Influences on the loin and cellular characteristics of the m. longissimus lumborum of Australian Poll Dorset-sired lambs
P. L. Greenwood A D , J. J. Davis B C , G. M. Gaunt B and G. R. Ferrier BA NSW Department of Primary Industries Beef Industry Centre, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Victorian Department of Primary Industries, PIRVic, Rutherglen, Vic. 3685, Australia.
C Present address: Milne AgriGroup, Locked Bag 19, Welshpool DC, WA 6986, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: paul.greenwood@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(1) 1-12 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR04316
Submitted: 20 December 2004 Accepted: 13 September 2005 Published: 30 January 2006
Abstract
Offspring of 4 Poll Dorset rams differing in eye muscle depth estimated breeding values (EBVs) were studied to determine sire, sex, and nutritional influences on cellular characteristics in the longissimus lumborum muscle. At 12 weeks of age, 62 lambs were individually fed a concentrate diet with or without protected nutrients ad libitum for 120 days while 39 lambs were grazed on improved pasture. Sire influenced the percentages of type 2A and 2B/2X myofibres, but not myofibre number or size. Progeny of the highest eye muscle depth EBV ram had less type 2A and more 2B/2X myofibres than the lowest ranking sire. At equivalent carcass weight, amount of RNA and protein in the longissimus muscle was influenced by sire, consistent with differences in eye muscle depth EBVs. Sex had little effect on muscle cellular characteristics, whereas lambs fed pasture had less type 1 myofibres than those fed concentrates and had less muscle RNA and a higher ratio of protein to RNA. The findings demonstrate differences in m. longissimus lumborum cellular characteristics in offspring of sires differing in muscle EBVs. The extent to which these differences relate to the Carwell muscle hypertrophy gene remains to be determined.
Additional keywords: sheep, meat, muscle, genotype, Carwell, Callipyge.
Acknowledgments
Meat & Livestock Australia supported the animal production component of this study. We are grateful to Rumentek Industries for the provision of the protected nutrient supplements. The feedlot staff, Mr John Cook and Mr David Cooper, and Dookie student Henk Vroljinks are especially thanked for feeding and managing the penned lambs. Greg Seymour, Gareth Phillips, and Glenn Maurer provided additional support. We are also grateful to Dr John Reynolds for the statistical analysis of the data, to Bruce McCorkell who provided additional biometrical advice, and to Joe Brunner, Bill Johns, Steve Sinclair, and Kim Quinn who collected and prepared samples and performed laboratory analyses and myofibre characterisation. Dr Brigitte Picard, INRA, Saint-Genes Champanelle, France, provided the antibody S5-8H2, and Dr Ian Colditz, CSIRO, Chiswick, provided laboratory facilities to conduct the immunocytochemical and histochemical techniques.
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