scholarly journals Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds. 3. Meat quality traits

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Johnston ◽  
A. Reverter ◽  
D. M. Ferguson ◽  
J. M. Thompson ◽  
H. M. Burrow
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Cooking Loss ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Genetic Expression ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Meat Colour

Meat quality measures, including objective measures of tenderness (shear force and compression), were taken on 2 muscles [M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and M. semitendinosus (ST)] from 7566 carcasses from temperate (TEMP) and tropically adapted (TROP) beef cattle breeds. Animals were finished to 1 of 3 market carcass weight end-points (220, 280, or 340 kg) either on pasture or in a feedlot, and in 2 different geographic regions for TROP. Both the phenotypic and genetic expression of the traits were estimated at each market weight and for each finishing regime. Heritabilities and correlations between the traits were estimated for TEMP and TROP separately. Smaller additive variances and heritabilities were observed for temperate breeds compared with tropically adapted breeds for most of the traits studied. For TROP, the heritability of traits measured on the ST muscle [compression (ST_C), shear force (ST_SF), and L* Minolta lightness value (ST_L*)] was 0.27, 0.42, and 0.16, respectively, and for traits measured on the LTL muscle [compression (LTL_C), shear force (LTL_SF), L* Minolta lightness value (LTL_L*), a* Minolta redness value (LTL_a*), cooking loss% (LTL_CL%), and consumer assessed tenderness score (LTL_TEND)] 0.19, 0.30, 0.18, 0.13, 0.20, and 0.31, respectively. For TEMP, the heritability of traits measured on the ST muscle [ST_C, ST_SF, ST_L*, a* Minolta redness value (ST_a*), cooking loss % (ST_CL%)] was 0.12, 0.11, 0.17, 0.13, and 0.15, respectively, and of traits measured on the LTL muscle (LTL_C, LTL_SF, LTL_L, and LTL_TEND) were 0.08, 0.09, 0.17 and 0.18 respectively. Genetic correlations were moderate to high for tenderness measures (shear force and compression) between muscles for the same tenderness measure (e.g. LTL_SF and ST_SF was 0.46 for TROP) and within a muscle for the different measures (e.g. ST_C and ST_SF was 0.83 for TROP). Phenotypic and genetic correlations between LTL_L* and all objective measures of tenderness were negative (e.g. LTL_SF and LTL_L* for TROP was –0.40). The genetic relationship between LTL_SF and LTL_TEND was –0.79 and –0.49 for TROP and TEMP, respectively. Finishing system affected the phenotypic expression of all traits. Pasture-finished, compared with feedlot-finished, animals had higher shear force and compression measures, darker meat colour, and lower sensory tenderness scores for both TEMP and TROP. For TROP, heifers had higher shear force and compression measures, lower sensory tenderness scores, and darker meat colour (lower L* values) than steers. Genetic correlations between markets were generally high and close to unity with the exception of the ST_L*, LTL_L*, ST_C, and ST_SF for TEMP. Geographic region had little effect on the phenotypic and genetic expression of meat quality traits for TROP. Genetic correlations between finishing regimes for all traits were positive and close to unity, with the exception of ST_C and LTL_SF for TEMP, and LTL_L* and LTL_CL% for TROP. Genetic improvement of meat quality traits is a possibility for tropically adapted breeds given the moderate heritabilities, adequate phenotypic variance, generally favourable genetic correlations between traits, and little evidence of genotype by environment interactions.

Genetics of flight time and other measures of temperament and their value as selection criteria for improving meat quality traits in tropically adapted breeds of beef cattle

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meridy J. Kadel ◽  
David J. Johnston ◽  
Heather M. Burrow ◽  
Hans-U. Graser ◽  
Drewe M. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Flight Time ◽  
Flight Speed ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Speed Score

