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Muscle Enhanced Traits in Cattle and Sheep

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Animal Models — Disorders of Eating Behaviour and Body Composition

Abstract

The development of skeletal muscle involves proliferation of muscle precursor cells (myoblasts) and subsequent fusion into myotubes or muscle fibers. Therefore, skeletal muscle growth requires both an increase in cell numbers and an increase in muscle fiber size. Natural mutations exist in both cattle and sheep that affect either proliferation of myoblasts or muscle fiber size. These mutations have been retained in certain breeds due to selection. Inactivation of the myostatin locus in mice and in double muscled cattle has identified an important new negative regulator in skeletal muscle growth. Myostatin has been shown to be important for fetal muscle development and in maintenance of muscle mass in adults. Two loci on sheep chromosome 18 (callipyge and ribeye muscle) are linked to enhanced postnatal skeletal muscle growth in the pelvic limbs and loin. However, the actual mechanism responsible for muscle enhancement in these traits is not yet known. These mutations in livestock will provide new insight into the control of growth and body composition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-4700, USA

    Noelle E. Cockett & Christopher A. Bidwell

  2. Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-1026, USA

    Noelle E. Cockett & Christopher A. Bidwell

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  1. Noelle E. Cockett
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  2. Christopher A. Bidwell
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wales, Bangor, UK

    John B. Owen

  2. Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, UK

    Janet L. Treasure  & David A. Collier  & 

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Cockett, N.E., Bidwell, C.A. (2001). Muscle Enhanced Traits in Cattle and Sheep. In: Owen, J.B., Treasure, J.L., Collier, D.A. (eds) Animal Models — Disorders of Eating Behaviour and Body Composition. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9662-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9662-6_9

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