Abstract
BACKGROUND: DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that takes place at gene promoters and a potent epigenetic marker to regulate gene expression. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to improve the milk production of Zaraibi goats by addressing the methylation pattern of two milk production-related genes: the growth hormone receptor (GHR) and the growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9). METHODS: 54 and 46 samples of low and high milk yield groups, respectively, were collected. Detection of methylation was assessed in two CpG islands in the GDF-9 promoter via methylation-specific primer assay (MSP) and in one CpG island across the GHR promoter using combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA). RESULTS: A positive correlation between the methylation pattern of GDF-9 and GHR and their expression levels was reported. Breeding season was significantly effective on both peak milk yield (PMY) and total milk yield (TMY), where March reported a higher significant difference in PMY than November. Whereas single birth was highly significant on TMY than multiple births. The 3rd and 4th parities reported the highest significant difference in PMY, while the 4th parity was the most effective one on TMY. CONCLUSION: These results may help improve the farm animals' milk productive efficiency and develop prospective epigenetic markers to improve milk yield by epigenetic marker-assisted selection (eMAS) in goat breeding programs.