Identification of Phenotype and the Origin of Rambon Cattle of Indonesia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the diversity of local cattle in Indonesia. We analyzed the phenotype of Rambon cattle which is a result of crossing between Bos sondaicus (Bali cattle) and Bos indicus. The observation data of exterior characteristics (quantitative) was collected from 101 Bali cattle, 101 Madura cattle, and 54 Rambon cattle. Sixteen morphometric traits were measured on each animal. The parts measured were body length (BL), withers height (WH), rump height (RH), rump length (RL), rump width (RW), heart girth (HG), shoulder width (SW), chest depth (CD), face length (FL), face width (FW), horn length (HL), horn diameter (HD), tail length (TL), tail length with hair (TLH), ear length (EL), and ear width (EW). The sequences of mtDNA cytochrome b (cyt b) gene were analyzed from ten samples of each breed to identify the origin of those cattle compared with Bos taurus (Limousin). This result showed that for the morphostructural differences between Bali, Madura, and Rambon cattle, significant differences were found in all body measurements. We found two clusters exist, one formed by the Bali and Madura breeds and the other by the Rambon breed. We identified the 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms of cyt b gene. Bali and Rambon cattle have the same haplotype. Mostly Madura cattle (80%) have a different haplotype compared with both cattle. Thus, the result clearly shows the diversity of local cattle in Indonesia and based on the molecular analysis suggests that Rambon cattle have their origin maternally from Bali cattle.