Abstract
Simple SummaryBeta-lactoglobulin (β-LG), prolactin (PRL), and Kappa casein (CSN3) all contribute to the determination of milk production and composition, but have not been assessed in local Awassi sheep. Therefore, our aim was to analyze the contribution of these genes in milk production and composition traits in commercial Awassi ewe population by genotyping and sequencing these genes. Our results showed the prevalence of the different variations (alleles) of the tested genes in the Awassi population, and no association among β-LG and CSN3 polymorphic genotypes and milk production, or PRL and fat%. Also, all 3 genes help determine the milk production potential of Awassi ewes and help assess milk components, and thus can be used in breeding programs to select for milk potential.A participatory animal-breeding program was applied to 9 commercial Awassi sheep flocks in Jordan. This study aimed to assess the influence of Beta-lactoglobulin (β-LG), Prolactin (PRL), and Kappa casein (CSN3) genes, genotypes and their interaction on milk production and composition traits of 167 genotyped Awassi ewes via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing. Allele frequencies for the two variants were 0.42 and 0.58 for β-LG, 0.82 and 0.18 for PRL, and 0.92 and 0.08 for CSN3. No association was found among β-LG and CSN3 polymorphic genotypes with milk production traits. However, ewes with PRL AA genotype showed higher milk production, β-LG AB was associated with lowest fat%, high solid not fat (SNF)%, protein%, and lactose%. β-LG BB was associated with highest milk density. PRL, β-LG, and CSN3 polymorphic genotypes were differentially associated with milk production and component traits. Furthermore, β-LG × PRL interaction showed the highest milk production and fat%; β-LG × PRL recorded the highest SNF%, protein%, lactose%, and milk density, while the PRL × CSN3 had the highest fat% and SNF%. The enhancing effects of these gene interactions can be incorporated in Awassi breeding programs to improve milk production and composition.
Highlights
The dairy industry is a crucial cog in the agricultural economy of many countries
The findings presented in this paper indicated that β-LG gene polymorphisms are not associated with milk production traits in Awassi sheep (Table 4)
We found no significant effect of CSN3 variants on fat, protein, lactose content, and milk density, whereas solid not fat (SNF) content was positively affected by only the TT genotype (Table 6)
Summary
Milk yield and its components are among the major goals targeted by animal geneticists [1]. Awassi is the most common breed of sheep in Middle East countries where its products, including meat, milk, and wool, play an important socioeconomic role in Jordan. Animals 2019, 9, 382 its ability to cover annual production costs. For this reason, Awassi daily milk production has been enhanced via genetic selection from 0.5 kg to 1.2 kg [3]. Milk production and composition in Mediterranean countries was observed to fluctuate within and between flocks and countries as a result of different environmental factors and variations within and between Awassi genotypes [4,5,6,7,8,9]
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