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Genome-wide association study identifies quantitative trait loci affecting cattle temperament.

ABSTRACT: Cattle temperament is an interesting trait due to its correlation with production efficiency, labor safety, and animal welfare. To date, however, its genetic basis is not clearly understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study for a series of temperament traits in cattle, assessed with via open field and novel object tests, using autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from the whole-genome sequence. We identified 37 and 29 genome-wide significant loci in the open field and novel object tests, respectively. Gene set analysis revealed the most significant pathway was the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, which may be essential for emotional control in cattle. Analysis of the expression levels of 18 tissue-specific genes based on transcriptomic data showed enrichment in the brain, with some candidate genes involved in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases in humans. Based on principal component analysis, the first principal component explained the largest variance in the open field and novel object test data, and the most significant loci were assigned to SORCS3 and SESTD1, respectively. Our findings should help facilitate cattle breeding for sound temperament by pyramiding favorable alleles to further improve cattle production.

SUBMITTER: Shen JF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8743249 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genome-wide association study identifies quantitative trait loci affecting cattle temperament.

Shen Jia-Fei JF Chen Qiu-Ming QM Zhang Feng-Wei FW Hanif Quratulain Q Huang Bi-Zhi BZ Chen Ning-Bo NB Qu Kai-Xing KX Zhan Jing-Xi JX Chen Hong H Jiang Yu Y Lei Chu-Zhao CZ

Zoological research 20220101 1

Cattle temperament is an interesting trait due to its correlation with production efficiency, labor safety, and animal welfare. To date, however, its genetic basis is not clearly understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study for a series of temperament traits in cattle, assessed with via open field and novel object tests, using autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from the whole-genome sequence. We identified 37 and 29 genome-wide significant loci in the open ...[more]

PMID: 34766477

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Genome-wide association study identifies quantitative trait loci affecting cattle temperament.

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Genome-wide association study identifies quantitative trait loci affecting cattle temperament.

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