July 11, 2006

US company proposes method to rate beef tenderness

Bovigen LLC, a US company, has developed Genetic Progeny Differences (GPD), a calculation method used to describe the actual genetic makeup of cattle and the effect of each allele, or combination of alleles.

GPDs would be used to describe any trait currently evaluated by DNA companies and would accommodate an infinite number of genetic combinations, interactions and genes yet to be discovered, according to a press release.

Calvin Gunter, director of corporate development of Bovigen, said GPDs would allow beef producers to work toward the traits valued by consumers.

The GPD would be the next evolution of the live animal industry to select and sort animals, he said.

Since each genetic marker for tenderness may affect true tenderness of the beef differently, each allele is assigned a numerical value based on the proven difference in shear force as reported by independent third party results.

There are grids for quality grades and how good it would taste, but not for tenderness, Gunter added. GPDs would fill the gap, he said.