Formation of a foundation herd of Argentine Creole Cattle for milk production. Effect on six loci gene frequencies

Abstract

With the purpose to establish a foundation group to carry out a dairy improvement plan for Argentine Creole cattle, thirty-eight dams and one sire belonging to this breed were selected. In order to evaluate such selection effect on six loci, polymorphisms of b-lactoglobulin, growth hormone, F13A, BoLA-DRB3, BoLA-DYA, and the microsatellite D23S5 were characterized in the selected population (38 animals), as well as in unselected population (78 animals). The characterization of b-lactoglobulin, growth hormone, F13A, BoLA-DRB3,BoLA-DYA alleles was carried out through the techniques of PCR-RFLP, while the D23S5 variants were characterized by PCR-sequencing gel methodology. These results revealed a significant increase of b-lactoglobulin B variant and non significant increase in D23S5 B variant. Whereas no significant difterences between the selected and unselected population were observed for gene frequencies of growth hormone F13A, BoLA-DRB3, BoLA-DYA.
The observed differences could be consequence of selection eftect. Family studies would be nessesary to confirm that the observed differencies were consequence of association between these molecular markers with quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for milk production.