Muscle tissue transcriptome of F1 Angus-Nellore bulls and steers feedlot finished: impacts on intramuscular fat deposition.

Background: Castration is a common practice in beef cattle production systems to manage breeding and enhance meat quality by promoting intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition, known as marbling. However, the molecular mechanisms that are influenced by castration in beef cattle are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolic pathways that regulate IMF deposition in crossbred cattle by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of skeletal muscle tissue.

Exploring the Longissimus Muscle: Unraveling its Correlation with Meat Quality in Bos indicus and Crossbred Bulls.

This study investigated muscle tissue in Bos indicus and crossbred bulls to explain differences in meat quality traits. Carcass traits, meat quality parameters, and biochemical and molecular investigations of myofibrillar proteins are described. Methods for evaluating pH, intramuscular fat (IMF), meat color (L*, a*, b*), water losses, tenderness, and molecular biology assays have been outlined.

Performance, nutrient utilization and meat quality traits in Bos indicus cattle: a meta-analysis examining the effect of residual feed intake.

This meta-analysis aims to investigate the effects of residual feed intake (RFI) phenotype on performance, nutrient utilization and meat quality traits in Zebu (Bos indicus) cattle. Twenty-three peer-reviewed publications with 37 treatment means were included in the dataset. Weighted mean difference analysis compared animals categorized into low RFI (more efficient) versus medium or high RFI (less efficient) groups.

Genome-wide scans identify biological and metabolic pathways regulating carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle.

Genome association studies (GWAS) provides knowledge about the genetic architecture of beef-related traits that allow linking the target phenotype to genomic information aiding breeding decision. Thus, the present study aims to uncover the genetic mechanism involved in carcass (REA: rib eye area, BF: backfat thickness, and HCW: hot carcass weight) and meat quality traits (SF: shear-force, MARB: marbling score, and IMF: intramuscular fat content) in Nellore cattle. For this, 6910 young bulls with phenotypic information and 23,859 animals genotyped with 435 k markers were used to perform the weighted single-step GBLUP (WssGBLUP) approach, considering two iterations.

Environmental Impacts of High-Quality Brazilian Beef Production: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Premium and Super-Premium Beef.

When individual purchasing power increases in society, there is a trend toward a quantitative and qualitative increase in the consumption of products. Considering the magnitude of beef production in Brazil, environmental impacts are important factors for the domestic and international markets. This study assessed a Brazilian feedlot system characterized by high animal welfare standards that produces high-quality beef that is more marbled than that produced in grass-fed systems.

Changes in the Lipid Metabolism of the Muscle in Bulls When Using Different Feeding Strategies during the Growing and Finishing Phases.

The objective was to evaluate the supplementation strategy's effect on beef cattle during the growing phase and two systems during the finishing phase. One hundred and twenty young bulls were randomly divided in a 2 × 2 factorial design to receive either mineral (ad libitum) or protein + energy (3 g/kg body weight (BW)/day) during the growing phase and pasture plus concentrate supplementation (20 g/kg BW/day) or feedlot (25:75% corn silage:concentrate) during the finishing phase. Feedlot-fed bulls had meat (-LT) with a higher content of lipids and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and a greater upregulation of and than animals that fed on pasture ( < 0.

Early Weaning Possibly Increases the Activity of Lipogenic and Adipogenic Pathways in Intramuscular Adipose Tissue of Nellore Calves.

This study aimed to evaluate by wide-expression profile analysis how early weaning at 120 days can alter the skeletal muscle metabolism of calves supplemented with a concentrated diet until the growth phase. muscle samples were obtained by biopsy from two groups of calves, early weaned (EW; n = 8) and conventionally weaned (CW; n = 8) at two different times (120 days of age-T1 [EW] and 205 days of age-T2 [CW]). Next, differential gene expression analysis and functional enrichment of metabolic pathways and biological processes were performed.

Genomic inbreeding estimation, runs of homozygosity, and heterozygosity-enriched regions uncover signals of selection in the Quarter Horse racing line.

With the advent of genomics, significant progress has been made in the genetic improvement of livestock species, particularly through increased accuracy in predicting breeding values for selecting superior animals and the possibility of performing a high-resolution genetic scan throughout the genome of an individual. The main objectives of this study were to estimate the individual genomic inbreeding coefficient based on runs of homozygosity (F ), to identify and characterize runs of homozygosity and heterozygosity (ROH and ROHet, respectively; length and distribution) throughout the genome, and to map selection signatures in relevant chromosomal regions in the Quarter Horse racing line. A total of 336 animals registered with the Brazilian Association of Quarter Horse Breeders (ABQM) were genotyped.

Effects of molasses supplementation on animal performance and carcass parameters of beef cattle: a meta-analysis.

Molasses must be one of the most used foods in the diet of ruminant animals; however, there is no consensus on the effect of including molasses on carcass parameters. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the effect of including molasses in the diet of feedlot cattle on performance and carcass parameters. Thirteen peer-reviewed publications with 45 treatment means were included in the dataset.

Effect of Cow-Calf Supplementation on Gene Expression, Processes, and Pathways Related to Adipogenesis and Lipogenesis in Muscle of F1 Angus × Nellore Cattle at Weaning.

The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes, biological processes, and metabolic pathways related to adipogenesis and lipogenesis in calves receiving different diets during the cow-calf phase. Forty-eight uncastrated F1 Angus × Nellore males were randomly assigned to two treatments from thirty days of age to weaning: no creep feeding (G1) or creep feeding (G2). The creep feed offered contained ground corn (44.

Assessment of corn wet distillers grains fed to crossbred bulls on feeding behavior, rumen morphology, liver abscesses and blood parameters.

