Test System for BLAD Mutation Diagnosis in Cattle Populations

The goal of this work was to develop a molecular genetic test system for determining the BLAD mutation using real-time PCR and to test pedigree cattle on breeding farms of Kostroma oblast. The materials for the study were samples of biological material (blood) of cattle of Kostroma breed, Yaroslavl breed, black-and-white breed, and Holstein breed on farms of Kostroma oblast. The total number of samples is 430. It was discovered that no BLAD mutation was detected in breeding farms of Kostroma breed and Yaroslavl breed. However, seven carriers of this monogenic recessive anomaly were found in 192 blood samples of the Holstenized black-and-white breed. So, the improved BLAD mutation test system makes it possible to detect and to register carrier animals timely, which promotes elimination of undesirable alleles and invigoration of cattle populations.