Identification of GDF5 gene polymorphism of bull-calves of the Kalmyk breed

Abstract

The study covers bull-calves of the Kalmyk breed (n=182) aged 12-14 months. It considers the impact of polymorphism of the growth differentiation factor 5 (T586C in exon 1) ensuring development, maintenance and restoration of bones and cartilage on body parameters, body weight and musculoskeletal diseases. The frequency of occurrence of TT alleles in selection made 48.9%, TC – 46.7 and CC – 4.4%, χ2 test – 4.94. Bull-calves with CC genotype surpassed their analogues with TT and TC genotypes in terms of growth intensity and body measurements. The analysis of non-contagious musculoskeletal diseases (arthritides, bursitides, arthrobursitides) since birth until the 12th month of age revealed diseases among 17 heads (19.1%) with TT genotype, 9 heads (10.6%) with TC genotype and absence of diseases with CC genotype. There is a need for further study with increasing the group of animals with C homozygous genotype.