Two single nucleotide polymorphisms within bovine butyrophilin gene (BTN/Haelll and BTN/Schl) and their association with milk performance traits in Jersey cattle

Associations between two polymorphisms localized in the seventh exon of the butyrophilin gene (BTN/Haelll and BTN/Schl) and milk production traits of Jersey cattle were analysed. A total of 171 cows were included in the study. PCR-RFLP method was used. In both polymorphisms three genotypes were identified. Statistically significant differences between polymorphic variants and milk production traits of Jersey cows were observed. Those differences concerned the percentage fat content in milk in the case of both polymorphisms and additionally the yield of milk and protein in the case of BTN/Haelll polymorphism. The influence of the combined genotypes (BTN/Haelll/Schl) on the examined traits was also analysed. GG(Haelll)/Ag-Schl combined genotype was characterized by a significantly lower percentage fat content in comparison to other combinations. Moreover, incomplete linkage between the studied polymorphic sites was observed, despite relatively small distance between them.