Flight time, an objective measure of temperament, was recorded in 3594 Brahman, Belmont Red, and Santa Gertrudis heifers and steers. Two subjective measures of temperament (crush score and flight speed score) were also available for over 2000 of these animals. Temperament measures were recorded post-weaning (average age 8 months) and again at the start of finishing (average age 19 months) on a subset of the animals. Nine meat quality traits were measured on these animals and included measures on 2 different muscles [M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and M. semitendinosus (ST)]. The heritability of flight time measured post-weaning and at the start of finishing was 0.30 and 0.34, respectively, with a repeatability of 0.46 across the measurement times. Heritabilities for scored temperament traits were 0.21, 0.19, and 0.15 for post-weaning flight speed score, post-weaning crush score, and start of finishing crush score, respectively. Genetic correlations across measurement times for flight time were 0.98 and 0.96 for crush score, indicating a strong underlying genetic basis of these temperament measures over time; however, the corresponding phenotypic correlations were lower (0.48 and 0.37, respectively). Longer flight times (i.e. better temperament) were genetically correlated with improved tenderness (i.e. lower shear force and higher tenderness scores), with genetic correlations of –0.42 and 0.33 between LTL shear force, and Meat Standards Australia (MSA) tenderness, respectively. Genetic correlations between post-weaning crush score and the same meat quality traits were 0.39 and –0.47, respectively. However, genetic and phenotypic correlations between measures of temperament and other meat quality traits were generally low, with the exception of crush scores with LTL Minolta a* value (–0.37 and –0.63 for post-weaning and start of finishing measurement time, respectively). Predicted correlated responses of –0.17 kg LTL shear force and 2.6 MSA tenderness points per generation were predicted based on the genetic parameter estimates and a recording regime of both flight time and crush scores. Selection based on the measures of temperament described in this study could be used to improve temperament itself and correlated improvements can also occur in meat tenderness and eating quality traits in tropically adapted breeds of cattle.

Preliminary estimates of genetic parameters for carcass and meat quality traits in Australian sheep

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. I. Mortimer ◽  
J. H. J. van der Werf ◽  
R. H. Jacob ◽  
D. W. Pethick ◽  
K. L. Pearce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
Sheep Industry ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Meat Colour

Using performance from progeny born in 2007 and 2008 generated by the Information Nucleus program of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, preliminary estimates of heritability were obtained for a range of novel carcass and meat attributes of lamb relevant to consumers, including carcass characteristics, meat quality and nutritional value of lamb. Phenotypic and genetic correlations of live animal traits with carcass composition and meat quality traits were also estimated. The data were from progeny located at eight sites, sired by 183 rams from Merino, maternal and terminal meat breeds and were representative of the Merino, Border Leicester × Merino, Terminal × Merino and Terminal × Border Leicester-Merino production types of the Australian sheep industry. Data were available from 7176 lambs for weaning weight, 6771 lambs for ultrasound scanning and 4110 lambs for slaughter traits. For the novel meat quality traits, generally moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained for meat quality measures of shear force (0.27 aged 1 day, 0.38 aged 5 days), intramuscular fat (0.39), retail meat colour (range of 0.09 to 0.44) and myoglobin content (0.22). The nutritional value traits of omega-3 fatty acids and iron and zinc contents tended to have low to moderate heritabilities (0.11–0.37), although these were based on fewer records. Fresh meat colour traits were of low to moderate heritability (0.06–0.21) whereas measures of meat pH were of low heritability (~0.10). For the carcass traits, estimates of heritability were moderate to high for the various measures of carcass fat (0.18–0.50), muscle weight (0.22–0.35), meat yield (0.24–0.35), carcass muscle dimensions (0.25–0.34) and bone weight (0.27). Results indicate that for most lamb carcass and meat quality traits there is sufficient genetic variation for selection to alter successfully these characteristics. Additionally, most genetic correlations of live animal assessments of bodyweight, muscle and subcutaneous fat with the carcass and meat quality traits were favourable. Appropriate definition of breeding objectives and design of selection indexes should be able to account for the small unfavourable relationships that exist and achieve the desired outcomes from breeding programs.

Effects of a non-synonymous CBG gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on meat-quality traits in Berkshire pigs

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seul Gi Kwon ◽  
Jung Hye Hwang ◽  
Da Hye Park ◽  
Tae Wan Kim ◽  
Deok Gyeong Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Meat Quality ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Cooking Loss ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Berkshire Pigs ◽  
Water Holding

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is a plasma transport protein that has glucocorticoid-binding activity. In the present study, we identified CBG gene expression in several tissues of four pig breeds: Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire. Expression of CBG mRNA was detected in the liver of all four breeds, and was the highest in Berkshire pigs. We also found single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CBG gene from Berkshire pigs, including SNP c.919G>A, which corresponds to 307G>R. We analyzed the relationships between this CBG variant and various meat-quality traits. The SNP was significantly associated with backfat thickness, post-mortem pH24h, meat color [CIE a* (redness), CIE b* (yellowness)], water-holding capacity, fat content, moisture content, protein content, cooking loss, and shear force. However, the effects differed by gender: the values were significantly associated with almost all traits in gilts, whereas only cooking loss and shear force were shown significantly in barrows. The variant G allele was associated with decreases in backfat thickness, post-mortem pH24h, CIE a*, fat content, and cooking loss, but with increases in CIE b*, water-holding capacity, moisture content, protein content, and shear force. Because the general correlation between meat-quality traits were not validated in the present study, we suggest that certain SNP might be used in the restrictive application to distinguish meat-quality traits.

