Genetic diversity measures of the bovine Alberes breed using microsatellites: variability among herds and types of coat colour*

Abstract

Summary The Alberes population is a native bovine breed of Catalonia with an unclear origin, which historically some authors have assumed as being composed of two different colour varieties (black and fawn). Sixteen microsatellite loci were analysed, all of them included in the AIRE2066 European Concerted Action list. Overall expected and observed heterozygosities reached values of 0.649 and 0.662, respectively. Genetic differences among black and fawn varieties were not significant (FST = 0.007), and therefore the population is a single variety with a great colour gradation. On the contrary, we detected significant genetic differences among herds (FST = 0.026; p < 0.001), showing a genetic heterogeneity over short geographical distances. The number of migrants per generation among pairs of herds oscillates between 1.46 (Roig and Freixe herds) and 5.62 (Castanyers and Roig herds). Moreover, inbreeding and bottleneck situations can be rejected. The Alberes breed has been grouped within the Cantabrian trunk, closely related to the Asturiana de la Montaña and Alistana breeds, although some other breeds may also have influenced the population along its history.

Molecular, genealogical and morphometric characterisation of the Pallaresa, a Pyrenean relic cattle breed: Insights for conservation

“…Another explanation may be the introgression of genes from the Bruna breed into ancestors of the founder group. Similar results and conclusions have been reported in another endangered Catalan cattle breed, the Alberes (Casellas et al, 2004). Assignment tests performed with STRUCTURE also show that Pallaresa individuals clustered in a single and distinct group with high Q values.…”

Genetic diversity and differentiation of Ankole cattle populations in Uganda inferred from microsatellite data

“…However, He values of this study do not differ from those in other Ankole populations from an earlier study, except Kagera in Tanzania (Ndumu et al, 2008b). The overall He (0.727 ± 0.024) for the Ankole breed was much higher than 0.662 ± 0.030 which was observed within the Spanish Alberes cattle breed (Casellas et al, 2004). As would be expected, Nshaara population which had the highest number of migrants (5.4) compared to the other populations, also had most genetic variability.…”

“…This value for within breed variation is similar to other findings for this breed (Ndumu et al, 2008b), and quite high when compared to the 6% between 12 African cattle breeds of Cameroon and Nigeria (Ibeagha-Awemu and Erhardt, 2006). The level of differentiation was also much higher than 2.6% found between three populations of the Spanish Alberes cattle breed (Casellas et al, 2004) and 3.5% found between Belgian cattle populations (Mommens et al, 1999). This could be explained by differences in population history and management.…”

Analysis of temperament development during the fattening period in the semi-feral bovine calves of theAlberesMassif

“…This population has been grouped within the Cantabrian trunk although some other breeds may also have influenced the population along its history [6]. Individuals ascend to pastures in the mountains during the spring and summer and browse shrubs and branches of Mediterranean wood in cold seasons.…”