Myostatin gene

[aj]

What is complicated to me is that there are 7 variants? Which ones are the Shorthorn people supposed to be on the look out for?

 

[mark tenenbaum]

What’s complicated.

Pretty simple.

If you want to know, just test.


I have a direct dabla cow.  He’s a carrier.  She tested clean. /// Thats it O0


Pretty simple.

 

[aj]

So is this right? You take a tissue from an ear by a allflex applicator. You put it in a tube a long with a form and a form card card. You send it to ASA. You can test.....say a yearling bull with the th,pha, ds package for 48 dollars plus an add on myostatin test for an additional 27 dollars. So my questions.....do you mail or ups the sample? Is the allflex applicator the same kind as you use for tagging or is it diifferent. If you check the myostatin box do they test for E226 or the whold damn bunch of variants? So basically for me to test a yearling bull it would be 75 bucks. Thanks in advance.

 

[knabe]

i can't believe how hard it is to google information on myostatin from testing labs.

used to be pretty easy

 

[knabe]

If you check the myostatin box do they test for E226 or the whold damn bunch of variants?

every time i have done it, they tested for all 9 variants


not sure why the information is so hard to find now.


not a good customer relations outreach

 

[Medium Rare]

So is this right? You take a tissue from an ear by a allflex applicator. You put it in a tube a long with a form and a form card card. You send it to ASA. You can test.....say a yearling bull with the th,pha, ds package for 48 dollars plus an add on myostatin test for an additional 27 dollars. So my questions.....do you mail or ups the sample? Is the allflex applicator the same kind as you use for tagging or is it diifferent. If you check the myostatin box do they test for E226 or the whold damn bunch of variants? So basically for me to test a yearling bull it would be 75 bucks. Thanks in advance.

I just use blood cards and mail it to the ASA. My form shows your $75 to be right, which is too damn high but I suppose the ASA doesn't have the bargaining power the AAA has. I was under the impression they tested for all 9 variants, but the results you get from the ASA aren't exactly clear and you only ever see results show up for E2226x, F94L & nt419 in the database.

I do not see a form, price, or any information to do testing directly through Geneseek/Neogen, even though I know they do it. In the past I had to contact them on some other testing in order for them to send me the correct form to use and it later showed up on their website.

 

[knabe]

if one tested for all nine variants, the results for EACH should show up on that animals web page

 

[aj]

knabe...did you go through the Shorthorn assn or direct? And when you say "animals web page"............is that on the labs web site or the Shorthorn Assn. web site or pedigree or whatever?

 

[aj]

So when you get the results from the ASA you get results for F94L, nt 419 and E226x. But what does it take........if you go through the ASA to get into the lab's web site that shows all 9 variants. Is there a code? Does the ASA block that? Can you see on the labs web site....all cattle that have been tested? Or is that all confidential information.?

 

[knabe]

in general, these companies are getting really bad with customer service. you can't call them directly for results, updates or anything. you are directed to call your association, and you call them and they say they emailed them so there is NO feedback that the testing companies customer service experience sucks really bad.

 

[Medium Rare]

So when you get the results from the ASA you get results for F94L, nt 419 and E226x. But what does it take........if you go through the ASA to get into the lab's web site that shows all 9 variants. Is there a code? Does the ASA block that? Can you see on the labs web site....all cattle that have been tested? Or is that all confidential information.?

After waiting a few weeks, you'll get a pdf emailed to you from the ASA with a 0, 1, or 2 in the results column. Below it will be a "results translation" like this.

Result Translation:
0 = animal does not have the Myostatin Mutation at the idicated mares and will have normal muscling.
1 = animal has the mutation at one allele and will have increased muscling.
2 = both alleles have the mutation and the animal will have more muscling than a result of 1.

It's very vague and does't even mention which gene is being discussed, but you can then go to your animal's registration page in digital beef and see the results for the three you listed. 0's are clean and 1's are carriers. These results are supposed to be posted for all to see and added to the genetic conditions link just like the other defect lists, but I've tested several animals and only see one on the list.

