Association of genetic polymorphism in leptin gene with growth, reproduction and production traits in Sahiwal cows

Abstract

The present study explored the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in leptin gene with various economic traits (body weight at different age, first lactation reproduction and production traits) in Sahiwal cows. PCR-RFLP of 522 bp fragment comprising partial intron 2 and exon 3 of leptin gene, carried out using BsaAI restriction endonuclease, revealed three genotypes (GG, AG and AA) at position G93263736A in chromosome 4 with genotypic frequencies of 0.39, 0.52 and 0.09 respectively. The allele frequencies were 0.65 for the G allele and 0.35 for the A allele. General Linear Model (GLM) analysis revealed significant association of SNP G93263736A with growth and first lactation production traits. The present study supports that SNP in leptin gene could be used as an aid to selection for improving different economic traits in Sahiwal cows.