Association of PIT1 gene polymorphism with milk productivity and body conformation traits in dairy cattle

P. А. Vashchenko; M. M. Skyba; A. M. Saienko; V. H. Slynko; B. S. Shaferivskyi; O. I. Myronenko; O. I. Stadnytska; O. M. Tsereniuk

doi:10.15421/0225195

P. А. Vashchenko Poltava State Agrarian University
M. M. Skyba Poltava State Agrarian University
A. M. Saienko Institute of Pig Breeding and Agroindustrial Production of National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine
V. H. Slynko Poltava State Agrarian University
B. S. Shaferivskyi Poltava State Agrarian University
O. I. Myronenko Poltava State Agrarian University
O. I. Stadnytska Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine
O. M. Tsereniuk Institute of Pig Breeding and Agroindustrial Production of National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine

Keywords: pituitary-specific positive transcription factor 1 gene, dairy cattle, Ukrainian Red-and-White dairy breed, milk yield, body conformation, marker-assisted selection, genetic diversity.

Abstract

Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is an effective approach to accelerating genetic progress in livestock by identifying p o lymorphisms associated with economically important traits. The pituitary-specific transcription factor gene PIT1 plays a regulatory role in the synthesis of growth hormone and prolactin, thus potentially influencing milk yield and body conform a tion in dairy cattle. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of PIT1 genotypes and their associations with productive and morphometric traits in Ukrainian Red-and-White dairy cows – a local breed with limited genetic characterization. Gen o typing was performed using PCR-RFLP with restriction enzyme HinfI on DNA samples obtained from 51 cows. Three genotypes (AA, AB, BB) were identified with frequencies of 0.059, 0.549, and 0.392, respectively. The population was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and the Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) value (0.34) confirmed an adequate level of variability for association analysis. The frequency of allele B was twice that of allele A, suggesting moderate genetic conso l idation of the herd. Cows with the PIT1 BB genotype showed a significantly higher milk yield per lactation ( higher by 14.8%) and a 9.8% higher 305 day yield compared with the AB group. In contrast, genotype AB was associated with greater chest width (by 3.4%), as well as higher pelvic–thoracic and thoracic indexes, indicating a more robust body type. No signi f icant differences were found among genotypes for milk fat content, udder morphology, milking speed, live weight, or service period duration.The obtained results demonstrate that PIT1 polymorphism affects milk yield and certain conformation i n dexes in Ukrainian Red-and-White cattle, primarily through mechanisms related to endocrine regulation rather than skeletal development. The presence of both alleles at moderate frequencies highlights the genetic diversity of this local breed and supports its potential use in further genomic selection programs aimed at improving milk productivity while maintaining adaptive traits.

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Association of PIT1 gene polymorphism with milk productivity and body conformation traits in dairy cattle

Abstract

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