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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #191839
Title: GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE BRITISH ISLES, IBERIAN PENNINSULA, OR WEST-CENTRAL EUROPE

Author
item Macneil, Michael
item CRONIN, MATT - UNIV OF ALASKA
item Blackburn, Harvey
item Alexander, Leeson

Submitted to: World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2006
Publication Date: 8/17/2006
Citation: Macneil, M.D., Cronin, M.A., Blackburn, H.D., Alexander, L.J. 2006. Genetic relationships among breeds of beef cattle in the united states that originated from the british isles, iberian penninsula, or west-central europe. World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production 32(2):1-4.

Interpretive Summary: Genetic diversity among breeds may relate to ability to adapt production to harsh environments, low input production systems, and changes in the bio-economic environment. Our objective was to assess genetic diversity among breeds of beef cattle in the U.S. Breeds sampled are ancestrally rooted in the British Isles, Iberian Peninsula, and West-Central Europe. DNA was extracted from semen and blood samples from animals of several breeds originating from west-central Europe (Charolais, Limousin, Salers, Simmental, and Tarentaise), the British Isles (Angus, Hereford, Highland, Red Angus, Shorthorn), and the Iberian Peninsula (Pineywoods, Florida Cracker, Texas Longhorn, and Criollo cattle recently imported from Mexico). Each sample was characterized genetically using a panel of 34 microsatellite loci and genetic distances between breeds were calculated based on this characterization. All breeds were highly polymorphic. Across all loci, observed heterozygosity was consistent with theoretical expectation. Intra-group genetic distances between breeds originating from West-Central Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, and the British Isles were 0.19, 0.22, and 0.31, respectively. Genetic distance between the groups from West-Central Europe and the Iberian Peninsula was 0.25; whereas, genetic distances between each of these two groups and the group from the British Isles were both 0.32. Genetic distances among breeds originating from the British Isles were greater than genetic distances among breeds from either West-Central Europe or the Iberian Peninsula. Further, breeds originating from West-Central Europe and the Iberian Peninsula were more closely related to each other than they were to breeds originating from the British Isles. These results contribute to understanding genetic diversity among breeds of cattle in the USA and may be used in establishing priorities for germplasm conservation.

Technical Abstract: Genetic diversity among breeds may relate to ability to adapt production to harsh environments, low input production systems, and changes in the bio-economic environment. Our objective was to assess genetic diversity among breeds of beef cattle in the U.S. Breeds sampled are ancestrally rooted in the British Isles, Iberian Peninsula, and West-Central Europe. DNA was extracted from semen and blood samples from animals of several breeds originating from west-central Europe (Charolais, Limousin, Salers, Simmental, and Tarentaise), the British Isles (Angus, Hereford, Highland, Red Angus, Shorthorn), and the Iberian Peninsula (Pineywoods, Florida Cracker, Texas Longhorn, and Criollo cattle recently imported from Mexico). Each sample was characterized genetically using a panel of 34 microsatellite loci and genetic distances between breeds were calculated based on this characterization. All breeds were highly polymorphic. Across all loci, observed heterozygosity was consistent with theoretical expectation. Intra-group genetic distances between breeds originating from West-Central Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, and the British Isles were 0.19, 0.22, and 0.31, respectively. Genetic distance between the groups from West-Central Europe and the Iberian Peninsula was 0.25; whereas, genetic distances between each of these two groups and the group from the British Isles were both 0.32. Genetic distances among breeds originating from the British Isles were greater than genetic distances among breeds from either West-Central Europe or the Iberian Peninsula. Further, breeds originating from West-Central Europe and the Iberian Peninsula were more closely related to each other than they were to breeds originating from the British Isles. These results contribute to understanding genetic diversity among breeds of cattle in the USA and may be used in establishing priorities for germplasm conservation.