Association of STAT5A Gene Variants with Milk Production Traits in Agerolese Cattle

Two polymorphisms at STAT5A gene were investigated in a sample of Agerolese cows. The aims of the present study were to estimate the allele and genotype frequencies and to investigate the relationship among genotypes and milk production traits. Milk production traits were analyzed for each animal in the first, second, third, and fourth lactation. No genetic variability was found at STAT5A/AvaI locus. At STAT5A/MslI locus, the frequencies of T and C alleles were 0.875 and 0.125, respectively. Significant differences between genotypes were found: TT cow produced a milk with a higher content of fat and protein when compared with TC.