Detection of Quantitative Trait Loci Influencing Conformation Traits and Calving Ease in Holstein-Friesian Cattle

Abstract

An extension of our previous genome scan of a North American Holstein-Friesian population was conducted to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting conformation traits. Resource families consisted of 1404 sons of 10 elite sires. Genome coverage was estimated to be 2713.5 cM (90%) for 406 markers using a granddaughter design. Regression interval mapping was used to detect QTL affecting 22 conformation traits, including body, udder, feet and legs, and dairy conformation as well as calving ease. Analysis of the families jointly identified 41 chromosome-wise significant QTL influencing conformation traits and 3 significant QTL influencing calving ease on 20 chromosomes. The false discovery rate method was used to account for multiple testing and 3/4 of the suggestive and 5/6 of significant QTL should be real effects. Fourteen of the 44 QTL were significant at the genome-wise level. Comparison of these results with other published reports identifies common QTL affecting conformation traits. Regions on 10 chromosomes appear to affect multiple traits, including conformation, milk production, and somatic cell score, within these particular US Holstein families. Additional work is needed to determine the precise locations of the QTL and select positional candidate genes influencing these traits.

Genetic Polymorphisms of the CACNA2D1 Gene and Their Association with Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Cattle

“…The CACNA2D1 gene could be studied more as a candidate gene influencing reproduction, carcass, and growth traits, as it was for meat quality traits of pigs (Li et al 2008). The cattle CACNA2D1 gene is located within the genomic region of the QTLs for carcass weight (Casas et al 2001), average daily gain (Casas et al 2001), stature (Ashwell et al 2005), bone percentage (Gutiérrez-Gil et al 2009), meat-tobone ratio (Gutiérrez-Gil et al 2009), and residual feed intake (Sherman et al 2009). The QTLs affecting longissimus muscle area (Takasuga et al 2007), marbling score (Yokouchi et al 2009), and feed conversion ratio (Sherman et al 2009) have also been found near the area of the CACNA2D1 gene.…”

“…The cattle CACNA2D1 gene has been mapped to BTA 4q18 (Buitkamp et al 2003). It is located within the genomic region of seven QTLs, for carcass weight (Casas et al 2001), average daily gain (Casas et al 2001), stature (Ashwell et al 2005), bone percentage (Gutiérrez-Gil et al 2009), meat-tobone ratio (Gutiérrez-Gil et al 2009), residual feed intake (Sherman et al 2009), and somatic cell score (Zhang et al 1998;Rupp and Boichard 2003). Four QTLs affecting the longissimus muscle area (Takasuga et al 2007;Mizoshita et al 2004), marbling score (Yokouchi et al 2009), feed conversion ratio (Sherman et al 2009), and somatic cell count (Longeri et al 2006) have also been found near the area (NAGRP 2010).…”

Genome wide association studies for body conformation traits in the Chinese Holstein cattle population

“…Schrooten et al [22] used microsatellite markers in a whole genome scan for QTLs affecting 18 conformation traits. Ashwell et al [23] detected QTLs affecting 22 conformation traits, including body, udder, feet, legs, and dairy conformation, and found 41 chromosome-wise significant QTLs. Cole et al [8] used a single-locus model to analyze 18 body conformation traits , which included six trait groups, body size, body shape, udder, teats, teats, feet and legs, and final score and reported the top 100 effects for each trait.…”

Quantitative trait loci for udder conformation and other udder traits in Finnish Ayrshire cattle

“…These may be the same QTL as detected in the present study for ST and MS because the marker map in this study did not extend to the region of the chromosome with the earlier findings and because confidence intervals are likely to be large. Also, Ashwell et al (2005) found a chromosome-wise suggestive QTL for ST in the proximal end of the chromosome and Schrooten et al (2000) found a chromosome-wise significant QTL for MS between the markers BM1258 and GBCYP21. Further, Hiendleder et al (2003) found a suggestive QTL for teat length at the distal end of BTA23.…”