Marbling and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) were measured by
certified graders from the Japan Meat Grading Association (Tokyo,
Japan), according to the Japanesemeat grading systemon carcasses dissected
at the sixth and seventh rib sections (JMGA, 1988).Marblingwas
scored from 1 to 12 BMS with a standard model panel, in which higher
scores correspond to more intramuscular fat. The phenotype data for
marbling of the 22 JB steers used for correlation analysis were measured
by the Niigata Prefectural Headquarters, National Federation of Agricultural
Cooperative Association (Niigata, Japan). For association study, the
predicted breeding values of the 99 JB sires and the 542 JB progeny
steers for marbling and SFT were obtained from the Oita recording
system.