Association analysis of novel SNPs in BMPR1B, BMP15 and GDF9 genes with reproductive traits in Black Bengal goats

- Six novel SNPs in BMPR1B, BMP15 and GDF9 genes were genotyped in Black Bengal goats (158).
- The effect of season and parity was highly significant (p ≤ 0.01) on litter size.
- The effect of genotype and year of birth was non-significant on litter size.
- For age at first heat, first service and first kidding, effect of genotype was found non-significant.
- The effect of season of kidding was significant (p ≤ 0.05) on age at first kidding for all the loci.

Black Bengal goats are an interesting genetic material to underpin the genetic mechanism of reproduction due to high prolificacy and sexual precocity. In the present study, novel SNPs in BMPR1B, BMP15 and GDF9 genes were genotyped to evaluate their association with the reproductive traits. PCR-RFLP and Tetra primer ARMS-PCR based protocols were developed for genotyping the six novel SNPs viz. T(-242)C in BMPR1B, G735A and C808G in BMP15 and C818T, A959C and G1189A in GDF9. Linear mixed model for association of these SNPs with litter size and linear fix model for other traits were employed. The effect of season and parity was highly significant (p ≤ 0.01) on litter size which varied with change in locus combination. However, there was no significant effect of genotype and year of birth on the litter size. Similarly, age at first heat, age at first service and age at first kidding were not affected by the year of birth as well as the genotype. Season of kidding did not affect the age at first heat and age at first service. However, significant (p ≤ 0.05) association was observed between the season of kidding and the age at first kidding. The regression of age at sexual maturity on the age at first service and regression of age at first service on the age at first kidding was highly significant (P ≤ 0.01). Further studies involving more number of breeds as well as animals may be fruitful for exploring the association of novel SNPs with caprine reproductive traits.