Genetic correlation between composition of bovine milk fat in winter and summer, and DGAT1 and SCD1 by season interactions

Milk fat composition shows substantial seasonal variation, most of which is probably caused by differences in the feeding of dairy cows. The present study aimed to know whether milk fat composition in winter is genetically the same trait as milk fat composition in summer. For this purpose, we estimated heritabilities, genetic correlations, effects of acyl-coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) K232A, and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) A293V polymorphisms for milk fat composition in winter and summer, and tested for genotype by season interactions of DGAT1 K232A and SCD1 A293V polymorphisms. Milk samples were obtained from 2,001 first-lactation Dutch Holstein-Friesian cows, most with records in both winter and summer. Summer milk contained higher amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) and lower amounts of saturated FA compared with winter milk. Heritability estimates were comparable between seasons: moderate to high for short- and medium-chain FA (0.33 to 0.74) and moderate for long-chain FA (0.19 to 0.43) in both seasons. Genetic correlations between winter and summer milk were high, indicating that milk fat composition in winter and in summer can largely be considered as genetically the same trait. Effects of DGAT1 K232A and SCD1 A293V polymorphisms were similar across seasons for most FA. Allele DGAT1 232A in winter as well as in summer milk samples was negatively associated with most FA with less than 18 carbons, saturated FA, saturated FA to unsaturated FA ratio, and C10 to C16 unsaturation indices, and was positively associated with C14:0, unsaturated C18, unsaturated FA, and C18 and conjugated linoleic acid unsaturation indices. Allele SCD1 293V in winter as well as in summer milk samples was negatively associated with C18:0, C10:1 to cis-9 C14:1; trans-11 C18:1, and C10 to C14 unsaturation indices, and positively associated with C8:0 to C14:0, cis-9 C16:1, and C16 to conjugated linoleic acid unsaturation indices. In addition, significant DGAT1 K232A by season interaction was found for some FA and SCD1 A293V by season interaction was only found for trans-11 C18:1. These interactions were due to scaling of genotype effects.