Association of lactoferrin gene polymorphism with milk productivity and milk quality in Holstein heifers depending on linear origin

LTF, or lactoferrin, is an iron-binding glycoprotein belonging to the transferrin family and is capable of suppressing the growth and development of microbes in relation to the secretion of mammary glands and a number of other animal secretions, such as tears, saliva, fluids, nasal discharge, bronchi, bile, urine, and so on. To date, one of the most important directions in the breeding of dairy cattle is the selection for the resistance of cows to mastitis, based on their genetic predisposition. Therefore, it is necessary to identify animal’s resistant to mastitis in a timely manner due to many factors, including pedigree and linear affiliation. Various data suggest that hereditary factors of susceptibility to mastitis within the same breed range from 12 % to 20 %. According to the results of a comparative analysis of the Holstein heifers, the advantage in almost all indicators of milk productivity (milk yield, milk protein and fat), including the content of somatic cells in milk, was in animals with the LTFAB genotype in the Idial line. Animals with the LTFA genotype of the Idial line are of some interest in terms of conducting breeding work to increase the protein and fat content in milk.