Abstract :
The genetic polymorphism of calcium sensitive caseins was investigated in two endangered Sicilian goat breeds. The study
was carried out on 524 goats (341 Girgentana and 183 Argentata dell’Etna) by means of different PCR, AS-PCR and PCR-RFLP
reactions. The analysed loci (CSN1S1, CSN1S2 and CSN2) were found to be polymorphic in both breeds. Girgentana seems
to be less polymorphic than Argentata: 7 and 9 alleles, 12 and 17 genotypes, 3 and 4 haplotypes were identified in Girgentana
and Argentata dell’Etna, respectively. The allelic and genotypic distribution was different in the two breeds, particularly at s2
and -casein loci (P < 0.001). The trials on the three calcium sensitive casein loci made it possible to assess the effect of the
quantitative alleles on both the quality and on the content of casein in milk produced by these two Sicilian goat breeds.
© 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
