Gene Star

[novatech]

Thought this may interest some of you.


http://www.geneticsolutions.com.au/file ... 010_FE.pdf

 

[Tom Underwood]

Genestar's note appears to show a lot of bias. First, looking at the charts, there is a clear negative correlation between feed efficiency and IMF. 4% IMF and 6% IMF is a huge difference, and the highest IMF was clearly in the least efficient cows. Second, how come genestar doesn't note if there is any correlation between its tenderness genes and efficiency? Anyone care to bet whether the tenderness/efficiency correlation is also a statistically significant negative correlation?

Wouldn't it be interesting if a paper came out proving a negative correlation between growth and quality (IMF/tenderness)? Where would we as an industry go then?

 

[Frankie]

Genestar's note appears to show a lot of bias. First, looking at the charts, there is a clear negative correlation between feed efficiency and IMF. 4% IMF and 6% IMF is a huge difference, and the highest IMF was clearly in the least efficient cows. Second, how come genestar doesn't note if there is any correlation between its tenderness genes and efficiency? Anyone care to bet whether the tenderness/efficiency correlation is also a statistically significant negative correlation?

Wouldn't it be interesting if a paper came out proving a negative correlation between growth and quality (IMF/tenderness)? Where would we as an industry go then?

I don't know about a paper, but the ultrasound on the top feed efficiency Angus bull at Auburn showed him to have a high marbling score, over 5. That's very good for a bull. We've been feed testing Angus bulls for a long time and the ability to gain doesn't seem to be particularly related with the amount of marbling a bull carries. New Design 036 is/was a high marbling bull; his sons did well on performance tests. They also scanned good ribeyes.

 

[MikeC]

"Another key research area is investigating whether there are other traits affected by selecting for NFI, particularly meat quality and fertility traits. To date, the only significant finding is a small link with leanness (cattle with lower NFI EBVs being slightly leaner and possibly lower marbling). While this needs to be watched, the correlation is quite low — less than, for example, the correlation between birthweight and final weight"


http://www.beef.crc.org.au/genetics/level_g/g_3.htm