Double-muscled cattle
Encyclopedia
refers to breeds of cattle that carry a mutation which represses the myostatin
protein, consequently augmenting muscle growth. Affected breeds include:
Myostatin
Myostatin is a secreted TGF beta protein family member that inhibits muscle differentiation and growth. Myostatin is produced primarily in skeletal muscle cells, circulates in the blood and acts on muscle tissue, by binding a cell-bound receptor called the activin type II receptor...
protein, consequently augmenting muscle growth. Affected breeds include:
- Belgian BlueBelgian Bluethumb|right|Belgian Blue bullthumb|right|Belgium Blue cow with the scars from [[caesarean sections]] clearly visible.Belgian Blue cattle are a beef breed from Belgium, known in French as . Alternative names include Belgian Blue-White, Belgian White and Blue Pied, Belgian White Blue, Blue and Blue...
- PiedmontesePiedmontese (cattle)thumb|230px|A Piedmontese bullThe Piedmontese is a breed of cattle from the region of Piedmont, in north-west Italy. The calves are born fawn in colour, turning grey-white as they mature....
- ParthenaisParthenaisParthenais is a beef breed from the Deux-Sèvres départment of western France.-History:The name comes from Parthenay, a town which was an important cattle market during Middle Ages. The golden age of this breed was the second part of 19th century, with the French herdbook being established in 1893,...