The Influence of Growth Hormone Gene Polymorphism on Growth Rate of Young Cattle

Beef production is an important development area in animal breeding with meat quality being determined by both paratypic and genetic factors. In this regard evaluating genetic material for the presence of desirable allele combinations of genes associated with growth and development indicators, as well as meat qualities of animals have a certain scientific and practical significance. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of growth hormone gene polymorphism on the growth rate of bull calves of different breeds kept in the Bashkortostan Republic. The method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by the analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (PFLP) (SNP GH-L127V) was used to genotype Hereford (115 heads), Limousine (114 heads), Black-and-White (200 heads), Bestuzhev (200 heads) bull calves being fattened. The conducted research showed that there is a similar distribution of genotypes among bull calves of meat breeds with GH(LL) homozygous genotype being more common (47.83% and 52.63%). Black-and-White and Bestuzhev bull calves have a higher frequency of GH(LV) heterozygous genotype (62.50% and 59.0%). Hereford, Limousine and black-and-white bulls have a greater frequency of GH(L) allele (0.69; 0.71; 0.51), Bestuzhev animals have a higher rate of GH(V) allele (0.62). The paper presents the influence of somatotropin hormone gene polymorphism on some meat productivity and growth rate indicators of young animals. Thus, GHLL-genotyped Hereford, Limousine, and Black-and-White bull calves had significantly higher live weight (pre-slaughter live weight) as well as absolute and average daily live weight gains at the end of rearing. According to the results GH(LV)-genotyped animals were in the second place and GH(VV)-genotyped bulls ranked the last. As a result of the one-way analysis of variance, there has been found a high proportion of the studied polymorphism factor in developing meat productivity and growth rate indicators for Limousine, Black-and-White and Hereford bull calves. Genotyping by the GH gene as an additional criterion can be used in the selection of animals to improve cattle meat quality.