Multi-trait meta-analyses identify potential candidate genes for growth-related traits in Holstein heifers

Understanding the underlying pleiotropic relationships among growth and body size traits is important for refining breeding strategies in dairy cattle optimal rate. Therefore, we performed single-trait genome-wide association studies (GWAS) monthly-recorded weight (BW), hip height (HH), length (BL) chest girth (CG) from birth to 12 mo of age Holstein animals, followed by stepwise multiple regression independent or lowly-linked markers GWAS loci using conditional joint analyses (COJO). Subsequently, conducted a multi-trait meta-analysis detect markers. Based on GWAS, identified 170 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which 59 them remained after COJO analyses. The most SNP, located at BTA7:3,676,741, explained 2.93% total phenotypic variance BW6 (body 6 age). We 17 SNPs with potential effects based meta-analyses, resulted 3 additional comparison those detected GWAS. quantitative trait (QTL) regions overlap genes known influence human growth-related traits. According positional functional analyses, proposed HMGA2, HNF4G, MED13L, BHLHE40, FRZB, DMP1, TRIB3, GATAD2A as candidate influencing studied combination meta-analyses results improved efficiency detecting associated SNPs, provided new insights into genetic mechanisms development cattle.