Local Goat Breeds Research Articles

Growth performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acid profile, and meat quality of male goat kids supplemented by alternative feed resources: bitter vetch and sorghum grains

Abstract. Bitter vetch and sorghum grains are alternative local feed resources that are underutilized in the southern Mediterranean area. This study aimed to assess the effects of incorporating these grains into the diet of local goat breeds on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Twenty-four goat kids were divided into three groups. The control group received a conventional diet consisting of oat hay, barley, and fava beans. In the first group, fava beans were replaced with bitter vetch, and in the second group, barley was replaced with sorghum. At the end of the trial, the animals were slaughtered and carcass characteristics and meat fatty acid profiles of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were determined. Alternative grain incorporation had no significant effect on the growth parameters. Still, it significantly affected carcass characteristics, especially in the sorghum group compared to the control group, where mesenteric fat was lower (266 vs. 437 g). The back color was lighter (L*=55.1 vs. 59.1) and less yellow (a*=-1.29 vs. 2.22). The diet also influenced the meat's chemical composition, with less protein and ash in the chevrons of animals receiving bitter vetch and sorghum grains, respectively. Regarding the fatty acid (FA) profile, sorghum grains had decreased C18:2 n-6 and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), whereas bitter vetch grains had increased C18:3 n-3, elongase activity, and nutritive value index (NVI). The control group exhibited intermediate results for C15:0, C16:0, C16:1, C20:3 n-3, n-3, health promoting index (HPI), and thrombogenic index (TI). No significant effects were reported for saturated FA (SFA) and monounsaturated FA (MUFA). Bitter vetch and sorghum grains can be safely incorporated into fattening diets of goat kids.

Cytogenetic study of Meriz goat breeds in Iraqi Kurdistan region.

Goats are considered the leading farm animal that has a substantial role in the agricultural sector in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. No cytological examination has been carried out on them. This experiment aims to identify the Karyotype of the local breeds of domestic goats. This experiment was conducted on the Karyotype and prepared the ideogram of Meriz goats. The determination of the relative length and centromeric index arm ratio of the chromosomes in the breed was achieved by the production of karyotypes. A total of (30)Meriz goats, consisting of (10) males and (20) females, were selected to collect blood samples for a short-term lymphocyte culture. The diploid chromosome count was observed to be (60), consisting of (29) pairs of acrocentric autosomes and one pair of allosomes, specifically the X and Y chromosomes. The acrocentric nature of the X-chromosome and the sub-metacentric nature of the Y-chromosome were identified through scientific investigation. The study observed a variation in the relative length of autosomal chromosomes in Meriz goats, with females ranging from 4.49% to 1.89% and males ranging from (4.53%) to (1.75%). The X-chromosome had a relative length of 3.96 in females, while the Y-chromosome displayed a relative length of (5.05). The findings of this karyological investigation suggest that the chromosomal composition seen in the Meriz goats under examination was within the expected range of normalcy. It is recommended that more cytogenetic analyses be conducted at the population level in order to identify individuals within the Meriz breed population who possesses numerical and/or structural chromosome abnormalities. This research is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of production and reproduction in this breed.

Socio-economic aspects and farming practices of goats in Southern Tunisia.

This study aims to describe socio-economic aspects, farming practices and production limitations of goats by surveying 53 farms holding 5507 head in the regions of Tataouine-Tunisia. It was revealed that goats represented a major source of income for most of the producers (66.1%). Approximately 35.8% of the farmers had not received formal education, with the majority (56.6%) having been engaged in goat breeding for over 10 years. Additionally, 50.9% of stockholders relied on technical knowledge for animal breeding. The investigated herds were mostly (97.4%) comprised of local goat breeds. The most common management system was semi-intensive (49.1%) based on grazing in communal rangelands and supplementation with agricultural by-products and concentrates. The fertility, fecundity and prolificacy rates were 91.3 ± 8.3, 109.8 ± 19.5 and 127.0 ± 15.4%, respectively. The main reasons for keeping goats were their major contribution to the income by the sale of male kids and the provision of milk for home consumption. Sale of male kids at an age of 7.7 months was practiced mostly via intermediaries (94.3%) and rarely directly to butchers and markets (5.7%). The total amount of milk produced on each farm was on average 15.1l/day, and more than half of farmers (54.7%) consumed goat milk as part of their daily diet. The majority (71.7%) of respondents locally processed milk into Leben, Rayeb and cheese because the goat milk market faced constraints in the Tataouine regions, mainly in terms insufficient milk production and low consumer acceptability. Goats contribute to the income source in rural zones of southern Tunisia, where their breeding is mainly for the purpose of meat sale and the provision of milk for home consumption. The development of goat milk market can represent an added value to this sector.

