Genetic structure of milk protein polymorphisms and effects on milk production traits in a local dairy cattle

The milk protein genetic structure of the Reggiana dairy local cattle with remarkable milk quality properties was analysed and compared with the structure of Italian Friesian and Italian Brown cattle. A total of 1138 individual milk samples from the three breeds were typed by isoelectrofocusing. Polymorphism was found at the alpha(s1)-casein (CSN1S1), beta-casein (CSN2), kappa-casein (CSN3), and beta-lactoglobulin (LGB) loci. High frequencies were observed for some casein alleles in Reggiana (CSN1S1*C, 25%; CSN2*B: 28%) with considerable differences to those observed in a survey carried out 30 years before. A great variation among breeds was observed for casein haplotype frequencies and high linkage disequilibrium was detected at the three polymorphic casein loci CSN1S1-CSN2-CSN3. The prevalent haplotypes were CA(2)B (23%; Reggiana), BA(2)A (48%; Italian Friesian) and BA(2)B (51%; Italian Brown). Higher G(ST) values between breeds were observed when haplotype frequencies were considered instead of gene frequencies. In the Reggiana cattle, the occurrence of two casein alleles at a rather high frequency (CSN1S1*C, CSN2*B) allowed to estimate the effects of rare casein haplotypes on milk traits. The CA(2)B haplotype was associated with a significantly higher milk protein and fat content and a significantly higher protein per cent was found also for the BA(1)B haplotype.