V.R. Beauchemin, M.G. Thomas, D.E. Franke, G.A. Silver
Published July 25, 2006
Genet. Mol. Res. 5 (3): 438-447 (2006)
About the athors
V.R. Beauchemin, M.G. Thomas, D.E. Franke, G.A. Silver
Corresponding author: M.G. Thomas
E-mail: milthoma@nmsu.edu
ABSTRACT
Associations of DNA polymorphisms in growth hormone (GH) relative to growth and carcass characteristics in growing Brahman steers (N = 324 from 68 sires) were evaluated. Polymorphisms were an Msp-I RFLP and a leucine/valine SNP in the GH gene as well as a Hinf-I RFLP and a histidine/arginine SNP in transcriptional regulators of the GH gene, Pit-1 and Prop-1. Genotypic frequencies of the GH SNP, Pit-1 RFLP, and Prop-1 SNP were greaterthan 88% for one of the bi-allelic homozygous genotypes. Genotypic frequencies for the GH MspI RFLP genotypes were more evenly distributed with frequencies of 0.43, 0.42, and 0.15 for the genotypes of +/+, +/-, and -/-, respectively. Mixed model analyses of growth and carcass traits with genotype and contemporary group serving as fixed effects and sire fitted as a random effect suggested that sire was a significant source of variation (P < 0.05) in average daily gain, carcass yield, and marbling score. However, measures of growth and carcass traits were similar across GH Msp-I Genetics and Molecular Research 5 (3): 438-447 (2006) FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br DNA polymorphisms involving growth hormone in Brahman steers 439 Genetics and Molecular Research 5 (3): 438-447 (2006) www.funpecrp.com.br genotypes as steers were slaughtered when fat thickness was estimated to be ~1.0 cm. These polymorphisms within the GH gene and/or its transcriptional regulators do not appear to be informative predictors of growth and carcass characteristics in Brahman steers. This is partly due to the high level of homozygosity of genotypes. These findings do not eliminate the potential importance of these polymorphisms as predictors of growth and carcass traits in Bos taurus or Bos taurus x Bos indicus composite cattle
Key words: Brahman, Growth hormone, DNA, Genetic marker, Growth, Carcass.