Genetic polymorphism of CSN1S1 and CSN2 loci in Rossa Mediterranea goat population

The alpha(s1)(CSN1S1) and beta (CSN2) casein loci were investigated in Rossa Mediterranea, a dairy goat population reared in Sicily, in order to identify the most important quantitative alleles. The study was carried out on 304 goats (244 females and 60 males) by means of different PCR and AS-PCR reactions. High frequency of the weak CSN1S1(F) allele (0.48) was observed in the whole population. At CSN1S1 locus, the null and intermediate alleles (CSN1S1(0) and CSN1S1(E)) were not identified. The rare CSN2(0) allele was found at good frequency (0.04). This preliminary survey made possible the assessment of individual genotypes at these two important loci in a large sample of the Rossa Mediterranea goat population reared in Sicily. These findings will be useful in the Marker Assisted Selection to address milk production towards drinking milk or cheese-making.