DNA analysis of the Russian populations of Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Belgian Blue cattle

• Published in: Archiv für Tierzucht Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 409 - 416
• Main Authors: Konovalova, Elena N, Romanenkova, Olga S, Volkova, Valeria V, Kostyunina, Olga V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Copernicus GmbH 16-11-2020; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Alleles; Analysis; Animal genetic engineering; Animal husbandry; Animals; Arthrogryposis; Beef cattle; Biomedical materials; Breeding of animals; Cattle; Defects; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Extremely high frequencies; Gene mutation; Gene polymorphism; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic polymorphisms; Genetic research; Genotypes; Genotyping; Health risks; Hereditary diseases; Laboratories; Livestock breeding; Maple syrup; Maple syrup urine disease; Meat; Mutation; Myostatin; Osteopetrosis; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymorphism; Population; Population genetics; Populations; Productivity; Syrup; Test systems; Belgium; United Kingdom; Russia
• ISSN: 2363-9822; 0003-9438; 2363-9822
• DOI: 10.5194/aab-63-409-2020

The use of specialized meat breeds in cattle breeding programs is considered very promising for improving herds' productivity. However, in animal genotype, along with genes that positively affect the productivity signs, there are genes whose mutations, known as genetic defects, negatively affect the health of animals. The aim of the study was the screening of the Russian populations of Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Belgian Blue cattle on gene mutations associated with the genetic defects of arthrogryposis multiplex (AM), osteopetrosis (OS), developmental duplication (DD), double muscling (M1), hypotrichosis (HY) and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) as well as the
polymorphism of myostatin gene (
) linked with the gene responsible for less fat content in the carcass by means of DNA analysis. In the article, test systems based on the polymerase chain reaction method are presented. The analysis of the Aberdeen Angus (
) population has revealed 0.19 
 0.09 % animal M1 carriers, 0.53 
 0.03 % OS carriers, 1.92 
 0.09 % AM carriers and 9.00 
 0.20 % DD carriers. The genotyping of Hereford cattle of Russian populations (
) has not revealed any individual carriers of MSUD or HY genetic defects. All of the Belgian Blue population (
) animals were heterozygous M1 carriers. The study of the
polymorphism has demonstrated extremely high frequencies of the desirable
allele (0.93 and 0.90) in two Aberdeen Angus populations with an average mean of 0.63 
 0.08, which was 32 % higher compared to the Belgian Blue population. The results suggest the high genetic potential of the Aberdeen Angus and Belgian Blue cattle, but the existence in the genotypes of the mutant alleles associated with hereditary diseases indicates the risk of uncontrolled use of these breeds.