Corn ethanol production has been growing in Brazil in the last ten years, generating by-products to feedlot diets. This study evaluates the effects of the inclusion of low-fat corn wet distillers grains (LF-WDG) on feeding behavior, ruminal health, liver abscesses and blood parameters of F1 Angus-Nellore bulls feedlot finished. Our hypothesis is that evaluation of data from feeding behavior, rumen and liver health would help to explain animal performance.

Does distillers' grains supplementation affect beef cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality? A meta-analysis study.

This study evaluated, through meta-analysis, the effect of distillers' grains (DG) supplementation to beef cattle on their performance, carcass parameters, and meat fatty acid profile. Eighty-one peer-reviewed publications with 439 treatments means were included in the data set. The effects of DG supplementation to beef cattle were evaluated using weighted mean differences (WMD) between the control group (diets with no DG) and DG group (diets with DG).

Testing different devices to assess the meat tenderness: preliminary results.

Meat tenderness is one of the principal attribute associated with consumer preferences. This study describes tenderness measurements at three final endpoint cooking temperatures (51, 61 and 71 °C) using a mechanical Warner-Bratzler (WBSF) as the standard instrument versus digital texturometer (CT3) and penetrometer (FHT) devices. Thirty-six cross-breed heifers () with initial body weight 330 ± 40 kg, 20-24 months of age, were slaughtered after 100 days on feed.

Application of the principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and partial least square regression on crossbreed Angus-Nellore bulls feedlot finished.

Principal component analysis (PCA) and the non-hierarchical clustering analysis (K-means) were used to characterize the most important variables from carcass and meat quality traits of crossbred cattle. Additionally, partial least square (PLS) regression analysis was applied between the carcass measurements and meat quality traits on the classes defined by the cluster analysis. Ninety-seven non-castrated F1 Angus-Nellore bulls feedlot finished were used.

Spliced genes in muscle from Nelore Cattle and their association with carcass and meat quality.

Transcript data obtained by RNA-Seq were used to identify differentially expressed alternatively spliced genes in ribeye muscle tissue between Nelore cattle that differed in their ribeye area (REA) or intramuscular fat content (IF). A total of 166 alternatively spliced transcripts from 125 genes were significantly differentially expressed in ribeye muscle between the highest and lowest REA groups (p ≤ 0.05).

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

This study aimed to use RNA-Seq to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in muscle of uncastrated Nelore males phenotypically divergent for ribeye muscle area (REA). A total of 80 animals were phenotyped for REA, and 15 animals each with the highest REA and the lowest REA were selected for analyses. DEGs found (N = 288) belonging to families related to muscle cell growth, development, motility and proteolysis, such as actin, myosin, collagen, integrin, solute carrier, ubiquitin and kelch-like.

Prediction of hub genes associated with intramuscular fat content in Nelore cattle.

Background: The aim of this study was to use transcriptome RNA-Seq data from longissimus thoracis muscle of uncastrated Nelore males to identify hub genes based on co-expression network obtained from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with intramuscular fat content.

Results: A total of 30 transcriptomics datasets (RNA-Seq) obtained from longissimus thoracis muscle were selected based on the phenotypic value of divergent intramuscular fat content: 15 with the highest intramuscular fat content (HIF) and 15 with the lowest intramuscular fat content (LIF). The transcriptomics datasets were aligned with a reference genome and 65 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 21 upregulated and 44 downregulated genes in HIF animals.

Gene expression profiling and identification of hub genes in Nellore cattle with different marbling score levels.

The marbling rate evaluation is difficult and expensive, requiring slaughter of the animal or ultrasound measurement. Thus, this trait is generally not included in animal breeding programs. The use of molecular techniques to elucidate intramuscular fat deposition may help improve this trait.

Exome sequencing in genomic regions related to racing performance of Quarter Horses.

Among horses selected for speed, the racing line of Quarter Horses is characterized by high performance in sprint races, with these animals being considered the fastest horses in the world. However, few studies have investigated in more detail the polymorphisms and genes that act on this trait. The objective of this study was to analyze exomes and UTRs in regions previously associated with this trait by GWAS in Quarter Horse racehorses with contrasting maximum speed index (SImax), prospecting causal gene polymorphisms that are related to or are in strong linkage disequilibrium with racing performance.

Influence of oxidative damage to proteins on meat tenderness using a proteomics approach.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between oxidative damage to proteins (represented by protein carbonylation) and beef tenderness. Three experimental groups were selected by shear force (SF): tender (38.2 ± 2.

Prediction of meat quality traits in Nelore cattle by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

The main definition for meat quality should include factors that affect consumer appreciation of the product. Physical laboratory analyses are necessary to identify factors that affect meat quality and specific equipment is used for this purpose, which is expensive and destructive, and the analyses are usually time consuming. An alternative method to performing several beef analyses is near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), which permits to reduce costs and to obtain faster, simpler, and nondestructive measurements.

Association of CAST2, HSP90AA1, DNAJA1 and HSPB1 genes with meat tenderness in Nellore cattle.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of expression of CAPN1, CAPN2, CAST, HSP90AA1, DNAJA1 and HSPB1 genes with meat tenderness in Nellore cattle. Three experimental groups were selected by shear force (SF): moderately tender (SF=34.3±5.

Effect of the g.98535683A>G SNP in the CAST gene on meat traits of Nellore beef cattle (Bos indicus) and their crosses with Bos taurus.

The objective of this study was to estimate allele frequencies of the g.98535683A>G:BTAU7 SNP in the CAST gene in different genetic groups of beef cattle produced in Brazil (Nellore and their crosses with Bos taurus), and to evaluate associations between this polymorphism and meat traits. Five hundred animals from six different genetic groups were genotyped and phenotyped for shear force (SF), myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), rib eye area, backfat thickness, and total lipids.