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Research Article | 05 Jun 2026

Association of leptin and insulin-like growth factor-1 gene polymorphisms with milk production and reproductive traits in Indonesian Friesian Holstein cattle

Ahmad Pramono1 ORCID , Muhammad Cahyadi1,2 ORCID , Aprilya Hanifah Tamartian1 ORCID , Hesti Fatonah1 ORCID , Imelda Renita Alfara1 ORCID , Sahrul Romadhon1 ORCID , and Farouq Heidar Barido1,2 ORCID Show more
VETERINARY WORLD | Article No. 1 | pg no. 2264-2278 | Vol. 19, Issue 6 | DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2026.2264-2278
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ABSTRACT

                      
Background and Aim: Genetic polymorphisms in candidate genes associated with metabolic regulation and reproductive physiology are increasingly used to support marker-assisted selection in dairy cattle. Among these, leptin (LEP) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) genes have been linked to milk production and fertility traits in several bovine populations. However, information regarding the association of these polymorphisms with productive and reproductive performance in Indonesian Friesian Holstein cattle remains limited. Therefore, this study investigated the association of LEP (g.820 C>T and g.1127 A>T) and IGF-1 (c.309 G>T and c.335 A>T) polymorphisms with milk production and reproductive traits in Indonesian Friesian Holstein cattle. 
Materials and Methods: A total of 710 Friesian Holstein cows maintained at a commercial dairy farm in West Java, Indonesia, were used in this study. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood samples and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. Genotype and allele frequencies, polymorphic information content, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were determined for each single nucleotide polymorphism. Associations between genotypes and productive traits, including days in milk, 305-day milk yield, total yield, average yield, and peak yield, as well as reproductive traits including calving interval, days open, first insemination postpartum, service per conception, and conception rate, were analyzed using mixed-effects models. 
Results: The LEP g.820 C>T polymorphism exhibited moderate polymorphism and significant associations with days in milk, calving interval, first insemination postpartum, days open, and conception rate (p < 0.05). Cows carrying the CC genotype showed superior reproductive performance and higher conception rates compared with TT genotype carriers. Conversely, LEP g.1127 A>T showed limited polymorphism and no significant association with productive or reproductive traits (p > 0.05). The IGF-1 c.309 G>T locus was monomorphic, whereas c.335 A>T was polymorphic but showed no significant associations with milk production or reproductive parameters (p > 0.05). 
Conclusion: The LEP g.820 C>T polymorphism demonstrated significant associations with economically important productive and reproductive traits and may serve as a valuable molecular marker for marker-assisted selection in Indonesian Friesian Holstein cattle. In contrast, the evaluated IGF-1 polymorphisms showed limited utility for genetic selection in this population. 
                      
Keywords: dairy cattle genetics, fertility traits, Friesian Holstein cattle, insulin-like growth factor-1, leptin gene, marker-assisted selection, milk production, single nucleotide polymorphism.