Determination of Brachyspina syndrome and cholesterol deficiency as a genetic disorders in cattle populations reared in Turkey

The native cattle breeds, Holstein, and Simental cattles have very important role in meat and dairy production in Turkey. Therefore, identification of genetic disorders in this breeds are a necessary for meat and dairy production and especially for reproduction. The genetic disorders of Brachyspina syndrome (BS) and Cholesterol deficiency (CD) have been identified in the recently years, are genetic disorders that cause significant economic losses by causing animal deaths in cattle breeding with autosomal recessive inheritance. In this study, we aimed to determine the native cattle breeds and Holstein population with regard to BS and CD genetic disorders. In this study, Holstein (n = 250), Turkish Black (n =20), Turkish Gray (n =20), Eastern Anatolian Red (n =20), South Anatolian Red (n =20), South Native Yellow (n =20) and Zavot (n =20) were sampled. All genotypes identified by PCR. Products were analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. After gel electrophoresis, BS and CD genotypes were identified using PCR method by analyzing the band profiles Gene and genotype frequencies of these diseases in cattle populations reared in Turkey were estimated. According to results, mutant allele causing BS and CD genetic disorders was not found in native cattle and Simental cattle sampled and all native and Simmental cattle were found as a normal genotype in respect of BS and CD genetic disorders. However, in Holstein cattle reared in Turkey, one and four cattle were found as heterozygote genotype for the BS and CD genetic disorders, respectively. As a conclusion, first time the presence of BS and CD genetic disorders were identified in Holstein cattle reared in Turkey but low frequency. The bulls used for artificial insemination should be controlled with regard to genetic disorders including BS and CD disorders.