Whole-genome resequencing of native and imported dairy goat identifies genes associated with productivity and immunity.

Understanding the differences in genetic variation between local Chinese dairy goat breeds and imported breeds can help germplasm innovation and molecular breeding. However, the research is limited in this area. In this study, whole-genome resequencing data from 134 individuals of both local and imported dairy goat breeds were analyzed, and their differences in genomic genetic variation, genetic diversity, and population structure were subsequently identified. We also screened candidate genes associated with important traits of dairy goats such as milk production (STK3, GHR, PRELID3B), reproduction (ATP5E), growth and development (CTSZ, GHR), and immune function (CTSZ, NELFCD). Furthermore, we examined allele frequency distributions for the genes of interest and found significant differences between the two populations. This study provides valuable resources for the study of genetic diversity in dairy goats and lays the foundation for the selective breeding of dairy goats in the future.

Genetic Differentiation and Population Structure of Two Bulgarian Local Goat Breeds Using Microsatellite Markers

Establishing genetic diversity in the population is an essential first step for the sustainable conservation of valuable genetic resources under threat of extinction. Two local goat breeds, Kalofer long-haired (KLH) and Bulgarian screw-horned long-haired (BSHL), were genotyped using a panel of 14 microsatellite markers to determine their population structure and differentiation. The overall mean number of alleles was 8.82, higher in BSHL (9.71) as compared with KLH (7.92). The Ho and He values were almost equal for BSHL (0.75; 0.76, respectively) and KLH goats (0.74; 0.76, respectively). The value of the coefficient of population differentiation (FST) was very low (0.024), indicating only 2% genetic differentiation between the two goat breeds. The structure and PCoA analyses revealed considerable overlap between the two breeds, although some flocks of each breed differentiated from the common genetic pool. The results obtained in the present study can serve to differentiate purebred animals that are the basis of a selection process and a breeding strategy with a view to the conservation of these two local goat breeds.

Molecular Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Bottleneck in Hair Goat Reared in Türkiye

Objective: Being the most preferred and geographically distributed in Türkiye, the Hair goat was screened at a molecular level to evaluate genetic diversity and population structure via microsatellite DNA markers. This paper also aimed to investigate the effects of genetic bottleneck to evaluate whether the Hair goat has maintained its effective population size in recent past. Material and Methods: A total of 411 Hair goats were sampled from farms participating in the "Hair Goat Breeding" project, initiated by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies in Aydın and Denizli provinces. Sampled animals were genotyped with 18 microsatellite loci to assess genetic diversity, population structure, and genetic bottleneck. Results: A total of 341 different alleles were observed across 18 microsatellite loci in which the highest number of alleles (26) and effective alleles (10.18) were detected in INRA005 and HSC loci, respectively. The average observed heterozygosity (0.73) was lower than the expected value (0.83), whereas all loci turned out to be highly informative (PIC>0.50). Factorial correspondence analysis separated animals into two groups, while a genetic admixture was detected between these groups. STRUCTURE analysis, on the other hand, confirmed that 411 animals were derived from three ancestral populations in which the third group is drawn due to admixed individuals. The Wilcoxon test and mode-shift indicator detected a lack of genetic bottleneck indicating that Hair goats reared in Türkiye have maintained their effective population size in recent past. Conclusion: This study validates that used microsatellite markers are highly polymorphic and could be utilized for revealing genetic diversity in different local goat breeds. The findings recovered in this study could be integrated into breeding and conservation programs, while further studies should adopt SNP array technologies and next-generation sequencing platforms to reveal deeper knowledge about the genetic diversity and population structure of Anatolian goat breeds.

