Genome-Wide Association Study on the Estimated Breeding Values for Udder and Longevity and the Candidate Genes in Holstein-Friesian Cows in Hungary
by
, , , , and
Attila Zsolnai
1,*,
László Bognár
2,
Szabolcs Albin Bene
3,
Laszló Rózsa
3,
Péter Póti
4,
Ferenc Szabó
5 and
István Anton
3 1
Department of Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Guba Sándor utca 40, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary
2
National Association of Hungarian Holstein Friesian Breeders, Lőportár utca 16, H-1134 Budapest, Hungary
3
Department of Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Deák Ferenc utca 16, H-8360 Keszthely, Hungary
4
Department of Animal Husbandry Technology and Animal Welfare, Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
5
Albert Kázmér Faculty of Mosonmagyaróvár, Széchenyi István University, Vár tér 2, H-9200 Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2026, 16(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16010073
Submission received: 7 November 2025
/
Revised: 16 December 2025
/
Accepted: 19 December 2025
/
Published: 26 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cattle Genetics and Breeding)
Simple Summary
We analyzed the genome of Hungarian Holstein-Friesian cows to identify genomic regions that affect the udder and longevity. None of the investigated single-nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with more than one of the udder and longevity traits in the sampled animals. There was one region that had overlapping genes within one million base pairs of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with udder or longevity.
Abstract
Our genome-wide association study identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with estimated breeding values (EBVs) for udder traits and longevity in Holstein-Friesian cows. While no SNP was individually associated with multiple EBVs, the functional profiles of the associated genes revealed overlapping biological processes across traits, including cell signaling, transcription regulation, immune response, metabolism, and cellular maintenance. Notably, nearby SNPs BTB-01738708 and ARS-BFGL-NGS-111478 were associated with EBVlongevity and EBVudder and located near numerous genes, including GPR85, BMT2, IFRD1, and DOCK4, suggesting a potential for shared genetic influence on these traits. Our findings provide insights into the complex genetic architecture of these economically important traits and highlight the need for further research, including fine-mapping and functional genomics, to elucidate the specific variants and their effects.
