When one looks up genetic mutations in livestock, one of the first things to appear are the multiple cases of cattle that have double the muscle than they should, though it's really only 20-40% of an increase. This is due to the fact that the myostatin gene, the gene that regulates muscle, is mutated and so the production of myostatin is either blocked or hindered. This also results in an average 10% loss in bone mass and a decrease of fat.
Two cattle breeds that showcase this mutation are the Belgian Blue and Piedmontese. With other animals, like mice, the muscle cells enlarge, but with these cattle breeds the muscle cells multiply instead. The distribution of the muscle is also not uniform throughout, with minimal muscle in the neck and more as you move back into the hindquarters. This is very profitable for the livestock industry since more muscle means more meat per cow. This means that farmers tend to breed cows that have this mutation, though there are reproductive issues.
The main problem with reproduction is that the offspring are very bulky and heavy. In order to get a superior yield, special care and a higher priced diet are required. There are also more veterinary needs to ensure that they stay healthy. There is also a decrease in milk production and fertility and calf mortality rates are high. Even though Piedmontese beef is held at a special quality and price, the cost to care for them makes it so there isn't much of an obvious profit for these animals. Ultimately, the risk for caring for these animals is up to the farmer and it can either result in great profit or great expense.
nerd
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