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The role of obesity genes for milk fat yield in Holstein dairy cattle

Monday, August 18, 2014
Posters (The Westin Bayshore)
Lea G Zielke , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Ralf H Bortfeldt , Department for Crop and Animal Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Jens Tetens , Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Georg Thaller , Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
Gudrun A Brockmann , Department for Crop and Animal Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Abstract Text:

Under the assumption that human obesity genes not only regulate fat deposition but also energy homeostasis, we expected effects of those genes on milk fat yield. Therefore, we performed an association study with EBVs for milk fat yield of 2,402 German Holstein bulls. We used SNPs in 2 Mb regions around 317 bovine homologues of human obesity candidate genes. 78 (24.6%) regions harbored 141 SNPs significantly (P<0.05) associated with milk fat yield. Three SNPs were highly significant (P<0.001). 36 SNPs were significantly associated with milk fat and protein yield and 12 SNPs were significant for fat, protein and milk yield. The results confirm that many genes affecting obesity also influence milk fat yield. The information on potential pleiotropic effects can be used to influence the milk fat to protein ratio and can be considered for selecting robust dairy cows.

Keywords:

dairy cattle

lactation

milk fat yield

health

genetics

See more of: Posters: Prediction using molecular information (Group 1)
See more of: Genetic Improvement Programs: Selection using molecular information
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