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Tijjani A, Kambal S, Terefe E, Njeru R, Ogugo M, Ndambuki G, Missohou A, Traore A, Salim B, Ezeasor C, D'andre H C, Obishakin ET, Diallo B, Talaki E, Abdoukarim IY, Nash O, Osei-Amponsah R, Ravaorimanana S, Issa Y, Zegeye T, Mukasa C, Tiambo C, Prendergast JGD, Kemp SJ, Han J, Marshall K, Hanotte O. Genomic Reference Resource for African Cattle: Genome Sequences and High-Density Array Variants. Sci Data 2024; 11:801. [PMID: 39030190 PMCID: PMC11271538 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03589-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The diversity in genome resources is fundamental to designing genomic strategies for local breed improvement and utilisation. These resources also support gene discovery and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of resilience with applications beyond local breeds. Here, we report the genome sequences of 555 cattle (208 of which comprise new data) and high-density (HD) array genotyping of 1,082 samples (537 new samples) from indigenous African cattle populations. The new sequences have an average genome coverage of ~30X, three times higher than the average (~10X) of the over 300 sequences already in the public domain. Following variant quality checks, we identified approximately 32.3 million sequence variants and 661,943 HD autosomal variants mapped to the Bos taurus reference genome (ARS-UCD1.2). The new datasets were generated as part of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) Genomic Reference Resource for African Cattle (GRRFAC) initiative, which aspires to facilitate the generation of this livestock resource and hopes for its utilisation for complete indigenous breed characterisation and sustainable global livestock improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulfatai Tijjani
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Ethiopia, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609, USA.
| | - Sumaya Kambal
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Ethiopia, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Endashaw Terefe
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Arsi University, Asella, Ethiopia
| | - Regina Njeru
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Moses Ogugo
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Gideon Ndambuki
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Ayao Missohou
- Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires (EISMV), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Amadou Traore
- Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Bashir Salim
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
- Camel Research Center, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chukwunonso Ezeasor
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Claire D'andre H
- Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Emmanuel T Obishakin
- Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | | | - Essodina Talaki
- École Supérieure d'Agronomie de l'Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | - Issaka Y Abdoukarim
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie Animale et de Technologie des Viandes, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Oyekanmi Nash
- Centre for Genomics Research and Innovation, NABDA, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Richard Osei-Amponsah
- Department of Animal Science, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Youssouf Issa
- Institut National supérieur des Sciences et Techniques d'Abéché-INSTA/Tchad, Abéché, Chad
| | - Tsadkan Zegeye
- Mekelle Agricultural Research Center, Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Christopher Mukasa
- National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Christian Tiambo
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - James G D Prendergast
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Stephen J Kemp
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Jianlin Han
- CAAS-ILRI Joint Laboratory on Livestock and Forage Genetic Resources, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
- Yazhouwan National Laboratory, No. 8 Huanjin Road, Yazhou, Sanya, 572024, Hainan, P. R. China
| | - Karen Marshall
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Ethiopia, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Cells, Organism and Molecular Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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Ayalew W, Xiaoyun W, Tarekegn GM, Naboulsi R, Sisay Tessema T, Van Damme R, Bongcam-Rudloff E, Chu M, Liang C, Edea Z, Enquahone S, Ping Y. Whole genome sequences of 70 indigenous Ethiopian cattle. Sci Data 2024; 11:584. [PMID: 38839789 PMCID: PMC11153504 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03342-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Indigenous animal genetic resources play a crucial role in preserving global genetic diversity and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people. In Ethiopia, the majority of the cattle population consists of indigenous breeds. Understanding the genetic architecture of these cattle breeds is essential for effective management and conservation efforts. In this study, we sequenced DNA samples from 70 animals from seven indigenous cattle breeds, generating about two terabytes of pair-end reads with an average coverage of 14X. The sequencing data were pre-processed and mapped to the cattle reference genome (ARS-UCD1.2) with an alignment rate of 99.2%. Finally, the variant calling process produced approximately 35 million high-quality SNPs. These data provide a deeper understanding of the genetic landscape, facilitate the identification of causal mutations, and enable the exploration of evolutionary patterns to assist cattle improvement and sustainable utilization, particularly in the face of unpredictable climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wondossen Ayalew
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730050, P.R. China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wu Xiaoyun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730050, P.R. China
| | - Getinet Mekuriaw Tarekegn
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Roslin Institute Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK.
| | - Rakan Naboulsi
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tesfaye Sisay Tessema
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Renaud Van Damme
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Bongcam-Rudloff
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Min Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730050, P.R. China
| | - Chunnian Liang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730050, P.R. China
| | - Zewdu Edea
- Ethiopian Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Enquahone
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Roslin Institute Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Yan Ping
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730050, P.R. China.
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Ayalew W, Wu X, Tarekegn GM, Sisay Tessema T, Naboulsi R, Van Damme R, Bongcam-Rudloff E, Edea Z, Chu M, Enquahone S, Liang C, Yan P. Whole Genome Scan Uncovers Candidate Genes Related to Milk Production Traits in Barka Cattle. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6142. [PMID: 38892330 PMCID: PMC11172929 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, our primary aim was to explore the genomic landscape of Barka cattle, a breed recognized for high milk production in a semi-arid environment, by focusing on genes with known roles in milk production traits. We employed genome-wide analysis and three selective sweep detection methods (ZFST, θπ ratio, and ZHp) to identify candidate genes associated with milk production and composition traits. Notably, ACAA1, P4HTM, and SLC4A4 were consistently identified by all methods. Functional annotation highlighted their roles in crucial biological processes such as fatty acid metabolism, mammary gland development, and milk protein synthesis. These findings contribute to understanding the genetic basis of milk production in Barka cattle, presenting opportunities for enhancing dairy cattle production in tropical climates. Further validation through genome-wide association studies and transcriptomic analyses is essential to fully exploit these candidate genes for selective breeding and genetic improvement in tropical dairy cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wondossen Ayalew
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China; (W.A.); (X.W.); (M.C.)