Polymorphisms in A-FABP gene associated with meatquality traits of beef cattle in Gansu

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejiao An ◽  
Yongqing L. ◽  
Shengguo Zhao ◽  
Yuliang Wen ◽  
Yuan Cai
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Meat Quality ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Cooking Loss ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Fabp Gene

The polymorphisms of A-FABP gene which associated with meat quality traits of beef cattle divided in five groups(Qingyang native beef cattle group, Pingliang native beef cattle group, Qinchuan beef cattle group, South Devon beef crossbreed group, Simmental beef crossbreed group) in Gansu was studied. Three types of bands defined as genotypes GG, GC and CC were discovered in the study. According to the results we could find the mutation of c. 408 g > c existed in A- FABP gene’s exon3 area by sequencing analysis of gene in three different kinds. The analysis of A-FABP gene polymorphisms associated with meat quality traits like pressing lose, shear force, cooking loss, marbling score, meat color and pH value, showed that pressing loss with genotype GG was significantly greater than genotype CC (P less than 0.05), shear force with genotype GG was significantly greater than genotype GC and genotype CC (P less than 0.01), cooking loss and pH value with genotype GG were significantly greater than genotype GC (P less than 0.05) and genotype CC (P less than 0.01). This mutation of A-FABP gene could be considered as a locus associated with meat quality traits.

scholarly journals Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds. 4. Correlations among animal, carcass, and meat quality traits

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Reverter ◽  
D. J. Johnston ◽  
D. M. Ferguson ◽  
D. Perry ◽  
M. E. Goddard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Quality Measures ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Meat Colour

Beef cattle data from temperate (TEMP, n = 3947) and tropically (TROP, n = 4137) adapted breeds were analysed to compute estimates of genetic and phenotypic correlations between animal, abattoir carcass, and meat quality measures. Live animal traits included: liveweight (S2LWT), scanned subcutaneous rump fat depth (S2P8), scanned eye muscle area (S2EMA), flight time (S1FT), and finishing average daily gain (FADG). Carcass traits included: hot carcass weight (CWT), retail beef yield percentage (RBY), intramuscular fat percentage (IMF), subcutaneous rump fat depth (P8), eye muscle length by width (ELW), and meat colour score (MEATC). Meat quality measures taken on 2 muscles [M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and M. semitendinosus (ST)] included: shear force of LTL (LTL_SF) and ST (ST_SF); compression of the ST (ST_C); cooking loss % of the LTL (LTL_CL%) and ST (ST_CL%); Minolta LTL L* (LTL_L*), a* (LTL_a*), ST a* (ST_a*); and consumer-assessed LTL tenderness score (LTL_TEND). Genetic and phenotypic correlations between animal measures and related carcass traits were moderate to very high for TEMP and TROP. Genetic correlations between S2LWT and CWT were 0.89 and 0.82, between S2P8 and P8 0.80 and 0.88, and between S2EMA and ELW 0.62 and 0.68, for TEMP and TROP, respectively. Genetic correlations between animal measures and other carcass traits varied; moderate genetic correlations were estimated between S2P8 and RBY (–0.57, –0.19 for TEMP, TROP) and S2P8 and IMF (0.39, 0.23 for TEMP, TROP). Genetic correlations between animal and meat quality measures were moderate to low. For TEMP, moderate genetic correlations were estimated between S2P8 and LTL_TEND (0.38), FADG and ST_a* (–0.49), and FADG and LTL_TEND (0.45); and for TROP, S1FT and LTL_SF (–0.54), and S2EMA and LTL_L* (–0.46). Phenotypic correlations between animal and meat quality were generally low and close to zero. Several moderate to high genetic correlations existed between carcass and meat quality traits. In general, fatness measures were genetically correlated with tenderness (e.g. IMF and LTL_TEND 0.61, 0.31 for TEMP, TROP). CWT was genetically correlated with meat colour (CWT and LTL_L* 0.66, 0.60 for TEMP, TROP) and objective tenderness measures (CWT and ST_C –0.52, –0.22 for TEMP, TROP). Once again phenotypic correlations between carcass and meat quality were low, indicating that few phenotypic predictors of meat quality traits were identified. Several of the genetic correlations show that both animal and abattoir carcass traits may be of use as indirect measures for carcass and meat quality traits in multiple trait genetic evaluation systems.

scholarly journals Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds.

