Exploration of relationships between production and fertility traits in dairy cattle via association studies of SNPs within candidate genes derived by expression profiling

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2010.02148.x
• Publication Date: 2010-12-30T12:03:01Z
• Authors: E. C. G. Pimentel; S. Bauersachs; M. Tietze; H. Simianer; J. Tetens; G. Thaller; F. Reinhardt; E. Wolf; S. König
• Keywords: Candidate gene; Genetic Association; Genome-wide Association Study; SNP; Genetic architecture; SNP genotyping

Summary The objective of this work was to integrate findings from functional genomics studies with genome‐wide association for fertility and production traits in dairy cattle. Association analyses SNPs located within or close 170 candidate genes derived two gene expression the literature were performed. Data 2294 Holstein bulls genotyped 39557 used. A total 111 on chromosomal segments covered by a gene. Allele substitution effects each SNP estimated using mixed model fixed effect marker random polygenic effect. Assumed covariance either pedigree information. Results analysis kinship matrix built genotypes more conservative than pedigree‐derived relationship matrix. From sixteen significant both classes traits, ten provided evidence an antagonistic between productivity fertility. However, we found four favourable yield one percentage traits. While most quantitative genetic have proven antagonisms improvements functionality may be possible when focusing few relevant SNPs. Investigations combining input genetics applied identification such