDG1 gene were used for genotyping the animals using PCR-RFLP method. Three genotypes were identified in T354C SNP in TG gene and only two AA and AG genotypes were observed for the c.-312A>G SNP in EDG1 gene. The results indicated that T354C SNP in TG gene was not significantly associated with carcass traits. However, the c.-312A>G SNP in EDG1 gene had significant effects on backfat thickness (BF) and yield index (YI). These results may provide valuable information for further candidate gene studies affecting carcass traits in Korean cattle and may use as marker assisted selection for improving the quality of meat in Hanwoo. Key words : TG, EDG1, Carcass traits, Hanwo

Heritability Estimates of, Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations among Some Selected Carcass Traits of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Raised in a Sub-humid Climate

This study was conducted to evaluate some selected carcass traits in Japanese quails as well as provide estimates of their heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations among them. A total of 389 quails were slaughtered at 8 weeks of age. Sex significantly (P<0.05) influenced most carcass traits evaluated. The Japanese quails dressed at an average dressing percentage of 72.36. The heritability estimates of carcass traits derived from the sire variance components varied from low to high. All the carcass traits (carcass weight, front half of carcass weight, Rear half of carcass weight, breast weight, thigh weight, liver weight, heart weight, gizzard weight and dressing percentage) studied were positively genetically correlated to pre-slaughter live weight. Phenotypic correlations between pre-slaughter live weight and other carcass traits followed the same trend as for genetic correlation. It was concluded that Japanese quail have high efficiency of meat production and indirect selection could be used to improve the carcass traits studied. Keywords: Japanese quail, carcass traits, Heritability, Genetic correlation

Validation and Improvement of the Beef Production Sub-index in Ireland for Beef Cattle

End of project reportThe objectives of the following study were to: a. Quantify the effect of sire genetic merit for BCI on: 1. feed intake, growth and carcass traits of progeny managed under bull or steer beef production systems. 2. live animal scores, carcass composition and plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations in their progeny. b. Compare the progeny of : 1. Late-maturing beef with dairy breeds and 2. Charolais (CH), Limousin (LM), Simmental (SM) and Belgian Blue (BB) sires bred to beef suckler dams, for feed intake, blood hormones and metabolites, live animal measurements, carcass traits and carcass value in bull and steer production systems

Association between Insulin Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) gene polymorphism and carcass traits in improved Nigerian indigenous chickens

The insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) is a key regulator of muscle development and metabolism in birds and other vertebrate. Our objective was to determine the association between IGF1 gene polymorphism and carcass traits in FUNAAB Alpha chicken. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood of 50 normal feathered birds. At 10 weeks, the birds were slaughtered for carcass traits. Specific primers for chicken IGF1 were used for amplification of a 622 base segment. The amplified gene products were digested with Hinf1 restriction enzyme and the digested fragments were genotyped. Allele frequencies were 52% and 48% for A and B, respectively. Genotype frequencies were 27%, 50% and 23% for AA, AB and BB genotypes, respectively. All carcass traits values and the IGF1 gene polymorphism observed were subjected to analysis of variance and the mean were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results showed that the occurrence of the polymorphism did not affect all the carcass traits but AB genotypes had the highest carcass traits values than the AA and BB genotypes. The conclusion of this study demonstrated that IGF-1 gene, to some extent, could be a candidate gene that affects carcass traits in Improved Nigerian indigenous chicken.Keywords: IGF-1, PCR-RFLP, indigenous chicke

Genetic aspects of calving, growth, and carcass traits in beef cattle

The aim of this thesis was to learn more about the genetic background of calving, growth and carcass traits of beef cattle breeds in Sweden, and to assess the possibility of including calving traits and commercial carcass traits in the genetic evaluation. In addition, the genetic relationship between field-recorded growth rate and daily weight gain at station performance testing was investigated. The breeds studied were Charolais, Hereford and Simmental. Records of birth weight, pre-weaning gain, post-weaning gain, carcass fleshiness grade, carcass fatness grade, carcass weight, calving difficulty score and stillbirth were analysed using linear animal models. The estimated direct heritabilities were moderate to high for birth and carcass weight, moderate for pre- and post-weaning gain, carcass fleshiness and fatness grades, low for calving difficulty score and very low for stillbirth. Maternal heritabilities tended to be lower than the direct ones. Genetic relationships between direct and maternal genetic effects were generally antagonistic. Moderate to high genetic correlations were estimated between post-weaning gain in the field and at the station, showing considerable breed differences, and the added value of station testing was questioned. Genetic relationships were generally weaker between growth traits and both carcass fleshiness and fatness grade than between growth and carcass weight. Male and female birth weights were found to be the same trait genetically, and strong genetic relationships were estimated between birth weight and calving traits. Less than unity genetic correlations between calving difficulty at first and later parities indicated that partly different sets of genes control these traits. Some antagonistic relationships were found between carcass and calving traits. It was concluded that it would be feasible to include commercial carcass records and calving difficulty score in the genetic evaluation, and that both direct and maternal effects should be considered for pre-weaning traits. Information on correlated traits should be used for selection against stillbirth as direct selection would be inefficient due to small progeny group size and very low heritability. Joint genetic evaluation of pre-weaning gain and carcass weight was recommended to reduce selection bias

