Title, abstract and references:

The research paper "Multiple QTL underlie milk phenotypes at the CSF2RB locus" by Lopdell et al. discusses that chromosome 5 locus presents a diversity of molecular and lactation QTL, likely representing multiple overlapping effects that, at a minimum, highlight the CSF2RB gene as having a causal role in these processes. The title truly represent the content presented in the paper. The references cited are relevant and up to date.

Introduction/ Background:

The background literature provides a good understanding about the study and sets the rationale for the study.

Methods:

The methodology adopted in the study includes genotyping, phenotyping, RNASeq, gene expression studies, eQTL, RNA editing site discovery, edQTL, CNV genotyping, and imputation. The methodology follows a very stringent and effective study design and is adequate.

Results:

The 29350 dairy cattle population used in the study helped in the association analyses for milk yield and composition traits, and identified highly significant QTL for milk yield and other parameters. The results are presented well and can be appreciated.

Discussion

The manuscript has been discussed very well.

Conclusion

The paper has provided that the chromosome 5 locus presents a diversity of molecular and lactation QTL, likely representing multiple overlapping effects. These highlight that the CSF2RB gene has a causal role in these processes.

The paper is written and presented very well. This reviewer feels that the present work is of substantial merit and can be accepted further.