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The study aimed at identifying the best genotypes for important candidate PIT 1 gene and seasonality influencing the yield and quality of milk, in the Jersey and Crossbred HF cattle population maintained at an organized farm in Mountain Livestock Research Institute, Manasbal, Kashmir. The Jersey and Crossbred HF cows (60 each) were genotyped for quality and yield traits. Milk samples (50 ml) were collected on weekly basis for quality evaluation for the years 2016-18, among all the four seasons of Kashmir. The milk quality traits studied were fat%, lactose%, protein%, SNF, density and ash. The quantity traits were average monthly milk yield, protein yield and fat yield. Genomic DNA was extracted using Phenol-chloroform method and association analysis was done. The PIT 1 exon VI (451 bp) was screened for polymorphisms using PCR-RFLP using HinfI restriction enzyme, revealing two genotypes (Pp and pp) for both the breeds. Allele ‘p’ was most frequently present in Crossbred HF cows (0.95) and Jersey cows (0.82). The genotype Pp in crossbred HF cows and pp in Jersey cows showed higher values for yield traits in all four seasons under study. In crossbred HF cows, the effect of genotype Pp was significant on fat% and SNF. The genotype pp effect was significant on fat% in Jersey cows. Winter and autumn seasons had significant effect on fat% in both breeds under study. Based on the study, it was concluded that breed, season, and genotype of the PIT 1 gene are highly associated with the milk quality and yield in the dairy cattle of Kashmir. Genome wide association studies are recommended for better understanding the effects of all genes on milk quality and quantity.

Background: Polymorphisms in candidate beta-lactoglobulin genes are associated with traits of economic importance in cows and are related to milk composition, quality, production as well as cheese-production. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of breed, season and polymorphism on milk quality and yield in Jersey and Crossbred Holstein Friesian cows. Methods: The quality traits studied were fat %, lactose %, protein %, SNF, density and ash while quantity traits were average monthly milk yield, protein yield and fat yield. The beta-lactoglobulin gene exon IV (262 bp) was screened for polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP using BsuRI (Hae III) enzyme. Result: Our investigation revealed only two patterns AA and AB in both the breeds under study. BB genotype was absent. AA genotype was most abundant in Jersey cows (0.68) and crossbred HF cows (0.56). A allele frequency was highest in Crossbred HF cows (0.72) and Jersey cows (0.66). In Jersey genotype AB was observed to be responsible for high milk yield, protein and fat yield in each season whereas it was genotype AA of crossbred HF cows affecting milk yield, protein and fat yield. In crossbred HF cow, genotype effect was observed to be non-significant (p greater than 0.05) on all quality traits and effect of season was significant on lactose % and fat %. In Jersey cows, genotype and season effects were significant (P less than 0.05) on fat % concluding that the breed, season and genotype affectmilk quality and yield.

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Sheep constitute an important genetic resource to the J&K, India. Considering its worth, the Corriedale breed was imported for improving the production potential of sheep in J&K, India which has since been maintained at SKUAST K. The current study was undertaken to study the phenotypic, heritability and genetic trends of the Corriedale breed over the years under temperate climatic conditions. Data for Corriedale breed from 1969 to 2016 was collected from Mountain Research Station for Sheep and Goat, SKUAST K for birthweight, weaning weight, 6-month weight, 9-month weight and 12-month weight. Mean phenotypic values, heritability estimates and breeding values using BLUP animal model were used for regression on the birth year to estimate trends over four decades. A decline from 3.81kg to 3.84 kg for birthweight, 16.7 kg to 12.184 kg for weaning weight, 21.03 kg to 15.256 kg for 6-month bodyweight, 24.085 kg to 18.212 kg for 9-month body weight and 28.337 kg to 21.122 kg for 12-month body weight was seen from 1969 to 2017 in Corriedale Sheep. A change in EBV’s for birthweight, weaning weight, 6-month body weight, 9-month body weight and 12-month body weight from 0.00206 ± 0.0067, -0.00114 ± 0.0093, -0.00203 ± 0.0138, 0.00665 ± 0.0130, -0.00061 ± 0.0078 respectively to 0.00103 ± 0.0070, -0.02384 ±0.0159, -0.00918 ± 0.0177, -0.00783 ± 0.0238, -0.01332 ± 0.0171 respectively was seen. Average heritability values for birth weight, weaning weight, 6-month body weight, 9-month body weight and 12-month bodyweight showed a change from 0.1896, 0.1552, 0.2227, 0.2086 and 0.1508 respectively to 0.2754, 0.2768, 0.1961, 0.1892 and 0.1749 respectively. Trends for all the traits were found to be significant except birthweight. Significant heritability trends were found for weaning weight and genetic trends for 6-month body weight. Our study indicates that selection may not have taken place except for 6-month body weight at the farm for the traits under study which is a matter of concern. A robust breeding program for selection of sheep on the basis of economically important traits may be the need of the hour.

Background: Purgi goats are native to Ladakh. They are used for fibre production and are known for the quality chevon. A study was, therefore, undertaken to study the effect of non-genetic factors on growth traits of Purgi Goats in its breeding tract. Methods: Flocks of 80 farmers from 8 villages of district Kargil were monitored to collect the data pertaining to growth traits during 2017 and 2018. The data so collected were suitably classified to study the major fixed effects like birth year, kid, parity of dam, season of birth and type of birth. Result: The averages were1.21±0.02, 3.62±0.02, 5.82±0.02, 8.73±0.03, 10.71±0.04 and 13.49±0.09 for BW, WW, 6MW, 9MW, 12MW and 18MW, respectively. The coefficients of variations of all the traits were low. Highest variability of 13.49 was observed for 18MW. The values of least squares means (LSM’s) of 0.96±0.05, 3.74±0.03, 5.80±0.05, 8.74±0.06, 10.87±0.08 and 13.91±0.19 for birthweight (BW), weaning weight (WW), six months body weight (6MW), nine months weight (9MW), yearling body weight (12MW) and eighteen months (18MW) weight were observed in the present study. The effects of sex of kids, season of birth and year of birth were significant (p less than 0.05) on all traits under study, whereas effect of birth-type was significant (p less than 0.05) on BW and WW and effect of parity was non-significant on all traits under study. All the traits BW, WW and 6MW were positively correlated among themselves. The correlations ranged from low (between BW and WW ) to high (WW with 9MW and 12MW).