Genetic Architecture of Thermotolerance Traits in Beef Cattle: A Novel Integration of SNP and Breed-of-Origin Effects

April 2025 in “ Frontiers in Genetics ”

Gabriel A Zayas, Camila Santos Rojas, Eduardo E Rodriguez, Aakilah Hernandez, Ashley Beard, Fahad Rafiq, Kaitlyn M. Sarlo Davila, Raluca G. Mateescu

TLDR Combining genetic models helps improve heat tolerance in beef cattle.

The study investigates the genetic architecture of thermotolerance traits in beef cattle by integrating SNP and breed-of-origin (BOA) effects, using data from 3,962 crossbred Angus-Brahman heifers. It identifies significant QTLs associated with hair length, sweat gland area, and thermal stress slope. Brahman alleles are linked to shorter hair and improved thermoregulation, while Angus alleles are associated with longer hair and reduced sweat gland area, indicating less efficient thermoregulation. The integration of SNP and BOA models provides greater resolution, revealing novel QTLs and enhancing understanding of thermoregulation. These findings offer insights for breeding programs to improve heat resilience in cattle, particularly in tropical and subtropical climates.

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Genetic Architecture of Thermotolerance Traits in Beef Cattle: A Novel Integration of SNP and Breed-of-Origin Effects

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