Relationship of the Bovine Growth Hormone Gene to Carcass Traits in Japanese Black Cattle

Abstract

The bovine growth hormone gene (bGH) possesses three haplotypes, A, B and C, that differ by amino acid mutations at positions 127 and 172 in the fifth exon: (leucine 127, threonine 172), (valine 127, threonine 172) and (valine 127, methionine 172) respectively. The correlation between meat quality or carcass weight and these haplotypes was investigated in Japanese black cattle. Altogether, 940 bGH haplotypes were compared with respect to six carcass traits: carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, rib thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, beef marbling score and beef colour. The frequency of the B haplotype was higher (0.421) than that of A (0.269) and C (0.311). High carcass weight and low beef marbling were associated with haplotype A (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively), whereas beef marbling was increased by haplotype C (p < 0.05). Estimated regression coefficient of the A haplotype substitution effect for carcass weight and beef marbling score were 5.55 (13.1% of the phenotypic SD) and -0.31 (17.0%) respectively. That of the C haplotype for beef marbling score was 0.20 (11.0%). The other traits showed no relationship to the haplotypes examined. The results of this investigation suggest that information pertaining to bGH polymorphisms in Japanese black cattle could be used to improve the selection of meat traits.

Determination of the AluI polymorphism effect of bovine growth hormone gene on carcass traits in Zavot cattle with analysis of covariance

“…Therefore, the substitution of leucine (L allele) by valine (V allele) leads to the appearance of 3 genotypes of the GH gene and produces different physiological processes (19). Consequently, it has been reported that the GH gene may be an indicator for meat production traits, denoting that it could be used for the genetic improvement of beef cattle (12). Nevertheless, it has also been reported that the polymorphisms at GH are not a sufficient tool for the selection of beef cattle.…”

“…Moreover, it plays an indirect role in cell growth (5). Therefore, GH polymorphism has been considered by researchers to affect weight gain, carcass weight, birth weight, and carcass quality such as marbling (12,18). Due to the crucial role of GH in lactation and animal growth, the GH gene is thought to be a candidate marker for performance traits in livestock animals such as cattle.…”

“…The GH gene is located in bovine chromosome 19 (12). In addition, researchers have identified several polymorphisms in the GH gene (14).…”

“…Thus, it has an important role in reproduction, lactation, and growth stimulation in animals (9,12). Consequently, there is great interest in using the GH gene to improve production traits in different cattle breeds (6).…”

Genotype analysis of partial growth hormone gene (GH891│MspI) in Pesisir cattle and Simmental-Pesisir crossbred cattle

“…Growth hormone (GH) gene is one of those genes: It encodes growth hormone, which has important roles in control of the body metabolism (Moravčiková et al, 2012). Growth Hormone directly or indirectly plays a role in tissue growth and fat metabolism, so that it has an important role in growth traits, reproduction and lactation in cattle (Tatsuda et al, 2008). The growth hormone is a single-chain polypeptide consisting of 191 amino acids that is synthesized and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland (Nicoll et al, 1986;Moravčiková et al, 2012).…”