Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with bull fertility

A method for implanting an embryo comprising:

• in vitro fertilizing cattle eggs to obtain fertilized eggs,
• culturing the fertilized eggs into developing embryos,
• i) detecting the identity of a nucleotide of a MAP1B gene of an embryo at a position corresponding to position 1986 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, wherein the MAP1B gene comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, and identifying an embryo that has an adenine at said position, or
• ii) detecting the identity of a nucleotide of a MAP1B gene of an embryo at a position corresponding to position 2243 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, wherein the MAP1B gene comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, and identifying an embryo that has a thymine at said position, or
• iii) detecting the identity of a nucleotide of a PPP1R11 gene of an embryo at a position corresponding to position 232 of SEQ ID NO:
• 3, wherein the PPP1R11 gene comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, and identifying an embryo that has a guanine at said position, or
• iv) detecting the identity of a nucleotide of a DDX4 gene of an embryo at a position corresponding to position 2006 of SEQ ID NO:
• 4, wherein the DDX4 gene comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, and identifying an embryo that has an adenine at said position, or
• v) detecting the identity of a nucleotide of a DDX4 gene of an embryo at a position corresponding to position 2139 of SEQ ID NO:
• 5, wherein the DDX4 gene comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and identifying an embryo that has a guanine at said position, and
• implanting into a suitable female bovine said identified embryo.

A method for selecting a bull bovine animal as a breeder, the method comprising:

• (1) performing a procedure selected from the group consisting of:
• i) obtaining a sample of the animal's nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least a partial MAP1B gene comprising SEQ ID NO:1,
• detecting an adenine nucleotide at a position of the MAP1B gene of the animal corresponding to position 1986 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1,
• selecting the bull bovine animal that has an adenine at said position, or
• ii) obtaining a sample of the animal's nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least a partial MAP1B gene comprising SEQ ID NO:1,
• detecting a thymine nucleotide at a position of the MAP1B gene of the animal corresponding to position 2243 of SEQ ID NO:
• 1,
• selecting the bull bovine animal that has a thymine at said position, or
• iii) obtaining a sample of the animal's nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least a partial PPP1R11 gene comprising SEQ ID NO:3,
• detecting an guanine nucleotide at a position of the PPP1R11 gene of the animal corresponding to position 232 of SEQ ID NO:
• 3,
• selecting the bull bovine animal that has a guanine at said position, or
• iv) obtaining a sample of the animal's nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least a partial DDX4 gene comprising SEQ ID NO:4,
• detecting an guanine nucleotide at a position of the DDX4 gene of the animal corresponding to position 2006 of SEQ ID NO:
• 4,
• selecting the bull bovine animal that has an adenine at said position, or
• v) obtaining a sample of the animal's nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least a partial DDX4 gene comprising SEQ ID NO:5,
• detecting an guanine nucleotide at a position of the DDX4 gene of the animal corresponding to position 2139 of SEQ ID NO:
• 5
• selecting the bull bovine animal that has a guanine at said position,
• and
• (2) using bovine cell or tissue from the identified bull animal in a breeding procedure.