Association of bovine chromosome 5 markers with birth and weaning weight in Hereford cattle raised under extensive conditions

ROGBERG MUÑOZ A; MELUCCI L; PRANDO A J; VILLEGAS CASTAGNASSO E E; RIPOLI M V; PERAL GARCIA P; BALDO A; AÑON M C; GIOVAMBATTISTA G.

LIVESTOCK SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2011 vol. 135 p. 124 - 130

1871-1413

Genetic markers have been used to assess the association of economically important traits with  cattle under intensive feeding conditions; however, there is still the need to ascertain the  usefulness of these markers under extensive production systems. Bovine chromosome 5 has  been widely studied because several QTLs have been detected. Microsatellite BP1 neighboring  the Myogenic factor 5 gene (Myf5), and microsatellites ETH10, IGF1 and RM029 near Insulin-like  Growth Factor 1 gene (IGF1), were selected to establish their association with BLUPs (Best  Linear Unbiased Predictor) for direct Birth Weight (dBW), direct Weaning Weight (dWW) and  maternal Weaning Weight (mWW). Two herds were used for this objective, one commercial  and the other experimental. Associations (P≤0.05) between dWW and all BTA5 loci (BP1,  ETH10, IGF1, and RM029) were detected. Additional associations were observed between  mWW and BP1. dBW was significantly associated (P≤0.05) with ETH10 genotypes and with  the interaction IGF1*Herd. In particular region near BP1 could be contributing to the rare  positive correlation between dWW and mWW previously found in the INTA Balcarce Station  experimental herd. We confirmed marker associations with growth traits in two BTA5 regions  close to previously reported QTL obtained in intensive feeding conditions; these regions affect  dBW, dWW and mWW in a pasture-based system.