What causes double muscling in Belgian Blue cattle?
Double muscling is the term used to designate a muscle hypertrophy characteristic of cattle and Texel sheep. It is due to a mutation in the myostatin (MSTN) gene, which encodes the growth-regulating factor myostatin. Muscle hypertrophy arises from an increased total number of fibers.
Why do Belgian Blue cattle have more muscle than other cattle?
They’re called Belgian blue bulls, and the reason they look so bulky is because of a naturally occurring mutation called “double muscling,” which occurs when the animals lack a certain protein that regulates muscle growth. While double muscling is natural, the way the mutation has been perpetuated is not.
Why are Belgian Blue Bulls so big?
The double-muscling phenotype is a heritable condition resulting in an increased number of muscle fibers (hyperplasia), instead of the (normal) enlargement of individual muscle fibers (hypertrophy). This particular trait is shared with another breed of cattle known as Piedmontese.
Can humans have double muscling?
Myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy is a rare condition characterized by reduced body fat and increased muscle size. Affected individuals have up to twice the usual amount of muscle mass in their bodies.
What do you suspect causes the double muscling condition?
The MSTN (myostatin) gene has been identified as the cause of the double-muscled phenotype in cattle [16]. An 11 base-pare deletion of the protein is responsible for muscular hypertrophy in Belgian Blue DM (BBDM) cattle.
Are Piedmontese double muscled?
Two of the breeds that possess the double muscle gene are the Piedmontese and the Parthenais. The Piedmontese was discovered in Italy 1897, and the Parthenais were found in France in 1893.
Are Limousin cattle double muscled?
As a result of the high frequency of this gene in the Limousin population, most animals have double copies and exhibit its characteristics; increased muscle mass without increased calving difficulties, lowered fertility or longevity.
How long do Belgian Blues live?
When you consider that beef suckler cows such as the South Devon – who also carry the double muscling gene mutation but are not selected for it – can live over 20 years and produce up to 15 calves in that time, it is clear that systematically performing caesarean sections on a Belgian Blue cow is a severe curtailment …
Who is the most muscular animal?
In brute strength, elephants are the strongest mammals and the strongest land animals. African elephants can weigh up to 6,350kg and they can carry up to 9,000kg, the weight of 130 adult humans.
Why does myostatin exist?
Myostatin is found almost exclusively in muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles), where it is active both before and after birth. This protein normally restrains muscle growth, ensuring that muscles do not grow too large.
Do humans have a myostatin gene?
Myostatin (also known as growth differentiation factor 8, abbreviated GDF8) is a myokine, a protein produced and released by myocytes that acts on muscle cells to inhibit muscle cell growth. In humans it is encoded by the MSTN gene.
Are double muscled animals stronger?
Animals that are double-muscled have a higher carcass yield but this does come with new problems for the cattle. The meat from double muscled cattle is tenderer. “There is a persisting trend to improve carcass quality in specialized beef breeds.