METHODS AND KITS FOR THE SELECTION OF ANIMALS HAVING CERTAIN MILD PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES, BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF A POLYMORPHISM IN THE GROWTH HORMONE RECEPTOR GENE

摘要

The present invention relates to a genetic marker used to distinguish amongst animals a trait for milk producing capabilities and milk composition. The marker is a mutation in the gene encoding somatotropine (also called growth hormone)-receptor (GH-R) at amino acid position 279 (a phenylalanine to tyrosine substitution in the transmembrane domain) which results in two forms of somatotropin receptor existing in bovine. The invention also pertains to methods and kits for determining whether a bovine has a genotype indicative of a trait of superior milk yield or a genotype indicative of a trait of superior milk composition, based on the analysis of said genetic marker.