Peglivanyan GK. Tulinova OV.

Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025. Vol. 108. No. 2. Р. 87-102.

doi:10.33284/2658-3135-108-2-87

Review article

The kappa-casein gene as a factor in the quality and suitability of milk from different goat breeds

 

Grigory K Peglivanyan1, Olga V Tulinova2

1.2 All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry - VIZh named after Academician L.K. Ernst", St. Petersburg, Russia

1Peglivanian_grig@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5194-4851

2tulinova_59@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5704-4420

 

Abstract. This Review definitively shows that kappa-casein (κ-CN) genetic variants play a key role in determining milk quality and cheese-making ability in different goat breeds. The κ-CN gene, located on chromosome 6, significantly affects the milk coagulation properties required for cheese production. Analyses of recent studies show that genetic polymorphisms, especially A, B and E alleles, significantly affect milk composition and technological characteristics. The B allele is particularly important as it correlates with higher protein content and better coagulation properties, resulting in higher yields and better cheese quality. Studies demonstrate significant breed differences in the distribution of κ-CN alleles, with Alpine and Saanen goats having a high frequency of the favourable B allele, while local breeds such as Creole have more A alleles. Integration of genomic selection methods such as GBLUP has improved breeding efficiency by 15-20%. This Review emphasises the crucial need to understand κ-CN genetic variation to optimise breeding programmes and enhance dairy goat productivity. It is crucial to emphasise the necessity for further research on the functional aspects of κ-CN variants and their interactions with other milk proteins to accurately predict the effects of genetic modification.

Keywords: goats, kappa-casein, κ-CN (CSN3), coagulation, milk production, cheese suitability

Acknowledgments: the work was performed in accordance to the plan of research works for 2025 of the RRIFAGB (No. 124020200029-4).

For citation: Peglivanyan GK. Tulinova OV. The kappa-casein gene as a factor in the quality and suitability of milk from different goat breeds (review). Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025;108(2):87-102. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.33284/2658-3135-108-2-87

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Information about the authors:

Grigory K Peglivanyan, Junior Researcher of Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific  Institution  "Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry - VIZh named after Academician L.K. Ernst", 55a, Moscow highway, St. Petersburg, Pushkin, 196601, Russia, tel.: +7(981)7652181.

Olga V Tulinova, Cand. Sci. (Agriculture), Leading Researcher of Laboratory of Genetics and Cattle Breeding, All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry - VIZh named after Academician L.K. Ernst", 196601, St. Petersburg, Tyarlevo, Moscow highway, 55a. tel.: +7-(921)3058006.

The article was submitted 13.02.2025; approved after reviewing 04.04.2025; accepted for publication 16.06.2025.

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