Genome-Wide Association Studies for Body Conformation Traits in Korean Holstein Population

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and nearby candidate genes that influence body conformation traits. Phenotypic data for 24 body conformation traits were collected from a population of 2329 Korean Holstein cattle, and all animals were genotyped using the 50 K Illumina bovine SNP chip. A total of 24 genome-wide significant SNPs associated with 24 body conformation traits were identified by genome-wide association analysis. The selection of the most promising candidate genes was based on gene ontology (GO) terms and the previously identified functions that influence various body conformation traits as determined in our study. These genes include KCNA1, RYBP, PTH1R, TMIE, and GNAI3 for body traits; ANGPT1 for rump traits; MALRD1, INHBA, and HOXA13 for feet and leg traits; and CDK1, RHOBTB1, and SLC17A1 for udder traits, respectively. These findings contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of body conformation traits in this population and pave the way for future breeding strategies aimed at enhancing desirable traits in dairy cattle.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Milk Production Traits and Selection Signatures in Serbian Holstein-Friesian Cattle

“…Since GWASs are ideal for discovering genes that encode complex traits and their mechanisms [ 5 ], they have been widely conducted in recent years to identify relationships between genomic variants and economically significant traits in dairy cattle populations. As a result, a large number of candidate genes and quantitative genomic areas were detected to be associated with economically important traits, including milk-related traits, fertility, growth, and meat and carcass quality [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. GWASs conducted in various cattle breeds utilized different SNP chip platforms and were focused on the identification of potential candidate genes and genomic regions responsible for milk production traits including milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), and protein yield (PY).…”

Advancements in copy number variation screening in herbivorous livestock genomes and their association with phenotypic traits

“…Furthermore, it serves as a robust theoretical foundation for elucidating genetic mechanisms and advancing the field of molecular breeding. Since the introduction of genomic selection, a range of livestock species, including sheep, goats, cattle, and horses, have undergone genotyping to assess their suitability for important economic traits, as demonstrated by previous studies (14)(15)(16). Up to this point, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been the primary focus of genomic research within the animal breeding community (17,18).…”