Genetic Polymorphism of β-Casein Gene in Polish Red Cattle—Preliminary Study of A1 and A2 Frequency in Genetic Conservation Herd

Abstract

Although there is growing interest in Red cow’s milk in Poland, to date there are few reports investigating the characteristics of milk components in the studied population. Particular emphasis on milk proteins is advised, since β-casein is a source of bioactive peptides named β-casomorphins. β-casomorphin 7, which originates mostly from β-casein variants A1, may be a significant risk factor in human ischemic heart disease, arteriosclerosis, type I diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome, and autism. The aim of the present study was to identify CSN2 polymorphism gene in exon 7 using the genomic sequence from GenBank (M55158), g.8101C>A, (codon 67). Blood samples were collected from 201 Polish Red cattle (24 males and 177 females). The genotype of β-casein was determined using PCR-ACRS. The frequency of β-casein A2 in Polish Red population was 0.47. β-casein A2 frequency in Polish Red bulls and in cows was 0.58 and 0.37, respectively.