QTL affecting conformation traits in Angora goats

A genomic screen for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting conformation traits was performed by genotyping 288 Angora goats offspring from 8 half-sub families with 76 microsatellite markers. The following traits were recorded: weaning weight (WW, Kg); stature (S, cm); chest depth (CD, cm); shoulder width (SW, cm); rump length (RL, cm); rump width (RW, cm); head length (HL, cm); head width (HW, cm); shin circumference (SC, cm); chest circumference (CC, cm) and body length (BL, cm). Data were analyzed using the QTL Express program. A total of 5 QTL were detected in five chromosomes with chromosome wide significance level. For the 11 analysed traits the results were: evidence of two possible QTL for HL were found in chromosomes 1 and 4, a putative QTL for trait CD was found in chromosome 2, evidence for BL was found in chromosome 8 and a possible QTL was found for trait CC in chromosome 9. The results reported here show the existence of chromosomal regions in Angora goats involved in conformation traits and represent the first in depth search in some specific-genome sections in order to identify and characterize the genetic variability involved in these traits.