Abstract
The genetic variability and population structure of three Bhutanese traditional horse breeds were assessed through genotyping of 74 horses (Boeta 25, Sharta 14 and Yuta 35) for 29 microsatellite DNA loci. Altogether, 282 alleles were detected across 29 polymorphic loci. The allelic diversity (NE) (Boeta 4.94; Sharta 4.65; Yuta 5.30) and gene diversities (HE) (Boeta 0.78; Sharta 0.77; Yuta 0.79) were high. None of the breeds deviated significantly from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no sign of significant population bottleneck for all the breeds. The inbreeding estimates (FIS) of the breeds were low (Boeta 0.023; Sharta 0.001; Yuta 0.021). Analysis of molecular variance showed 0.6% of the total genetic variation among breeds, 1.9% among individuals and 97.5% within individuals. The global FIT, FST, and FIS estimates for the population were 0.025, 0.006 and 0.019 respectively. The analysis of population structure failed to distinguish subpopulations in traditional horses and this was supported by a high genetic exchange among the breeds. Overall, the results of this study suggest a rich genetic diversity in the traditional horse despite a very low genetic differentiation among the breeds in Bhutan.
Highlights
The horse is one of the most widely distributed livestock species across the globe owing to their utility in transportation and extensive use in trade and warfare in the past
The high Polymorphism information content (PIC) values of all 29 microsatellite loci used in this study showed that the markers were suitable for genetic evaluation of Bhutanese traditional horse breeds
The high genetic diversity of the traditional horse population as assessed through standard diversity indices are optimistic for the resilience to environmental changes in future
Summary
The horse is one of the most widely distributed livestock species across the globe owing to their utility in transportation and extensive use in trade and warfare in the past. For landlocked Bhutan characterized by rugged terrain and harsh climatic conditions, the highly adapted traditional horses played an unfailing role in country’s trade. The traditional horses were decsribed as intelligent, enduring and good performers in challenging environment in reports of British expeditions to Bhutan [1]. Apart from mountainous terrain, they perfromed well in plains as indicated by the demand and export to Assam (a state of India bordering Bhutan). The export of horse topped export earnings from trade with Assam, India during 1907–1926 [2]. The traditional horses were an important commodity and critical component of trade during the premodernization era
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