title: Genotypic effects of the Texel Muscling QTL (TM-QTL) on meat quality in purebred Texel lambs.
abstract: Texel Muscling QTL (TM-QTL) increases loin muscling in lambs inheriting it from their sire only. This study investigated TM-QTL effects on meat quality in 209 Texel lambs that were CT-scanned then slaughtered at 20weeks (carcasses aged for ~1week). Loin meat quality traits included: CT-measured muscle density (predicting intramuscular fat); mechanical tenderness using Volodkevich-type jaws or MIRINZ tenderometer; intramuscular fat; sensory eating quality (sub-sample of 40 lambs). Volodkevich tenderness was also measured in the leg (Vastis lateralis). TM-QTL genotypes were determined, giving 40 non-carriers (+/+), 70 heterozygotes-53 inheriting TM-QTL from the sire (TM/+) and 17 from the dam (+/TM), 34 homozygote TM-QTL lambs (TM/TM) and 65 uncertain. Multiple regression identified no genotype effects on meat quality. For MIRINZ-measured loin tenderness only, contrasts revealed a significant additive effect of TM-QTL (1.27kgF difference between homozygotes). However, the taste panel identified no significant differences between +/+ and TM/TM lambs. Results show little evidence of TM-QTL affecting meat quality.
authors: Sustainable Livestock Systems Group, Scottish Agricultural College, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
authors: N R
authors: NR
authors: Lambe
authors: R I
authors: RI
authors: Richardson
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Macfarlane
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Nevison
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Haresign
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Matika
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Bünger