For whatever reason, there is a huge disconnect between you and the actual lab. I'm sure they have their reasons, but in general the Associations are often not able to discuss genetics and the testing at a high level. It is what it is. I have however called Geneseek/Neogen, on another matter, and after playing phone tag for a few days I was able to talk directly with one of their phd type "lead researchers" for close to an hour. She was very helpful and handled every question I could come up with, or put me in contact with someone who could, even though you could tell her schedule was very full. I have not tried this with Myostatin, but I would like to know if they are actually testing for all 9 variants or just the three listed.

 

[Okotoks]

We used to get the myostatin test results direct from Igenity. Neogen purchased Igenity and at the beginning of 2019 they purchased Delta Genomics the lab a lot of Canadian breeds used for their testing. I believe all the myostatin testing was done by Neogen as they owned the test. They test for all nine variants at the same time but their reports just show any existing variants the animal has. Our costs for testing dropped a bit after the Neogen purchase and if one does the 50K for enhanced DNA and genetic defects at the same time the genetic defects cost are reduced. The 50K includes parentage verification.

 

[knabe]

pathetic.  can't even find links on their page using key words myostatin and double muscling.


customer service is pathetic.

 

[aj]

Interesting stuff. Good enough for me. When I get bulls caught up I 'll check for the 3 variants.

 

[beebe]

When I started this I wanted to know more about the Myostatin gene, you all came through for me.  There has been a lot of information presented here.  I thank you all very much.

 

[Hopster1000]

Has all the carrier SH animals tested so far shown up with E226X?
I was wondering about F94L and if it has appeared at all? The Limousin breed have it and quite often in the Irish system they score very high for their maternal qualities as well as their terminal qualities. In fact they often score higher than SH, SIM and Angus for maternal.

 

[Medium Rare]

Has all the carrier SH animals tested so far shown up with E226X?
I was wondering about F94L and if it has appeared at all? The Limousin breed have it and quite often in the Irish system they score very high for their maternal qualities as well as their terminal qualities. In fact they often score higher than SH, SIM and Angus for maternal.

It appears a couple have shown up carrying F94L and nt419, but no where near as often as e226x has shown up.

Limms were one of the breeds that basically disappeared from my area years ago when the push for quality grade and CAB took over. Anything that can't produce a high choice or prime carcass on a regular basis has been punished hard. Rib Eye size is also a concern for some markets as when feedlots push to maximize their pounds/profits it leads to cuts so large the end user is left with serving sizes their customers can't handle. It also caused some end use processors to experiment with getting creative by turning traditional cuts into multiple smaller cuts with new names that their customers didn't recognize.

Producing lean in most of the midwest also often leaves us competing with South American imports and wages. Current label laws have left the door open for these imports to be blended and appear so similar to an actual product of the US that customers either can't tell the difference or don't care. So to me, that market currently appears to be a good way to run out of money fast.

 

[Dale]

Muridale Thermal Energy is clean for Myostatin E226X (E226X).  Thanks to Bowman Superior Genetics for being transparent.  Let's hope other owners of AI sires follow suit.  Will entire cow herds need tested?  In the beginning let's test all AI bulls as well as walking bulls. 

Here's my take on double muscling.  In our cow herd I want to maintain genetics that are 100% functional and practical.  Anything that interferes with walking well, reproductive efficiency, or ease of calving is not worth it to us.

If you have not taken time to do so, see Speckle Park slides including photos of and about DM in Okotok's post on page 5 of this thread.  Together the many problems with myostatin spell train wreck.  Small testicles, late-breeding females, dystocia, pencil gutted, poor-moving, etc. are all DM characteristics to be avoided.  If others want to use DM terminal sire for niche market freezer beef, that will be their choice.  Do your own research.  As for me and my herd, we choose myostatin free.

 

[aj]

Cool.

 

[redcows]

Good to hear Thermal Energy is clean. He is very impressive.