Myostatin is a protein, a protein that is formed in the human an the animal body. It inhibits muscle growth, so that muscles do not grow out of control. Inactivation of the naturel protein function of myostatin leads to muscle growth exuberant. If the function of myostatin is completely set out of power, it is called muscle hypertrophy or double Lender.

The race “White Belgian Blue” takes us vividly what rigorous selection and a genetic defect in the breed can cause everything. The heavy muscling of thesee animals is called “double-muscled” . This feature is also to a lesser extent in some other breeds to light, such as by Angus, Limousin and Piemontese. These animals can’t nearly give naturally birth to calves and need a caesarean section. The only “positive” in these gene defect (double Lender) is a 20-25 % higher dressing percentage. But the face of many negative effects:

MEAT – The rapid growth leads to less marbling, which means that one often has meat with less flavor and less juicy.

DIFFICULT BIRTHS – Due to higher birth weights, longer gestation, wider body of the calf.

VIABILITY – Vitality and drinking behavior of the calves are often substantially reduced. These are caused by the more common heart abnormalities, muscle pain, abnormalities in physique and susceptibility to lung diseases.

LATE MATURING

POOR FERTILITY – Later and less good development of sex organs up to the extreme case where animals can not reproduce naturally.

LESS MILK PERFORMANCE – Which affects the weaning weight of pups strong.

LIMITED CAPACITY to form fate reserves due to the scarce forage capacity and very fine bone structure, these animals are very limited in a position to feed or defects – deprivation, survive without significant performance issues. For extensive husbandry and farming under extreme climatic conditions, these animals are only partially suitable.

“Meet the super cow”

www.youtube.com/watch

We are not aware that this gene defect was discovered in the Highland Cattle breed ever !