Mammary Gland Health and Identification of β-defensin Gene of Holstein-Friesian Cows

Abstract

β-Defensin in bovine had known as an antimicrobial peptide group with a broad-spectrum activity. The defensin peptide found abundant in neutrophils and epithelial cells including in the mammary gland. The objectives of this research are to identify the β-defensin gene and mammary gland health status. Blood and milk samples were obtained from various lactated cows located from several farms in Bogor. The research consisted of two main activities including collecting blood and milk then laboratory examinations which carried out through amplifying genomic DNA fragments of β-defensin using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and milk analysis through somatic cell count. Therefore, based on these results, the β-defensin are found and identified in all samples with a low or high number of somatic cell. Hence, the genetic diversity of β-defensin gene need to be calculated to be used as genetic marker prior to select dairy cattle with increased resistance to infection of the mammary gland method. Other defensin genes need to be hold to assisted breeding programmes in accordance with mammary gland health.