MVSc

The objective of the present study was to explore the polymorphism of ovine fecundity gene linked microsatellite markers in Malabari goats. Malabari goats are one of the most prolific breeds in India. The microsatellite markers OarAE101, BMS2508 and BM1329 linked to the Booroola gene (FecB) and the microsatellite markers TGLA54 and TGLA68 linked to Inverdale (FecX1) gene in sheep were selected for the study.
The DNA samples from 120 Malabari goats which had given birth to singles, twins, triplets and quadruplets in the second and subsequent parities were utilized for the study. DNA was isolated by phenol chloroform extraction procedure with some modifications. The DNA samples were amplified by PCR using the radioactively labeled microsatellite primers. The amplified products were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. The genotypes of animals were determined for each microsatellite loci by comparing the sizes of alleles with M13 phage DNA sequencing ladder.
The microsatellite markers OarAE101, BMS2508 and TGLA54 were found to be monomorphic in the population under study. The microsatellite markers BM1329 and TGLA68 were found to be highly polymorphic in Malabari goats.
A total of 15 alleles with 167-195 bp for the locus BM1329 and 8 alleles with a size range of 98-114 bp were observed for the locus TGLA68. The total number of genotypes observed was 34 for BM1329 locus and 12 for TGLA68 locus. Heterozygosity of 0.8660 for the locus BM1329 and 0.8024 for the locus TGLA68 were observed. The polymorphic information content (PIC) computed was 0.8526 and 0.7823 for the loci BM1329 and TGLA68 respectively.

A significant difference in the alleles 181bp and 191 bp (P≤0.01) and the alleles 179 bp and 185 bp (P≤0.05) and the genotype 177/191 (P≤0.01) for the locus BM1329 were found in different types of births. The genotype 175/185 of the microsatellite marker BM1329 was found to be significantly related to a higher litter size when compared to the mean litter size of the population in Malabari goats (P≤0.01).
The allele 104 bp of the locus TGLA68 was found to be significantly different in different types of births (P≤0.01). The highest frequency (0.4545) was observed in triplets followed by twins (0.2177) and singles (0.1847). The genotype 104/106 was found to be significantly different in different types of birth with triplets having a frequency of (0.4545), followed by singles (0.1087) and twins (0.0333).
The season of birth had no significant effect on the type of birth and number of kidding in Malabari goats.
Identification and selection of individuals that carry the alleles and genotypes associated with high prolificacy is possible in Malabari goats based on the above result. So new breeding strategies involving selection for high prolificacy can maximize the net profit of farmers. This study has brought to light important information improving the reproductive performance of Malabari goats by marker assisted selection.