Genetic markers associated with beef quality: A review

Classic animal breeding focuses on changes in genetic composition of populations through selection and breeding systems designed to increase the frequency of favorable alleles incrementing production by improving traits of commercial interest. Meat quality involves traits that have received considerable attention in genetic breeding programs in recent years. The genomic selection using single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) markers is a strong tool to obtain desired phenotypes for economically important traits, including those which are perceived by consumers. Trait such as back and intramuscular fat contribute to the juiciness, flavor and tenderness of beef, all of which directly influences consumer choice. Over the years, many studies have been conducted resulting in multiple quantitative trait locus (QTLs) candidates for carcass and meat quality traits, and an extensive database has been created. Traits such as marbling score, intramuscular fat and subcutaneous fat thickness (which includes back fat and rump fat thickness), have been associated with 2448, 192 and 1044 QTLs, respectively. Although genetic analyses are costly and laborious, the use of molecular markers help to increase favorable genes in the population. Their advance is becoming more concrete and acceptable as a measure of economic importance.