PSVI-15 Combined effect of C73T × C528T polymorphisms in the leptin gene with quantitative and qualitative indicators of meat productivity

Abstract

Abstract The LEP is a highly polymorphicgene and it is associated with genetic differences in various productivetraits in cattle. The aim of research was to study the combined effect of C73T and C528T polymorphisms in leptin gene on meat productivity and carcass grade in Aberdeen-Angus cows and heifers. Heifers (n = 49) were slaughtered at the age of 20 months and cows (n = 30) after the first calving (3 years). There were seven haplotypes C73T (GenBank AF120500) × C528T (GenBank AB070368) identified in cows with different frequency. The maximum frequency was established in combined genotypes CT/CT (0.37), TT/CC (0.27) and CT/CC (0.13). The most massive carcasses (337.5 kg) were obtained from cows-carriers of the CT/CC haplotype, which exceeded their peers by 14.8–24.7 kg (4.59–7.90%; P >0.05). However, cows carrying the CT/CC genotype had a minimum carcass yield of 49.8%. There were eight haplotypes identified in heifers. The highest frequency was in combinations CT/CT (0.26), TT/CC (0.20), CC/TT (0.20), CC/CT (0.12), TT/CT (0.10). Heifers carrying the TT/CT genotype were characterized by the highest live weight (568.9 kg) and carcass weight (331.2 kg), exceeding the indicators of peers by 8.9–43.5 kg (1.59–8.28%; P < 0.05, P > 0.05) and 10.9–22.2 kg (3.40–7.18%; P < 0.05, P > 0.05), respectively. The maximum carcass yield was recorded in carriers of the CT/CC haplotype (60.7%). The best carcasses grade were observedin heifers with a combination of CC/TT and CT/CT genotypes. The highest categories (Prime and TopChoice) were assigned to 70.0 and 69.2% of carcasses, respectively. The superiority of haplotype CT/CT in the quality of meat raw materials was confirmed in cows. Thus, the combination of C73T and C528T polymorphisms in the leptin gene is associated with intra-breed variability in live weight, carcass weight and yield, and carcass grade in Aberdeen-Angus cattle. This research was performed with financial support from the project 0526-2021-0001 of RAS.