On the biochemical systematics of the bovini

Abstract

ln 10 species of the Bovini, 15 proteins encoded by 15 genetic loci were studied by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Five of these loci (Ldh-2, Pgd, Es, Acy-l, Gpi) were found to be polymorphic in at least one of the species examined. The results on the biochemical systematics of the Bovini suggest, that the yak ( Bos mutus) is most closely related to the cattle ( Bos primigenius), followed by the gaur ( Bos gaurus) and the banteng ( Bos javanicus), which form a separate cluster. The bisons (Bison bison and Bison bonasus) are much more distantly related to the cattle than the yak, the gaur or the banteng. The African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) and the anoa ( Subalus depressicornis), having their branching point somewhat earlier than Bos and Bison, show a remarkable genetic distance from the latter. The extent of genetic variability found within species is discussed with respect to conservation and breeding in captivity.