Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor IB and Growth and Differentiation Factor 9 Genes in Rayini Goats (Capra hircus)

The FecB, a mutation in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor IB (BMPR-IB) gene, which increases the fecundity of Booroola Merino sheep, and FecGH, a mutation in the Growth and Differentiation Factor 9 (GDF9), which affects the fecundity of Cambridge and Belclare sheep in a dose sensitive manner, were analyzed as candidate genes associated with the prolificacy in Rayini goats. These polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP method in 110 individuals randomly selected out from a flock of Rayini goats with a mean litter size of 1.29. These mutations were not detected in this flock. All individuals were wild type homozygous for FecB and FecGH. These results suggested that fecundity of this breed is not linked to the same loci in BMPR-IB or GDF9 as in some sheep breeds, and other polymorphism(s) may be involved in Rayini goat prolificacy. Therefore, searching for other polymorphisms in these genes or any polymorphisms in known fecundity genes is suggested to develop marker assistance selection techniques and to study the genetic mechanism of prolificacy in goat.