Polymorphisms at the five exons of the growth hormone gene in the algarvia goat: possible association with milk traits

The present preliminary study attempts to establish associations between milk production traits and genetic polymorphisms at the GH gene in the Algarvia goat. The DNA of 108 goats of the indigenous Portuguese Algarvia breed was evaluated. Single-strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) were identified at the five exons of the goat growth hormone (gGH) gene. Two conformational patterns were found in each of exons 1 and 2, four in exon 3, six in exon 4 and five in exon 5. An association between these SSCP patterns with milk, fat and protein production, and fat and protein content was examined. Patterns F/F of exon 4 and A/A of exon 5 were positively associated with milk production (P < 0.05), The results demonstrated that the gGH gene could be exploited as a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection in goat breeds. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.