Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in GH, CAST, GDF9 genes with live weight indices of sheep of different breeds

The paper presents the results of DNA genotyping, live weight indicators in age dynamics for three genes (growth hormone (GH), calpastatin (CAST), differential growth factor (GDF9)) young sheep of two breeds (Dagestani mountain and North Caucasian meat and wool). Polymorphism of the marker genes GH, CAST and GDF9 showed that the studied breeds are polymorphic according to the above gene loci. To study the characteristics of growth, development, and formation of meat productivity in young Dagestani mountain and North Caucasian meat and wool breeds, the indicators of live weight at birth, at 4 and 6 months of age, as well as the average daily increase were studied. The calculated analysis of these indicators showed that animals carrying complex genotypes according to the GH, CAST, GDF9 genes, in which selectively significant alleles (GHB, CASTN, GDF9A) were present in the genotype, surpassed their peers who lacked these alleles.