Effect of polymorphisms in the µ-calpain and calpastatin genes on economically important traitsof beef cattle in Puerto Rico

Abstract

The associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the µ-calpain (CAPN1-316 and CANP1-4751) and calpastatin (CAST) genes and growth traits were evaluated in a population of Senepol, Charoláis and Senepol x Charolais bulls (n=99). In another study, associations were evaluated between these SNP and carcass traits of a subgroup of 42 animals submitted to three dietary treatments. The SNP CAPN1-316 was associated with daily weight gain at 205 and 240 d, and with weaning age, wherein animals with CG genotype were heavier, gained weight faster, and were younger at weaning than animals with GG genotype. The latter presented heavier Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus, and Gluteus spp. muscles, but CG animals had a superior Longissimus dorsiarea. The CAPN1-4751 gene was related to birth weight, Longissimus dorsi weight, and with muscle to bone ratio, and for these traits the TT genotype was superior to the CT. The CAPN1-316 and CAPN1-4751 C alleles were found to be correlated with differences in meat tenderness measured at 0 d postmortem. The CAST SNP was not associated with any of the traits evaluated in this experiment. These results indicate that nucleotide substitution in the CAPN1 gene can produce differences in somatic growth in young bulls selected for beef production in Puerto Rico.