The present study was performed to evaluate the genetic polymorphism of BoLA-DRB3.2 locus in Malnad Gidda, Hallikar and Ongole South Indian Bos indicus cattle breeds, employing the PCR-RFLP technique. In Malnad Gidda population, 37 BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles were detected, including one novel allele DRB3*2503 (GenBank: HM031389) that was observed in the frequency of 1.87%. In Hallikar and Ongole populations, 29 and 21 BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles were identified, respectively. The frequencies of the most common BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles (with allele frequency > 5%), in Malnad Gidda population, were DRB3.2*15 (10.30%), DRB3*5702 (9.35%), DRB3.2*16 (8.41%), DRB3.2*23 (7.01%) and DRB3.2*09 (5.61%). In Hallikar population, the most common alleles were DRB3.2*11 (13.00%), DRB3.2*44 (11.60%), DRB3.2*31 (10.30%), DRB3.2*28 (5.48%) and DRB3.2*51 (5.48%). The most common alleles in Ongole population were DRB3.2*15 (22.50%), DRB3.2*06 (20.00%), DRB3.2*13 (13.30%), DRB3.2*12 (9.17%) and DRB3.2*23 (7.50%). A high degree of heterozygosity observed in Malnad Gidda (H(O) = 0.934, H(E) = 0.955), Hallikar (H(O) = 0.931, H(E) = 0.943) and Ongole (H(O) = 0.800, H(E) = 0.878) populations, along with F(IS) values close to F(IS) zero (Malnad Gidda: F(IS) = 0.0221, Hallikar: F(IS) = 0.0127 and Ongole: F(IS) = 0.0903), yielded nonsignificant P-values with respect to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium probabilities revealing, no perceptible inbreeding, greater genetic diversity and characteristic population structure being preserved in the three studied cattle populations. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on the frequencies of BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles observed in 10 Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle breeds revealed distinct clustering of specific Bos indicus cattle breeds, along with unique genetic differentiation observed among them. The results of this study demonstrated that the BoLA-DRB3.2 is a highly polymorphic locus, with significant breed-specific genetic diversities being present amongst the three studied cattle breeds. The population genetics and phylogenetic analysis have revealed pivotal information about the population structure and importance of the presently studied three Bos indicus cattle breeds as unique animal genetic resources, which have to be conserved for maintaining native cattle genetic diversity.

To estimate the genetic variability and phylogenetic relationship among four breeds (Sonadi, Madgyal, Deccani and Nellore) of sheep adapted in the semi-arid climatic conditions of Rajasthan and part of Deccan plateau RAPD technique was applied. This analysis kept the four breeds in three groups i.e. Deccani and Nellore were kept in same group, Sonadi and Madgyal were kept in entirely different groups but Madgyal has more closenesz to Deccani and Nellore. This RAPD marker study revealed that Madgyal, Deccani and Nellore are closer genetically as compared to Sonadi breed.

A study was undertaken to analyze associations between HSP70 genetic variants of promoter region with heat tolerance and performance in Deoni (Bos indicus) cattle using PCR-SSCP technique. The analysis revealed three SSCP patterns, viz. AA, AB and BB with frequencies of 0.712, 0.254 and 0.034, respectively. Sequence analysis of representative samples of each pattern showed 7 SNPs, which included four transitions (A859G, A1046G, C1257T and G1294A) and 3 transversions (A897C, A1127C and G1166T). Cows with different SSCP patterns showed similar production and reproduction performances. The studies on physiological parameters and calculation of Heat tolerance coefficient (HTC) of individual cows indicated that Deoni cows maintained at Bengaluru were not under heat stress even after 6 h of exposure to sun during summer (March to May).