Associations between the genotypes of the calpain and cal-pastatin genes and performance, carcass parameters and meat quality in Nelore cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between polymorphisms in the calpain (CAPN) and calpastatin (CAST) genes with the performance, carcass quality and meat quality traits of Nelore cattle. A total of 95 male Nelore cattle were used for the experiment. For molecular analysis, genomic DNA was extracted from the muscle tissue of the animals, and the polymerase chain reaction–single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) technique was used to detect and identify the following polymorphisms: three genotypes of the CAPN9 gene (exon 9), eight patterns in the CAPN14 gene (exon 14) and four genotypes of the CAST5 gene (exon 5). The CAST5 genotype was associated with soluble collagen content and the percentages of lauric (C12:0) and palmitic (C16:0) acids. The CAPN14 genotype affected the final pH and moisture content of the Nellore cattle meat. CAPN9 gene polymorphisms were not associated with the Nelore cattle parameters analyzed. The occurrence of CAST5 and CAPN14 gene polymorphisms may change the fatty acid profile and parameters associated with the quality of Nellore cattle meat.