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Association of growth hormone gene polymorphisms with pre-weaning growth traits in Savanna goats

Amie Marini, A.B.¹*, Syarifah N. Hanis, S.H.¹, Shuib,M.M.M.², Firdaus, O.M.¹ and Ariff, O.M.³

¹Animal Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), GPO Box 12301, 50774 Kuala Lumpur.
²MARDI Kluang, 86009 Kluang, Johor.
³Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2015 18(2): 29-36

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Expression of characteristics between generations depends on heritability and selection differential. The objective of this study was to determine inheritance of growth hormone gene (GH) and to evaluate the relationship of GH gene polymorphism and pre-weaning growth in Savanna goats. A total of 133 Savanna goats used in this study were obtained from MARDI Research Station, Kluang, Johor. From this group 63 does with GH1 and GH2 combinations were selected for breeding based on body condition score of 2.5 and above, history of kidding and reproductive soundness. The does were bred with three superior ABGG bucks in a natural breeding programme. F1 progeny were evaluated for their genotypic patterns and growth performance. Two variants: GH1 and GH5 were identified. The GH1 gene revealed polymorphisms with two genotypes: AA and AB; and GH5 gene with three genotypes: GH, GG and HH. The combination of GH1 and GH5 genotypes of P1 Savanna parents revealed four genotypic variants of ABGG, ABGH, AAGH and AAHH with frequencies of 0.47, 0.39, 0.06 and 0.08, respectively. F1 progeny with genotypic variants of ABGG and ABGH at frequencies of 0.60 and 0.40 were observed, respectively. The four parental combinations of GH1 and GH5 genes produced F1 genotypes which followed the Mendelian inheritance. The birth weight of ABGG F1 Savanna kids was higher (p<0.05) than ABGH genotype. The genetic polymorphism of growth hormone genes can be a potential marker in genomic selection and breed improvement of the goats in line with good management and environmental condition.