Genome-wide association mapping for identification of quantitative trait loci for rectal temperature during heat stress in Holstein cattle.

ABSTRACT: Heat stress compromises production, fertility, and health of dairy cattle. One mitigation strategy is to select individuals that are genetically resistant to heat stress. Most of the negative effects of heat stress on animal performance are a consequence of either physiological adaptations to regulate body temperature or adverse consequences of failure to regulate body temperature. Thus, selection for regulation of body temperature during heat stress could increase thermotolerance. The objective was to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for rectal temperature (RT) during heat stress in lactating Holstein cows and identify SNPs associated with genes that have large effects on RT. Records on afternoon RT where the temperature-humidity index was ≥78.2 were obtained from 4,447 cows

SUBMITTER: Dikmen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3720646 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature