Association of polymorphisms in exons 2 and 10 of the insulin-like growth factor 2 ( IGF2) gene with milk production traits in Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is considered to be a regulator of post-natal growth and differentiation of the mammary gland. In the present work, associations of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the bovine IGF2 gene with milk production traits were studied in dairy Holstein-Friesian cows: the already described g.8656C>T transition in exon 2 (RFLP-BsrI) and the newly found g.24507G>T transversion in exon 10 (RFLP-HaeIII), found by sequencing 273-bp exon 10 of the IGF2 gene in six individuals. Associations were analysed individually and in combination with the multi-trait repeatability test-day animal model. The CT/GT haplotype appeared to be associated with most of the milk traits studied (differences were significant at P < or = 0.001). The most frequent CT/GG haplotype seemed inferior to others in fat and protein content and daily yield of fat and protein but superior (together with the TT/GG genotype) when the daily milk yield is considered.