Marker controlled inheritance of the polled locus in Simmental cattle

Abstract. The inheritance of the polled phenotype in Simmental cattle was tested for linkage with alleles of four microsatellite markers on the proximal region of BTA1. For the study half-sib offspring of three sires were selected which are known to be heterozygous for the polled condition. The analysis of 57 animals (42 polled and 15 horned) revealed complete linkage between the polled locus and the markers BM6438 and SODlMicro2. The reliability of the prediction of the hörn Status of the offspring for marker assisted selection was estimated from its marker genotype in comparison to the patemal haplotype phases responsible for polledness, and from the allele frequencies of the favoured marker alleles in the random population.