Genetic Diversity and Population Genetic Structure of a Guzerá (Bos indicus) Meta-Population

Abstract

The Brazilian Guzerá population originated from a few founders introduced from India. These animals adapted well to the harsh environments in Brazil, were selected for beef, milk, or dual-purpose (beef and milk), and were extensively used to produce crossbred animals. Here, the impact of these historical events with regard to the population structure and genetic diversity in a Guzerá meta-population was evaluated. DNA samples of 744 animals (one dairy, nine dual-purpose, and five beef herds) were genotyped for 21 microsatellite loci. Ho, He, PIC, Fis, Fit, and Fst estimates were obtained considering either farms or lineages as subpopulations. Mean Ho (0.73) and PIC (0.75) suggest that genetic diversity was efficiently conserved. Fit, Fis and Fst values (95% CI) pointed to a low fixation index, and large genetic diversity: Fit (Farms = 0.021–0.100; lineages = 0.021–0.100), Fis (Farms = –0.007–0.076; lineages = −0.014–0.070), and Fst (Farms = 0.0237–0.032; lineages = 0.029–0.038). The dual-purpose herds/selection lines are the most uniform subpopulation, while the beef one preserved larger amounts of genetic diversity among herds. In addition, the dairy herd showed to be genetically distant from other herds. Taken together, these results suggest that this Guzerá meta-population has high genetic diversity, a low degree of population subdivision, and a low inbreeding level.

Genetic study of quantitative traits supports the use of Guzerá as dual-purpose cattle

“…Although the genetic improvement programs of the Guzerá breed for milk and beef are developed independently, joint genetic evaluation is feasible due to the high genetic association between pedigree datasets of the breeding programs [2]. In addition, favorable genetic correlations among dairy (milk yield), growth (weaning weight, yearling weight, and weight at 550 days), and reproductive (age at first calving) traits were previously reported in Guzerá cattle [10].…”

“…The Guzerá cattle breed is one of the most productive among the Zebu breeds present in Brazil and is widely used in crossbreeding, with the aim of producing animals adapted to tropical climatic conditions. In the last 30 years, in addition to genetic selection for beef production, some breeders have included selection for milk yield in Guzerá cattle to obtain economic benefits from the sale of both meat and milk in dual-purpose production systems [1,2].…”

A deletion in the MC1R gene alters coat color in Guzerat cattle

“…3,4 Several studies have shown that SNPs (rs712180276, WUR10000125, and rs340943904) in the guanylate binding protein 1 (GBP1) and 5 (GBP5) genes have significant correlations with the viral load and weight gain of PRRSV-infected pigs. 2,[5][6][7] In particular, WUR10000125 in GBP1 and rs340943904 in GBP5 have complete or strong linkage disequilibrium (LD; r 2 > 0.70) in many pig breeds 8-10 and individual with homozygous recombinant haplotypes have so far not been reported. This precludes an estimation of additive genetic effects of the GBP1 and GBP5 SNPs.…”

“…3 Polymorphisms in these genes are associated with variations in coat color and the trait is almost exclusively determined genetically. 4 Indicine Guzerat cattle are a dual-purpose breed (meat and milk) 5 and a gray coat is one of their breed qualifications. However, the birth of a single red individual was reported as a result of the mating of two gray Guzerat animals.…”

Population Structure and Genetic Diversity of Chinese Honeybee (Apis Cerana Cerana) in Central China

“…Genetic diversity of the wild animals, insects, and any other special economic animals or crops are also worthy of attention for ensuring all aspects of biodiversity conservation. Some parameters such as expected heterozygous number (He), observed heterozygous number (Ho), nucleic acid diversity (Pi), and polymorphism information content (PIC) can be used to indicate the level of an animal’s genetic diversity efficiency and subdivision of population [ 8 ].…”