It’s A Six Star Steak…
I.
Intro
a. Five Star hotel
i. Mints on pillow, room service, valet parking, plush cotton robes
ii. Words that might come to mind- premium, finest, high quality,
deluxe
b. What does this have to do with agriculture? Did you know that today not
only can we rate our movies and hotels with stars, but our steaks as well?
c. With today’s technology we are making this a reality.
II.
The Future is Here
a. Genetic Solutions is Australian based company that has done extensive
research and has released multiple DNA genetic tests for different traits.
b. Bovigen Solutions, LLC is a licensee for Genetic Solutions products in the
United States.
c. These companies are offering genetic tests for marbling, tenderness,
traceability, paternity, and coat color.
d. Today, I will be focusing on the GeneSTAR Marbling test as well as
giving you a short overview of the Tenderness technology.
e. On that note, let’s talk about beef genetics.
III.
Bull’s Genome
a. 30 pairs of chromosomes
b. ~30, 000 genes
c. Can see the difficulty in pinpointing what controls what in a cow’s body
and how it will affect their meat?
d. But this is what Australian scientists did. They identified genetic markers
for these traits, marbling and tenderness.
e. But what’s the big deal?
IV.
The Reasoning
a. NCBA – National Cattleman’s Beef Assoc. 2000 Beef Quality Audit
showed top 2 greatest quality challenges according to purveyors, retailers,
and restaurateurs were insufficient marbling and inadequate tenderness
b. What’s the big deal? Consumer satisfaction and demand is the big deal.
Give the consumer what they want!
c. Also, because these traits are normally measured post mortem, this
technology serves an efficiency purpose as well. It allows us to test for
these traits in our herd in a more practical and timely manner.
V.
GeneSTAR Marbling
a. Marbling is the intramuscular fat in the meat and where the flavor is.
b. First commercial genetic marker test for a production trait in cattle
c. Tests for the Thyroglobulin gene on chromosome 14. In particular the
TG5 single nucleotide polymorphism fragment.
d. Thyroglobulin is involved in metabolism works in pathway that creates
fat cells within muscle fibers as energy storage
e. STAR ratings are given to cattle based on the number of favorable alleles
they carry for the gene. 2 STARS are awarded to homozygous animals
with the desired alleles, 1 STAR for heterozygous, and 0- STARS for
homozygous non-carriers.
VI.
GeneSTAR Marbling and Grades
a. Marbling is a significant factor in determining quality grade in cattle, with
the other factor being maturity.
b. Those cattle in the A maturity category – up to 30 months of age -- can
grade prime, choice, select or standard.
c. We will focus on A maturity because it is a requirement for most branded
beef programs.
d. Those with most abundant marbling grade PRIME – such as abundant,
moderately abundant and slightly abundant.
e. Moderate, modest and small amounts grade Choice
f. While slight marbling receives a select grade
VII.
GeneSTAR Marbling and Grades
a. The CSIRO Molecular Animal Genetics Centre in Australia performed
independent trials on 1500+ head of Angus and Shorthorn cattle. These
studies showed 2 STAR animals produced 16-19% more choice carcasses
than 0 STAR.
b. Group 1 were yearling fed cattle and group 2 were fed calves.
c. The National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium performed similar
studies in the U.S. on Simmental X Angus cross steers. These are shown
in group 3. This research yielded similar results to the Australian studies.
d. Also Yearling fed carcasses meeting the premium Choice grade was
doubled from 10-21% for 2 STAR animals. Premium choice is the upper
2/3 of choice grade. Premium Choice s a requirement for branded beef
programs like CAB
VIII.
GeneSTAR Marbling and Breeds
a. Breed is another determining factor in the amount of marbling cattle carry.
b. This graph is based on records of breeds from the GeneSTAR database
where more than 100 animals have been tested from that breed.
c. Favorable alleles are found in a range of breeds, but are more prevalent in
those known for high marbling.
d. As you can see on the chart, Wagyu is highest marbling with close to 40%
rating 2 STAR. Brahman cattle represent the lower end of the spectrum
with over 90% rating 0 STAR.
e. The British and European breeds lie somewhere in the middle between
these two extremes
IX.
GeneSTAR Marbling and Breeds
a. Japanese Black Wagyu cattle are most valuable beef cattle in world
b. Worth 2-3 times the other breeds in Australia
c. Melt in your mouth
d. Kobe beef as it is referred to –sells for highest prices in world
e. 300 g steak worth $120 and in Tokyo $250
X.
GeneSTAR Tenderness
a. Now that we have looked at the marbling test, let’s talk more about
GeneSTAR tenderness.
b. First multi marker single trait DNA test commercially available to the beef
industry.
c. Tests for alleles of Calpastatin and Calpain genes on chromosome 7 and
whether they have the tender of tough forms of those genes.
d. The Calpain gene weakens muscle fibers during post mortem aging
e. The Calpastatin gene is a naturally occurring enzyme that inhibits
Calpain.
f. Cattle receive a STAR rating for both of these genes. This means that
currently the highest rating an animal can receive is 6 STARs – 2 for
marbling, 2 for Calpastatin and 2 for Calpain.
g. What do all these stars mean for producers?
XI.
A Perfect 6
a. Utilizing this technology can be advantageous to producers in several
areas.
b. First of all, herd improvement- select for bulls and cows with traits to
produce high quality end products and an overall quality herd.
c. Tailor products to different markets around the world. By aiming our
highly marbled products to the Japanese markets to get high prices or a
European market desiring a leaner product.
d. Consumer satisfaction-again with quality and demand, assuring quality
products for programs like CAB.
e. Currently 19, 6 STAR Angus bulls on Genetic Solutions database – 7 are
owned by Summitcrest Angus – a premier Angus breeding operation in
the United States.
f. Star Power is one of their bulls that is being heavily marketed based on his
6 STAR rating.
g. HML Garder – 6 STAR Limousin bull that got a lot of attention and one
of first to go 6 STAR for breed
XII.
Future is in the STARs
a. Today we talked about the latest technology in beef genetics and how this
affects what gets put on the consumer’s plate and the ramifications it can
have for the world’s cattlemen.
b. The rewards for investing a little and selecting wisely….could be great.
c. I want to leave you with this quote from the Genetic Solutions Sales and
Marketing Manager, Jason Strong because I feel it sums up genetic testing
nicely - A quality herd means a quality steak, customer satisfaction and a
premium that is felt all the way through the supply chain.
d. Thank you. Are there are questions?