Polymorphism of Exon 2 of FShβ Gene and Its Relationship with Reproduction Performance in Two Goat Breeds

The objectives of the present study were to detect the polymorphism in follicle stimulating hormone beta (FSHβ) gene and investigate the relationship between FSHβ gene and high prolificacy in goats. According to the sequence of ovine FSHβ gene, two pairs of primers were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphism of exon 2 of FSHβ gene in two goat breeds, Xinong Saanen dairy goat and Boer goat, by PCR-SSCP. The least square mean and genetic variance of different genotypes at polymorphic locus were analyzed, and the selection reaction was forecasted by genetic correlation between marker locus and genetic variance of litter size traits. There was one polymorphic locus occurring in exon 2 (P2) with three genotypes (EE, EF and FF). In Xinong Saanen dairy goat, EE genotype had significantly higher (P < 0.05) litter size than EF and FF genotype in the first to fourth parity and average parity; EF genotype had significantly higher (P < 0.05) litter size than FF genotype in the second and average parity. In Boer goat, EE genotype had significantly higher (P < 0.01) litter size than EF and FF genotype in the second to fourth parity and average parity; EF genotype had significantly higher (P < 0.05) litter size than FF genotype in average parity. In Xinong Saanen dairy and Boer goat, the heredity of litter size was mainly influenced by genetic additive effect and the EE genotype is a favorable marker genotype for litter size in these two breeds.