Tenderness Testing...
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Try a little tenderness!
The chart to the right
shows the current distribution of
tenderness score in the American cowherd
(red) and how the tenderness score would
advance if they were bred to a bull with
a tenderness score of 10 in the first
(blue) and second (green) generation.
(click on the image to view the chart
larger) |
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You’ve no doubt been bombarded with new information about using
DNA markers to select cattle for several carcass traits,
including tenderness. We at Effertz Key Ranch welcome this
exciting and accurate new technology. We’re testing much of our
seedstock for tenderness because Effertz Key Ranch believes that
providing consumers with a satisfying eating experience is the
one thing more important than producing beef efficiently and
profitably.
That said, if you have
“stars” in your eyes trying to figure out what’s real and what’s
hype about this new DNA technology, you’re not alone. Because of
the vast amount of confusing and misleading information out
there, we at Effertz Key Ranch decided to try to corral the
facts. Here’s both the long and short on the subject. If you’re
in a rush (and who isn’t), feel free to hit just the highlights
on this page. If and when you’re ready to dig deeper, click on
the READ MORE at the end of every question for a more in-depth
answer. You can also click on any of the attached files listed
in the READ MORE sections for additional information about that
subject. You’ll need the Adobe reader program to read the
attached articles.
Download Free at (
http://www.download.com/3000-2378-10000062.html ).
Let us
know what you think. We at Effertz Key Ranch would like to hear
from you. Click here to contact us
TEN TENDER HIGHLIGHTS
1.
Why worry about
tenderness?
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It’s crucial for
customer acceptance and consumers are willing to pay more for
tender beef.
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Chemically or
mechanically enhancing beef doesn’t fix the problem if you start
with tough product to begin with. And consumers don’t like us
tampering with it.
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Because of instrument
grading and new testing technology, tenderness is going to soon
be a part of grid premiums and discounts. What you do now will
determine whether there are “tender” premiums or “tough”
discounts in your future. (READ MORE).
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2.
Doesn’t marbling or
quality grade get at the same thing?
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No. Marbling accounts for no
more than 10% of the variation in tenderness. What’s more, a
significant amount of Select beef tests tender and a significant
amount of Choice beef, even the top two-thirds of Choice, tests
tough. (READ MORE).
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Also (click here) to read an
excerpt from USDA Meat Animal Research Center report on Marbling
Effect on Beef Cattle Palatability.
3. How do I shop for
genetically tender seedstock?
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Effertz Key Ranch has
several sons and daughters of DNA-verified tender sires as well
as semen available. For more information:
[Salers],
[Charolais] (click on one). |
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There are two commercially
available DNA tests for tenderness: Merial’s Igenity® (formerly
called TenderGENE™)
www.igenity.com
and Bovigen’s GeneSTAR® test.
http://www.bovigen.com/tenderness.htm
Both tests have been
independently evaluated by the National Beef Cattle Evaluation
Consortium (NBCEC) to have a “highly” significant effect on beef
tenderness and both are similar. But Igenity® reports its
results in a scoring system from 1 to 10 and in the U.S.,
GeneSTAR® has a possible 6 stars for tenderness and another two
possible stars for marbling. (READ MORE).
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 A 5 STAR BULL IN AUSTRALIA MIGHT BE NO MORE
THAN A 3 STAR BULL IN THE U.S. GENESTAR® AUSTRALIA REPORTS
AS MANY AS 8 STARS FOR TENDERNESS BUT THE ADDITIONAL TWO
STARS COME FROM A MARKER THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN PROVEN TO BE
STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR TENDERNESS AND IS THEREFORE
NOT CURRENTLY MARKETED IN THE U.S.
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THERE IS ALSO AN ADDITIONAL
MARBLING MARKER USED IN AUSTRALIA THAT CAN EARN A BULL
ANOTHER TWO STARS MAKING A TOTAL OF 14 STARS (8 FOR
TENDERNESS AND 6 FOR MARBLING) POSSIBLE IN THAT COUNTRY. BUT
THIS ADDITIONAL MARBLING MARKER HAS ALSO NOT BEEN SHOWN TO
BE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT AND IS NOT MARKETED IN THE
U.S.
4. Why aren’t all stars
created equal?
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GeneSTAR®’s marbling stars
(there are two possible) shouldn’t be added to or confused with
its tenderness stars. While the tenderness test was
independently evaluated to be highly significant, the marbling
test didn’t meet normal statistical significance. What’s more
adding them together tells you nothing about tenderness or
marbling. (READ MORE). |
5. Do Igenity®’s score and
GeneSTAR®’s stars mean the same thing?
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To a point. Two of the three
markers that each company is using in their tenderness test are
identical. The third marker, although a different SNP, has been
verified to have a similar effect and is likely measuring the
same gene. But the two companies report the test results so
differently that an animal with a score less than 10 or having
less than six stars can not be compared to each other without
more specific information about the actual genotype of each
marker (READ MORE). |
6. Why does 6 equal 10 but
5 doesn’t equal 5?
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Because only an animal that
tops the scale in both tests (such as Keys McTender 279P—who is
a 10 on Igenity®’s tests and has 6 stars on GeneSTAR®’s test)
can be compared. That’s because he has the most favorable
genotype for all the tenderness markers available. But these
animals are rare in any breed. Under the GeneSTAR® system, it’s
possible for animals to earn the same number of stars and yet
have very different genotypes for tenderness or marbling.
(READ MORE).
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7. What’s a marker and
other smart questions?
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Sorry, no short cuts here.
(READ MORE) for the answers.
This section also includes a table of the favorable
and unfavorable tenderness markers for both the
Igenity® and GeneSTAR® tests.
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8. When is a one pound
difference a big deal?
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When
it’s a shear force difference. Warner Bratzler shear
force is the gold standard for objectively measuring
tenderness because it measures the force or pressure
needed to slice beef cooked to a standard medium
doneness. Generally beef needing over 11 lb. of
shear force is considered tough. A 1 lb. difference
in shear force is highly significant and could
easily be enough to more an animal from slightly
tough to tender. Based on research results, Igenity®
assigned shear force value differences to each of
its 10 scores. (READ MORE)
. This section shows those values and demonstrates
the similarities and important differences between
the Igenity® and GeneSTAR® rating systems.
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9. Why does it make a
difference where the “stars” come from?
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Because a five star bull on the
GeneSTAR® system could actually have only one favorable allele
for each of the three tenderness markers and the two marbling
markers. You’ve not only been misled about the tenderness
status of this bull, but his “starry” total was obtained by
adding the highly significant stars for tenderness to the
statistically “shaky” stars for marbling. (READ MORE).
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10. Think your cattle are
tender enough?
Regardless of breed, animals
that score 7 or above for tenderness aren’t all that prevalent.
As this chart in this section shows, we’ve got plenty of room
for improvement. (READ MORE).
This section also
contains links to independent research on breed
shear force differences as well as the relationship
between tenderness, marbling and eating
satisfaction.
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Effertz Key Ranch has
several sons and daughters of DNA-verified tender sires as well
as semen available. For more information:
[Salers],
[Charolais] (click on one). |
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