INFLUENCE OF BLOOD GROUPS, CAST AND BLG GENES ON PRODUCTIVITY OF THE SHEEP AND GOATS OF THE ALTAY REPUBLIC

Abstract

The use of genetic markers in addition to traditional methods of animal selection with desirable genotypes allows to increase the share of animals with high productivity in the next generations and ensures improvement of breeding efficiency. Genetic features of the Prikatun type of the Gorno-Altay semi-fine wool breed of sheep and the white downy goat breed in the Republic of Altay were studied by the method of immunogenetic and molecular genetic analysis. The frequency of antigenic factors was identified and the index of genetic similarity between goats and sheep and their separate herds was calculated. Gene polymorphism of β-lactoglobulin (BLG) and calpastatin (CAST) was revealed by the method of DNA diagnosis. Population and genetic characteristics of the herds was studied by the genes specified. Associative genotype relation to productivity and quality of the produce obtained was analyzed. The index of genetic similarity between the goats and the sheep was at the level of 0.713, between the separate herds of the goats the index was 0.861. The ratio of genotypes in the BLG gene determined by PCR analysis in the white downy goats was S1S1– 16.1%; S1S2– 50.6%; S2S2– 33.3%. In the Prikatun type two genotypes were identified in this gene: BB with the frequency of 59.2%, and AB – 40.8%. Two different alleles were identified in the CAST gene of sheep (M and N). The genotype MM was the predominant variant in the CAST sheep gene, whose frequency was 88%. The frequency of occurrence of animals with NN genotype was 1%, MN – 11%. It was shown that the gene equilibrium in the herds was not broken, χ2= 0.931. It was noted that heterozygous goats (S1S2) by BLG gene had a higher live weight by 0.30-0.61 kg compared to other variants of BLG gene (p<0.05). It was also found that lambs with genotype MM of the CAST gene had a higher live weight by 5.5 kg than MN heterozygotes (p< 0.01). However, this difference was not revealed in other age and sex groups of animals.