Genomic Regions Associated with Milk Composition and Fertility Traits in Spring-Calved Dairy Cows in New Zealand

J M D R Jayawardana; Nicolas Lopez-Villalobos; Lorna R McNaughton; Rebecca E Hickson

doi:10.3390/genes14040860

Genomic Regions Associated with Milk Composition and Fertility Traits in Spring-Calved Dairy Cows in New Zealand

Genes (Basel). 2023 Apr 1;14(4):860. doi: 10.3390/genes14040860.

Authors

J M D R Jayawardana^{1

2}, Nicolas Lopez-Villalobos¹, Lorna R McNaughton³, Rebecca E Hickson⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
² Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla 90000, Sri Lanka.
³ Livestock Improvement Corporation, Private Bag 3016, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
⁴ Focus Genetics, 17C Mahia St, Ahuriri, Napier 4144, New Zealand.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions and genes that are associated with the milk composition and fertility traits of spring-calved dairy cows in New Zealand. Phenotypic data from the 2014-2015 and 2021-2022 calving seasons in two Massey University dairy herds were used. We identified 73 SNPs that were significantly associated with 58 potential candidate genes for milk composition and fertility traits. Four SNPs on chromosome 14 were highly significant for both fat and protein percentages, and the associated genes were DGAT1, SLC52A2, CPSF1, and MROH1. For fertility traits, significant associations were detected for intervals from the start of mating to first service, the start of mating to conception, first service to conception, calving to first service, and 6-wk submission, 6-wk in-calf, conception to first service in the first 3 weeks of the breeding season, and not in calf and 6-wk calving rates. Gene Ontology revealed 10 candidate genes (KCNH5, HS6ST3, GLS, ENSBTAG00000051479, STAT1, STAT4, GPD2, SH3PXD2A, EVA1C, and ARMH3) that were significantly associated with fertility traits. The biological functions of these genes are related to reducing the metabolic stress of cows and increasing insulin secretion during the mating period, early embryonic development, foetal growth, and maternal lipid metabolism during the pregnancy period.

Keywords: candidate gene; dairy cattle; fertility; genome-wide association study; milk composition.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cattle / genetics
Female
Fertility / genetics
Genomics
Lactation* / genetics
Milk* / metabolism
New Zealand
Pregnancy
Seasons

Grants and funding

The first author was funded by the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development Project (AHEAD) by the Sri Lankan Government under the funds of the World Bank (Colombo 03, Sri Lanka; grant number AHEAD/ PhD/R2/AG/212). The Livestock Improvement Corporation (Hamilton, New Zealand) funded the genotyping costs and JerseyNZ (Hamilton, New Zealand) donated the Jersey cows to Massey University.