Endangered Pinzgauer cattle subtype Jochberger Hummel are genetically distinct

Abstract

Autochthonous cattle breeds are an important part of cultural heritage and reservoir of genetic diversity. Usually, such breeds have been selected over centuries and reflect adaptation to a specific local environment and human demands. However, owing to low effective population size in conjunction with increased inbreeding and genetic drift, many of these lineages are threatened with extinction. The Jochberger Hummel ('Jochberger Bumblebee') is such an endangered subtype of the Pinzgauer cattle originating from a single polled female calf. To evaluate the suspected uniqueness of this subtype and to assess whether it should be kept separate or managed together with the Pinzgauer cattle as one population, I examined the genetic diversity in a set of 844 cattle (Angus, Charolais, Holstein, Jochberger Hummel, Pinzgauer, Uckermaerker and Tux-Zillertaler) using principal component and biogeographical ancestry analysis. The analysis showed that the Jochberger Hummel is still a distinct subtype of Pinzgauer cattle with less than 5% admixture and a low inbreeding coefficient.