R830 Double Muscling (Myostatin 9 variants)

The protein myostatin is essential for proper regulation of myogenesis (the formation of muscle tissue). In cattle, a range of recessive mutations to the myostatin gene (MSTN) results in Muscle Hypertrophy, also known as Double Muscling. Double Muscled cattle, as the name implies, have unusually large muscles, which often goes paired with a lower fat content of their meat. Proper testing for these mutations can be of importance for meat quantity and quality in livestock production.

This combined test analyses for the presence of nine different variant mutations to MSTN. These include variants that are disruptive (C313Y, nt419, E226*, nt821, E291* & Q204*) and variants that are referred to as missense (S105C, F94L & D182N). The disruptive variants cause muscle hypertrophy (double-muscling), larger birth weights, increased dystocia and enhanced tenderness. The missense variants will increase muscularity and reduce external and intramuscular fat, with no change in birth weight or increased chances of dystocia.