Effects of different variants of the FASN gene on production performance and milk fatty acid composition in Holstein × Simmental dairy cows

摘要

Crossbreeding of Holstein cattle with bulls of other breeds has garnered increasing interest with respectto efforts to improve performance traits and to decrease problems with fertility and health. Therefore, the objectiveof this study was to compare the effects of the fatty acid synthase (FASN) gene on milk production traitsand fatty acid composition of Simmental and first-generation Holstein × Simmental crossbred cows. A total of105 cows (72 Simmental and 33 crossbred Holstein) were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method and their fattyacid profiles were analysed. The crossbred Holstein cows with diplotype TW/AR had significantly higher fatcontent and yield compared to the purebred Simmental cows of the same diplotype. The Holstein × Simmentalcows with the diplotype AR/AR were also characterised by significantly lower content of C16:0 and saturated fattyacids, but higher C18:1n9, monounsaturated fatty acid and monounsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid contentcompared to the same diplotype of the Simmental cattle. These results indicate that with accurate breedingplans, crossbreeding Holstein cows with Simmental bulls could be directed towards a more desirable fatty acidcomposition of milk and dairy products.