The genetic polymorphisms of the Visfatin gene and its association with milk production, its components, and some reproductive traits in local Iraqi goats

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, Tikrit University, Iraq

2 Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, Tikrit University, Iraq.

Abstract

Objective
Visfatin, or Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), is a multifunctional adipokine. This molecule plays a role intracellularly by maintaining the metabolism of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺). In addition, this molecule also functions extracellularly as an important regulator of metabolic and reproductive processes. Although this molecule has high biological importance, the genetic diversity of Visfatin in goats and its relationship with production traits have not been fully and accurately investigated and identified. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Visfatin gene of local Iraqi goat breeds and study their associations with milk yield, milk composition, and reproductive performance.

Materials and methods
Blood samples were taken from forty-six clinically healthy does, which were representative of semi-intensively managed herds. Genomic DNA was extracted and two regions of the gene were amplified, a 350 bp region from exon 2 and an 825 bp promoter region that contained position -137. These were subsequently genotyped using PCR-RFLP with HinfI for the exon-2 SNP and direct Sanger sequencing for the promoter SNP. Allele and genotype frequencies were calculated and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was analyzed. General linear models were performed followed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test to analyze associations with productive traits.
Results
Both loci were polymorphic and met Hardy-Weinberg expectations. The exon-2 A→G mutation produced three genotypes (AA, AB, BB), with AA predominating and conferring significantly higher daily milk yield and increased milk fat and protein percentages, along with earlier age at first kidding, shorter kidding interval, and larger litter size (P < 0.05). The promoter -137 C→T mutation resulted in the genotypes CC, CT, and TT; the TT animals displayed similarly beneficial milk and reproductive traits, while lactose percentage was not impacted.

Conclusion
Collectively, these results indicate that both structural and regulatory variants of Visfatin have independent and additive effects on milk production and reproductive efficiency. The relatively high frequencies of the favorable A and T alleles underscore the Visfatin gene as an excellent candidate for marker-assisted selection to improve dairy and reproductive performance in indigenous Iraqi goat populations.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 18, Issue 1
January 2026
Pages 319-338

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