Beef traceability using molecular methodologies.

摘要

The aim of this study was to develop an efficient methodology of breed traceability based on microsatellite markers. A second methodology based on the identification of possible breed-specific polymorphisms in 5 coat colour genes was also considered. A total of 35 microsatellite markers were genotyped on 384 cattle belonging to Chianina, Marchigiana, Limousin, Charolais and Frisona breeds. The breed assignment test based on 35 microsatellites showed, for each animal, higher likelihood values for belonging to its real breed of origin than to any of the other breeds. The error rate ranged from 0.1% for the more similar breeds to 0.001% for the more distant ones. Analysis of coat colour genes, despite being only preliminary work, revealed some interesting polymorphisms in the breeds studied. Some alleles were found exclusively in one of the five breeds analysed. The microsatellite analysis represented a powerful tool to support the traditional traceability systems and to satisfy the transparency needs of the market..