Microsatellite marker analysis of Tswana cattle kept under in situ conservation at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess genetic diversity of Tswana cattle conserved at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) farm. Twelve microsatellite markers recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics were used for assessment of genetic diversity on twenty-six Tswana cattle. A total of seventy-five alleles were distinguished across all loci with the mean value of 6.25±2.60. The markers TGLA227, BM2113, ETH10, TGLA122, ETH3, ETH225, CMSS60, CMSS66, and ILST006 were highly informative. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.38 (BM1818) to 0.84 (ETH225) with an overall mean of 0.67. Two microsatellite markers; CMSS60 and CMSS66 deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. The level of gene diversity (HE) across all loci was 0.79±0.04 with moderate inbreeding coefficient (F IS) of 20%. The results have provided insights on the genetic diversity of Tswana cattle that is relevant for decision making on the population herd structure and other research work. Maintenance of genetic diversity of Tswana cattle is recommended as a fundamental component in long-term management strategies for conservation programme. The level of inbreeding in the herd should be managed through introduction of new breeding bulls to counter effect genetic erosion.