The influence of complex genotypes in the PRL and β-LG genes in Lacon sheep breed on cheese producing

Abstract

For the first time, an analysis of the distribution of allele variants in the PRL and β-LG genes was conducted on the Russian population of Lakon sheep. The research established the influence of polymorphism in the studied genes on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Adyghe cheese. The analysis of data on 248 Lakon sheep showed a positive correlation between β-LGBB and PRLBB – with protein content in milk and better technological qualities for cheese production. The highest fat content in milk was observed in sheep with the β-LGBB genotype (7.14%). The cheese curd from milk of all genotypes was characterized by optimal density and good elasticity. The yield of Adyghe cheese obtained from milk of animals with the genotype PRLBBβ-LGBB was higher compared to the same parameter from milk of sheep with the genotypes PRLAAβ-LGAA, PRLBBβ-LGAA, PRLAAβ-LGBB by 5.5, 4.5, and 3.0%, respectively, and it also had a higher fat content by 3.04, 2.90, and 1.10%, respectively. The practical significance of the obtained data lies in the prospect of selecting carriers of desirable alleles of the PRL and β-LG genes for targeted selection of parental pairs and obtaining a larger number of offspring with homozygous genotypes. Targeted selection will provide a higher proportion of sheep in the herd with better quantitative and qualitative indicators of milk productivity for with better parameters for cheese production. The work was carried out by order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation No. 082-03-2023-213 dated March 07, 2023.