10 Things To Know About returns with a six-part award, showcasing the weird and wonderful Irish science behind aspects of modern life, from virtual reality to botox and aliens to the Internet of cows. Each week Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Jonathan McCrea and Kathriona Devereux tackle a different subject.
The Tully Progeny Test Centre is to feature in this program airing on Monday 5th December on RTE One at 8.30pm. Next Monday this program will cover all there is to know about “Beef and Beer”. This will give a good insight into the work ICBF is doing at Tully in relation to meat eating quality for consumers. Donagh Berry (Teagasc) and Heinz Eggert (farmer) will also feature in this program.
Meat Eating Quality
ICBF are currently conducting a meat eating quality study to see if this is something that can be included in the Euro-Star index. At present there are over 1,500 animals finished in the Tully test centre with MEQ (Meat Eating Quality) phenotypes collected. This data was collected from animals finished in the Tully test centre from 09/2013 to present. This data was then corrected for breed composition (AA, BB, FR, HE, HO, LM, SA & SI). There are 2 types of evaluations/EBV’s being looked at: Genetic evaluation using pedigree relationship matrix and 1-step genomic evaluation (2,770 animals genotyped 1,244 with phenotypes)
Consumer Validation
Meat samples were tested on 101 consumers at BEEF 2016. Consumers were given two steak samples, one from a high index animal (5 Star) and one from a low index animal (1 Star). Consumers were asked to identify high eating quality index beef. 75% of consumers correctly identified the high index eating quality beef.
For more information on Meat Eating Quality check out this presentation given by ICBF’s Thierry Pabiou at ICAR 2016.
For more information be sure to tune in on Monday 5th December to 10 Things to Know About… on RTE One at 8.30pm