Molecular genetics and phenotypic characterization of some beef quality traits in sudanese baggara cattle

The genotype frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the growth hormone1 (GH) locus (rs:4193484), the Insulin-Like Growth Factor Gene (IGF1)(rs:109763947) and association between genotypes and meat quality traits were studied in two subtypes of Baggara cattle (65 Nyalawi and 65 Mesairi bulls) raised under dry land farming in Western Sudan. All Nyalawi and Mesairi bulls were homozygous for the 2141C wildtype allele of GH1 gene. The heterozygote (CT) IGF1 genotype (13% and 14%) and homozygote CC (86 and 85%) frequencies were almost similar in the two genotypes. The mutant homozygotes (TT) existed only in the Mesairi subtype (2%). Difference between Nyalawi and Mesairi subtypes in live weight (459.6 vs 446.1 kg), hot carcass (234.3 vs 208.5 kg) weight, dressing percentage (50.9 vs. 47.3%), meat quality traits, fat percentage, moisture, and ash content were significant (P<0.05). No associations between IGF1 genotypes and weights and meat quality traits were found. No differences between IGF1 genotypes in meat chemical composition (P>0.05) except for fat content (P<0.05). Breed x IGF1 genotypes interactions were not significant (P>0.05). Further research in other regions of the sequence of these genes and other candidate genes affecting meat quality traits is called for in all subtypes of Sudanese Baggara cattle.