Characterization and assessment of genetic aptitudes of European local beef cattle breeds for producing quality meat

The objective is: to evaluate the genetic diversity of several local beef cattle breeds from France, Spain and Portugal, as well as their ability to produce quality meat in extensive conditions. The breeds involved are Aubrac, Gasconne and Salers from France; Alistana, Asturiana (de los Valles and de las Montañas), Avileña, Bruna dels Pirineus, Morucha, Pirenaica, Retinta, Sayaguesa, and Tudanca from Spain; and Alentejana, Barroçao, Maronesa, Mertolenga and Mirandesa from Portugal. Specific objectives are: a) to describe the production systems of several beef cattle breeds in France and the Iberian peninsula, and to evaluate the economic importance of the biological traits involved. b) to investigate the genetic structure of these populations from herdbook information or random surveys. c) to describe genetic diversity through genetic markers (microsatellites) to implement conservation and/or improvement programs. d) to evaluate growth performances, and carcass and meat quality of these breeds. e) to understand the relationships between several objective meat quality measurements and the scores from a taste panel.