Effects of solute carrier family 27 member 1 (SLC27A1) genotypes on fat content and major fatty acids in colostrum and milk from Murrah and “Murrah × Carabao” crossbred buffaloes

Abstract

This study analyzed the effect of Solute carrier family 27 member 1 (SLC27A1) genotypes on fat content and major fatty acids (lauric acid C12:0, myristic acid C14:0, palmitic acid C16:0, stearic acid C18:0, and oleic acid C18:1n-9) in milk and colostrum of 46 Murrah and “Murrah × Carabao” crossbred buffaloes at the Philippine Carabao Center - University of the Philippines Los Baños dairy herd. The SLC27A1 genotypes (CC and CT) were determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method using DNA extracted from hair follicles. This study found polymorphism in the SLC27A1 gene that were consistent with Hardy Weinberg’s law of equilibrium (HWE), with a polymorphic information content (PIC) and heterozygosity (H) estimate of 0.2915 and 0.3542, respectively, for Murrah; and 0.3219 and 0.4032, respectively for “Murrah × Carabao” crossbreeds. In Murrah buffaloes, the CT genotype was significantly associated (P<0.05) with higher colostrum yield and milk fat content, compared to CC. In “Murrah × Carabao” crossbreds, CT was associated with higher C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0, but lower C18:1n-9 in colostrum; and lower C16:0 in milk compared to CC. This study showed polymorphisms in SLC27A1 genotypes and their significant effects on colostrum yield and milk fat content in Murrah buffaloes and some major fatty acids in colostrum and milk from “Murrah × Carabao” crosses.