L.EQT.2104 - Biomarkers for reducing non-compliance in beef carcases
Did you know that pH (>5.7) is the most common reason for MSA non-compliance?
| Project start date: | 13 November 2020 |
| Project end date: | 30 April 2024 |
| Publication date: | 20 February 2024 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
Summary
This project aimed to identify and generate a library of biomarkers, present in saliva samples, which may be linked to high pH in beef carcases in order to determine 'at risk' animals live or on the slaughter floor for marshalling.
Objectives
1. Identify biomarkers of non-compliance in the saliva of cattle prior to slaughter and how they can be used along the supply chain (including development of a prediction model).
2. Learn from producers and meat processors about the practicalities of implementing and willingness to pay for an early detection method.
3. Providing the requisite knowledge base and foundations for a non-invasive, targeted on-farm detection biosensor (not actually develop the biosensor).
Key findings
Forty protein biomarker candidates were identified across the three field trials. These proteins represent promising targets that could be combined as a panel for the prediction of risk of non-compliance in cattle.
Benefits to industry
The candidate proteins identified in this project may identify animals pre-slaughter that are predisposed to pH non-compliance. Identification of such animals will help reduce the incidence of dark cutting and associated economic penalties.
MLA action
This online summary will be published on the MLA R&D website.
MLA will prepare a commercial technical brief to find potential commercial partners.
Future research
Functional assays may help identify underlying molecular mechanisms driving susceptibility of pH non-compliance in animals.
More information
| Project manager: | Nathalie Lalaurie |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
