Association between Microsatellite Markers of Chromosome 6 and Litter size of Cashmere Goats

Five microsatellite markers BM1329, OarAE101, BM143, BM4621 and BM415 which were closely linked to the fecundity gene FecB in Booroola sheep were chosen based on their high conservatism in the closest species and were analyzed for polymorphisms and also their correlation with the litter size of a goat. Observed results showed four microsatellite loci show polymorphism in the present study. However, BM4621 locus was monomorphic. The range of allele size of BM1329, OarAE101, BM143 and BM415 were 180 to 216 to 112, 102 to 112 and 198 to 200 in goat respectively. The alleles of the greatest frequency for of BM1329, OarAE101, BM143 and BM415 were 212, 99, 108 and 200bp respectively. Polymorphism information content (Nei Index) for BM1329, OarAE101, BM143 and BM415 were 0.82, 0.82, 0.72 and 0.49 respectively. Mean number of allele, Observed Heterozygosis, PIC and Shannon information index were 4.75 ± 2.2, 0.36 ± 0.12, 0.71 ± 0.15 and 1.41 ± 0.52 respectively. The litter size for first lambing for investigated loci were significantly different (p