Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms and fertility in beef cattle

Sutarno, J., Cummins, J.M., Greeff, J. and Lymbery, A. (2002) Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms and fertility in beef cattle. Theriogenology, 57 (6). pp. 1603-1610.

Abstract

Four hundred and twenty-two beef cattle of two different breeds (purebred Hereford and composite multibreed) were characterized by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, using the restriction enzymes ApaI, AvaII, HindIII, PstI, SpeI, SspI and TaqI in two regions (the D-loop and the ND-5 gene) of mitochondrial DNA. The association between molecular haplotypes and records on calving rate, defined as the mean number of live calves born per year over 4 years, were examined by analysis of variance. A significant association was found between calving rate and mitochondrial polymorphisms in both breeds. This may have implications for genetically improving cow fertility.