Use of RAPD markers for identifying Nelore bulls with early reproductive maturation onset

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used for identifying animals with early (precocious) or late (non-precocious) reproductive maturation onset. Animals ( n=34) were phenotyped according to spermatozoa appearance in ejaculates (group A, 20 animals) or to the expected progeny difference (EPD) values for scrotal circumference (group B, 14 animals). The RAPD markers were initially detected by amplifying two pooled samples of equimolar amounts of DNA from the eight precocious 12 and non-precocious animals of group A. Only 38 out of 320 random primers used for screening group A pooled samples detected polymorphisms. These polymorphic primers generated 443 distinguishable and reproducible bands, from which 174 were polymorphic and 269, monomorphic. These polymorphic primers were then used in RAPD reactions to amplify individual DNA samples from animals belonging to both groups, A and B. The dendrograms generated from RAPD patterns allowed phenotypic class differentiation in both cases. Therefore, RAPD markers can be used as a tool for identifying genotypes favoring early sexual maturation in Nelore breeding programs.