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Genetic Parameters and QTL Detection for Milking Speed in Dairy Alpine and Saanen Goats
In goats, an important genetic variation exists for milking speed and the evidence of a major gene was assessed. Genetic parameters were estimated for 4,500 first lactations of the Saanen and Alpine breeds. Linkage and association analyses were performed to identify QTL affecting milking speed, from daughter design data including 20 sires and 800 goats genotyped with the 52K SNP goat chip. Heritabilities ranged from 0.38 to 0.60 depending on the milking speed traits. Relationships with milk traits and udder type traits were generally low (from -0.23 to 0.24) whereas lactation somatic cell score and milking speed was positively and strongly correlated, more particularly in Alpine breed (rg=0.39 and 0.63 in Saanen and Alpine breeds, respectively). Linkage and association analyses were performed on data from a daughter design. A few promising regions were detected.
Keywords: dairy goat, milking speed, genetic parameter, QTL detection
