SNP screening of the MSTN gene and correlation analysis between genetic polymorphisms and growth traits in Dazu black goat

The aim of this study was to detect SNPs in myostatin (MSTN) gene of four goat breeds, and analyze the correlation of these markers on body measurement traits in the Dazu black goat breed. In total, twenty polymorphic sites were found in one hundred forty-eight individuals, and all SNPs were distributed in introns 1 and 2, except g. 425 C > T, which was found in the regulatory region. Three SNPs (g. 2732 C > T, g. 2752 G > A and g. 4552 A > C) were polymorphic in all four breeds. None of the tag SNPs (g. 425 C > T, g. 1583 A > G, 2732 C > T, g. 4552 A > C and g. 5167 C > T) were significantly correlated with body measurement traits (p > 0.05) in the Dazu black goat. However, individuals with genotype combination 3 (GtC 3) of tag SNPs had higher birth weight and weaning weight than individuals with the other genotype combinations (p < 0.05). Moreover, the genotype combination 4 (GtC 4) was significantly associated with body length and height at the age of 2 months (p < 0.05), and genotype combination 13 (GtC 13) was significantly correlated with body height at 6 months (p < 0.05). Briefly, the combined tag SNP markers might be useful for goat marker-associated selective breeding.