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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #297656
Title: Goat breeding in the tropics: development and application of the genomic tools in a USAID "Feed the Future" program

Author
item SAYRE, BRIAN - Virginia State University
item Sonstegard, Tad
item Silverstein, Jeffrey
item Huson, Heather
item Woodward-Greene, Jennifer
item ROTHSCHILD, MAX - Iowa State University
item NENE, VISH - International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) - Kenya
item DENIS MUJIBI, FIDALIS - International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) - Kenya
item MASIGA, CLET - Association For Strengthening Agricultural Research In Eastern And Central Africa (ASARECA)
item FERNANDO GARCIA, JOSE - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item SOLKNER, JOHANN - University Of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences - Austria
item Van Tassell, Curtis - Curt

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/4/2013
Publication Date: 7/25/2013
Citation: Sayre, B.L., Sonstegard, T.S., Silverstein, J., Huson, H.J., Woodward-Greene, J., Rothschild, M., Nene, V., Denis Mujibi, F., Masiga, C., Fernando Garcia, J., Solkner, J., Van Tassell, C.P. 2013. Goat breeding in the tropics: development and application of the genomic tools in a USAID "Feed the Future" program. Meeting Proceedings. 1983-4357.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Food production systems in Africa depend heavily on the use of locally adapted animals. These animals are of agricultural, cultural, and economic importance. Goats, in particular, are critical to the small-scale farmer as they are easier to acquire and maintain. Goats act as scavengers in sparse pasture and marginal crop regions. Most native cattle, sheep and goats found in developing countries have undergone many generations of adaptation and genetic isolation or bottlenecks leading to great phenotypic variation. This variability can be used to identify regions of the goat genome responsible for differences through genome-wide association studies. These indigenous goats serve as a genetic reservoir for the identification of genes important to environmental adaptation, disease resistance, and improved productivity under local conditions. Identifying genes associated with disease susceptibility and resistance in locally adapted breeds is necessary to preserve germplasm and for successful selection programs. There have been limited genomic and genetic studies to find these survival genes in goats. Of particular interest are the genes involved in resistance to internal parasites and resilience to climate differences. The central aim of this project is to encourage cooperative efforts to develop and apply genomic tools for the identification and preservation of locally adapted goat populations, and to leverage these collaborations to enhance African expertise in genomics. The long-term goal is to develop genetically superior adapted goats to help meet the demands of local food security.