Effects of a quantitative trait locus for muscle hypertrophy from Belgian Texel sheep on carcass conformation and muscularity

A QTL for muscle hypertrophy has been identified in the Belgian Texel breed. A population of F2 and backcross lambs created from crosses of Belgian Texel rams with Romanov ewes was studied. Effects on carcass traits and muscle development of the Belgian Texel breed polygenes and Belgian Texel single QTL were compared. In both cases, carcass conformation and muscularity were improved. The Texel polygenic environment improved conformation mainly through changes in skeletal frame shape. Segments were shorter and bone weight lower. Muscles were more compact, shorter, and thicker. The single QTL affected muscle development. Thickness and weight of muscles were increased. Composition in myosin changed toward an increase of fast contractile type. The relative contribution of hind limb joint to carcass weight was increased. Differences in skeletal frame morphology among the three genotypes of the single QTL were small. Conformation scoring was mainly influenced by leg muscularity. Back and shoulder muscle development, which largely contributed to variability of muscularity, were less involved in the conformation scoring. Lastly, the QTL explains a small part of differences between these Belgian Texel and Romanov breeds for conformation or muscle development. A large part of genetic variability remains to be explored.