30 Years of Proof: Why Muscular Cows Mean More Meat, More Profit with Dr Linda Cafe and Brett Littler

About this episode

This episode explores a study on muscle scoring in beef cattle and its impact on productivity and profitability.

Join us for another insightful episode of "Genetics in the Paddock with Emily" as we welcome Dr. Linda Cafe, a research scientist from NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Brett Littler, Senior Land Services Officer with Local Land Services. In this episode, we dive deep into a remarkable Australian study that ran from 1992 to 2020, exploring muscle scoring in beef cattle and its impacts on herd productivity and profitability. Linda and Brett share fascinating insights from almost three decades of research, demonstrating how selecting cows for higher muscle scores significantly increases meat yield and carcass efficiency—without compromising maternal productivity, fertility, or calving ease. We discuss the genetics behind muscle traits, the role of the myostatin gene, and practical strategies producers can use today to enhance herd resilience, efficiency, and profitability. Whether you're a producer, geneticist, or someone passionate about beef cattle, this episode offers valuable insights that challenge old myths and reveal new opportunities to optimise your herd's performance. To provide feedback, comments, suggestions for future topics, or guest…

People in this episode

Host: Emily Johnston

Guests: Dr Linda Cafe, Brett Littler

Topics covered

• beef cattle
• muscle scoring
• herd productivity
• profitability
• genetics
• myostatin gene
• agriculture

Keywords

• muscular cows
• meat yield
• carcass efficiency
• maternal productivity
• fertility
• calving ease
• herd resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Local Land Services

More episodes of Genetics in the Paddock with Emily

• Inside the Merino Wether Trials: Benchmarking Bloodlines with Dr. Sue Hatcher and Phil Graham · December 8, 2025 · 40 min
• The Genetics Behind the Microbiome: Predicting Performance with Microbes with Dr. Andrew Lakamp (Pt.2) · November 9, 2025 · 27 min
• The Genetics Behind the Microbiome: Why Your Livestock’s Microbes Matter with Dr. Andrew Lakamp (PT. 1) · October 26, 2025 · 21 min
• Gene Editing in Livestock: What, Why, and What’s Next? with Dr. Gus McFarlane · June 9, 2025 · 31 min
• Double Trouble or Double Profit? The Science of Twinning in Cattle with Dr. Leo Cummins · March 2, 2025 · 30 min
• Wrinkles, Weather, and Wool: The Genetics of Breech Strike in Merinos with Tracie Bird-Gardiner · February 2, 2025 · 21 min