Genomic analysis of conservation status, population structure, and admixture in local Czech and Slovak dairy goat breeds

While dairy goat production, characterized by traditional production on small farms, is an important source of income in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, locally adapted breeds have not been fully consolidated over the last 100 years due to large fluctuations in population size and inconsistent breeding programs that allowed for different crossbreeding strategies. Our main objective in this study was therefore to assess the conservation status of 4 Czech (Alpine Goat, White Shorthair, Brown Shorthair and Czech Landrace) and one Slovak (Slovak White Shorthair) local goat breeds, to analyze their population structure and admixture, and to estimate their relatedness to several neighboring breeds. Our analyses included 142 goats belonging to 5 local breeds genotyped with the Illumina 50K BeadChip and 618 previously genotyped animals representing 15 goat breeds from Austria and Switzerland (all analyses based on 46,862 autosomal SNPs and 760 animals). In general, the conservation status of the Czech and Slovak local goat breeds was satisfactory, with the exception of the Brown Shorthair goat, as the analyzed parameters (heterozygosity, haplotype richness, ROH-based inbreeding and effective population size) were mostly above the median of 20 breeds. However, for all 5 Czech and Slovakian breeds, an examination of historical effective population size indicated a substantial decline about 8 to 22 generations ago. In addition, our study revealed that the Czech and Slovakian breeds are not fully consolidated; for instance, White Shorthair and Brown Shorthair were not clearly distinguishable. Considerable admixture, especially in Czech Landrace (effective number of parental clusters equal to 4.2), and low but numerous migration rates from other Austrian and Swiss breeds were found. These results provide valuable insights for future breeding programs and genetic diversity management of local Czech and Slovak goat breeds.

Development and verification of a 10K liquid chip for Hainan black goat based on genotyping by pinpoint sequencing of liquid captured targets

BackgroundChina has thousands years of goat breeding and abundant goat genetic resources. Additionally, the Hainan black goat is one of the high-quality local goat breeds in China. In order to conserve the germplasm resources of the Hainan black goat, facilitate its genetic improvement and further protect the genetic diversity of goats, it is urgent to develop a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip for Hainan black goat.ResultsIn this study, we aimed to design a 10K liquid chip for Hainan black goat based on genotyping by pinpoint sequencing of liquid captured targets (cGPS). A total of 45,588 candidate SNP sites were obtained, 10,677 of which representative SNP sites were selected to design probes, which finally covered 9,993 intervals and formed a 10K cGPS liquid chip for Hainan black goat. To verify the 10K cGPS liquid chip, some southern Chinese goat breeds and a sheep breed with similar phenotype to the Hainan black goat were selected. A total of 104 samples were used to verify the clustering ability of the 10K cGPS liquid chip for Hainan black goat. The results showed that the detection rate of sites was 97.34% -99.93%. 84.5% of SNP sites were polymorphic. The heterozygosity rate was 3.08%-36.80%. The depth of more than 99.4% sites was above 10X. The repetition rate was 99.66%-99.82%. The average consistency between cGPS liquid chip results and resequencing results was 85.58%. In addition, the phylogenetic tree clustering analysis verified that the SNP sites on the chip had better clustering ability.ConclusionThese results indicate that we have successfully realized the development and verification of the 10K cGPS liquid chip for Hainan black goat, which provides a useful tool for the genome analysis of Hainan black goat. Moreover, the 10K cGPS liquid chip is conducive to the research and protection of Hainan black goat germplasm resources and lays a solid foundation for its subsequent breeding work.

