Innovis sheep breeds

[Tim W]

Each copy increases lean meat yield of carcass by 5%.

Increases lean meat yield by up to 5% ---i think?

 

[neilo]

Increases lean meat yield by up to 5% ---i think?

The Innovis trial work (which used the progeny of my Charollais rams btw) showed an average of 5% higher lean meat yield in the hindquarter for single carriers, and an average of 10% extra for double carriers.

It increases hindquarter muscularity with no real downside, hence most composite breeding programs having integrated that gene mutation now. However it doesn’t add anything to loin muscling, which is the most valuable primal on lamb, but unrewarded on the EUROP grading system. MyoMAX serves to help more lambs hit grades on EUROP though.

 

[Ysgythan]

(which used the progeny of my Charollais rams btw)

they needed rams with no copies?

 

[Global ovine]

The Innovis trial work (which used the progeny of my Charollais rams btw) showed an average of 5% higher lean meat yield in the hindquarter for single carriers, and an average of 10% extra for double carriers.

It increases hindquarter muscularity with no real downside, hence most composite breeding programs having integrated that gene mutation now. However it doesn’t add anything to loin muscling, which is the most valuable primal on lamb, but unrewarded on the EUROP grading system. MyoMAX serves to help more lambs hit grades on EUROP though.

There are many genotypes affecting myostatin (reducing the natural handbrake on extra muscle development), however the trademarked MyoMAX (test and name owned by Zoetis) is the most used. This is because it is largely found in Texels and Texels are widely used internationally especially for introgressing that gene for additional muscle mass.
MyoMAX does affect all muscle groups. The bigger the natural size of those muscles, e.g. in the leg, the more visible and measurable they are. An extra 5% on the loin isn't as apparent as an extra 5% on the leg, or 10% if a double copy.

NZ lamb ready to cook and primal cuts are exported to around 100 markets. The value of the loin averages around 60% of the total carcass worth to the NZ producer. Any increase in meat yield to this region has more affect financially to the exporter than an equivalent % increase in the leg or shoulder, which is why meat yield measuring technology is the preferred payment system to encourage producers to boost carcass meat yield especially in the loin.

The downside of MyoMAX is the 7% (single copy carrier) and 14% (double copy carrier) reduction of subcutaneous fat reserves in ewe lines retained for breeding. However the modern consumer prefers lean meat, compared to the consumers of 50 years ago when energy staples were essential. Today we have carbohydrates in abundance and lamb is a luxury rather than a staple dietary component.

To increase loin muscle, LoinMAX (again a test in the Zoetis stable) has a 10% increase specific to the loin muscle and no affect on fat cover. This gene was found to be very frequent in NZ Dorset Horns and in low frequency in their derivative breed, Poll Dorsets. If this situation exists in these breeds elsewhere in the world, I am yet to know.

 

[NZDan]

There are many genotypes affecting myostatin (reducing the natural handbrake on extra muscle development), however the trademarked MyoMAX (test and name owned by Zoetis) is the most used. This is because it is largely found in Texels and Texels are widely used internationally especially for introgressing that gene for additional muscle mass.
MyoMAX does affect all muscle groups. The bigger the natural size of those muscles, e.g. in the leg, the more visible and measurable they are. An extra 5% on the loin isn't as apparent as an extra 5% on the leg, or 10% if a double copy.

NZ lamb ready to cook and primal cuts are exported to around 100 markets. The value of the loin averages around 60% of the total carcass worth to the NZ producer. Any increase in meat yield to this region has more affect financially to the exporter than an equivalent % increase in the leg or shoulder, which is why meat yield measuring technology is the preferred payment system to encourage producers to boost carcass meat yield especially in the loin.

The downside of MyoMAX is the 7% (single copy carrier) and 14% (double copy carrier) reduction of subcutaneous fat reserves in ewe lines retained for breeding. However the modern consumer prefers lean meat, compared to the consumers of 50 years ago when energy staples were essential. Today we have carbohydrates in abundance and lamb is a luxury rather than a staple dietary component.

To increase loin muscle, LoinMAX (again a test in the Zoetis stable) has a 10% increase specific to the loin muscle and no affect on fat cover. This gene was found to be very frequent in NZ Dorset Horns and in low frequency in their derivative breed, Poll Dorsets. If this situation exists in these breeds elsewhere in the world, I am yet to know.

I've got a double copy Loinmax Merino ram floating around on the farm, used him last year but killed all his lambs, maybe I should consider using him again, he is ranked very high for Fec Bv and Dag Bv which is odd for a merino

 

[Global ovine]

I've got a double copy Loinmax Merino ram floating around on the farm, used him last year but killed all his lambs, maybe I should consider using him again, he is ranked very high for Fec Bv and Dag Bv which is odd for a merino

That sounds very interesting. How the hell did LoinMAX get into your Merino? Suggest you should contact James Thomson at Harewood, as such an animal could play a role in putting improved wool traits into the Ile de France breed which is proving a better maternal than terminal breed in NZ summer dry hill country.

 

[NZDan]

That sounds very interesting. How the hell did LoinMAX get into your Merino? Suggest you should contact James Thomson at Harewood, as such an animal could play a role in putting improved wool traits into the Ile de France breed which is proving a better maternal than terminal breed in NZ summer dry hill country.

It was bred in, he is 31/32 Merino the rest is Xbred. I'm scanning At Mr Thomsons in the morning as luck would have it.
The ram has been used in 3 studs so far, and two others have asked for a loan of him next year.
I'll be mating him to Finn Hoggets next year to produce 1/2breds which will contain Loinmax, Myomax and Lambmax, these will be used over Merino ewes to produce 1/4bred rams for commercial use.

 

[neilo]

It was bred in, he is 31/32 Merino the rest is Xbred. I'm scanning At Mr Thomsons in the morning as luck would have it.
The ram has been used in 3 studs so far, and two others have asked for a loan of him next year.
I'll be mating him to Finn Hoggets next year to produce 1/2breds which will contain Loinmax, Myomax and Lambmax, these will be used over Merino ewes to produce 1/4bred rams for commercial use.

 

[unlacedgecko]

It was bred in, he is 31/32 Merino the rest is Xbred. I'm scanning At Mr Thomsons in the morning as luck would have it.
The ram has been used in 3 studs so far, and two others have asked for a loan of him next year.
I'll be mating him to Finn Hoggets next year to produce 1/2breds which will contain Loinmax, Myomax and Lambmax, these will be used over Merino ewes to produce 1/4bred rams for commercial use.

I hope you've taken plenty of semen from him!

 

[NZDan]

I hope you've taken plenty of semen from him!

There are plenty more where he came from.