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An association analysis between OXT genotype and milk yield and flow in Italian Mediterranean river buffalo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2012

Alfredo Pauciullo*
Affiliation:
Department of Soil, Plant, Environment and Animal Production Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, via Università 100, Portici, NA 80055Italy
Gianfranco Cosenza
Affiliation:
Department of Soil, Plant, Environment and Animal Production Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, via Università 100, Portici, NA 80055Italy
Roberto Steri
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Sassari, via De Nicola 9, Sassari, 07100Italy
Angelo Coletta
Affiliation:
Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Specie Bufalina, Via F. Petrarca 42-44 Località Centurano, Caserta, 81100Italy
Lazzaro Jemma
Affiliation:
Department of Soil, Plant, Environment and Animal Production Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, via Università 100, Portici, NA 80055Italy
Maria Feligini
Affiliation:
Istituto Sperimentale Italiano ‘Lazzaro Spallanzani’, Via Einstein, Cascina Codazza, LO, 26900Italy
Dino Di Berardino
Affiliation:
Department of Soil, Plant, Environment and Animal Production Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, via Università 100, Portici, NA 80055Italy
Nicolò P. P. Macciotta
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Sassari, via De Nicola 9, Sassari, 07100Italy
Luigi Ramunno*
Affiliation:
Department of Soil, Plant, Environment and Animal Production Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, via Università 100, Portici, NA 80055Italy
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: apauciul@unina.it; ramunno@unina.it
*For correspondence; e-mail: apauciul@unina.it; ramunno@unina.it

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate possible associations between three SNPs at the oxytocin locus (AM234538: g.28C>T; g.204A>G and g.1627G>T) and two productive traits, milk yield and milkability, in Italian Mediterranean river buffaloes. Effects of parity, calving season and month of production were also evaluated. A total of 41 980 test-day records belonging to 219 lactations of 163 buffalo cows were investigated. The allele call rate was 98·8% and the major allele frequency for all the investigated loci was 0·76. The OXT genotype was significantly associated with milk yield (P=0·029). The TT genotype showed an average daily milk yield approximately 1·7 kg higher than GT buffaloes. Such a difference represents about 23% more milk/d. A large dominance effect (−1·17±0·43 kg) was estimated, whereas the contribution of OXT genotype (r2OXT) to the total phenotypic variance in milk yield was equal to 0·06. The TT genotype showed higher values also for the milk flow, even though the estimated difference did not reach a level of statistical significance (P=0·07). Such an association, among the first reported for the oxytocin locus in ruminants, should be tested on a population scale and possible effects on milk composition traits should be evaluated in order to supply useful indications for the application of marker-assisted selection programmes in river buffaloes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2012

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