Genome-Wide Association Studies for Immunoglobulins in Colostrum and Serum in Chinese Holstein

This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 620 Chinese Holstein cows to identify candidate genes linked to the genetic variation of immunoglobulin levels in colostrum and serum. The research detected significant associations with 20 and 5 SNPs for IgG and IgM contents, respectively, and identified 1,083 functional genes related to immune pathways. Among these, 21 candidate genes, including ABR, TIMM22, and IL6, were highlighted as influential in immunoglobulin levels. The findings suggested the potential for enhancing immunity in dairy cattle through selective breeding, offering valuable insights for molecular breeding strategies.