The comparative results of myostatin introgression from donor Texel to recipient Ramlıç sheep with the aspects of growth, pre-, and post-slaughter carcass traits in the second backcross generation

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the study was to evaluate the growth, body and ultrasonic measurements and some carcass traits of purebred Ramlıç, Texel and crossbred (87.5 % Ramlıç and 12.5 % Texel) lambs in a marker-assisted introgression (MAI) project. The effects of some environmental factors such as genotype, sex, birth type, dam age, weaning age, and birth weight on growth, ultrasound measurements, and carcass traits were significant (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between pure Ramlıç and its myostatin carrier (+/-) and non-carrier (-/-) second backcrosses (BC2) for birth weight, daily live weight gain, and weaning weight. The BC2 genotype (+/-) was statistically caught up with pure Ramlıç for wither height, body length, and rump width. Differences in the longissimus muscle depth indicated that the BC2 (+/-) genotypes tended to be better for both pure Ramlıç and Texel lambs. Texel lambs were superior to Ramlıç in the aspect of some carcass characteristics such as leg length, cold right-half carcass weight, foreleg weight in the left-half carcass, and muscle weight in the left leg. BC2 (+/-) lambs were in the middle of both breeds for the traits. BC2 lambs carrying myostatin did not vary from Ramlıç morphologically. The new type of Ramlıç was also closer to Texel in the aspect of carcass characteristics. In this connection, improvement of indigenous breeds could be achieved by MAI without changing the essential characteristics. For the summary, please visit http://www.mustafatekerli.com (last access: 14 June 2022).