A polymorphism in the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene is associated with postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity in Holstein-Friesian cows under grazing conditions

Abstract

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) gene is considered as a promising candidate for the identification of polymorphisms affecting cattle performance. The objectives of the current study were to determine the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) IGF-1/SnaBI with fertility, milk production and body condition traits in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows under grazing conditions.MethodsSeventy multiparous cows from a commercial herd were genotyped for the SNP IGF-1/SnaBI. Fertility measures evaluated were: interval to commencement of luteal activity (CLA), calving to first service (CFS) and calving to conception (CC) intervals. Milk production and body condition score were also evaluated. The study period extended from 3 wk before calving to the fourth month of lactation.Results and discussionFrequencies of the SNP IGF-1/SnaBI alleles A and B were 0.59 and 0.41, respectively. Genotype frequencies were 0.31, 0.54 and 0.14 for AA, AB and BB, respectively. Cows with the AA genotype presented an early CLA and were more likely to resume ovarian cyclicity in the early postpartum than AB and BB ones. No effect of the SNP IGF-1/SnaBI genotype was evidenced on body condition change over the experimental period, suggesting that energy balance is not responsible for the outcome of postpartum ovarian resumption in this study. Traditional fertility measures were not affected by the SNP IGF-1/SnaBI.ConclusionTo our knowledge this is the first report describing an association of the SNP IGF-1/SnaBI with an endocrine fertility measure like CLA in cattle. Results herein remark the important role of the IGF-1gene in the fertility of dairy cows on early lactation and make the SNP IGF-1/SnaBI an interesting candidate marker for genetic improvement of fertility in dairy cattle.

Genetic variability of bovine GHR, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 genes in Indian cattle and buffalo

“…The transversion of A→C in the P1 promoter region of bovine IGF1 gene at position 977 bp upstream from the start codon in exon 1 was identified in Polish Holstein Friesian cows and statistically significant differences between individuals of different IGF-1/TasI genotypes were found in milk, fat and protein yield (Szewczuk et al, 2011). Polymorphism in the IGF-1 gene was observed to be associated with postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity in Holstein cows (Nicolini et al, 2013). In a genetic polymorphism study of the IGF-I gene, three SNPs were detected in three buffalo breeds of Gujarat (Fatima et al, 2009) and six and five novel polymorphisms in Egyptian water buffalo and Indian buffalo, respectively, in the IGF-1 receptor gene and these SNPs were associated with growth traits (El-Magd et al, 2013).…”

“…Mullen et al (2011) identified a total of 16 SNPs in IGF-1 and GH gene and its association with milk production, body condition score and fertility traits in Holstein Friesian lactating dairy cows. Szewczuk et al (2011) recorded associations between IGF-1/ TasI polymorphism in Polish Holstein Friesian cows and its association with milk traits and Nicolini et al (2013) polymorphisms in the IGF-1 gene and its association with postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity in Holstein cows. Kim et al (2005) identified novel SNPs in the bovine IGFBP-3 gene in Korean cattle.…”

Effects of stocking density on oxidative stress status and mammary gland permeability in early lactating dairy cows

“…Moreover, studies showed that plasma IGF‐1 level was increased when plasma insulin was higher (Mackle, Dwyer, & Bauman, ). Although plasma IGF‐1 content was numerically higher in 75SD‐cows than that of 100SD‐animals, the lack of significance could be related with the individual variation, which possibly associated with polymorphism in the IGF‐1 gene of Holstein dairy cows (Nicolini, Carriquiry, & Meikle, ).…”

Exploring the relationship between polymorphisms of leptin and IGF-1 genes with milk yield in indicine and taurine crossbred cows

“…Mehmannavaz et al (2010) proved a significant effect of the SNP IGF-1 / Sna BI on estimated breeding values (EBV) for milk production traits in Iranian Holstein bulls, as animals with AB genotype had higher EBV for milk and fat yields than homozygous genotypes. The interval from calving to commencement of luteal activity postpartum (CLA) has been suggested as a suitable selection criteria for fertility, as early CLA is an important factor for a new pregnancy after calving, it presents higher heritability values (16 to 25%) than traditional fertility traits, and it is genetically favorably correlated with traditional fertility traits (Darwash et al , 1997; Petersson et al , 2007; Nicolini et al , 2013). SNPs, 89C/T, 98G/T and 167T/C, of IGF-1 are reported to be significantly associated with milk production and constituent traits in buffaloes (Fatima et al , 2009).…”