Effect of the prolactin gene polymorphism on quantity and quality of milk in Iraqi goats

Abstract

Domestic goats in Iraq are one of the oldest domesticated animals in Mesopotamia. Their adaptation characterizes them to harsh environmental conditions such as heat in the summer and cold in the winter. Still, they suffer from neglect and the lack of genetic research that would improve the production of this animal, which is considered a multi-production (milk production, meat production, hair production). And because the prolactin gene is crucial, the current study focused on how the prolactin gene (PRL) affects milk yield and its composition. We obtained three genotypes of the prolactin gene exon 5: AA, AB, and BB. The hybrid genotype AB had the highest daily milk yield in domestic goats, although the recessive type BB had a more significant fat percentage. The genetic approach is advised if breeding aims to enhance milk output daily. So select hybrid genotype AB to exon 5 for the (PRL) gene. . Keywords: Domestic Iraqi goats; prolactin gene; milk production