Effect of gene expression on intramuscular fat deposition and lipid metabolism in Wagyu kuroge sires progenies

• Grant number: 23/11894-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Angélica Simone Cravo Pereira
• Grantee: Livia Fernanda de Jesus
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian cattle farming holds the title of largest exporter of beef, has the largest commercial herd and occupies third place in the ranking of beef consumption. However, most of the animals are zebu, which feature meat with no or little marbling, a factor that is highly sought after by consumers. Thus, the inclusion of breeds with greater capacity for intramuscular fat deposition is necessary. Therefore, the Wagyu Kuroge breed, of Japanese origin, becomes attractive for its ability to deposition fat. However, studies of this breed reared in tropical conditions are scarce. Thus, we propose to analyze the differences in progenies of Wagyu Kuroge sires, raised in tropical conditions, for quantitative characteristics and the expression of genes related to intramuscular fat deposition and lipid metabolism of the Longissimus thoracis muscle. Forty progeny of Wagyu Kuroge cattle, from the Itozakura, 100% Tajima, Hiroshima and Alto % Tajima lines were confined. The animals were kept under the same handling conditions, receiving ad libitum feeding with the same diet. The animals are being slaughtered, and after evisceration, samples are collected from the Longissimus thoracis muscle for gene expression analysis. During deboning, the marbling score analysis is taking place and samples of the Longissimus thoracis muscle are collected for quantification of total lipids. It is expected that there is a difference in the expression and interaction of genes related to intramuscular fat deposition and lipid metabolism with physicochemical beef traits quality from progenies of different lineages of the Wagyu Kuroge breed, finished in tropical conditions.