Abstract：The inhibinβA (INHBA) gene was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of Jining Grey goats. According to the sequence of bovine INHBA gene, four pairs of primers were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of exon 1 and exon 2 of INHBA gene in both high fecundity breed (Jining Grey goat) and low fecundity breeds (Inner Mongolia Cashmere goat and Angora goat) by PCR-SSCP. Only the amplified products of primer P4 displayed polymorphism. Three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were detected in Jining Grey goats and Angora goats. Two genotypes (AB and BB) were detected in Inner Mongolia Cashmere goats. Sequencing revealed a T→C mutation at 80 bp of exon 2 of INHBA gene in genotype BB in comparison to genotype AA. This mutation resulted in an amino acid change: proline→leucine. Genotype frequency of AA, AB and BB was 0.4786, 0.4143 and 0.1071 in Jining Grey goats, respectively. In Jining Grey goats, the does with genotype AA had 1.14 (P<0.001) or 0.42 (P<0.05) kids more than those with genotype BB or AB, respectively; the does with genotype AB had 0.72(P<0.05) kids more than those with genotype BB.
