Mitochondrial DNA Diversity and Origin of Red Chittagong Cattle

M S A Bhuiyan,D H Yoon,J T Jeon,J H Lee,A K F H Bhuiyan,C S Park

doi:10.5713/ajas.2007.1478

Abstract

To determine the origin and genetic diversity of Red Chittagong (RC) cattle in Bangladesh, we analyzed mitochondrial DNA displacement loop (D-loop) sequences of 48 samples along with 22 previously published sequences from Bos indicus and Bos taurus breeds. Twenty five haplotypes were identified in RC cattle that were defined by 44 polymorphic sites and nucleotide diversity was 0.0055±0.0026. The estimated sequence divergence times between RC and other zebu cattle breeds studied ranged between 22,700-26,900 years before present (YBP) which, it is suggested, predate domestication of RC cattle. Furthermore, it is assumed that introgressions have occurred in this breed mainly from Indian zebu breeds in the recent millennia. The phylogenetic studies showed RC cattle clustered with Bos indicus lineage with two distinct haplogroups representing high genetic variability of this breed. These findings can be used for designing proper breeding and conservation strategies for RC cattle in Bangladesh.

Highlights

Cattle are one of the most economically important domestic animals in Bangladesh
Most of the indigenous cattle in Bangladesh are of Bos indicus type including Red Chittagong (RC) cattle
The nucleotide diversity and mean number of pairwise differences were estimated only for RC cattle samples according to Nei (1987) with the same software

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Cattle are one of the most economically important domestic animals in Bangladesh. Most of the indigenous cattle in Bangladesh are of Bos indicus type including Red Chittagong (RC) cattle. The RC cattle are one of the promising indigenous varieties of cattle genetic resources and are considered as national heritage Their breeding tract is only in greater Chittagong district, the southeast part of Bangladesh. The observed coat color of the RC cattle is red and have some other distinguishable and readily recognizable characters (horn, hoof, ears, eyeball, eyebrow, vulva, tail switch are close to red), which make them unique to the other cattle breeds Their productive and reproductive performances are relatively better as compared to other available indigenous cattle of Bangladesh (Habib et al, 2003; Hossain et al, 2005). We have analyzed mtDNA sequence variation of RC cattle to elucidate the genetic diversity as well as ancestry of this breed in order to establish adequate conservation breeding strategy

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Simmental