Early Determination of Animals with Favorable Genes in Milk Production for Profitable Private Farms

Abstract

The primary goal of dairy industry has been to identify an efficient and economical way of increasing milk production and its constituents without increasing the size of the dairy herd. The use of milk protein polymorphisms as detectable molecular markers has been studied intensively because of their effect on the yield and processing properties of milk and its products. Thus, molecular markers are promising alternative to the current methods of trait selection once these genes are proven to be associated with traits of interest in animals. Kappa-casein (CSN3) and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) are two of the most important proteins in the milk of mammals that play a crucial role in the milk quality and coagulation, an essential process for cheese and butter. The A and B variant of k-casein and β-lactoglobulin were distinguished by Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis in 108 Romanian Simmental and 60 Holstein Friesian cattle.

Keywords

• beta-lactoglobulin
• kappa-casein
• milk production traits
• polymorphism