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Dr. Jamie Courter is your Mizzou Beef Genetics Extension Specialist

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By Jared E. Decker Many of you have probably noticed that things have been a lot less active on the A Steak in Genomics™   blog, but you probably haven't known why. In January 2021, I was named the Wurdack Chair in Animal Genomics at Mizzou, and I now focus on research, with a little bit of teaching. I no longer have an extension appointment. But, with exciting news, the blog is about to become a lot more active! Jamie Courter began as the new MU Extension state beef genetics specialist in the Division of Animal Sciences on September 1, 2023. I have known Jamie for several years, meeting her at BIF when she was a Masters student. I have been impressed by Jamie in my interactions with her since that time.  Dr. Courter and I have been working closely together the last 6 weeks, and I am excited to work together to serve the beef industry for years to come! Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University and earned a master's degree in animal
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Beef Improvement Federation 2016: Decker's thoughts on Dr. Keith Belk's presentation

Dr. Keith Belk spoke at BIF this morning.

Belk suggested we should select based on the microbiome.

Should we be selecting based on the microbiome?

 No.

First, our current understanding of the microbiome is very incomplete. Second, the microbiome is not perfectly inherited. Every calf inherits 50% of its DNA from its sire and its dam. DNA can be used for prediction because it is inherited in a predictable manner. The microbiome is not inherited to the same level of predictability. The highest heritibility for a bacterial family is below 40% (DOI: 10.1126/science.aab3958) in human twin studies. In other words, the microbiome is more influenced by the environment, then by inheritance. The microbiome may be a trait that we want to select, but I do not believe it is the tool to make selection decisions.

Swapping genes between symbionts and their hosts are very rare events. Animals have developed mechanisms to stop this from happening. Animals strive to stop other organisms from high jacking their genomes. Are we going to select for horizontal gene transfers? No. We could use gene editing to move genes between species, but the consumer acceptance of this has not been great.

Larger carcasses are one way that we can produce more beef with fewer cows. Dr. Belk seemed to indicate that larger carcasses were bad, without discussing them in the entire context of beef production.

In summary, Dr. Belk veered in some very strange directions that I don't think were constructive for this audience. Perhaps I misunderstood Dr. Belk's comments- if so he is free to respond to my comments.


Dr. Belk did have some worthwhile things to share.

Marbling is important in determining beef palatability. But, tenderness and flavor are also very important to retailers and consumers. And if we have appropriate tenderness, flavor becomes even more important.

"We need to start thinking about selecting for tenderness, juiciness, and flavor," stated Belk.

How much progress have we made in improving meat quality? Part of that improvement is from going from 45% black hide in 2000 to 60% black hide in 2011. In 1995, 49% of carcasses graded choice or better, and in 2011 61% of the cattle graded choice or better.

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