A comprehensive search for quantitative trait loci affecting growth and carcass composition of cattle segregating alternative forms of the myostatin gene

The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci for economically important traits in two families segregating an inactive copy of the myostatin gene. Two half-sib families were developed from a Belgian Blue x MARC III (n = 246) and a Piedmontese x Angus (n = 209) sire. Traits analyzed were birth, weaning, and yearling weight (kg); preweaning average daily gain (kg/d); postweaning average daily gain (kg/d); hot carcass weight (kg); fat depth (cm); marbling score; longissimus muscle area (cm2); estimated kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (%); USDA yield grade; retail product yield (%); fat yield (%); and wholesale rib-fat yield (%). Meat tenderness was measured as Warner-Bratzler shear force at 3 and 14 d postmortem. The effect of the myostatin gene was removed using phase information from six microsatellite markers flanking the locus. Interactions of the myostatin gene with other loci throughout the genome were also evaluated: The objective was to use markers in each family, scanning the genome approximately every 25 to 30 centimorgans (cM) on 18 autosomal chromosomes, excluding 11 autosomal chromosomes previously analyzed. A total of 89 markers, informative in both families, were used to identify genomic regions potentially associated with each trait. In the family of Belgian Blue inheritance, a significant QTL (expected number of false-positives = 0.025) was identified for marbling score on chromosome 3. Suggestive QTL for the same family (expected number of false-positives = 0.5) were identified for retail product yield on chromosome 3, for hot carcass weight and postweaning average daily gain on chromosome 4, for fat depth and marbling score on chromosome 8, for 14-d Warner-Bratzler shear force on chromosome 9, and for marbling score on chromosome 10. Evidence suggesting the presence of an interaction for 3-d Warner-Bratzler shear force between the myostatin gene and a QTL on chromosome 4 was detected. In the family of Piedmontese and Angus inheritance, evidence indicates the presence of an interaction for fat depth between the myostatin gene and chromosome 8, in a similar position where the evidence suggests the presence of a QTL for fat depth in the family with Belgian Blue inheritance. Regions identified underlying QTL need to be assessed in other populations. Although the myostatin gene has a considerable effect, other loci with more subtle effects are involved in the expression of the phenotype.