Leptin, a biomolecule secreted by adipose tissue, enchances productivity in cattle, especially affecting milk traits. The aim of this study was to detect leptin gene polymorphism on exon 3 (A59V locus) and intron 2 (SAU3AI locus) in the endangered population of autochtonous Busha cattle and associations with milk traits. The study included 46 cows: 36 Busha and 10 half-bred. Milk analyses comprised determination of somatic cell counts, fat, protein, lactose, total solids and solids-not-fat (SNF) concentrations and freezing point depression (FPD). Polymorphisms were determined by PCR-RFLP technique. A single A59V genotype (CC) was affirmed, and two SAU3AI genotypes, AA and AB, with frequencies of 78.26% and 21.74%, respectively. Comparing the obtained results for chemical characteristics of milk between cows with AA and AB, no significant differences were found, except for SNF content and FPD values. Cows with AA genotype had significantly lower (p=0.021) average SNF content (8.74%) in milk compared to the average SNF content (9.28%) in those with genotype AB, while cows with genotype AA (−0.54°C) had significantly higher (p=0.004) average FPD values than those with AB genotype (−0.58°C). The absence of BB genotype and significant differences in the investigated functional traits between two SAU3AI genotypes and the absence of A59V polymorphism (presence of only CC genotype) show that the Busha cattle breed, although being an autochtonous low-producing native breed used for meat and milk production, harbours polymorphism on gentic markers characteristic of high production dairy cows.

Buša is an old endangered autochthonous breed of the western Balkan, especially Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Albania. A related breed is Gatačko, derived from Buša × Tirolean Grey crossbreds. Fifteen purebred Buša cattle and thirteen Gatačko animals were genotyped for polymorphisms at the kappa-casein gene by a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) essay. The alleles A, B and C were found and the allelic frequencies were 0.46 (A), 0.46 (B) and 0.08 (C) in Buša cattle and 0.58 (A) and 0.42 (B) in Gatačko. Only AA, AB, BB and BC genotypes occurred. Further alleles were not detected and are therefore either absent in both populations or rare. The allele »B« found in this small population will be useful for a sire selection program in the future.

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Abstract:We have performed diagnostics of sub clinical mastitis in three different cow breeds with comparison of California mastitis test results, somatic cells count at quarter level and with bacteriological findings confirmation in order to justify their appliance in mastitis diagnostics. In total, 90 cows or 360 quarters of mammary gland have been examined. In 63.3 % of the examined cows, with different racial origin, positive reaction to California mastitis test have been established. Usually, positive reaction have been found in milk of one and two quarters, with reaction intensity of one and two plus. SSC higher than 200.000 in 1 ml is established in 60 % of cases and the most often causes of mastitis were staphylococcae, streptococcae and mixed infections. With continuous use of this methods it is possible to timely detect presence of sub clinical mastitis and so to obtain satisfactory results in prevention and therapy of mastitis, as well as improvement in amount and quality of milk.