Kappa-Casein Genetic Variants and Their Relationships with Milk Production and Quality in Montbéliarde Dairy Cows
Abstract
Among the six major milk proteins found in ruminant milk, kappa-casein (CSN3) plays an important role in casein micelle formation and organisation. In dairy cattle, the association between some genetic variants found in milk protein loci and milk production traits are well known, although the results vary across different dairy breeds and/or studies. In particular, some allelic forms found in CSN3 locus were associated with higher milk quality and improved manufacturing properties. Therefore the aim of the current work was to investigate the genetic correlations between CSN3 locus and milk yield/composition in a population of Montbéliarde cows. Significant associations were found only between CSN3 BB genotypes and milk fat percent. Based on the correlations found we concluded that selection CSN3 B allele may improve milk fat content in this breed.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:a) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
b) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
c) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
