Polymorphism analysis in genes of the somatotropic axis in Nellore cattle selected for growth

•We verified the existence of GH1, POU1F1, and GHR polymorphisms in Nellore cattle.•We analysed the association between molecular markers and meet and carcass traits.•The SNP rs109136815 in GH1 gene is not significant on muscular development.•The interaction effect should be considered in association analyses.

The somatotropic axis consists of genes that are involved in muscular development. These genes are potential regions of study to identify possible QTL for economically important traits in beef cattle. The aim of this study was to verify the existence of GH1, POU1F1, and GHR polymorphisms in Nellore cattle to verify the influence of selection in these mutations and to analyse the association between molecular markers and body weight at different ages, yearling hip height, carcass fat thickness and loin eye area. Six hundred forty-five animals from the Centro APTA Bovinos de Corte, were genotyped by PCR-RFLP techniques. The association analyses were performed with general mixed models taking into consideration the effect of one marker, and other model taking into consideration interactions between two molecular markers. Only the molecular markers rs81109601 on GH1 and rs109136815 on GHR were polymorphic; however, they were not found to be under selection. The association of the GHR rs109136815 marker and loin eye area was observed (p < 0.05), as well as the effect of interaction between the markers and the female body weight at 550 days of age (p < 0.04). The interaction effect should be considered in situations where the interactivity between two genes is known.