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This study was conducted to identify gene polymorphisms and to investigate the relationships of polymorphisms with yield and composition of milk from Holstein cows. Significant relationships of growth hormone (GH), leptin (LEP) and myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) gene polymorphisms with 305‐day milk yield were observed (P < 0.01). Signal transducers and activators of transcription 5A (STAT5A) gene polymorphism did not show any significant relationships with investigated traits (P > 0.05). With regard to the 305‐day milk yield, GH‐LV, LEP‐AA and AB and MYF5‐GG genotypes were found to be superior over the other genotypes. It was concluded based on present findings that GH, LEP and MYF5 genes could be used as candidate genes for milk yield of Holstein cows.

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This is the first study investigating the changes in some gene expressions related to the TLR pathway in vivo in sheep. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) molecules were administrated separately and in combination to the Akkaraman lambs via intranasal route. For this purpose, 28 lambs were distributed into four groups (LPS, LTA, LPS + LTA, and control, n = 7). Blood samples were collected to isolate the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at 24 h and on day 7. Expression levels of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, NF-κß, and IFN-γ genes were determined by qRT-PCR. Increases were determined in the expression data of TLR2 [LPS (P < 0.05) and LTA + LPS (P < 0.01)], TLR4 [LTA + LPS (P < 0.05)], TNF-α, IL-10 [LTA + LPS (P < 0.05)], and IFN-γ genes in all groups in the mRNA expression analysis of PBMCs isolated at 24 h whereas decreases were determined in the expression levels of these genes on day 7. The combination of LPS + LTA stimulated lamb PBMCs more effectively than separate administration of LPS and LTA at 24 h. Therefore, this article may contribute to the understanding the host-pathogen interaction of respiratory-transmitted bacterial diseases concerning PBMCs at 24 h and on day 7. Also this study may contribute to the dose adjustment for bacterial vaccine studies in sheep. Experimental application doses will be helpful for in vivo and in vitro drug and vaccine development studies in the fields of pharmacology and microbiology.

Early live weight in sheep is important for lamb survival and average weight gain until slaughter. The aim of the present study was to investigate association between CAST-MspI, DGAT1-AluI and IGF-1-Bsp143II polymorphisms and early live weights between birth and weaning age in Akkaraman lambs. A total of 374 lambs were genotyped for CAST-MspI, DGAT1-AluI and IGF-1-Bsp143II polymorphisms by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The results of PCR-RFLP analysis showed that the SNPs had three genotypes of CAST-MspI polymorphism, two genotypes of DGAT1-AluI polymorphism and one genotype of IGF-1-Bsp143II polymorphism of these, CAST-MspI-MM, DGAT1-AluI-CC and IGF-1-Bsp143II-BB were the predominant genotypes in the Akkaraman sheep breed. The result of Chi-square analysis indicated that the Akkaraman sheep breed was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the investigated polymorphic genes. At the DGAT1 locus, the CT genotype showed significantly heavier birth weight (P=0.044) compared to CC genotype. CAST gene did not show any association for the investigated traits. The results of this study demonstrate that the CT genotype had a positive effect on birth weight in Akkaraman sheep. We concluded that further investigations are needed in DGAT1-AluI polymorphism and live weight at different ages in sheep.