No abstract

Goats are adapted to live in harsh areas of the world ensuring minimum levels of milk and meat production without much economic input. Scrapie is a fatal prion disease of small ruminants detected in different countries worldwide. Polymorphisms in the prion protein gene (PRNP) modify the degree of susceptibility/resistance to scrapie. PRNP polymorphisms were analysed in the four main Algerian goat breeds (Naine de Kabylie, Arbia, Mozabite, Mekatia), and in two native breeds of South Italy (Aspromontana from Calabria and Cilentana from Campania). The results were compared also with two previously described Sicilian native breeds (Girgentana and Rossa Mediterranea). Seven amino acid substitutions were detected in Naine de Kabylie goat which represents the original native Berber breed. All other breeds presented no more than six variants and common polymorphisms were present at codons, 154 and 240. Isoleucine at 137 was present in Algerian breeds only. The Italian Cilentana shared more variants with Algerian breeds whereas the Aspromontana breed was the only one to show a Serine at 127. Exclusive new variants were not detected since all polymorphisms were already described in other goats worldwide. The scrapie protective allele encoding lysine (K) at codon 222 was detected in the Naine de Kabylie and M'zabite breeds at low-frequency whereas is present with frequencies higher than 10% in all the Italian breeds reared in regions with elevated scrapie incidence. The overall results showed a substantial number of polymorphisms in PRNP, particularly in Naine de Kabylie breed, which carried also unique genotypes. ARTICLE HISTORY

The objective of this study is a morphometric characterization of local goats in western of Algeria. With the use of 19 quantitative variables, we carried out a discriminant analysis on 119 goats and 32 bucks divided into 4 Wilayas (Tlemcen, Adrar, Naama and Bechar). The discriminant analysis on males was not significant. As for the female population, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) on the region effect was highly significant p=1.32 x 10-11. A clear separation has been found between the populations, with the exception of Naama and Tlemcen, which are overlapped. Measurements belonging to chest width ( LP),chest circumference ( TP), chest depth ( PP), rump width (LB), ischium width (LI), withers height( HG), ear length LO) and hair length (LPI).are the best variables that separate between regions in the female population, with a very high significance level (p<0.01). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) is 82.04%. This study can serve as a basis for more precise genetic characterization studies of this species.

A morphological characterization of the local goat population with physicochemical analysis of milk was performed in the wilaya of Relizane. This study was conducted on 50 goats (42 does and 8 bucks) in 6 districts of Relizane. The goat farming in Relizane is mixed with sheep farming but sheep are the main purpose of the breeding for pure economical purposes (wool and meat), goats are used mainly to guide the herd during the grazing, the goats do not receive an important livestock management, their reproduction is uncontrolled and the milk is only used for family consumption. Nine qualitative and twelve quantitative variables were used to study our samples. 68 % of our samples have horns with the curved horns as the most dominant shape, the pendant ears are found at 62%, concerning the beard 52% of does and 12% of bucks have beard, whereas only 8% of does and 2% of bucks have wattles. A negative correlation of  was found between ear length (LOr) and lactose level (LACT), a negative correlation of  was found between ear length (LOr) and protein level (PROT). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that Body length (LC), Height at withers (HG), Chest circumference (TP), Chest depth (PP), Horn length (LCo) and Ear length (LOr) characterizes better our goats. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) by the PCA showed three distinct groups in our samples. The classification of our samples according to the ear length, from the results of the PCA, showed that ears length is a discriminative factor in our sampling. The descriptive analysis of the milk revealed that the milk is of good quality with a fat content of 47.82 g / kg, a protein content of 33.35 g / kg and lactose of 48.82 g / kg.