QTL affecting fleece traits in Angora goats

With the aim to detect chromosome segment (quantitative traits loci, QTL) affecting fleece traits in Angora goats, a genome scan using 76 microsatellite markers spanning 1261 cM on 21 chromosomes was conducted. Eight paternal half-sib families were used, which included a total of 288 kids from a dispersed nucleus herd. Mid-side mohair samples were taken from kids at 4 months of age and eight phenotypic fleece traits were measured. We found putatives QTL for coefficient of variation of average fiber diameter (CVAFD) in chromosome 1 and 13, for kemp fiber (KEMP) in chromosome 5 and for discontinuous medullated fibers (DISC) and staple length (SL) in chromosome 2. These results demonstrate the segregation of quantitative traits involved in mohair production. Further studies will concentrate on these regions to characterize the variation of these QTL. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.