MC4R gene polymorphism and its association with meat traits of Karachai sheep grown in Russian Federation

Figures & data

Figure 1. Sheep of the Karachai breed.

Table 1. MC4R gene locations.

MC4R gene Ovis Aries
Chromosome	23
Chromosome position
Beginning of gene	65,222,190 bp
End of gene	65,226,058 bp
Gene length	3869 bp
Position of SNP studied
Position	1404 bp
Replacement	G for A
Primers
F Primer Position	1173–1196 bp
F Primer Length	24 bp
R Primer Position	1424–1446 bp
Primer length	23 bp
PCR Product Length	274 bp

Table 2. Oligonucleotide primer sequences.

Gene MC4R	Primer
М6	5′-CCTGCACCTGATATTCTACATCTC-3′ 5′-GTACACATGAGAAGGAGAAGGTC-3′

Figure 2. PCR-RFLP electrophoretic analysis of the MC4R gene in Karachai sheep: AA genotype (226 bps); GG genotype (156 and 70 bps); AG genotype (226, 156, and 70 bps); Marker (100 bps).

Table 3. The frequency of alleles and genotypes of the MC4R gene of Karachai sheep, n = 427.

Gene	Alleles		Genotypes, %
	А	G	AA (n = 201)	AG (n = 158)	GG (n = 68)
MC4R	0.65	0.35	47	37	16

Table 4. Observed and expected heterozygosity values of the MC4R gene of Karachai sheep.

Number of animals (n)	Heterozygosity observed (HO)	Heterozygosity expected (HE)	χ^2
427	0.372	0.455	1.537

Table 5. Growth dynamics of Karachai sheep according to MC4R genotype.

Traits	Gene genotypes
	GG	AG	AA
Live weight at birth, kg:	3.51 ± 0.06^ns	3.60 ± 0.13^ns	3.57 ± 0.09
Live weight at the age of 4 months, kg:	32.9 ± 0.59 ^C	33.6 ± 0.77 ^ns	35.1 ± 0.87
Average daily gain, g	244.0 ± 4.39 ^A	250.0 ± 5.04 ^C	262.7 ± 3.56

Note: A = P < 0.001, C = P < 0.05, NS = not significant at P > 0.05 compared with data on the AA genotype.

Table 6. Measured parameters of Karachai sheep that underwent controlled slaughter according to different genotypes, mean ± SEM.

Parameters	Groups of animals with genotype
	GG (n = 68)	AG (n = 158)	AA (n = 201)
Pre slaughter weight, kg	32.9 ± 0.59^C	33.6 ± 0.77^NS	35.1 ± 0.87
Weight of hot carcass, kg	14.8 ± 0.40^B	15.5 ± 0.41^NS	16.3 ± 0.34
Weight of chilled carcass, kg	14.4 ± 0.22^A	15.1 ± 0.38^C	16.0 ± 0.24
Weight of intramuscular fat, kg	0.4 ± 0.11^NS	0.5 ± 0.11^NS	0.7 ± 0.20
Weight of tail fat, kg	0.9 ± 0.13^B	1.1 ± 0.09^C	1.4 ± 0.12
Slaughter weight, kg:
with tail fat	15.7 ± 0.42^A	16.7 ± 0.38^С	18.1 ± 0.44
without tail fat	14.8 ± 0.32^A	15.5 ± 0.31^C	16.7 ± 0.40
Slaughter yield, %
with tail fat	47.7	49.7	51.6
without tail fat	45.0	46.4	49.5

Note: A = P < 0.001, B = P < 0.01, C = P &lt; 0.05, NS = not significant at P >0.05 compared with data on the AA genotype.

Data Availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request