Transcriptome profiling of muscle in Nelore cattle phenotypically divergent for the ribeye muscle area

Abstract The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance and the carcass traits of Nelore cattle progenies from bulls selected by contrasting traits for precocity, growth and muscularity, through the Expected Progeny Difference (EPD). One hundred and five Nelore bulls (initial weight of 350kg±15kg) and 20 months of age were confined and fed with same diet (73% of concentrate). Thirty-two animals were selected to create the contrasting groups for precocity, growth and muscularity (16 animals assigned as a low EPD group - LEPD and 16 animals assigned as a high EPD group - HEPD), based on the EPD of their parents. The ribeye area and backfat thickness were performed by ultrasonography of 12–13th rib fat thickness and longissimus muscle area (LMA), as well as rump fat thickness (RF) measurements. Animals were harvested after 100 days and during the deboning, meat cuts were weight for cutting yield. The animals selected for the HEPD group had greater average daily gain (P = 0.006), which can be explained by the higher feed intake (P = 0.006). However, there are no difference between groups for the final body weight (P = 0.254) and feed efficiency (P = 0.715). The LEPD group presented higher dressing percentage (P = 0.028). Although the groups evaluated did not presented difference in LMA (P = 0.329) and weight of longissimus muscle (P = 0.480), the weight of rump displayed heaviest in the HEPD (P = 0.037). There was no difference between groups for RF (P = 0.086). Nevertheless, backfat thickness was higher in HEPD group (P = 0.006). The present study indicates that Nelore cattle progenies, with parents displaying higher potential for precocity, growth, and muscularity, show greater backfat thickness and weightiest of rump than the other genetic backgrounds. Thanks to FAPESP for the scholarship (Grant # 2017/02349–1).

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Quantitative study of genetic gain for growth, carcass, and morphological traits of Nelore cattle

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2018-0078 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 99 (2) ◽

pp. 296-306

Author(s):

Daniel Duarte da Silveira ◽

Lucas De Vargas ◽

Rodrigo Junqueira Pereira ◽

Gabriel Soares Campos ◽

Ricardo Zambarda Vaz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variability ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Correlated Response ◽

Genetic Associations ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Genetic Gains ◽

Fat Thickness ◽

Nelore Cattle ◽

Genetic Trends

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability, genetic and phenotypic associations, and genetic gains of birth (BW), weaning (WW), and yearling (YW) weights, loin muscle area (LMA), backfat thickness (BF), rump fat thickness (RF), scores of body structure (BS), finishing precocity (FS), and muscling (MS) in Nelore cattle. Genetic parameters were obtained through Bayesian inference using BLUPF90 programs. All studied traits showed genetic variability, with heritability ranging from 0.29 to 0.47. In all studied ages, weights presented positive genetic correlations with LMA (ranging from 0.13 to 0.53), being generally stronger in comparison with the other carcass traits analyzed (BF and RF). Similarly, weights were higher genetic associated with BS (0.47–0.92) than with FS (0.18–0.62) and MS (0.22–0.65), respectively. The BF and RF showed positive and moderate genetic associations with FS and MS (0.31–0.36). Genetic trends were significant (P < 0.05) and favorable for WW, YW, and visual scores. Selection for increasing BW, WW, YW, and LMA will result in modest or no change in BF and RF (correlated response ranging from −0.04 to 0.07 mm per generation). In this population, carcass traits must be included in the selection indexes to obtain genetic gains in carcass quality, if desired.

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Selection for higher body weight in Nelore cattle is effective in achieving an increase of longissimus muscle area without reducing subcutaneous fat thickness

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/s1516-35982012000600016 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 1426-1432 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tiago Roque Pinheiro ◽

Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante ◽

Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque ◽

Sarah Figueiredo Martins Bonilha ◽

Fábio Morato Monteiro

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Subcutaneous Fat ◽

Longissimus Muscle ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Subcutaneous Fat Thickness ◽

Fat Thickness ◽

Selection For ◽

Nelore Cattle

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69 A new frame score system for Nelore cattle

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.086 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 47-47

Author(s):

Roberto D Sainz ◽

Nayanny Guimarães ◽

Cláudio U Magnabosco ◽

Fernando Lopes

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Genetic Parameters ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Subcutaneous Fat ◽

Heritability Estimate ◽

Reproductive Traits ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Nelore Cattle

Abstract Frame score (FS) systems for beef cattle generally represent the relationships among growth, body composition, reproduction and mature size, in a simple and practical form. This study aimed to: 1) develop a FS system for Nelore cattle that is biologically sound, easy to interpret, and useful for producers; and 2) estimate the genetic parameters of the FS with productive and reproductive traits. An arbitrary scale (1 to 12) was devised so that each unit corresponds to 15 kg of carcass weight (1 @), as this is a common measure used for marketing beef cattle in Brazil. Therefore, ideal carcass weight, defined as having 6 mm of backfat, would be 18 @ (269 kg) and 15 @ (224 kg) for FS = 6 males and females, respectively. Data from 36,030 animals (22,405 males, 13,565 females) raised on pasture were obtained from participating herds of the National Association of Breeders and Researchers (ANCP). Genetic parameters were estimated in uni- and bicharacteristic analyses under an animal model, using the EM-REML algorithm (AIREMLF90) and Bayesian inference (GIBBS1F90). The heritability estimate for the new FS was 0.38, and its additive genetic correlations were 0.70, 0.72, 0.77, 0.33, -0.57, 0.27, and 0.28 with BW at 365 d, BW at 450 d, hip height, longissimus muscle area, subcutaneous fat thickness, scrotal circumference at 450 d, and age at first calving, respectively. The estimated heritability and genetic correlations indicate that there is enough additive genetic variability to allow for genetic response to selection. The estimates support the notion that larger frame animals are taller, heavier, leaner and later maturing, both in body composition as well as sexually. The new frame score may be a useful tool for genetic selection of animals that are best suited to their environment.

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Genome scan for meat quality traits in Nelore beef cattle

Physiological Genomics ◽

10.1152/physiolgenomics.00066.2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 45 (21) ◽

pp. 1012-1020 ◽

Cited By ~ 68

Author(s):

P. C. Tizioto ◽

J. E. Decker ◽

J. F. Taylor ◽

R. D. Schnabel ◽

M. A. Mudadu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Meat Quality ◽

Shear Force ◽

Association Studies ◽

Genome Wide Association Studies ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Meat Tenderness ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Meat Quality Traits ◽

Meat Aging ◽

Nelore Cattle

Meat quality traits are economically important because they affect consumers' acceptance, which, in turn, influences the demand for beef. However, selection to improve meat quality is limited by the small numbers of animals on which meat tenderness can be evaluated due to the cost of performing shear force analysis and the resultant damage to the carcass. Genome wide-association studies for Warner-Bratzler shear force measured at different times of meat aging, backfat thickness, ribeye muscle area, scanning parameters [lightness, redness (a*), and yellowness] to ascertain color characteristics of meat and fat, water-holding capacity, cooking loss (CL), and muscle pH were conducted using genotype data from the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip array to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) in all phenotyped Nelore cattle. Phenotype count for these animals ranged from 430 to 536 across traits. Meat quality traits in Nelore are controlled by numerous QTL of small effect, except for a small number of large-effect QTL identified for a*fat, CL, and pH. Genomic regions harboring these QTL and the pathways in which the genes from these regions act appear to differ from those identified in taurine cattle for meat quality traits. These results will guide future QTL mapping studies and the development of models for the prediction of genetic merit to implement genomic selection for meat quality in Nelore cattle.

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