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Johnston ◽  
A. Reverter ◽  
H. M. Burrow ◽  
V. H. Oddy ◽  
D. L. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Meat Quality ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Phenotypic Expression ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
End Points ◽  
Genetic Expression ◽  
Genetic Variances ◽  
Meat Quality Traits

A total of 7622 cattle were measured for several weight and body composition traits in temperate and tropically adapted breeds. Traits included: liveweight, hip height, body fat score, muscle score, flight time, ultrasound scanned fatness, and eye muscle area. Measurements were taken at 3 stages during the project: post-weaning, start of finishing, and end of finishing (i.e. pre-slaughter). Animals were finished to 3 target market-weight end-points (220, 280, or 340 kg carcass weight), either on pasture or in a feedlot, and in 2 different geographic regions for tropically adapted breeds. These data were used to estimate genetic parameters for the traits at each stage, and also to estimate the effect of market weight and finishing regimes on the phenotypic and genetic expression of each trait measured at the end of finishing stage. Results showed, for all traits, that the magnitude of the phenotypic expression increased across the stages and market-weight end-points for the end of finishing measures. Feedlot finishing decreased the age at slaughter, and increased fatness and muscling compared with pasture-finished animals. Heritabilities ranged from 0.13 to 0.58, with subjectively scored traits generally being lower than objectively measured traits. Additive genetic variances generally increased with stage of measurement, and with increasing market weight. Genetic correlations of the same measure across stages or market weights were all close to unity. Additive genetic variances of the various traits were similar for feedlot versus pasture finish groups, and the genetic correlation between each measure for feedlot and pasture finish was generally greater than 0.80. The effect of finishing geographic region (i.e. temperate versus subtropical environments) for the tropically adapted breeds had little effect on the size of the additive genetic variances or genetic correlations between traits across geographic regions.The results imply that changing the production system had a significant impact on the phenotypic expression of growth and body composition traits but little effect on the underlying genetic expression and subsequent ranking of sires (i.e. no evidence of genotype by production environment interactions). Therefore, these live animal measures could be used as selection criteria in genetic evaluation programs and may also be genetically correlated with abattoir carcass and meat quality traits.

scholarly journals Relationships between meat quality traits of Popielno White rabbits

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
Sylwia Pałka ◽  
Łukasz Migdał ◽  
Agnieszka Otwinowska-Mindur ◽  
Michał Kmiecik
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Cooking Loss ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Breeding Method ◽  
Meat Quality Traits

<b>The purpose of the study was to determine the phenotypic correlations between meat quality traits in Popielno White rabbits. The experimental material consisted of 93 Popielno White rabbits (49♀; 44♂). From weaning at 35 days of age until 84 days of age, the animals were housed in a battery system and fed ad libitum with a complete feed containing 10,2 MJ of metabolic energy, 16,5% total protein and 14% crude fibre. The rabbits were slaughtered at 84 days of age with a body weight of about 2,6 kg. The research material was the meat of longissimus lumborum muscle. Meat quality characteristics, i.e. meat acidity, meat colour, shear force, meat texture and cooking loss, were examined. The results were analysed using the SAS package (2014). Many statistically significant relationships were found between the meat quality characteristics of Popielno White rabbits. The results indicate that potential selection towards a change in pH value may adversely affect the meat texture of Popielno White rabbits. Selection to improve the colour of the meat of this breed may have a negative effect on its shear force, hardness and cooking loss. Selection to improve shear force will improve the other texture profile parameters. An improvement in the meat texture parameters of Popielno White rabbits will lead to an improvement in the cooking loss value. Dependencies among meat quality traits in Popielno White rabbits are high enough to be useful in selecting an appropriate breeding method. </b>

scholarly journals Prediction of meat quality traits in the abattoir using portable near-infrared spectrometers: heritability of predicted traits and genetic correlations with laboratory-measured traits

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Savoia ◽  
Andrea Albera ◽  
Alberto Brugiapaglia ◽  
Liliana Di Stasio ◽  
Alessio Cecchinato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
External Validation ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Color Traits ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Background The possibility of assessing meat quality traits over the meat chain is strongly limited, especially in the context of selective breeding which requires a large number of phenotypes. The main objective of this study was to investigate the suitability of portable infrared spectrometers for phenotyping beef cattle aiming to genetically improving the quality of their meat. Meat quality traits (pH, color, water holding capacity, tenderness) were appraised on rib eye muscle samples of 1,327 Piemontese young bulls using traditional (i.e., reference/gold standard) laboratory analyses; the same traits were also predicted from spectra acquired at the abattoir on the intact muscle surface of the same animals 1 d after slaughtering. Genetic parameters were estimated for both laboratory measures of meat quality traits and their spectra-based predictions. Results The prediction performances of the calibration equations, assessed through external validation, were satisfactory for color traits (R2 from 0.52 to 0.80), low for pH and purge losses (R2 around 0.30), and very poor for cooking losses and tenderness (R2 below 0.20). Except for lightness and purge losses, the heritability estimates of most of the predicted traits were lower than those of the measured traits while the genetic correlations between measured and predicted traits were high (average value 0.81). Conclusions Results showed that NIRS predictions of color traits, pH, and purge losses could be used as indicator traits for the indirect genetic selection of the reference quality phenotypes. Results for cooking losses were less effective, while the NIR predictions of tenderness were affected by a relatively high uncertainty of estimate. Overall, genetic selection of some meat quality traits, whose direct phenotyping is difficult, can benefit of the application of infrared spectrometers technology.