Collaborative Monitoring of Plant Biodiversity and Research on Sweet Acorn Oaks within Paths of Knowledge and Sustainability Education

Numerous studies have shown the multiple benefits of plant biodiversity and the crucial role of residents’ awareness of conservation and land management. Plant biodiversity was investigated in an analytical monitoring report conducted jointly with the local population engaged in livestock activities and young residents who were shifting toward hospitality and tourism. The study area, covering over 800 km2 in Sardinia, is half forested and attracts interest in its landscape. During our research, genotypes of Quercus ilex L., with sweet acorns rich in polyphenols, as the oldest ecosystem services in these rural communities, were discovered. Collaborative monitoring focused attention on the benefits of plants in different habitats as follows: 53% were known to livestock farmers as food for local breeds of goats and pigs, 15% were official, and 13% were endemic. They had also been used for human nutrition within the Mediterranean diet and attracted interest for their use in landscapes and gardens. This study analyzes numerical data from critical and educational perspectives. These data serve as indicators of ecosystem health for the purpose of sustainable management policies and attest to collaborative monitoring as a tool for analyzing human activities and the necessary balance between profit and biodiversity conservation, given the current challenging climate change conditions.

Runs of Homozygosity Detection and Selection Signature Analysis for Local Goat Breeds in Yunnan, China.

Runs of Homozygosity (ROH) are continuous homozygous DNA segments in diploid genomes, which have been used to estimate the genetic diversity, inbreeding levels, and genes associated with specific traits in livestock. In this study, we analyzed the resequencing data from 10 local goat breeds in Yunnan province of China and five additional goat populations obtained from a public database. The ROH analysis revealed 21,029 ROH segments across the 15 populations, with an average length of 1.27 Mb, a pattern of ROH, and the assessment of the inbreeding coefficient indicating genetic diversity and varying levels of inbreeding. iHS (integrated haplotype score) was used to analyze high-frequency Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in ROH regions, specific genes related to economic traits such as coat color and weight variation. These candidate genes include OCA2 (OCA2 melanosomal transmembrane protein) and MLPH (melanophilin) associated with coat color, EPHA6 (EPH receptor A6) involved in litter size, CDKAL1 (CDK5 regulatory subunit associated protein 1 like 1) and POMC (proopiomelanocortin) linked to weight variation and some putative genes associated with high-altitude adaptability and immune. This study uncovers genetic diversity and inbreeding levels within local goat breeds in Yunnan province, China. The identification of specific genes associated with economic traits and adaptability provides actionable insights for utilization and conservation efforts.

Bottlenecks analysis using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) throughout the value chain of small ruminants in India

Bottlenecks are the obstacles that impede the accomplishment of an intended purpose and consequently, endure a dampening effect on the chain's effectiveness and profitability. This study was aimed to explore the bottlenecks confronted by small ruminant farmers in the value chain in India. A total of 385 small ruminant farmers from 11 districts of Punjab were selected purposively, proportionate to the population of small ruminants using the snow ball sampling technique. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to identify and rank the criteria and factors of the constraints. The study revealed that among overall constraints, “processing and transportation constraints” (Priority weight: 0.278) were the major bottlenecks encountered by the respondents. Pertaining to input supply constraints, “lack of access to credit, subsidy, and insurance support” was perceived as the utmost substantial challenge by the respondents (Global priority score: 0.097). High cost of concentrate feed (Global priority score: 0.071) and non-uniform methods of selling animals (Global priority score: 0.069), were topmost waivers in context of production constraints and marketing constraints, respectively. Among processing and transportation constraints, inadequate slaughtering facilities at village level (Global priority score: 0.105) was ranked first by the respondents. Low dressing percentage of local breeds of sheep and goats (Global priority score: 0.033) was perceived as the strongest constraint among miscellaneous constraints. The study concluded that the efficiency and profitability of small ruminant’s value chain is impaired by several kinds of bottlenecks. Collaboration among various stakeholders, including government, research institutions, private sector entities, and farmer organizations, is necessary to overcome these bottlenecks and unlock the potential of the small ruminant’s value chain in India.

