Metabolic Imprinting Effect in Beef Production: Effects of Nutritional Manipulation During an Early Stage on the Beef Quality and Quantity in Wagyu (Japanese Black) and Holstein Cattle

The aim of this study was to produce high-quantity safe beef product while maximising the use of domestic grass resources. We would like to apply “metabolic imprinting”, which is based on medical research regarding “the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)” to beef production. In this study, we investigate, using molecular biology and histochemistry methods, whether the metabolic imprinting effect of differences in feeding during an early growth influences on the meat quality and quantity of Japanese Black and Holstein steers or not. The high energy group underwent intensified feeding till 10 months of age. On the contrary, the roughage group underwent normal nursing and was fed only roughage ad libitum from 3 to 10 of age. After 10 months of age, both groups were fed only roughage ad libitum and grazed from 10 months to slaughter age (26-30 months of age). Samples of tissues from the longissimus muscles in all animals were collected and biopsied at weaning, 10 months of age and slaughter age. Gene expressions related to meat quality in muscle were measured by semi-quantitative PCR or realtime PCR. Carcass characteristics, histochemical properties of muscles, meat quality and quantity were investigated. We also investigated micro array and methylation chip analysis. Finally, effects of the unique feeding system by using metabolic imprinting on meat quality and quantity were found out. Meanwhile we calculated environmental impact and investigated tastiness of beef for consumers in this feeding system. We will present them in detail at the symposium.