Tracy L Scheffler

Dr. Tracy L. Scheffler is an Associate Professor in the Animal Sciences Department at the University of Florida, specializing in Muscle Biology. Her research focuses on optimizing muscle growth, composition, and meat quality, particularly investigating metabolic pathways and energy signaling in skeletal muscle. She explores how muscle phenotype influences protein turnover, nutrient partitioning, and the transition from muscle to meat.

Her work integrates animal physiology, genetics, and food science to address challenges in beef production quality. Key areas include carcass evaluation, breed comparisons (e.g., Angus vs. Brahman), and the impact of environmental stressors like heat on meat tenderness.

Dr. Scheffler’s research outputs emphasize mitochondrial function postmortem, proteolytic enzyme regulation, and the application of technologies like DXA for carcass analysis. She has contributed to national audits assessing beef quality and has published extensively on topics ranging from embryonic development mechanisms to interventions improving meat quality.