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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #302833

Title: Determination of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with subclinical ketosis in Jersey cattle

Author
item FUGATE, ROBERT - University Of Wisconsin
item DAUTEN, LISA - University Of Connecticut
item Wiggans, George
item WHITE, HEATHER - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2014
Publication Date: 7/20/2014
Citation: Fugate, R.T., Dauten, L.H., Wiggans, G.R., White, H.M. 2014. Determination of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with subclinical ketosis in Jersey cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 97(E-Suppl. 1):472 (abstr. 0945/T043).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Subclinical ketosis is a fresh cow disorder that is costly in terms of lost milk production and treatment cost. Although treatment and prevention strategies are available, prevention requires targeting animals that are likely to develop the disease. Whole-herd genotyping is becoming more common with commercial dairies, and identification of markers for ketosis predisposition would provide a valuable tool to producers. The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with subclinical ketosis in Jersey cattle. Ketotic cows were identified by cowside test using the Precision Xtra meter. Blood and hair samples were collected from 54 Jerseys (ketotic and healthy herdmates on the same day) with fewer than 30 d in milk on New England dairy farms. Mean parity of cows was 2.8, with no difference between healthy and ketotic cows; no difference also was found for milk yield, 305-day mature-equivalent milk yield, or 305-day mature-equivalent milk yield from the previous parity. Blood serum was analyzed for concentration of nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA). Hair samples were submitted to the American Jersey Cattle Association for genotyping with the BovineSNP50 BeadChip. Concentrations of NEFA and BHBA were analyzed using the SAS 9.2 MIXED procedure; differences in SNP frequency by ketosis status (healthy or ketotic) were analyzed using the chi-square test from the SAS 9.2 FREQ procedure. As expected, BHBA concentrations were greater for ketotic cows compared with healthy herdmates (1.63 vs. 0.91 mmol/L). For NEFA, concentrations tended to be greater in ketotic cows compared with healthy cows (0.45 vs. 0.33 mmol/L). Of the 54,609 SNP analyzed for each genotype, 1,685 were different and 1,862 tended to differ between ketotic and healthy cows. These data suggest that genotypes from the BovineSNP50 BeadChip could be useful in predicting predisposition for ketosis in Jerseys, but examination of a larger data set is necessary to validate the predictive ability of the identified SNP.