Genetic polymorphism of the K-casein (CSN3) gene in goats reared in Southern Italy

Abstract

K-casein (K-CN) represents one of the most important proteins determining the manufacturing properties of milk,
because of its essential role in micelle formation and stabilisation.
Several genetic variants of K-CN have been described in goats. To investigate the occurrence of seven alleles and their
distribution among breeds, a total of 170 animals, from six different breeds reared in Italy (Cilentana Nera, Derivata di
Siria, Maltese, Jonica, Garganica and Cashmere), have been analysed in this paper by the primer extension method.
Alleles A and B were found to be the most represented in all the analysed breeds; allele D is present only in Maltese and
Cashmere animals with a very low frequency; while allele G has been found in all but two (Garganica and Cashmere)
breeds. Alleles C, E and F were not present in the material used for this study.