Backed by Genesis Faraday, the organisation that funds and promotes the development of new genetic technologies, Dovecote Park, Border Quality Beef, the National Beef Association, Igenity and the University of Bristol have embarked on a trial with gene markers.

The results, expected later this year, will identify which tenderness gene marker scores consistently meet consumer expectations for beef tenderness.

“The apparently random tendency of some animals to produce tough beef has frustrated consumers, retailers and breeders for decades,” said Kim Haywood, NBA director.

“The identification of exactly which cattle carry the gene score combination that makes their beef acceptably tender could revolutionise beef production.

“The trial’s first task is to discover the relationship between DNA profile scores for the tenderness gene and actual meat tenderness.

Source: Farmers Guardian