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Genetic analysis of lactoferrin content in bovine milk

V. M.-R. Arnould^*,, H. Soyeurt, N. Gengler^,, F. G. Colinet^*, M. V. Georges^*, C. Bertozzi, D. Portetelle^* and R. Renaville^*,1

^* Animal and Microbial Biology Unit, and
Animal Science Unit, Gembloux Agricultural University, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium
National Fund for Scientific Research, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Walloon Breeders Association, B-5530 Ciney, Belgium

¹ Corresponding author: renaville.r{at}fsagx.ac.be

Bovine lactoferrin (LF) is mainly present in milk and shows important physiological and biological functions. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability and correlation values of LF content in bovine milk with different economic traits as milk yield (MY), fat and protein percentages, and somatic cell score (SCS). Variance components of the studied traits were estimated by REML using a multiple-trait mixed model. The obtained heritability (0.22) for LF content predicted using mid-infrared spectrometry (pLF) suggested the possibility of animal selection based on the increase of LF content in milk. The phenotypic and genetic correlation values calculated between pLF and SCS were moderate (0.31 and 0.24, respectively). Furthermore, a preliminary study of bovine LF gene polymorphism effects was performed on the same production traits. By PCR, all exons of the LF gene were amplified and then sequenced. Three new polymorphisms were detected in exon 2, exon 11, and intron 8. We examined the effects of LF gene polymorphisms of exons 2, 4, 9, 11, and 15, and intron 8 on pLF, MY, fat and protein percentages, and SCS. The different observed effects did not reach a significant level probably because of the characteristics of the studied population. However, the results were promising, and LF may be a potential indicator of mastitis. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of genetic selection based on LF content on the improvement of mastitis resistance.

Key Words: lactoferrin • genetic parameter • gene polymorphism • mastitis