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Molecular and pedigree analysis applied to conservation of animal genetic resources: the case of Brazilian Somali hair sheep

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Abstract

The first registers of Somali sheep in Brazil are from the beginning of the 1900s. This breed, adapted to the dry climate and scarce food supply, is restricted in the northeast region of the country. Molecular marker technologies, especially those based on genotyping microsatellite and mtDNA loci, can be used in conjunction with breeding (pedigree analysis) and consequently the maintenance of genetic variation in herds. Animals from the Brazilian Somali Conservation Nuclei from Embrapa Sheep and Goats in Ceará State were used to validate genetic monitoring by traditional pedigree methods and molecular markers. Nineteen microsatellite markers and 404 base pairs from the control region of mtDNA were used. For total herd diversity, an average 5.32 alleles were found, with expected heterozygosity of 0.5896, observed heterozygosity of 0.6451, 0.4126 for molecular coancestrality, and coefficient of inbreeding (F IS) was −0.095. Comparing molecular coancestrality means over the years, there was a consistent increase in this parameter within the herd, increasing from 0.4157 to 0.4769 in 2 years (approx. 12% variation). Sixteen mtDNA haplotypes were identified. Inbreeding and other estimates from genealogical analyses confirm the results from molecular markers. From these results, it is possible to state that microsatellites are useful tools in genetic management of herds, especially when routine herd recording is not carried out, or there were gaps in recent generations. As well as pedigree control, genetic diversity can be optimized. Based on the results, and despite herd recording in the herd of Brazilian Somali of Embrapa Sheep and Goats, additional management measures need to be carried out in this herd to reduce inbreeding and optimize genetic variation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LGV/PCC, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, 02372, Brasília, DF, Brazil

    Samuel R. Paiva, Danielle A. Faria & Thaísa Lacerda

  2. Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos, Sobral, CE, Brazil

    Olivardo Facó & Raimundo N. B. Lobo

  3. Faculdades Integradas, UPIS, Brasilia, DF, Brazil

    Gabriel B. Barretto

  4. Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brazil

    Paulo L. S. Carneiro

  5. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Concepta McManus

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  1. Samuel R. Paiva
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  2. Olivardo Facó
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  3. Danielle A. Faria
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  4. Thaísa Lacerda
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  5. Gabriel B. Barretto
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  6. Paulo L. S. Carneiro
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  8. Concepta McManus
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Correspondence to Concepta McManus.

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Paiva, S.R., Facó, O., Faria, D.A. et al. Molecular and pedigree analysis applied to conservation of animal genetic resources: the case of Brazilian Somali hair sheep. Trop Anim Health Prod 43, 1449–1457 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9873-6

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