Genetic variability of FABP4 c.328 G>A (rs110652478) polymorphism and its association with slaughter weight and carcass traits in Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bulls imported into Turkey

Authors : Sena Ardicli, Hakan Üstüner, Öznur Arslan

Pages : 10-18

Doi:10.30782/jrvm.895372

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Publication Date : 2021-08-19

Article Type : Research

Abstract :The study aimed to determine the genotypic distribution of the c.328 G>A (rs110652478) polymorphism in the bovine fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene and to determine its effect on slaughter weight in Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bulls imported into Turkey. A total of randomly selected 95 bulls were used in this study. Bulls were housed for fattening in semi-open pens for approximately nine months with the same management procedures. Genotyping of the FABP4 c.328 G>A (rs110652478) polymorphism, located in exon 3, was performed by the PCR-RFLP method. Allele and genotype frequencies were calculated by the standard procedures and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested by comparing expected and observed genotype frequencies using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Indices of genetic diversity were calculated based on the allelic frequencies. The least-squares method as applied in a GLM procedure was used to test the association between FABP4 c.328 G>A and phenotypic traits including slaughter weight, hot and cold carcass weight, chilling loss, dressing percentage, and carcass pH. Results revealed that the most frequent genotype was GG (49.18% and 52.94% for Angus and Herefords, respectively) and the minor allele frequency (A allele) was 0.32 in the total population. The genotype distribution was in agreement with Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05). The moderately low levels of genetic variability observed in this study may be caused as a result of eventual inbreeding. PIC levels suggest that FABP4 c.328 G>A can be a mildly informative genetic marker for the tested population. Association analysis indicated that the effect of the FABP4 on slaughter weight was statistically significant (P A may provide valuable, but limited, information on imported beef cattle raised in Turkey conditions.
Keywords : Beef cattle, FABP4, single nucleotide polymorphism, marker-assisted selection