MSTN gene polymorphisms are associated with the feed efficiency of fattened lambs in Latvian sheep breeds
¹Genomics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biology of the University of Latvia,
Jelgava Str. 3, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
²Institute of Agrobiotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Liela Str. 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
*Correspondence: ilva.trapina@lu.lv
Abstract:
The economic benefit for sheep farmers depends on the level of feed efficiency of the lambs raised. Promoting breed selection for feed efficiency could provide sheep farmers with higher quality and more economically profitable lambs. In livestock production, marker-assisted selection employs genetic biomarkers linked to specific traits. Myostatin (MSTN), a vital transforming growth factor-beta superfamily member, is pivotal in regulating myogenesis and negatively impacts mammal muscle growth and development. The study aims to find molecular markers related to feed efficiency parameters in the MSTN gene for Latvian sheep breeds. DNA extraction was made from blood collected from 76 controlled fatten lambs, with 63.16% belonging to the Latvian Dark-head (LT) breed. A complete gene sequencing analysis was conducted to identify variations in loci across different sheep breeds, aiming to discover statistically significant associations between identified polymorphisms and feed efficiency indicators. Polymorphic variants were identified in 23 loci of the MSTN gene among Latvian lambs, with the discovery of a novel SNP. Notably, SNP rs404916326 T>A exhibited statistically significant associations with indicators such as Residual feed intake, Residual intake, and body weight gain, specifically in the LT breed. Furthermore, SNP rs408469734 G>A showed associations with relative growth rate and Kleiber’s ratio within the lamb group. These findings suggest that SNPs rs404916326 and rs408469734 within the MSTN gene are promising molecular markers for marker-assisted selection strategies in sheep breeding to improve feed efficiency indicators.
Key words:
feed efficiency, intensive fattening, Latvian sheep, marker-assisted selection (MAS), sheep genome