Morphology and reproductivity profiling of male Senduro goats based on age differences

Senduro goats, a local breed of meat and dairy goats from Indonesia, are recognized for their significance in improving goat breeding and preserving valuable genetic resources. However, limited information exists regarding the reproductive physiology of Senduro goats, which poses challenges to the development of breeding programs and the preservation of genetic resources. This study aimed to investigate the morphological and reproductive profiles of male Senduro goats at different ages, focusing on morphological characteristics, mating behavior, and sperm quality. Morphological characteristics are assessed through body length measurements, while mating behavior serves as an indicator of reproductive behavior. Macroscopic evaluations of sperm quality include assessments of color, viscosity, pH, and volume, while microscopic examinations encompass motility (mass and individual), viability, and spermatozoa membrane integrity. The results showed morphological similarities between juvenile and adult samples, with their testicular size being the only significant difference. Based on macroscopic and microscopic examinations, no significant differences were found between groups. From the results it was concluded that there were no distinct differences in morphological characteristics, mating behavior, and sperm quality between male Senduro goats in the juvenile and adult stages.

Whole-genome SNP genotyping unveils ancestral and recent introgression in wild and domestic goats.

After the domestication of goats around 10,000 years before the present (BP), humans transported goats far beyond the range of their wild ancestor, the bezoar goat. This brought domestic goats into contact with many wild goat species such as ibex and markhor, enabling introgression between domestic and wild goats. To investigate this, while shedding light on the taxonomic status of wild and domestic goats, we analysed genome-wide SNP data of 613 specimens from 14 taxonomic units, including Capra hircus, C. pyrenaica, C. ibex (from Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Slovenia), C. aegagrus aegagrus, C. a. cretica, C. h. dorcas, C. caucasica caucasica, C. c. severtzovi, C. c. cylindricornis, C. falconeri, C. sibirica sibirica, C. s. alaiana and C. nubiana, as well as Oreamnos americanus (mountain goat) as an outgroup. To trace gene flow between domestic and wild goats, we integrated genotype data of local goat breeds from the Alps as well as from countries such as Spain, Greece, Türkiye, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Russia (Caucasus and Altai) and Pakistan. Our phylogenetic analyses displayed a clear separation between bezoar-type and ibex-type clades with wild goats from the Greek islands of Crete and Youra clustered within domestic goats, confirming their feral origin. Our analyses also revealed gene flow between the lineages of Caucasian tur and domestic goats that most likely occurred before or during early domestication. Within the clade of domestic goats, analyses inferred gene flow between African and Iberian goats. The detected events of introgression were consistent with previous reports and offered interesting insights into the historical relationships among domestic and wild goats.

Effect of different parameters on the serum levels of MDA, NBT, and NO in Andaman local goat breeds

The present study was carried out to assess the effect of rearing systems, breeds, number of pregnancies, and frequency of multiple births on physiological oxidative stress markers (OSMs) in indigenous goat breeds of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Does (n=98) with more than one kidding record maintained in the organized goat breeding farm and at the farmer’s field were selected for the study. Pregnancy records were grouped as more than or less than three pregnancies. Breeds were grouped such as Andaman local goat (ALG) and other indigenous goat breeds. Birth frequency was grouped as single and multiple births. Oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anions, and nitric oxide were analysed in blood serum with respect to the different experimental variables. The free radical superoxide and endogenous nitrite values concerning the breed, multiple birth frequency, number of kidding, and rearing systems were non-significant. Lipid peroxidation through TBARS and nitrate values for the breed, multiple birth frequency, and rearing system were non-significant. However, the pregnancy-wise TBARS and nitrate concentration were significant. Estimates of TBARS were significantly high in the animals with lesser pregnancies (1-3 kidding) while nitrate concentration was significant in higher pregnancies (> 3 kidding). This study revealed that these experimental variables had considerable effects on OSMs in goat breeds under the hot humid tropical island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Colostrum Quality in Different Goat Breeds Reared in Northern Italy.

