Removal of undesirable MC1R gene alleles from ‘Berrenda en Negro’, an endangered Spanish cattle breed, to enhance breed conservation programs

Analyses of Genetic Diversity in the Endangered “Berrenda” Spanish Cattle Breeds Using Pedigree Data

“…So, animals belonging to BC reference population that were born in 2018 showed a lower consanguinity rate than animals born in 2017, while BN animals that were born in 2018, appeared to be higher inbred than those from 2017. to BC reference population that were born in 2018 showed a lower consanguinity rate than animals born in 2017, while BN animals that were born in 2018, appeared to be higher inbred than those from 2017. The tendency to increase inbreeding (F) and differences entre las both "berrenda" cattle breeds might also be determined by the different phenotypic (and genotypic selection actions carried out for the eradication of recessive MC1R locus alleles in BN and the eradication of the 1;29 Robertsonian translocation (t1:29) [14,15] in both breeds and on the other hand, a consequence of the increase in the quality of pedigree information. It should be noted that if higher inbreeding values were estimated in more recent periods due to an improvement in pedigree information, this would lead to overestimate the annual increase in inbreeding rate (Figure 9).…”

“…BN and BC effective population sizes were estimated for their respective reference populations, based on family size variance (Nes) (BN = 147.05 and BC = 190.18); and also, they were estimated for the corresponding individual increasing of inbreeding for a similar contribution of founders (Nei) [52,53], being in a general way, low in both "berrenda" cattle breeds (9.93 ± 3.76 in BN and 11.58 ± 4.81 in BC). The tendency to increase inbreeding (F) and differences between both "berrenda" cattle breeds might also be determined by the different phenotypic (and genotypic selection actions carried out for the eradication of recessive MC1R locus alleles in BN and the eradication of the 1;29 Robertsonian translocation (t1:29) [14,15] in both breeds and on the other hand, a consequence of the increase in the quality of pedigree information. It should be noted that if higher inbreeding values were estimated in more recent periods due to an improvement in pedigree information, this would lead to overestimate the annual increase in inbreeding rate (Figure 9).…”

“…Similarly to other local breeds [13], coat color and spot patterns in both "berrenda" cattle breeds are relevant for their appearance and for the differentiation between them, especially when they are used in traditional events. In order to achieve the fixation of black coat color in BN and to avoid births of animals with different coat color that could not be admitted as BN breeding animals, BN studbook in combination with genotyping of MC1R locus have been used [14].…”

“…So, while BN shows spots in black, BC is red spo Similarly to other local breeds [13], coat color and spot patterns in both "berrenda" breeds are relevant for their appearance and for the differentiation between them, cially when they are used in traditional events. In order to achieve the fixation of coat color in BN and to avoid births of animals with different coat color that could n admitted as BN breeding animals, BN studbook in combination with genotyping of M locus have been used [14]. Berrenda en Negro and Berrenda en Colorado herds are geographically dispers "Dehesa" ecosystems, located in southern and middle Iberian Peninsula [15] (Figur "Dehesa" is the Iberian traditional ecosystem that is part of the Natura Network 200 cause of its high natural value [16].…”