Ms. Ashwell et al., DETECTION OF LOCI AFFECTING MILK-PRODUCTION AND HEALTH TRAITS IN AN ELITE US HOLSTEIN POPULATION USING MICROSATELLITE MARKERS, Animal genetics, 28(3), 1997, pp. 216-222
Quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting health and milk production tra
its were studied in seven large half-sib US Holstein families by using
the granddaughter design. Genotyping for 16 markers was completed and
marker allele differences within and pooled-across families were anal
ysed. Potential QTL were identified for somatic cell score (SCS), fat
yield, fat percentage, protein yield and protein percentage. Three mar
kers (BM203, BM4505 and BM2078) were associated with significant effec
ts for different traits and, after further analysis, may be useful in
marker-assisted selection in specific families. Comparisons between th
ese data and previously identified QTL support the location of a QTL f
or milk yield and protein yield on chromosome 21.