This study aimed to characterize the colostrum quality in three different local goat breeds of Northern Italy (i.e., Frisa Valtellinese, Orobica, and Lariana) and a cosmopolitan one (i.e., Camosciata delle Alpi) (n = 30 per breed), reared under traditional semi-extensive and intensive systems, respectively. Lariana showed the highest percentage of fat (10.18 ± 3.14%) and total solids (30.73 ± 4.89%) but the lowest percentage of lactose (1.87 ± 0.82%; p < 0.05); Orobica had the lowest percentage of fat (7.13 ± 2.48%), total solids (24.11 ± 5.48%), and protein (10.77 ± 4.53%) but the highest percentage of lactose (3.16 ± 0.73%; p < 0.05). This suggests that breeds which have a more pronounced meat aptitude (i.e., Frisa and Lariana) have a higher concentration of components than breeds with more dairy aptitude (i.e., Orobica and Camosciata). Uni- and multivariate analyses showed that IgG is the parameter that best differentiates local breeds from cosmopolitan ones (p < 0.01). Colostrum from Frisa goats showed the highest IgG concentration (100.90 ± 8.11 mg/mL), while the lowest concentration was in the Camosciata breed (74.75 ± 20.16 mg/mL). Finally, the highest lactoferrin concentration was in Frisa (1781.3 ± 892.6 µg/mL) and the lowest in Camosciata and Lariana (763.1 ± 357.9 and 1148.0 ± 858.6 µg/mL, respectively; p < 0.05). Differences between Camosciata and local breeds could be due to the different farming systems, in addition to the genetic characteristics. The higher quality of colostrum produced by some local goats could be an adaptive characteristic that helps the growth and survival of the kids.

Analysis of inbreeding of the Latvian local goat breed

The objective of this study was to perform an analysis of the pedigree of the Latvian Old-Type Local Goat (LVKVT) breed to estimate the levels of inbreeding and effective population size using pedigree data. The study was based on the pedigree data of 1596 goats that were alive at the time of data selection in 2019. During the last ten years, the average generation interval for male goats was 4.40 ± 0.20 years, for female goats – 4.34 ± 0.16 years. Pedigree information on the LVKVT goats from the 1st to the 6th generation was available from 1989. For animals born in 2006 and later, the completeness of the pedigree for the first generation was from 83.9 % and in 2019 reached 100 %. Starting from 2014, the completeness of the second and third generations of pedigree exceeded 80 %. During the last decade, the average inbreeding level in population varied from 3.05 % in 2012 to 2.30 % in 2019. However, the number of inbred animals in the LVKVT population has increased and in 2019 the number of inbred animals was 109 with an average rate of inbreeding of 5.94 %. The rate of inbreeding is increased and in 2019 was 0.56. The effective population size based on the rate of inbreeding is decreased and 2019 was 89, and it is not below of recommended FAO effective population size – 50 animals. However, the breeding organization of goats must be monitored the effective population size of LVKVT breed every year to provide the development of strategies for breeding programs which would promote preserve genetic diversity.

Drinking water intake, milk production, and grazing behaviour of alpine dairy goats in response to daytime water restriction on temperate pastures

Certain local breeds of goats have adapted to severe water restriction in arid and semi-arid regions, but little is known about the adaptability of high-producing dairy goats to water restriction while grazing under temperate conditions. The aim of this study was to assess effects of water restriction of lactating Alpine goats during the daytime at pasture (8 h/d) on herd-level drinking water intake and individual milk production and grazing time. Goats remained in the barn between evening and morning milkings, where each animal was offered 600 g of concentrate and 400 g of hay each day, with free access to water. Twenty four goats were used in a crossover design, for two consecutive 14-d periods. The study was conducted in early summer, with a daily mean ambient temperature of 18.2 ± 3.5 °C (range of 13–27 °C over all the study days), a mean temperature-humidity index of 64 ± 4.9 (range of 56–76). Goats had access to a high-quality multispecies pasture with a mean of 216 ± 44 g DM/kg fresh matter. Total drinking water intake averaged 5.57 L/d and did not differ significantly between treatments. Goats with water access at pasture drank a mean of 1.88 L of water per day during the grazing period, but drank 2.24 L less per day in the barn than goats without water access at pasture. Drinking water intake increased by 0.57 L per day for each °C increase in daily mean ambient temperature. Daily milk production, milk composition, body weight, and daily grazing time did not differ between treatments. Only the duration of the first morning meal at pasture differed significantly between treatments. Thus, water restriction for 8 h per day during grazing periods does not seem to influence the variables measured for Alpine dairy goats under temperate conditions.

