Fornara MS, Deniskova TE, Abdelmanova AS, Koshkina OA.

Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2026. Vol. 109. No. 2. Р. 96-107.

doi: 10.33284/2658-3135-109-2-96

 

Original article

Estimation of allele frequencies in CSN2, CSN3 and DGAT1 gene polymorphisms associated with milk production in ancient and modern cattle populations

Margaret S Fornara1, Tatyana E  Deniskova2, Alexandra S Abdelmanova3, Olga A Koshkina4

1,2,3,4Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst,

Dubrovitsy, Russia

1margaretfornara@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8844-177X

2horarka@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5809-1262

3abdelmanova@vij.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4752-0727

4i@koshkina-8.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4830-6626

Abstract. This article presents the results of a comparative assessment of the allelic diversity of three single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with milk production in the DGAT1, CSN2, and CSN3 genes. The study subjects were representatives of cattle that inhabited the Yaroslavl region at the period of XIII-XVIII centuries. Biological samples of modern dairy cattle breeds (Yaroslavl, Kholmogory and Holstein) were used as comparison groups. Genotyping of the polymorphisms was performed using real-time PCR-based test systems. In the rs109421300 polymorphism of the DGAT1 gene, a predominance of the T allele, associated with higher milk yield and protein yield, and lower fat content in milk, was revealed in both modern and ancient samples. In the rs43703016 polymorphism of the CSN3 gene, the allele B associated with improved cheese-making suitability of milk was predominant, with the frequency of this allele being slightly higher in modern and ancient Yaroslavl cattle than in the Kholmogory and Holstein breeds. In the rs43703011 polymorphism of the CSN2 gene, the G allele, associated with higher milk yield, was dominant in the Holstein breed and ancient cattle, while the T allele, associated with the production of "healthy" A2 milk, was predominant in the Kholmogory and Yaroslavl breeds. It was found that selective breeding has increased the frequencies of alleles and genotypes desirable for dairy productivity and processing in the modern Yaroslavl breed population compared to medieval cattle.

Keywords: cattle, ancient DNA, dairy productivity genes, polymorphisms, allelic diversity

Acknowledgments: the work was supported in accordance to the plan of research works for 2024-2026 LK Ernst Federal Research Center (No. FGGN-2024-0015); the bone remains of cattle from the archaeological excavations of ancient Yaroslavl were provided by the staff of the Laboratory of Natural Science Methods in Archaeology of The Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Antipina EE, Cand. Sci. (Biology), Senior Researcher; Yavorovskaya LV, Cand. Sci. (History), Senior Researcher.

For citation: Fornara MS, Deniskova TE, Abdelmanova AS, Koshkina OA. Estimation of allele frequencies in CSN2, CSN3 and DGAT1 gene polymorphisms associated with milk production in ancient and modern cattle populations. Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2026;109(2):96-107. (In Russ.).  https://doi.org/10.33284/2658-3135-109-2-96

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Information about the authors:

Margaret S Fornara, Cand. Sci. (Biology), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Genetic Monitoring of Livestock Resources, Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst, 60 Dubrovitsy village, Podolsk City district, Moscow region, 142132.

Tatyana E Deniskova, Cand. Sci. (Biology), Leading Researcher, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Farm Animals, Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst, 60 Dubrovitsy village, Podolsk City district, Moscow region, 142132.

Alexandra S Abdelmanova, Dr. Sci. (Biology), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Genetic Monitoring of Livestock Resources, Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst, 60 Dubrovitsy village, Podolsk City district, Moscow region, 142132.

Olga A Koshkina, Cand. Sci. (Biology), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Farm Animals, Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK Ernst, 60 Dubrovitsy village, Podolsk City district, Moscow region, 142132.

The article was submitted 06.03.2026; approved after reviewing 09.04.2026; accepted for publication 15.06.2026.

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