Genetic variation in the ovine fatty acid binding protein-4 (FABP4)‎ gene and its association with live performance and carcass traits in Egyptian ossimi lambs

Abstract EN

The objectives of this study were to identify the allelic and genotypic polymorphisms of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene and its association with growth traits (weaning weight, post-weaning daily gain and marketing weight), feed efficiency traits (feed intake and feed efficiency), body indices (body mass index, skeletal muscle index, body index and relative body index) and carcass traits [hot carcass weight, dressing (% ), neck (% ), for-legs (% ), ribs (% ), loin (% ), hind-legs (% ), abdominal fat (% ) and tail (% )] in thirty males of the Egyptian Ossimi lambs.

The polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCRSSCP) tool was used to identify the allelic and genotypic polymorphisms in FABP4 gene.

The SSCP analysis detected two alleles (A and B with frequency of 0.73 and 0.27, respectively), and three genotypes (AA, AB andBB with frequency of 0.67, 0.13 and 0.20, respectively).

The FABP4 genotype showed significant effect (P ˂ 0.05) on feed efficiency and body mass index; and high significant effect (P ˂ 0.01) on post-weaning daily gain, marketing weight, feed intake, skeletal muscle index, hot carcass weight and tail (% ).

However, the FABP4 genotype did not show significant effect (P > 0.05) on the values of the other studied traits [weaning weight, body index, relative body index, dressing (% ), neck (% ), for-legs (% ), ribs (% ), loin (% ), hind-legs (% ) and abdominal fat (% )].

The presence of A allele was significantly associated (P ˂ 0.05) with body mass index and hot carcass weight; and high significantly associated (P ˂ 0.01) with post-weaning daily gain, marketing weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, skeletal muscle index and neck (% ), however, the presence of B allele in the genotype high significantly (P ˂ 0.01) affected post-weaning daily gain, marketing weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, body mass index and hot carcass weight.

Obtained results showed an association between the FABP4 gene (B allele) and post-weaning daily gain, marketing weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, body mass index and hot carcass weight of the Egyptian Ossimi lambs.

Consequently, applying the marker assisted selection using the FABP4 gene is warranted to increase these traits and will be of considerable economic value in sheep production.