Genome-wide landscape of runs of homozygosity and differentiation across Egyptian goat breeds

Understanding the genomic features of livestock is essential for successful breeding programs and conservation. This information is scarce for local goat breeds in Egypt. In the current study, genomic regions with selection signatures were identified as well as runs of homozygosity (ROH), genomic inbreeding coefficients (FROH) and fixation index (FST) were detected in Egyptian Nubian, Damascus, Barki and Boer goat breeds. A total of 46,268 SNP markers and 337 animals were available for the genomic analyses. On average, 145.44, 42.02, 87.90 and 126.95 ROHs were detected per individual in the autosomal genome of the respective breeds. The mean accumulative ROH lengths ranged from 46.5 Mb in Damascus to 360 Mb in Egyptian Nubian. The short ROH segments (< 2 Mb) were most frequent in all breeds, while the longest ROH segments (> 16 Mb) were exclusively found in the Egyptian Nubian. The highest average FROH was observed in Egyptian Nubian (~ 0.12) followed by Boer (~ 0.11), while the lowest FROH was found in Damascus (~ 0.05) and Barki breed (~ 0.03). The estimated mean FST was 0.14 (Egyptian Nubian and Boer), 0.077 (Egyptian Nubian and Barki), 0.075 (Egyptian Nubian and Damascus), 0.071 (Barki and Boer), 0.064 (Damascus and Boer), and 0.015 (Damascus and Barki), for each pair of breeds. Interestingly, multiple SNPs that accounted for high FST values were observed on chromosome 6 in regions harboring ALPK1 and KCNIP4. Genomic regions overlapping both FST and ROH harbor genes related to immunity (IL4R, PHF23, GABARAP, GPS2, and CD68), reproduction (SPATA2L, TNFSF12, TMEM95, and RNF17), embryonic development (TCF25 and SOX15) and adaptation (MC1R, KDR, and KIT), suggesting potential genetic adaptations to local environmental conditions. Our results contribute to the understanding of the genetic architecture of different goat breeds and may provide valuable information for effective preservation and breeding programs of local goat breeds in Egypt.

Identification of the Keratin-Associated Protein 22-2 Gene in the Capra hircus and Association of Its Variation with Cashmere Traits.

The Cashmere goat is an excellent local goat breed in Gansu Province of China, and it is expected to improve cashmere production and cashmere quality through selection and breeding to enhance its commercial value. Keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) play an important role in maintaining wool structure. The gene encoding the keratin-associated protein 22-2 (KAP22-2) gene has been identified in selected species other than goats, such as humans, mice, and sheep. In this study, the sequence of the sheep KAP22-2 gene (KRTAP22-2) was aligned into the goat genome, and the sequence with the highest homology was assumed to be the goat KRTAP22-2 sequence and used to design primers to amplify the goat gene sequence. A total of 356 Longdong Cashmere goats (Gansu Province, China) were used for screening of genetic variants. Four specific bands were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis, and they formed a total of six band types individually or in combination. Four alleles were identified by DNA sequencing of PCR amplification products. A total of four single nucleotide polymorphic sites (SNPs) were detected in the four sequenced KRTAP22-2 alleles. Two of them are in the 5'UTR region and the other two are in the coding region, and the variants in the coding region are all non-synonymous mutations. In addition, there was a 6 bp length variation in allele C. The gene was expressed in the cortical layer of primary and secondary hair follicles, the inner root sheath, as well as hair papillae and hair maternal cells in goats. The results of the correlation analysis between genotypes and cashmere traits showed that after excluding genotypes with a gene frequency of less than 5%, the mean fiber diameter (MFD) of cashmere was significantly higher in the AB genotype than in the AA and AC genotypes. That is, the KRTAP22-2 gene variants are associated with mean fiber diameter in cashmere. The above results suggest that the goat KRTAP22-2 variant can be utilized as a molecular marker candidate gene for cashmere traits.

Review of Literature for Sheep and Goat RESEARCH and development in Egypt, Since the Forties: III. Local and Exotic Goat Breeds, Production Performance, and Breeding Programs

Review of Literature for Sheep and Goat RESEARCH and development in Egypt, Since the Forties: III. Local and Exotic Goat Breeds, Production Performance, and Breeding Programs