Association of Calpastatin Polymorphism with Carcass and Meat Quality Traits of Bandur Sheep

S. Naveen Kumar; M. R. Jayashankar; Wilfred Ruban; R. M. Sreesujatha; Y. S. Roopa  Devi

Authors

S. Naveen Kumar Associate Professor, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Hebbal, Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2579-3521
M. R. Jayashankar Retd. Professor, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Hebbal, Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA
Wilfred Ruban Associate Professor, Department of LPT, Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Hebbal, Bengaluru, INDIA
R. M. Sreesujatha Research Associate, Livestock Research and Information Centre (Sheep), KVAFSU, K. R. Pete Road, Nagamangala, Karnataka, INDIA
Y. S. Roopa Devi Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary College, Hassan, Karnataka, INDIA

Keywords:

Bandur, Calpastatin, Carcass, Meat quality, Meat Tenderness

Abstract

The present study was aimed to determine the association of Calpastatin (CAST) gene polymorphism with carcass and meat quality traits of Bandur sheep. The genomic DNA extracted from 100 Bandur ram lambs was subjected to PCR using published primers to amplify ovine calpastatin gene (exon 1C/1D). The PCR-RFLP analysis of amplified CAST gene using restriction enzymes MspI and NcoI revealed two alleles viz., M and N with frequencies of 0.535 and 0.465, respectively. The genotypic frequencies were 0.24, 0.59 and 0.17 for MM, MN and NN, respectively. The carcass and meat quality traits were studied in 18 ram lambs belonging to the three CAST genotypes. No significant difference was observed between CAST genotypes and carcass traits. However, with respect to meat quality traits NN genotype had significantly lower Warner-Bratzler Shear Force value (P<0.001) indicating higher tenderness and significantly higher total ash percentage (P<0.05) than MM and MN genotypes. From the present study, it was concluded that ovine calpastatin gene may be considered as a possible candidate gene for meat tenderness in Bandur sheep.