Methods of genotyping livestock

1. A method of haplotyping a livestock animal with a desired trait, wherein the desired trait is at least one of a level of monounsaturated fats in muscle tissue, a type different monounsaturated fats in muscle tissue, a ratio of different monounsaturated fats in muscle tissue, marbling, a carcass weight, meat quality, a speed of finishing, a feedlot efficiency, eye muscle area, and tenderness, the method comprising:

i) analyzing a haplotype of the animal by using probes or primers to identify polymorphisms in the region of chromosome 19 bounded by and including SREBP1 gene and GH gene of the animal including SREBP1, M-RIP, NT5M, TCAP and GH genes, wherein the allelic form for at least one polymorphic locus in each of the SREBP1, the M-RIP, the NT5M, the TCAP and the GH genes is determined; and

ii) selecting an animal with the haplotype of step i) which is associated with the desired trait.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

i) at least a polymorphism in the M-RIP gene is identified,

ii) at least polymorphisms in the M-RIP and NT5M genes are identified,

iii) at least polymorphisms in the M-RIP and TCAP genes are identified,

iv) at least polymorphisms in the M-RIP, NT 5 M and TCAP genes are identified,

v) at least polymorphisms in the SREBP1, M-RIP, NT5M and TCAP genes are identified,

vi) at least polymorphisms in the M-RIP, NT5M, TCAP and GH genes are identified,

vii) at least polymorphisms in the SREBP1, M-RIP, NT5M, TCAP and GH genes are identified,

viii) at least polymorphisms in the TCAP and GH genes are identified, or

ix) at least polymorphisms in the SREBP 1 and NT5M genes are identified.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a polymorphism in the M-RIP gene is identified by:

a) amplifying a region of the gene comprising the polymorphism using an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-AGG GGT GCT GAG TCT ACA GG-3′(SEQ ID NO: 1) and an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-CTC CAG GAG GCA GGA GAA G-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 2), or a variant of one or both primers which can be used to amplify the same region of the gene; and

b) analyzing the amplification products for the polymorphism.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a polymorphism in the NT5M gene is analyzed by

a) amplifying a region of the gene comprising the polymorphism using an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-GGA AGG CCA GTT ACA TGG CA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 3) and an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-CAC AAC CAA GGC CAA AAT CGC A-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 4), or a variant of one or both primers which can be used to amplify the same region of the gene, and

b) analyzing the amplification products for the polymorphisms.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a polymorphism in the TCAP gene is analyzed by

a) amplifying a region of the gene comprising the polymorphism using an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-AGT ACC AGC TGC CCT ACC A-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 5) and an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-CTG AGA CAT GGA GCG AGC CA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 6), or a variant of one or both primers which can be used to amplify the same region of the gene, and

b) analyzing the amplification products for the polymorphisms.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a polymorphism in the SREBP1gene is analyzed by

a) amplifying a region of the gene comprising the polymorphism using an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-CCA CAA CGC CAT CGA GAA ACG CTA C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 7) and an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-GGC CTT CCC TGA CCA CCC AAC TTA G-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 8), or a variant of one or both primers which can be used to amplify the same region of the gene, and

b) analyzing the amplification products for the polymorphisms.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the GH gene is analyzed by

a) amplifying a region of the gene comprising the polymorphism using

1) an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-TCT ATG AGA AGC TGA AGG ACC TGG AGG AA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 9) or a variant thereof which can be used to amplify the same region of the genome,

2) an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-CGG GGG GTG CCA TCT TCC AG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 10) or an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-CGG GGG GTG CCA TCT TCC AC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 11) or a variant of one or both primers which can be used to amplify the same region of the genome, and

3) an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-ATG ACC CTC TGG TAC GTC TCC G-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 12) or an oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence 5′-CAT GAC CCT CTG GTA CGT CTC CA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 13) or a variant of one or both primers which can be used to amplify the same region of the gene, and

b) analyzing the amplification products for the polymorphisms.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trait is the level of monounsaturated fats in muscle tissue, the types and/or ratio of different monounsaturated fats in muscle tissue, marbling, carcass weight, meat quality, speed of finishing, or feedlot efficiency.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the livestock animal is a sheep, cow, pig, goat or horse.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the livestock animal is a cow.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein step i) is performed on a sample which comprises DNA that has been obtained from the animal.

12. A method of breeding a livestock animal with the desired trait, the method comprising selecting a first animal using the method of claim 1 , and crossing the first animal with a second animal of the same species but opposite sex.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second animal is selected using a method comprising:

i) determining the haplotype of the animal by using probes or primers to identify polymorphisms in the region of the genome of the animal comprising the SREBP1, M-RIP, NT5M, TCAP and GH genes; and

ii) selecting an animal with a haplotype determined in step i) which is associated with the desired trait.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting a progeny of the cross for the desired trait.

15. A method of haplotyping a livestock animal, the method comprising

determining a haplotype of the animal by using probes or primers to identify polymorphisms in the region of the genome of the animal comprising the SREBP1, M-RIP, NT5M, TCAP and GH genes, wherein the allelic form for at least one polymorphic locus in each of the SREBP1, the M-RIP, the NT5M, the TCAP and the GH genes is determined.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probes or primers are used to identify polymorphisms in two or more of the SREBP1, M-RIP, NT5M, TCAP and GH genes.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the probes or primers are used to identify polymorphisms in two or more of the SREBP1, M-RIP, NT5M, TCAP and GH genes.