Its A Six Star Steak Debbie Mc Allister

It’s A Six Star Steak Debbie Mc. Allister Penn State University 2005

The Future is Here • Genetic Solutions – Australia • Bovigen Solutions, LLC – United States • Offering commercial DNA tests for marbling, tenderness, traceability, coat color and paternity

~30, 000 genes

The Reasoning • Top two quality concerns in NCBA 2000 Quality Audit • Allows producers to select for traits that are difficult and expensive to measure, but economically important Executive Summary of the 2000 NCBA Quality Audit

Marbling • First gene marker for production trait in beef cattle • Tests for favorable alleles of the Thyroglobulin gene on chromosome 14 – TG 5 single nucleotide polymorphism fragment • Thyroglobulin is involved in creating fat cells within fibers

Marbling and Grades

Marbling and Grades Bovigen Solutions, LLC Group 1 – yearlings Group 2 – calves Group 3 - NBCEC

www. beef. crc. org. au Marbling and Breeds 0% 2 -STAR 90+% 0 -STAR ~40% 2 -STAR

Marbling and Breeds • Japanese Black Wagyu cattle – Breed leader for marbling – Kobe beef – Steaks sell for $120 -250

Tenderness • Tests for alleles of Calpastatin and Calpain genes • The Calpain gene weakens muscle fibers during post mortem aging • The Calpastatin gene is a naturally occurring enzyme that inhibits Calpain

A Perfect 6 • Herd improvement Summitcrest Star Power M CALP • Tailor products to different markets CALPST • Consumer satisfaction HML Garder

Reaching for the stars… “A quality herd means a quality steak, customer satisfaction and a premium that is felt all the way through the supply chain. ” - Jason Strong Genetic Solutions Sales & Marketing Manager

THANK YOU! Questions? ?