Effects of CAPN1 and CAST gene polymorphism on meat productivity indicators in cattle

The study aimed to analyze the effect of individual genotypes and allelic variants of the polymorphisms CAPN316 and CAST282 in calpain and calpastatin genes on the reproductive function of Aberdeen-Angus cows estimated by progeny growth traits. The growth dynamics of calves were assessed based on body weight at birth and the ages of 7, 8, 12, 15, and 18 months. The effect of polymorphic variants CAPN316 and CAST282 on the body weight of calves corresponds to the pattern of CC>GG>CG and CC>CG>GG genotypes of mothers. The effect of the G-allele for SNP CAST282 of the mother's genotype on the birth weight of male calves was +0.4±0.2 kg or +9%. By 12 months of age, the effect of maternal age in calves of different sexes tended to: young cows gave birth to heavier male calves (-23%), while heavier female calves were born to older cows (+27%). A 12–20% increase in newborn and weaning BW was associated with a one-day increase in calving interval. The F(ST) inbreeding coefficient in the studied sample for the CAPN316 and CAST282 polymorphisms was 11.8% and 7.5%, respectively. There was a negative correlation between the CAPN316 F(ST) inbreeding coefficient and the body weight of male calves at 12 and 15 months of age: r = -0.70 and r = -0.87. The positive effect of the spring–summer season on the body weight of calves at birth and up to 7 months was demonstrated, with calves born in the summer exhibiting higher average daily weight gains of +10% for males..