Document Type

Report

Report Number

2003-4

Publication Date

2003

Keywords

cattle, leptin, gene maker

Summary

The objective was to evaluate associations of leptin genotype with fat and muscle traits in cattle. A single nucleotide polymorphism located in exon 2 of the leptin gene in cattle codes for an amino acid change from arginine (R) to cysteine (C). Genotypes for the polymorphism were determined on 492 crossbred calves by AciI digestion of amplified PCR product (C allele: 130bp; R allele: 73bp and 57bp). Data were analyzed by least-squares, accounting for effects of genotype, sex, year, location, breed-type, and calf sire. Genotype was not significantly associated with carcass weight or ribeye area in any of the analyses. Associations of genotype with external fat thickness, KPH fat, and overall cutability were small and generally not statistically significant. Subjective marbling scores (assigned by USDA grader; 350 = slight 50, 400 = small 0, 450 = small 50) were higher (P = .02) for CC (411 units) than for RR (388 units) genotype when adjusted to a constant slaughter age of 433 days. Similar differences between genotypes in marbling scores were observed when adjusting to a constant carcass weight or external fat thickness. Given the relatively modest association between genotype and marbling, potential application of the marker in the industry as a selection tool would be most relevant in herds with a large proportion of market animals possessing marbling scores that are near a price threshold level (e.g., select/choice quality grade).

Number of Pages

4

Format

application/pdf

Language

en

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 2003 South Dakota State University

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