Relationship of body fat stores and leptin expression in adipose tissue in African cows of different genotype

Indigenous cows adapted to harsh environments are producing only limited amounts of milk and do not respond to additional feed supply with increases in milk production. Leptin, a regulator of body fat stores, may be differently expressed in indigenous Boran compared to crossbred cows, and hence be responsible for different nutrient partitioning. Body condition score (BCS) and body fat was estimated in 20 Boran and 21 crossbred cows and leptin expression was quantified in fat cells. Results revealed a significant relationship of leptin expression and BCS as well as body fat. However, relationships of the measured variables were only slightly (P<0.15) differently expressed between genotypes. However, leptin may be involved in the expression of different responses in milk production to additional feed between Boran and crossbred dairy cows.