Microsatellite DNA typing for assessment of genetic variability in Tharparkar breed of Indian zebu (Bos indicus) cattle, a major breed of Rajasthan

Abstract

The present study estimates genetic variability with a set of 25 microsatellite markers in a random sample of 50 animals of Tharparkar breed of Indian zebu (Bos indicus) cattle. Tharparkar is a dual-purpose breed, valued for its milk as well as draught utility, and is adapted to the inhospitable Thar desert conditions of Rajasthan typified by summer temperature hovering above 50 degrees C, sparse rainfall and vegetation, and scarcity of even drinking water. The observed number of alleles ranged from 4 (ETH3, ILSTS030, INRA5, INRA63 and MM8) to 11 (HEL9 and ILSTS034), with allelic diversity (average number of observed alleles per locus) of 6.20. Observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.25 (INRA63) to 0.77 (ETH10), and from 0.51 (HEL5 and HAUT27) to 0.88 (HEL9) respectively. Wide range of genetic variability supported the utility of these microsatellite loci in measurement of genetic diversity indices in other Indian cattle breeds too. Various average genetic variability measures, namely allele diversity (6.20), observed heterozygosity (0.57), expected heterozygosity (0.67) and mean polymorphism information content (0.60) values showed substantial within-breed genetic variability in this major breed of Rajasthan, despite accumulated inbreeding as reflected by high average inbreeding coefficient (F(IS) = 0.39). The Tharparkar population has not experienced a bottleneck in the recent past.

Genetic Relationships Among Five Zebu Breeds Naturalized in America Accessed with Molecular Markers

“…Various factors have been associated with the increased value of f in populations, such as the levels of inbreeding, selection hitchhiking, presence of null alleles and the appearance of substructure or Wahlund effect (Nei, 1987;Sodhi et al, 2006). A medium value of Na of 5.71±0.15 was observed, varying between 4.93±1.52 in GUZ and 7.04±1.99 in BRH and the Ar varied little between breeds, ranging 3.687±0.895 in NEL and 4.42±1.91 in SIN, averaging 4.07±0.96.…”

Characterization of rare migratory cattle and evaluation of its phylogeny using short-tandem-repeat-based markers

“…They are neutral markers and have high variability, widespread distribution throughout the genome and have shown a co-dominant inheritance. Microsatellites are best suited to evaluate genetic diversity (Metta et al 2004;Li et al 2005;Yoon et al 2005;Sodhi et al 2005Sodhi et al , 2006Pandey, Rekha, Singh, et al 2006, Pandey, Rekha, Yatender, et al 2006Sharma et al 2013) and relationships among cattle populations from Africa, Europe and Asia (Moazami-Goudarzi et al 1997;Machugh et al 1998;Martín-Burriel et al 1999;Mommens et al 1999;Beja-Pereira et al 2003;Jordana et al 2003). Using a set of bovine-specific microsatellite markers, Mukesh et al (2004) studied the genetic diversity (both within and between) and relationship among the three important Indian cattle breeds, namely Sahiwal, Hariana and Deoni.…”

Exclusive Characteristics of the Bhag Nari Cattle among the Other Indigenous Cattle Breeds of Pakistan

“…Live body weights and carcass weight were higher in male significantly than females. Biometry is the most important portion of the physical traits (Sarkar et al, 2007;Sodhi et al, 2006;Tariq et al, 2013). Present results for body measurements confirmed findings of Acharya (1982), who analyzed the data on biometry, productive, reproductive performance and survival of (Juliann and Malpura) and (Sonadi) sheep of India, respectively.…”