Mapping QTL influencing gastrointestinal nematode burden in Dutch Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Parasitic gastroenteritis caused by nematodes is only second to mastitis in terms of health costs to dairy farmers in developed countries. Sustainable control strategies complementing anthelmintics are desired, including selective breeding for enhanced resistance.

Results and conclusion

To quantify and characterize the genetic contribution to variation in resistance to gastro-intestinal parasites, we measured the heritability of faecal egg and larval counts in the Dutch Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle population. The heritability of faecal egg counts ranged from 7 to 21% and was generally higher than for larval counts. We performed a whole genome scan in 12 paternal half-daughter groups for a total of 768 cows, corresponding to the approximately 10% most and least

SUBMITTER: Coppieters W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2657155 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature