Mapping of quantitative trait loci for carcass traits in a Japanese Black (Wagyu) cattle population.
To detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) that influence economically important traits in a purebred Japanese Black cattle population, we performed a preliminary genome-wide scan using 187 microsatellite markers across a paternal half-sib family composed of 258 offspring. We located six QTL at the 1% chromosome-wise level on bovine chromosomes (BTA) 4, 6, 13, 14 and 21. A second screen of these six QTL regions using 138 additional paternal offspring half-sib from the same sire, provided further support for five QTL: carcass weight on BTA14 (22-39 cM), one for rib thickness on BTA6 (27-58 cM) and three for beef marbling score (BMS) on BTA4 (59-67 cM), BTA6 (68-89 cM) and BTA21 (75-84 cM). The location of QTL for subcutaneous fat thickness on BTA13 was not supported by the second screen (P > 0.05). We determined that the combined contribution of the three QTLs for BMS was 10.1% of the total variance. The combined phenotypic average of these three Q was significantly different (P < 0.001) from those of other allele combinations. Analysis of additional half-sib families will be necessary to confirm these QTL.
Mizoguchi
Y
Y
Shirakawa Institute of Animal Genetics, Odakura, Nishigo, Fukushima 961-8061, Japan.
Watanabe
T
T
Fujinaka
K
K
Iwamoto
E
E
Sugimoto
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D007564:Japan; D008460:Meat; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci