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A genetic association between bovine serum and colostrum lysozyme levels
Author(s) -
LIE Ø.,
SOLBU H.,
SYED M.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
animal genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2052
pISSN - 0268-9146
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2052.1986.tb03186.x
Subject(s) - colostrum , lysozyme , biology , offspring , population , zoology , endocrinology , antibody , immunology , genetics , pregnancy , demography , sociology
Summary Serum and colostrum lysozyme activity was determined in primiparous cows employing a lysoplate method described elsewhere. Samples from 336 animals were collected over a 5‐year period from a research station. The animals were sired by 20 elite bulls, one of which (1893) is probably heterozygous for a dominant high lysozyme level gene. The resulting two‐population split of high and low level offspring from 1893 is also consistent for the present cow material both in serum and colostrum. A highly significant overall correlation ( P < 0–01) between serum and colostrum lysozyme was estimated. Positive correlation was also found within families and this was particularly high for 1893. No association between serum and colostrum lysozyme activity could be detected when high level animals were excluded. This means that the genetic association between lysozyme activity in the two body fluids is solely dependent upon the major gene described. Consequently, selection of bulls for serum lysozyme activity will influence the colostrum or milk lysozyme activity in the cow population, provided that the major gene is present in the population.