Aberdeen Angus cattle breed in Russia: prevention of the genetic defects and evaluation of the risk of their spread by transferring from parents to offspring

Abstract

The article highlighted the problem of genetic defect of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Previous investigation showed the presence in Russian population of Aberdeen Angus cattle of animals carrying in their genotypes the mutant alleles associated with Arthrogriposis multiplex, Developmental Duplication and Osteopetrosis. In some populations, the frequencies of the animals-genetic defects carriers were sufficiently high. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of spread of the mutant alleles causing the genetic disorders by their transfer from parents to offspring under absence of control over the genetic defects in the farm, breeding Aberdeen Angus cattle. The analysis has shown increasing of the frequency of animals-Arthrogriposis multiplex carriers about on 10.3% in the population of heifers comparing with population of their mothers and the raising of the mutant allele frequency in six times in F2 generation.

DNA analysis of the Russian populations of Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Belgian Blue cattle

“…Despite the fact of the absence of individual carriers of genetic defects in the some investigated populations, we are sure that control of the cattle genetic defects is necessary independently of the breed due to the existence of the risk of gene mutation spread. Previously, we have already observed on the farm the absence of animal carriers of the AM and DD genetic defects in 2015 and the presence of these defects in 2019 (2.73 % AMC and the same frequency for DDC) (Konovalova et al, 2019b). It should be noted that state regulation of the problem by the foundation of breed associations is important.…”