scholarly journals Phenotypic and genetic variation of ultraviolet–visible-infrared spectral wavelengths of bovine meat

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Bittante ◽  
Simone Savoia ◽  
Alessio Cecchinato ◽  
Sara Pegolo ◽  
Andrea Albera
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Infrared Region ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
Infrared Spectral ◽  
Portable Spectrometers ◽  
Absorbance Spectra

AbstractSpectroscopic predictions can be used for the genetic improvement of meat quality traits in cattle. No information is however available on the genetics of meat absorbance spectra. This research investigated the phenotypic variation and the heritability of meat absorbance spectra at individual wavelengths in the ultraviolet–visible and near-infrared region (UV–Vis-NIR) obtained with portable spectrometers. Five spectra per instrument were taken on the ribeye surface of 1185 Piemontese young bulls from 93 farms (13,182 Herd-Book pedigree relatives). Linear animal model analyses of 1481 single-wavelengths from UV–Vis-NIRS and 125 from Micro-NIRS were carried out separately. In the overlapping regions, the proportions of phenotypic variance explained by batch/date of slaughter (14 ± 6% and 17 ± 7%,), rearing farm (6 ± 2% and 5 ± 3%), and the residual variances (72 ± 10% and 72 ± 5%) were similar for the UV–Vis-NIRS and Micro-NIRS, but additive genetics (7 ± 2% and 4 ± 2%) and heritability (8.3 ± 2.3% vs 5.1 ± 0.6%) were greater with the Micro-NIRS. Heritability was much greater for the visible fraction (25.2 ± 11.4%), especially the violet, blue and green colors, than for the NIR fraction (5.0 ± 8.0%). These results allow a better understanding of the possibility of using the absorbance of visible and infrared wavelengths correlated with meat quality traits for the genetic improvement in beef cattle.

scholarly journals 41 Estimating the heritability of meat quality traits in turkeys

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 18-19
Author(s):  
Ryley J Vanderhout ◽  
Michelle Yahiro ◽  
Benjamin Wood ◽  
Shai Barbut ◽  
Jeff S Mohr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Drip Loss ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Breast Meat ◽  
Meat Yield ◽  
Meat Quality Traits ◽  
White Striping ◽  
Breast Meat Yield

Abstract Genetic selection for improved meat quality traits has been successfully implemented in many livestock species. The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of several meat quality traits to assess their selection potential in turkeys. Pedigree toms (n = 1,033) were processed at a commercial facility and live weight, breast meat yield (as a percentage of live weight), ultimate pH, color (CIELAB values), drip loss, cooking loss, and shear force were recorded on M. pectoralis superficialis (fillet). White striping was also rated on a 1–4 scale. Heritabilities were estimated using univariate animal models in ASReml version 4.1. Hatch week and age at slaughter were included as fixed effects in the mode,l and 32 generations of pedigree records were used. Breast meat yield (h2 = 0.62; SE = 0.090) showed the highest heritability and was higher compared to previous estimates, probably due to the smaller sample size. Live weight (h2 = 0.31; SE = 0.078), ultimate pH (h2 = 0.36; SE = 0.087), lightness (h2 = 0.28; SE = 0.086), redness (h2 = 0.22; SE = 0.075), and white striping score (h2 = 0.27; SE = 0.085) all had moderate heritabilities. The estimate for ultimate pH was similar to previous studies in broilers but was high compared to previous studies in turkeys. Estimates for color were similar to those found in previous studies involving turkeys. Drip loss and cooking loss had similar heritability estimates of 0.13 (SE = 0.071) and 0.10 (SE = 0.064), respectively, which were akin to previous estimates in pork. Shear force (h2 = 0.02; SE = 0.056) was found to have a very low heritability. In conclusion, the heritability estimates provided in this study show great potential for the inclusion of meat quality traits in selection programs of turkeys. This study is part of a larger project working towards the implementation of genomic information in the selection of turkeys for improved meat quality.

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