Effects of the c.8514C > T polymorphism in the osteopontin gene (OPN) on milk production, milk composition and disease susceptibility in Holstein-Friesian cattle

Abstract

Studies into the polymorphism of the bovine osteopontin (OPN) gene have so far been focussed on the association between milk production and milk composition, lactation persistency and the rate of growth and weight gain in young cattle. Results obtained by some authors have shown different associations for various milk parameters. Even though osteopontin is an essential component of immunological response, the relationship between the polymorphism of the osteopontin gene and the incidence of diseases in cows has not been researched as yet. The purpose of this study was to analyse the c.8514 C > T polymorphism and its association with milk parameters such as: average daily yield, average protein and fat percentage and average somatic cell count in Holstein-Friesian cattle. The study also included an analysis of the impact of polymorphism on the incidence of the most frequent cattle diseases such as: clinical mastitis (CM), ovarian cysts (OC), clinical hypocalcaemia (CH) and pyometra (P). The study population of cows was found to have two alleles in the analysed locus of the osteopontin gene: C (0.529) and T (0.471), and three genotypes: CC, CT and TT (0.288, 0.482 and 0.230, respectively). Although the study showed no significant association between the polymorphism of the OPN gene and the incidence of diseases or milk parameters, it is an important contribution to research aimed at identifying the most essential SNPs which could be used for marker-assisted selection in dairy cattle herds. HIGHLIGHTS The study population was found to have two alleles in the locus of the osteopontin gene (c.8514C>T): C and T, and three genotypes: CC, CT and TT. CT was the most frequent genotype of the osteopontin gene (c.8514C>T), identified in about 48% of the study population of cows. No significant differences were focused between the genotypes in the c.8514C>T locus and the milk parameters and the incidence of cattle diseases.

Effect of Osteopontin gene variants on milk production traits in Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle of Kerala

“…Similarly, Boleckova et al [20] also could not find any significant effect for milk yield and fat yield in case of OPN gene variants in Czech Fleckvieh cows. However, the present observations are against the reports of lower milk yield associated with C allele compared with T allele [18,25,26,27].…”

“…Association analysis by GLM -ANOVA considering genotype, season of calving, parity and herd as fixed factors and milk production trait as dependent variable explained that g.8514C > T polymorphism has not been significantly associated with milk production traits in Holstein Friesian crossbreds of Kerala. In agreement with the present results, Łuczak and Hanna [22] and Kulaj et al [25] also could not derive any significant results for g.8514C > T polymorphism with regard to milk composition traits in Jersey cattle. In contrast, the influence of C allele on protein content was explained in CDDR Holstein [16,18] and Iranian Holstein [20,26,27] populations where significantly higher protein percent was noticed in CC genotyped animals.…”

A Missense p.Q>R234 Mutation in the Osteopontin Gene Is Associated With the Prolificacy of Iraqi Awassi Ewes

“…The polymorphism of OPN is evaluated in Iranian Holstein Bulls and is noticeable in 3 genotypes—TT, CT, and CC. 35 Kułaj et al 36 detected the polymorphism of the OPN gene in Holstein-Friesian cattle and determined 3 genotypes—CC, CT, and TT—in the c.8514C>T locus. To the best of our knowledge, no literature is available on the polymorphism of OPN in Awassi sheep.…”

Association Analysis between SPP1, POFUT1 and PRLR Gene Variation and Milk Yield, Composition and Coagulation Traits in Sarda Sheep

“…However, other studies carried out in cattle and sheep populations are not in accordance with that last hypothesis. The SPP1 SNP c.8514C>T was investigated in Holstein-Friesian cattle [39] and in the dairy cattle breed Girolando [40], and no significant associations with disease resistance or milk parameters were evidenced. García-Fernández et al [41] did not find any significant association between SPP1 polymorphisms and milk production traits in a commercial population of Churra ewes.…”