Genome wide association study to identify genome region associated with methane emission in cattle using 30K panel

The agriculture contribute to 50-60 % of global methane emission and ruminants have a key role in this contribution. Methane has an important role in global warming and it's global warming potential is 25 times greater than CO2. Furthermore, methane is the second most abundant global anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. The present study aimed to perform genome wide association study to identify genome regions affecting the predicated methane production based on the concentrations of volatile fatty acids of rumen in Iranian Holstein cattle. One-hundred and fifty hair and rumen digesta samples were sampled using the two-tailed strategy based on breeding values of milk. After the measurement of the concentration of volatile fatty acids of rumen, methane emission of each animal was predicated according to these acids. DNA of animals was genotyped using GGP-LD v4 SNP panel (contains 30108 SNPs). Fourteen significant SNPs associated with methane emission trait located on 1, 2, 6, 10, 15, 17 and 18 chromosome were identified. Using annotating some quantitative trait locus (QTLs) were discovered around some of these SNPs. The results showed a genetic selection potential to mitigate methane emission per animal. Since genetic improvements are heritable, cumulative, and permanent, this improvement would be permanent and beneficial.