Abstract
A total of 200 goats and 25 microsatellite markers proposed by the Food and Agricultural Organization and the International Society for Animal Genetics (FAO-ISAG) were used to determine the genetic diversity of three breeds of the Nigerian indigenous goats, namely Sahel (60), Red Sokoto (60), West African Dwarf (60) and one strain; Kano Brown (20). Genetic differentiation between the breeds and strain ranged from 0.011 to 0.037, and the least genetically differentiated populations were Kano Brown and Red Sokoto. Molecular variations were observed to be higher within populations (96%) than among populations (4%), which suggest higher heterozygosity within populations. This study showed that the Nigerian goats are admixed due to extensive cross-breeding and high gene flow amongst the breeds, and that the goats are geographically distributed in two major locations. Measures to conserve the uniqueness/distinctiveness of the Nigerian goat breeds should be sought, and gene flow between populations should be controlled by adopting effective breeding and management practices.
Highlights
Goat is one of the world’s most adaptable and widespread livestock species, and contributes largely to the main economic resources in many developing countries including Nigeria
This study showed that the Nigerian goats are admixed due to extensive cross-breeding and high gene flow amongst the breeds, and that the goats are geographically distributed in two major locations
The least genetically different population was between Kano Brown and Red Sokoto (0.011), while the highest genetically different population was between West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto (0.037)
Summary
Goat is one of the world’s most adaptable and widespread livestock species, and contributes largely to the main economic resources in many developing countries including Nigeria. Their economic importance is growing in western countries (Luikart et al, 2001). If genetic diversity is very low, none of the individuals in the population may have the characteristics needed to cope with the new environmental conditions or challenge. Such a population could be suddenly wiped out. Loss of genetic diversity is often associated with inbreeding, selection, gene flow and migration (Frankham et al, 2002; Willi et al, 2006)
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