U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    AIP
                        Home
                                    About
                                    Publications
                                    Software
                                    People
                                    Collaborations
                                    Careers
                                    Centennial
                                    Contact
                                    Dairy industry links
                    DirectionsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications
- IACUC
- Home
- About
- Publications
- Software
- People
- Collaborations
- Careers
- Centennial
- Contact
- Dairy industry links
- Home
- Queries login
- News
- Animal Evaluation lists
- Genotype counts

Title:   Author  item
                                            COCHRAN, S - University Of Floridaitem
                                            Cole, Johnitem
                                            Null, Danielitem
                                            HANSEN, P - University Of Florida
  Submitted to: BioMed Central (BMC) Genetics
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 5/23/2013
                                    Publication  Date: 6/7/2013
                                    Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/57079Citation: Cochran, S.D., Cole, J.B., Null, D.J., Hansen, P.J. 2013. Discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes associated with fertility and production traits in Holstein cattle. BioMed Central (BMC) Genetics. 14:49.Interpretive Summary: Semen from 550 Holstein bulls with high (n = 288) or low (n = 262) genetic merit for daughter fertility were used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located in genes that are involved in reproduction. Those SNP may be useful for improving the reliability of predicted transmitting abilities for these lowly heritabile traits. Three types of SNPs were evaluated: those previously reported to be associated with reproductive traits or physically close to genetic markers for reproduction, those found in genes that are known to be involved in reproductive processes, and those in genes that are differentially expressed in a variety of tissues associated with reproductive function. Ten reproduction and production traits were analyzed. A total of 42 SNPs were associated (P < 0.05) with daughter pregnancy rate (DPR), a measure of daughter fertility. Among these were genes involved in the endocrine system, cell signaling, immune function and inhibition of apoptosis. A total of 10 genes were regulated by estradiol. In addition, 22 SNPs were associated with heifer conception rate, 33 with cow conception rate, 36 with productive life, 34 with net merit, 23 with milk yield, 19 with fat yield, 13 with fat percent, 19 with protein yield, 22 with protein percent, and 13 with somatic cell score. The allele substitution effect for SNPs associated with heifer conception rate, cow conception rate, productive life and net merit were in the same direction as for DPR. Allele substitution effects for several SNPs associated with production traits were in the opposite direction as DPR. Nonetheless, there were 29 SNPs associated with DPR that were also positively associated with production traits. It may be feasible to include these SNPs in genomic tests of reproduction and other traits. The large number of SNPs positively associated with DPR and production traits suggests that it may be possible to select for DPR without compromising production.
                                Technical Abstract: Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for specific genes involved in reproduction might improve reliability of genomic estimates for these low- heritability traits. Semen from 550 Holstein bulls of high (>= 1.7; n=288) or low (<= -2; n = 262) daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) was genotyped for 434 candidate SNPs using the Sequenom MassARRAY® system. Three types of SNPs were evaluated: SNPs previously reported to be associated with reproductive traits or physically close to genetic markers for reproduction, SNPs in genes that are well known to be involved in reproductive processes, and SNPs in genes that are differentially expressed between physiological conditions in a variety of tissues associated in reproductive function. Ten reproduction and production traits were analyzed. A total of 42 SNPs were associated (P < 0.05) with DPR. Among these were genes involved in the endocrine system, cell signaling, immune function and inhibition of apoptosis. A total of 10 genes were regulated by estradiol. In addition, 22 SNPs were associated with heifer conception rate, 33 with cow conception rate, 36 with productive life, 34 with net merit, 23 with milk yield, 19 with fat yield, 13 with fat percent, 19 with protein yield, 22 with protein percent, and 13 with somatic cell score. The allele substitution effect for SNPs associated with heifer conception rate, cow conception rate, productive life and net merit were in the same direction as for DPR. Allele substitution effects for several SNPs associated with production traits were in the opposite direction as DPR. Nonetheless, there were 29 SNPs associated with DPR that were not negatively associated with production traits. Conclusion: SNPs in a total of 42 genes associated with DPR were identified as well as SNPs for other traits. It might be feasible to include these SNPs into genomic tests of reproduction and other traits. The genes associated with DPR are likely to be important  for understanding the physiology of reproduction. Given the large number of SNPs associated with DPR that were not negatively associated with production traits, it should be possible to select for DPR without compromising production.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov