Association analysis between reproduction genes , , with lamb and other traits of Liaoning cashmere goats.

Reproductive traits have a high economic value in goat breeding, and increasing the number of lambs produced by ewes is of great importance to improve the production efficiency of goat farming. Lambing traits in goats are low heritability traits, but their genetic basis is ultimately determined by genes. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between , , and gene polymorphisms and production performance, such as lambing, cashmere production, milk production, and body size in Liaoning cashmere goats. A total of six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) loci were identified in these three genes, G144A and T504C on the gene, A56G, G144A, G490C on the gene, and G109519T on the gene. For lambing and cashmere production traits, the AA genotype of G144A on the gene, TT on the T504C genotype, GG genotype of G144A on the gene, A56G, G144A, and T504C on and G109519T on gene are dominant genotypes. AATT is a dominant haplotype combination. Allele G can be used as a molecular marker for lambing, cashmere, and milk production traits in Liaoning cashmere goats. Marker-assisted selection can be used for early selection to achieve improvement of genetic traits in Liaoning cashmere goats.