IDENTIFICATION OF GENETIC MARKERS RELATED TO MILK FAT IN ANATOLIAN BUFFALOES

Abstract

Buffalo milk has higher fat and protein content than cow milk. It is well known that milk fat is one of the most significant factors affecting milk quality. In addition, milk fat percentage may differ between buffalo breeds due to genetic and environmental reasons. However, the FABP3 and PPARGC1A genes arc significant genetic markers related to milk fat in livestock animals. Therefore, a total of 80 Anatolian Buffalo were gcnotyped by using PCR/RFLP method to characterize FABP3 and PPARGC1A gene. According to the analysis, FABP3/BsaHI polymorphism allele frequencies C and T were found with 0.38 and 0.61, respectively. The allele frequencies for PPARGC1A/AciI polymorphism was determined as A (0.42) and G (0.57). There was no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05) relative to FABP3/BsaHI genotypes. However. PPARGC1A/Acil genotypes have significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.05). Taken together. this is the first study that describes FABP3/BsaHI and PPARGC1A/Acil polymorphism in Anatolian Buffaloes.