Mapping of QTL for Body Conformation and Behavior in Cattle

Abstract

Genome scans for quantitative trait loci (QTL) in farm animals have concentrated on primary production and health traits, and information on QTL for other important traits is rare. We performed a whole genome scan in a granddaughter design to detect QTL affecting body conformation and behavior in dairy cattle. The analysis included 16 paternal half-sib families of the Holstein breed with 872 sons and 264 genetic markers. The markers were distributed across all 29 autosomes and the pseudoautosomal region of the sex chromosomes with average intervals of 13.9 cM and covering an estimated 3155.5 cM. All families were analyzed jointly for 22 traits using multimarker regression and significance thresholds determined empirically by permutation. QTL that exceeded the experiment-wise significance threshold (5% level) were detected on chromosome 6 for foot angle, teat placement, and udder depth, and on chromosome 29 for temperament. QTL approaching experiment-wise significance (10% level) were located on chromosome 6 for general quality of feet and legs and general quality of udder, on chromosome 13 for teat length, on chromosome 23 for general quality of feet and legs, and on chromosome 29 for milking speed. An additional 51 QTL significant at the 5% chromosome-wise level were distributed over 21 chromosomes. This study provides the first evidence for QTL involved in behavior of dairy cattle and identifies QTL for udder conformation on chromosome 6 that could form the basis of recently reported QTL for clinical mastitis.

A chromosome-wide QTL study on BTA29 affecting temperament traits in German Angus beef cattle and mapping of DRD4

“…In spite of these findings, the study could not verify a QTL for flight distance at the distal end of BTA29 in a Holstein 3 Charolais population (Gutié rrez-Gil et al, 2008). The putative QTL near BMS764 (14.1 cM) found for German Angus confirms earlier results of a QTL in Holstein cattle (Hiendleder et al, 2003). Therefore, this region seems to play an important role in different patterns of behaviour and across breeds and should be analysed in more detail.…”

“…A quantitative trait locus (QTL) for behaviour during milking in Holstein-Friesian cows was identified in a whole genome scan at BMS764 at BTA29 (Hiendleder et al, 2003).…”

“…The behaviour or temperament itself is described as the reaction of an animal to human interactions (Burrow, 1997), no matter whether it is beef or dairy cattle. Heritability estimates of temperament traits on the basis of behavioural tests range between 0.0 and 0.59 in German Simmental, 0.0 and 0.61 in German Angus (Gauly et al, 2001) and 0.03 in Hereford and Simmental (Hearnshaw and Morris, 198), respectively.A quantitative trait locus (QTL) for behaviour during milking in Holstein-Friesian cows was identified in a whole genome scan at BMS764 at BTA29 (Hiendleder et al, 2003).In Canadian beef cattle, QTL for behaviour, measured as movement reaction to isolation, was detected at BTA1, 5, 9, 11, 14 and 15 (Schmutz et al, 2001). In a Holstein 3 Charolais cross cattle population, temperament traits were analysed in two different tests and QTL for these on 17 chromosomes including BTA29 were identified (Gutiérrez-Gil et al, 2008).…”

Genetics of cattle temperament and its impact on livestock production and breeding – a review

“…Likewise, Schrooten et al (2000) found no QTL correlated with temperament during milking in Holstein-Friesian cattle, but three genomic regions with suggestive linkage for milking speed where located on chromosomes 2, 3 and 23. In contrast, Hiendleder et al (2003) detected four QTL for behaviour during milking on the chromosomes 5, 18, and 29 in the same breed. Additionally, these QTL were in close proximity to the QTL identified for milking speed in the same study, indicating that these might be single QTL affecting both traits.…”

“…Therefore behaviour is commonly evaluated during routine handling processes since they are not highly time and space consuming. In dairy cattle, for example, behavioural assessment is usually conducted by scoring temperament for nervousness, aggressiveness or docility during milking by farmers or milking technicians (Dickson et al, 1970;Hiendleder et al, 2003). However, in beef cattle, scoring during weighing is a frequent test for determining temperament.…”