Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter of CD4 gene are associated with production and mastitis traits in dairy cattle

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter of CD4 gene with mastitis and production traits in dairy cattle. Blood and milk samples were collected from 201 lactating dairy cattle maintained at government dairy farms in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. SNPs were identification in the pool of 30 randomly selected DNA samples followed by genotyping of these SNPs in all samples and statistical analysis by the general linear model of SAS (9.4). Two SNPs (SNP1 104010804G>A and SNP2 104010868T>C) were found associated significantly with the annual milk yield and the frequency of mastitis (P<0.05). The AA genotype of SNP1 and the TT genotype of SNP2 were significantly associated with milk yield and frequency of mastitis compared to other genotypes (P<0.05). Thus, the genotypes significantly associated with mastitis and production traits could be used as significant molecular marker in dairy cattle breeding programs.