miR-544A, which putatively regulates multiple transcription factors and stimulators (ESR1 [45], EGF [46], IKZF1 [47], POU1F1 [48], PREB [49], VIP [50]) of the prolactin gene (Table 5), was down-regulated 38% in HE vs. LE steers; however, expression of PRL decreased in HE vs. LE steers. Here, VIP is linked to hereditary elliptocytosis.