GENETIC MARKER FOR SUPERIOR MILK PRODUCTION IN DAIRY CATTLE

摘要

An assay for a genetic marker associated with increased milk production is disclosed. Also disclosed are kits for use in connection with the assay and breeding methods that use the assay. The assay centers on finding a genetic marker (e.g. at 1.15 kb) in a bovine cell (e.g. in the DNA of the cell). The presence of the marker is confirmed by exposing a gene sequence from the cell to a restriction enzyme so as to yield gene fragments of varying lengths. One then separates at least some of the fragments from others (such as by using electrophoresis), and one then hybridizes a plurality of probes that contain a portion of bovine prolactin sequence to the separated fragments. The probe is radio-labelled. One then compares the results (e.g. AA, Aa, or aa) of the hybridization with the hybridization results for a gene sequence known to either have the marker (e.g. Aa) or not have the marker (e.g. aa). The assay appears to be of greatest utility in connection with the Carlin-M Ivanhoe Bell Holstein family.