Genetic association of candidate genes with milk and mastitis
resistance traits using SNP-Chip array in Holstein Friesian and
Pakistani indigenous dairy cattle breeds
Mustafa Kamal1,2,3, Guillermo Martinez-Boggio3,
Naseem Rafiq1, Ying Yu4, Francisco
Peñagaricano3 and Tahir Usman2*
1Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan,
Mardan, Pakistan.2College of Veterinary Sciences and
Animal Husbandry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan,
Pakistan,3Department
of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin Madison,
Madison, USA.4Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding
and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and National Engineering
Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and
Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
*Corresponding author:
tahirusman@awkum.edu.pk
Abstract
The use of genetic markers to improve milk and udder health traits in dairy
cattle are rapidly growing worldwide. This study was designed to evaluate
genetic associations of markers from a SNP-Chip including 20 SNPs in eight
candidate genes, namely JAK2, TRAPPC9,
DGAT1, LAG3, STAT5A, STAT5B, CD4 and
PTK2, with milk production and mastitis resistance traits in four dairy
cattle breeds. The study included 420 lactating dairy cows (Holstein Friesian
and indigenous Achai, Red Sindhi, and Sahiwal) that were genotyped using
the Chinese Cow’s SNPs Chip-1 (CCSC-1). Out of the 20 SNPs evaluated, 13 SNPs
were significantly
associated with milk and/or udder health traits. Also, genetic associations
varied across breeds, with certain SNPs being significantly associated with one
or multiple breeds.
In Holstein Friesian the CC genotype (SNP 7 on
TRAPPC9 gene) increased 305 milk
yield and reduced the incidence of clinical mastitis. Also in Red Sindhi, the CC
genotype (SNP 14 on DGAT1 gene)
increased 305 milk yield, protein (%), and lactose (%), and reduced the level of
somatic cell score. Candidate genes such as
JAK2 in Achai,
JAK2 and
LAG3 in Holstein Friesian, and
CD4 in Sahiwal were significantly
associated with the presence of
Staphylococcus aureus isolated from raw milk. These results infer that
genetic markers located on candidate genes present in CCSC-1 could be
potentially used in genetic selection to improve milk production and mastitis
resistance in dairy cattle breeds of Pakistan.
To Cite This Article:
Kamal M, Martinez-Boggio G, Rafiq N, Yu Y, Peñagaricano F and Usman T, 2025.
Genetic association of candidate genes with milk and mastitis resistance traits
using SNP-Chip array in Holstein Friesian and Pakistani indigenous dairy cattle
breeds. Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2025.119