GENETIC VARIATION IN PRO-MELANIN-CONCENTRATING HORMONE GENE AFFECTS CARCASS TRAITS IN CATTLE

摘要

An A-to-T singlenu-cleotide polymorphism (SNP) identifiedat position -134 relative to the ATG startcodon, in the Pro-Melanin-ConcentratingHormone (PMCH) gene of Bos taurusandBos indicus animals of both Britishand Continental type, is associated withchanges in the average fat and grade fat.The A allele occurred in 67 % of cattleexamined and was associated with higheraverage fat and grade fat levels. Thecattle industry may make use of thesefindings to genetically select for, and/orsort, cattle using this SNP.