Genetic polymorphism of the kappa-casein gene in Brazilian cattle

• Published in: Genetics and molecular research 2008-01, Vol.7 (3), p.623-630
• Main Authors: Azevedo, A.L.S, Nascimento, C.S, Steinberg, R.S, Carvalho, M.R.S, Peixoto, M.G.C.D, Teodoro, R.L, Verneque, R.S, Guimarães, S.E.F, Machado, M.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alleles; Animals; Bos indicus; Breeding; Caseins - genetics; cattle; Cattle - genetics; Cheese; Gene Frequency; genetic polymorphism; genetic variation; kappa-casein; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Genetic; restriction fragment length polymorphism; Species Specificity; zebu; zebu breeds
• ISSN: 1676-5680; 1676-5680
• DOI: 10.4238/vol7-3gmr428

Frequencies of kappa-casein gene alleles were determined in 1316 animals from the Brazilian Bos indicus genetic groups (Sindhi cows, Gyr sires, Gyr cows, Guzerat sires, Guzerat cows, Nellore sires, and Gyr x Holstein crossbreds) by means of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using two independent restriction nucleases (Hinf I and HaeIII). The genotyping of kappa-casein alleles (A and B) is of practical importance, since the B allele is found to correlate with commercially valuable parameters of cheese yielding efficiency. The frequencies of the B allele of kappa-casein among breeds ranged from 0.01 to 0.30. The Sindhi breed had the highest frequency for the B allele (0.30), while the frequencies of this allele in other breeds ranged from 0.01 to 0.18. A wide variation in the B allele frequency among B. indicus breeds was found suggesting that molecular selection for animals carrying the B allele could impact breeding programs for dairy production.