Effect of DGAT1 Gene on Hot and Cold Carcass, Neck and Non-Carcass Traits in Indonesia Sheep

Quality carcass and non-carcass are two inseparable components that result from slaughtering animals with high economic value. The aims study is effect of polimorfisme DGAT1 gene on hot and cold carcass, neck and non-carcass traits in Indonesia sheep. A total of 50 rams used in this study were collected from 10 Barbados Cross Sheep (BCS), 10 Compass Agrinac Sheep (CAS), 15 Javanese Thin-Tailed Sheep (JTTS), and 15 Jonggol Sheep (JS). The sheep were slaughtered at 10-12 months old with an average body weight of 20.45 kg. Identification of the DGAT1 gene polymorphism was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The effect of the DGAT1 gene and breed with carcass and non-carcass traits were described using a T-test. The result showed that we found two genotypes: CC (466 bp), and CT (76, 390, and 466 bp) in sheep. The DGAT1 gene polymorphisms (g.8539 C>T) were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE). The DGAT1 gene polymorphisms had a significant (P<0.05) on carcass traits in neck. However, the DGAT1 gene had no significant association (P>0.05) with non-carcass traits. The CT genotype had the highest value of carcass traits compared to CC genotypes. Therefore, the quality of carcass and non-carcass in Indonesian sheep for the DGAT1 gene only affects the neck value

Fragmentation of loin steaks from U.S. commercial and U.S. utility beef carcasses

Short loin steaks were removed from U. S. Commercial (n=38) and U. S. Utility (n=42) beef carcasses to facilitate study of cooked meat tenderness as related to certain raw muscle fragmentation measures, carcass traits and laboratory procedures. Carcass traits explained 14.1 percent of the variation in shear force value while all fragmentation measures accounted for 61.1 percent. Frozen fragmentation measures (R2 X 100 = 58.1 percent) were superior to fresh fragmentation measures (R2 X 100 = 37.3 percent). Results indicate that fresh or frozen fragmentation index of raw muscle is superior to selected carcass traits and/or laboratory assays. The best regression model (two fragmentation measures) accounted for 56.6 percent of the variation in tenderness

On Farm Carcass Performance Evaluation of Three Local Chicken Ecotypes in Western Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

The study was designed to determine the effects of chicken ecotypes, sex and their interaction on carcass performances of local chicken ecotypes in their natural environments of western zone of Tigray. Forty eight matured local chickens with 24 females (8 / ecotype) and 24 males (8 /ecotype) with age ranging from 10-12 months were purchased for carcass trait evaluation. Chickens were immediately slaughtered and defeathered manually after the purchased chickens were deprived of feed and water over night and weighted to get the actual live, carcass and carcass cuts of each chicken using a Sensitive balance of weighing scale of one gram precision. GLM procedure of SAS 9.2 was employed to determine the effects of chicken ecotypes, sex and their interaction on carcass traits of the local chickens. Tukey test was used to compare significant traits. Male chickens performed significantly (P<0.05) higher than females in all carcass traits. Lowland chicken ecotypes had significantly performed better than either of the rest two chicken ecotypes in all considered carcass traits except skin weight. Sex by chicken ecotypes interaction had significant effect in all considered traits (p<0.05).  Both chicken sexes from lowland ecotypes significantly performed higher than their respective counter parts from either of the two ecotypes in almost all considered carcass traits. The variation in carcass trait performance among the chicken ecotypes is an indicator of their genetic variation with respect to carcass traits. In depth further studies on molecular assessment of genetic variations are required to validate the detected variations in carcass performances. Thus, environmentally friendly and community based holistic genetic improvement programs should be designed and implemented in order to assure sustainable improvement, utilization and in-situ conservation of the indigenous chicken genetic resources. Key words: Carcass traits, local chicken ecotypes, western Tigra

Myostatin Gene as a Genetic Marker for Growth and Carcass Traits in Beef Cattle

Growth and carcass traits are of economic importances in livestock breeding, because they affect the profitability of animal production. The phenotypic expression of these traits is controlled by multiple genes (polygenes), such as myostatin (MSTN) gene. This paper aims to discuss the expression, polymorphism and potential application of MSTN gene as a marker-assisted selection (MAS) for growth and carcass traits in beef cattle based on data from published studies. MSTN gene or known as growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF8) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, which acts as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass deposition. Several published studies showed that mutations in the MSTN gene can inhibit the activation of myostatin, which leads to an increased muscle mass (hypertrophy). Several MSTN gene polymorphisms were reported to be associated with growth and carcass traits in local cattle in several countries, including Indonesia, namely Bali cattle. Based on several assumptions: 1) there is MTSN gene polymorphisms in a population, 2) there is a significant association between MSTN gene polymorphisms and growth and carcass traits, as reported in several beef cattle populations and 3) those cattle with superior genotype have better growth performances, we expect that there will be improvement in growth performances in the future if those cattle are selected. Understanding MSTN gene polymorphisms would be useful to make strategies for the genetic improvement for growth and carcass traits of local cattle