Body size is a crucial economic trait in donkeys, as it is closely related to meat and skin production. The aim of this study was to identify the genes and loci associated with body size traits, using the Dezhou donkey as an experimental population. The study findings make contributions to a better understanding on the molecular genetic mechanism of body size traits. The significant loci screened out in the present study may facilitate gene-assisted selection breeding and accelerate genetic selection, which is of great significance to the breeding of donkeys and the development of the donkey industry.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.