Marker for bovine milk or tissue colour

摘要

A method of determining a bovine trait for milk or tissue colour, or milk or tissue beta-carotene content, comprises determining the beta-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) genotype of said bovine. In particular the presence or absence of the A allele or of the G allele at the W80Stop G/A polymorphism in the BCO2 gene is associated with variation in milk or tissue colour or beta-carotene content. Probes and primers for the genotyping are provided, as are methods for selecting and breeding bovines on the basis of their BCO2 genotype.