Variants and haplotypes within MEF2C gene influence stature of chinese native cattle including body dimensions and weight

• Two novel SNPs within the MEF2C gene were identified.
• We report confirmation of MEF2C as a candidate for bovine stature.
• Diplotype H1H6/H3H5 (CTGGTCAA) affected bovine stature negatively.

Myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) gene was annotated for its potential phenotypic effects on bovine stature including body dimensions and body weight. The aim of this study was the analysis of MEF2C as a candidate for bovine stature. Four SNPs including two novel SNPs were identified and the polymorphisms were genotyped by (forced) PCR-RFLP. Using a population of 805 cows from two Chinese native breeds, we report confirmation of this effect, demonstrating strong association of different components of bovine stature with MEF2C genotypes. Six combined haplotypes were constructed as well and diplotype H1H6/H3H5 (CTGGTCAA) affected bovine stature negatively, including body weight, hucklebone widt, and withers height (P<0.05). Our results suggest that the four variants within bovine MEF2C can be used as candidate SNP markers for marker-assisted selection in beef cattle breeding programmes.