Genome-Wide Association Study for Cashmere Traits in Inner Mongolia Cashmere Goat Population Reveals New Candidate Genes and Haplotypes

This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 404 Inner Mongolia cashmere goats to identify genetic markers associated with cashmere traits such as fiber length, diameter, and yield. Significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in genes like FGF12, SEMA3D, EVPL, and SOX5, which may influence these traits. The heritability of cashmere yield, diameter, and fleece length were medium, while thickness had low heritability. Genetic correlations were positive between cashmere yield and other traits. The study identified 39,509,854 variants, with significant SNPs explaining over 3% of phenotypic variation. Candidate genes were enriched in pathways related to cell cycle, signal transduction, and hair cycle processes. The findings suggest that marker-assisted selection using these SNPs and haplotypes could improve breeding strategies for high-yield and high-quality cashmere goats.