Abstract
Goats are one of the oldest domesticated animal species widely distributed in the world playing an important role in the food production system in Sub-Saharan African Region (SSAR). Due to their multiple uses (milk production, meat, fiber and hides) and adaptation aptitudes to ecological conditions, goats produce and contribute positively to farmers’ socio-economy status in various production systems. This review aimed at giving a summary overview on the goat’s production systems characteristics, the genetic diversity and the candidate genes affecting reproductive and milk production performances in goat breeds in SSAR. It has been observed that traditional livestock production system with communal grazing system is the most used in goat keeping in SSAR. The geographical locations play an important role in the relationships between goat’s distributions in the region. At the same time, goats might have been differentiated and isolated one to others due to the wide geographic range, the diversify climate and the topography in the region. Among the six worldwide known haplogroups of goat (A, B, C, D, G and F), haplogroup A is the most representative in SSAR. However, haplogroup G and B can be found in some goat populations in some countries in east (Kenya and Ethiopia) and south parts of Africa. This review reveals that little is known on the candidate genes associated with prolificacy and milk production traits in indigenous goat breeds in the region. That observation suggests the importance of assessing candidate genes associated with economic traits in the populations of goat in SSAR.
Highlights
Goats are among the first domesticated animals; they are largely distributed around the world playing a major role in food production systems in many developing countries [1] contributing significantly to household income [2]
This review aims to give an overview on the production system, the genetic diversity and the signatures of selection or candidate genes associated with prolificacy and milk production in indigenous goat populations in Sub-Saharan African Region (SSAR)
The analysis of mtDNA and 50K Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) chip panel revealed a high level of genetic diversity, reported that only two (A and G) (Table 1) from six haplogroups globally identified were from Ethiopia and were compatible with observed haplogroups in Egyptian and Saudi Arabi goat populations suggesting common maternal history and the introduction of goats into East African and the Arabian
Summary
Goats are among the first domesticated animals; they are largely distributed around the world playing a major role in food production systems in many developing countries [1] contributing significantly to household income [2]. Its determination constitutes an important accomplishment of conservation preferences as soon as the important management programs are required to maintain genetic diversity in livestock species These programs should focus on the comprehensive of the information regarding the production systems, the populations’ structure which includes different genetic sources diversity within and among breeds [5]. Molecular characterization based on different methods and molecular markers are most used to determine animal genetic diversity Markers such as microsatellites DNA (SSRs) for the genetic variability studies and evolutionary relationships of closely related populations have been developed according to the important level of polymorphism, random repartition across all the genomes, the neutrality with consideration to selection [6]. As the major genes associated with reproduction and milk production performances have been identified and provided, they can contribute to the animal improvement program considering marker-assisted selection (MAS). This review aims to give an overview on the production system, the genetic diversity and the signatures of selection or candidate genes associated with prolificacy and milk production in indigenous goat populations in Sub-Saharan African Region (SSAR)
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