Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), previously associated with meat and milk quality traits in cattle, in a population of 443 commercial Aberdeen Angus-cross beef cattle. The eight SNP, which were located within five genes: μ-calpain (CAPN1), calpastatin (CAST), leptin (LEP), growth hormone receptor (GHR) and acylCoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), are included in various commercial tests for tenderness, fatness, carcass composition and milk yield/quality.MethodsA total of 27 traits were examined, 19 relating to carcass quality, such as carcass weight and fatness, one mechanical measure of tenderness, and the remaining seven were sensory traits, such as flavour and tenderness, assessed by a taste panel.ResultsAn SNP in the CAPN1 gene, CAPN316, was significantly associated with tenderness measured by both the tenderometer and the taste panel as well as the weight of the hindquarter, where animals inheriting the CC genotype had more tender meat and heavier hindquarters. An SNP in the leptin gene, UASMS2, significantly affected overall liking, where animals with the TT genotype were assigned higher scores by the panellists. The SNP in the GHR gene was significantly associated with odour, where animals inheriting the AA genotype produced steaks with an intense odour when compared with the other genotypes. Finally, the SNP in the DGAT1 gene was associated with sirloin weight after maturation and fat depth surrounding the sirloin, with animals inheriting the AA genotype having heavier sirloins and more fat.ConclusionThe results of this study confirm some previously documented associations. Furthermore, novel associations have been identified which, following validation in other populations, could be incorporated into breeding programmes to improve meat quality.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), previously associated with meat and milk quality traits in cattle, in a population of 443 commercial Aberdeen Angus-cross beef cattle
Several such markers have been identified in the last decade. These include markers based on polymorphisms in the leptin (LEP) gene, involved in the control of appetite and energy metabolism, which have been shown to be associated with carcass fat [5,6,7,8], body weight [6], and growth rate [9]; polymorphisms in the μ-calpain (CAPN1) and calpastatin (CAST) genes, which are known to play a key role in post mortem tenderisation of meat and have been associated with meat tenderness [10,11,12,13]; and polymorphisms in the bovine growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene, which have been associated with drip loss [14], body weight [15,16] and marbling score [17]
The two SNP in the CAPN1 gene and the three SNP in the leptin gene were found to be in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with D' above 0.62 for each SNP pair combination
Summary
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), previously associated with meat and milk quality traits in cattle, in a population of 443 commercial Aberdeen Angus-cross beef cattle. These include markers based on polymorphisms in the leptin (LEP) gene, involved in the control of appetite and energy metabolism, which have been shown to be associated with carcass fat [5,6,7,8], body weight [6], and growth rate [9]; polymorphisms in the μ-calpain (CAPN1) and calpastatin (CAST) genes, which are known to play a key role in post mortem tenderisation of meat and have been associated with meat tenderness [10,11,12,13]; and polymorphisms in the bovine growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene, which have been associated with drip loss [14], body weight [15,16] and marbling score [17] Before such marker information can be used in breeding programmes, it is important that unbiased and independent validation studies in different breeds are carried out to establish whether observable effects are found in the breed/population under selection
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