Can We Source the Origin of the Feral Tankwa Goat of South Africa?

Abstract

Tankwa goats are feral animals initially identified from the Tankwa Karoo National Park in the Northern Cape, South Africa that is reported to be well adapted to their harsh environment. We assessed the genetic diversity of these goats by sequencing the hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial control region (mtDNA HVI D-loop). We additionally clarified genetic origin of the Tankwa goats relative to international breeds. A total of 40 blood samples were collected between 2012 and 2016 from individual unrelated Tankwa goats. Genomic DNA was extracted and the amplified mtDNA D-loop region was used for phylogenetic analysis. A total of 12 haplotypes were identified. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity of Tankwa goat’s population was identified to be low compared to the global goat populations including South African goats, which may be an indication of higher inbreeding in this population. The results obtained from analysis of the mtDNA region in Tankwa goats identified a unique population constructed of two lineages (A 42.5% and B 57.5%).