Peranakan Ongole (PO) and Brahman are beef cattle breeds that are well-adapted to the tropics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth traits of PO and Brahman, therefore, a total of 70 cows raised in Balai Pembibitan Ternak Unggul-Hijauan Pakan Ternak (BPTU-HPT) Sembawa were selected. Subsequently, body weight and length, withers and waist height, as well as chest girth were measured at birth, 105 and 205 days, 1, 1.5, and 2 years of age. Statistical analysis using an independent sample t-test was carried out to distinguish growth traits between PO and Brahman. The results revealed that they were significantly different (P<0.05). PO had a larger body size than Brahman, particularly in terms of the withers height at 105 days, 1 and 2 years, chest girth at a year, and waist height at 105 and 205 days, 1, 1.5, and 2 years. Conversely, Brahman showed better traits than PO in terms of body weight and withers height at birth, weaning and body weight at 2 years, and average daily gain (ADG) at 205 days, 1.5, and 2 years.

Genetic factor plays a very important role in determining of cattle performance. A gene which is reported to be controlling cattle growth and body size is pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1). Therefore, the goal of this study was to identify PLAG1 polymorphisms in PO cattle population. A total of 43 unproductive PO cows from the slaughterhouse at Kebumen were used in this study. Blood samples were collected individually when the cattle were slaughtered. Furthermore, DNA genome was harvested from blood samples and used as DNA template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting g.48308 C>T, g.32212 (19 bp indel) and g.45233 T>C polymorphisms. g.48308 C>T and g.45233 T>C SNPs were genotyped using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique and a 19 bp indel of PLAG1 was directly genotyped by observing PCR products. Both allele and genotype frequencies were calculated to test Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) status. The results showed that g.48308 C>T SNP and 19 bp indel varied. Three genotypes of the g.48308 C>T SNP namely CC, CT and TT were found in this study and two genotypes (DD and DI) of 19 bp indel were also identified. Moreover, heterozygous CT genotype frequency of g.48308 C>T SNP was 0.51 and T allele frequency was 0.60. In term of 19 bp indel, DD genotype frequency was 0.88 and D allele frequency was 0.94. In conclusion, two polymorphisms of the PLAG1 were identified in PO cattle population.

Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) is a member of the PLAG family which is associated with body size in various cattle breeds. This study investigated the association of PLAG1 polymorphisms to carcass traits and body measurement of Ongole crossbred (PO) cattle in Kebumen. Chest girth, body length, body height, withers height, waist height, live body weight, carcass weight, and carcass percentage were carefully measured and recorded. The DNA genome extractions were originated from blood samples that was collected via jugular vein. The extracted DNA template used to amplify two PLAG1 polymorphisms target, namely, g.48308C>T and g.32212 (19 bp indel). Identification of g.48308C>T from PLAG1 was done via PCR-RFLP technique using SacII, wherein the 19 bp indel was obtained from PCR products. One-way analysis of variance and independent sample t-test were carried out to quantify the obtained data. This present study revealed variation in both g.48308C>T SNP and 19 bp indel. Three genotypes, TT, TC, and CC, were found for g.48308C>T SNP. Whilst two genotypes DD and DI genotypes were found for 19 bp indel. Non-significant differences were found between PLAG1 polymorphisms and traits of interest observed in Kebumen PO cattle population.