Genomic Characterization of a Set of Iberian Peninsula Bovine Local Breeds at Risk of Extinction: Morenas Gallegas

Abstract

A set of five local bovine breeds in danger of extinction named Cachena, Caldelá, Limiá, Frieiresa, and Vianesa and included in the group of Morenas Gallegas are located in the Autonomous Community of Galicia at the Northwest of Spain. Local authorities launched a conservation plan at the end of the 21th century in order to preserve this important genetic reservoir. However, Morenas Gallegas bovine breeds never have been analyzed with genomic tools and this information may be crucial to develop conservation plans. The aim of the study was to analyze their genetic diversity and genetic relationships with a set of local and cosmopolitan European bovine breeds using single nucleotide polymorphisms. Our results show own genetic signatures for the Morenas Gallegas breeds which form a separate cluster when compared to the Spanish breeds analyzed, with the exception of the Cachena breed. The genetic diversity levels of the Morenas Gallegas were intermediate or high, and low inbreeding coefficients can be found except for the Frieiresa breed (11%). Vianesa breed evidenced two lineages depending on the Frieiresa component influence. The Morenas Gallegas bovine breeds group represent an important Spanish bovine genetic reservoir and despite their classification within a single generic group, the five breeds show their own genetic uniqueness.

Epigenetic Effects of Healthy Foods and Lifestyle Habits from the Southern European Atlantic Diet Pattern: A Narrative Review

“…The moderate consumption of meat in the SEAD comes mainly from autochthonous bovine and porcine breeds from extensive livestock farms, where the animals are fed based on grass and milk, in the case of veal (Galician blonde calves and Cachena breed calves), and with chestnuts in the case of pork (Galician Celtic pig) ( 55 , 56 ). This traditional and sustainable farming system gives the meat certain properties such as a rich content of proteins of high biological value and easy digestion ( 57 ), the high content of MUFAs and PUFAs ( 58 , 59 ), and are an important source of minerals (iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and zinc) and vitamins (mainly from group B) ( 44 ).…”