EVALUATION OF MEAT QUALITY IN TELEORMAN BLACK HEAD BY ECOGRAPHIC METHOD AND IDENTIFICATION OF CALPASTATIN (CAST) GENE POLYMORPHISM CORRELATED WITH CARCASS QUALITY

Cristina Lazar, Al.M. Gras, M.C. Rotar, Gina Cecilia Pistol, Rodica Stefania Pelmus, Elena Ghiţă

Abstract
    The objective of this study was to evaluate meat quality using ultrasound method measuring two points in Longissimus Dorsi muscle and the identification of CAST gene correlated with carcass quality at 105 lambs of Teleorman Black Head breed. There was determinate the fat depth in males (2.33, 2.51 mm) and females (2.12, 2.11mm), muscle depth (22.45, 22.68 mm) and (20.69, 20.95 mm), eye muscle area (9.28, 9.30 cm²) and (8.91, 8.87 cm²). Medium correlations where found in these two points between birth weight with muscle depth (0.45, 0.49) and eye muscle area (0.40, 0.54). Medium to high correlations resulted between 3.5 month weight with muscle depth (0.58, 0.65) and with eye muscle area (0.55, 0.67) and also average daily gain with fat depth and with muscle depth given medium to high correlations (0.51, 0.44, 0.46, and 0.59). Between muscle depth and eye muscle area in this two measurement points resulting high correlations (0.71, 0.76) also between muscle depth and eye muscle perimeter (0.90, 0.85) revealing lambs meat potential. For calpastatin, was extracted blood DNA and polymorphism was determined by PCR RFLP. The PCR products were digested with Hae III enzyme. Calpastatin gene frequency in these tree genotypes AA, AB and BB was 73.68 %, 6.32% and 23%. The allele A frequency was 77 % and for allele B was 23%. CAST gene can be a useful tool in marker assisted selection for meat quality.

Key words: carcass quality, Longissimus Dorsi, calpastatin gene, sheep