Abstract
<jats:p>We conducted a study aimed at studying the impact of genetic variation in the DGAT1 gene (diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1) on the growth rates and meat characteristics of Kalmyk bulls. The study was conducted on Kalmyk bulls in the Republic of Kalmykia, at the Uralan Agrofirm LLC. The analysis of genotypes showed that the dominant genotype is KK (43.39%), while the AA genotype is significantly less common (17.32%). The frequency of the K allele exceeds the frequency of the A allele by 26%. The analysis of the influence of the DGAT1 gene revealed that bulls with the DGAT1AA genotype demonstrate improved slaughter qualities. They exceed individuals with the DGAT1KK genotype in terms of pre-slaughter weight by 3.1 kg (0.81%), in terms of fresh carcass weight by 2.4 kg (1.12%), in terms of carcass yield by 0.1%, and in terms of slaughter weight by 2.2 kg (0.96%). At the same time, the carcasses of bulls with DGAT1KA and DGAT1KK genotypes had a higher crude fat mass than those of animals with DGAT1AA genotype, with an excess of 0.1 kg (0.63%) and 0.2 kg (1.27%), respectively. When studying the composition of carcasses, it was found that the highest amount of muscle tissue was obtained from young animals with DGAT1AA genotype. Their advantage over peers with DGAT1KK and DGAT1KA genotype was 1.1-1.3 kg (1.26%-1.50%). High indicators of cut weight were revealed in steers with DGAT1AA genotype, in comparison with DGAT1КA and DGAT1KK analogues the difference was: In cervical, 0.2 kg (2.02%) and 0.3 kg (3.06%); in brachial, 0.2 kg (1.24%) and 0.4 kg (2.52%); in spinal, 0.2 kg (0.57%) and 0.3 kg (0.86%); In the lumbar, 0.1 kg (1.15%) and 0.2 kg (2.33%); in the hip, 0.1 kg (0.28%) and 0.2 kg (0.56%), respectively. In the study of morphological composition and natural anatomical parts, it was found that animals with DGAT1AA genotype produced more meaty carcasses than their counterparts with DGAT1КA and DGAT1KK genotypes.</jats:p>