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
| | - Xiaoyun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China; (W.A.); (X.W.); (M.C.)
| | - Getinet Mekuriaw Tarekegn
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Easter Bush Campus, Roslin Institute Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Tesfaye Sisay Tessema
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
| | - Rakan Naboulsi
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institute, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Renaud Van Damme
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Bioinformatics Section, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden (E.B.-R.)
| | - Erik Bongcam-Rudloff
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Bioinformatics Section, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden (E.B.-R.)
| | - Zewdu Edea
- Ethiopian Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5954, Ethiopia;
| | - Min Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China; (W.A.); (X.W.); (M.C.)
| | - Solomon Enquahone
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
| | - Chunnian Liang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China; (W.A.); (X.W.); (M.C.)
| | - Ping Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China; (W.A.); (X.W.); (M.C.)
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Friedrich J, Bailey RI, Talenti A, Chaudhry U, Ali Q, Obishakin EF, Ezeasor C, Powell J, Hanotte O, Tijjani A, Marshall K, Prendergast J, Wiener P. Mapping restricted introgression across the genomes of admixed indigenous African cattle breeds. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:91. [PMID: 38097935 PMCID: PMC10722721 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00861-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genomes of indigenous African cattle are composed of components with Middle Eastern (taurine) and South Asian (indicine) origins, providing a valuable model to study hybridization and to identify genetic barriers to gene flow. In this study, we analysed indigenous African cattle breeds as models of hybrid zones, considering taurine and indicine samples as ancestors. In a genomic cline analysis of whole-genome sequence data, we considered over 8 million variants from 144 animals, which allows for fine-mapping of potential genomic incompatibilities at high resolution across the genome. RESULTS We identified several thousand variants that had significantly steep clines ('SCV') across the whole genome, indicating restricted introgression. Some of the SCV were clustered into extended regions, with the longest on chromosome 7, spanning 725 kb and including 27 genes. We found that variants with a high phenotypic impact (e.g. indels, intra-genic and missense variants) likely represent greater genetic barriers to gene flow. Furthermore, our findings provide evidence that a large proportion of breed differentiation in African cattle could be linked to genomic incompatibilities and reproductive isolation. Functional evaluation of genes with SCV suggest that mitonuclear incompatibilities and genes associated with fitness (e.g. resistance to paratuberculosis) could account for restricted gene flow in indigenous African cattle. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first time genomic cline analysis has been applied to identify restricted introgression in the genomes of indigenous African cattle and the results provide extended insights into mechanisms (e.g. genomic incompatibilities) contributing to hybrid differentiation. These results have important implications for our understanding of genetic incompatibilities and reproductive isolation and provide important insights into the impact of cross-breeding cattle with the aim of producing offspring that are both hardy and productive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Friedrich
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick), School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK.
| | - Richard I Bailey
- Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Andrea Talenti
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick), School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, Caribbean, Grenada
| | - Qasim Ali
- Department of Parasitology, The University of Agriculture Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Emmanuel F Obishakin
- Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Chukwunonso Ezeasor
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Jessica Powell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick), School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | | | - Karen Marshall
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - James Prendergast
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick), School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Pamela Wiener
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick), School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK.
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Kambal S, Tijjani A, Ibrahim SAE, Ahmed MKA, Mwacharo JM, Hanotte O. Candidate signatures of positive selection for environmental adaptation in indigenous African cattle: A review. Anim Genet 2023; 54:689-708. [PMID: 37697736 DOI: 10.1111/age.13353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental adaptation traits of indigenous African cattle are increasingly being investigated to respond to the need for sustainable livestock production in the context of unpredictable climatic changes. Several studies have highlighted genomic regions under positive selection probably associated with adaptation to environmental challenges (e.g. heat stress, trypanosomiasis, tick and tick-borne diseases). However, little attention has focused on pinpointing the candidate causative variant(s) controlling the traits. This review compiled information from 22 studies on signatures of positive selection in indigenous African cattle breeds to identify regions under positive selection. We highlight some key candidate genome regions and genes of relevance to the challenges of living in extreme environments (high temperature, high altitude, high infectious disease prevalence). They include candidate genes involved in biological pathways relating to innate and adaptive immunity (e.g. BoLAs, SPAG11, IL1RL2 and GFI1B), heat stress (e.g. HSPs, SOD1 and PRLH) and hypoxia responses (e.g. BDNF and INPP4A). Notably, the highest numbers of candidate regions are found on BTA3, BTA5 and BTA7. They overlap with genes playing roles in several biological functions and pathways. These include but are not limited to growth and feed intake, cell stability, protein stability and sweat gland development. This review may further guide targeted genome studies aiming to assess the importance of candidate causative mutations, within regulatory and protein-coding genome regions, to further understand the biological mechanisms underlying African cattle's unique adaption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumaya Kambal
- Livestock Genetics, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Abdulfatai Tijjani
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | - Sabah A E Ibrahim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mohamed-Khair A Ahmed
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Joram M Mwacharo
- Scotland's Rural College and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Edinburgh, UK
- Small Ruminant Genomics, International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- Livestock Genetics, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Ayalew W, Wu X, Tarekegn GM, Sisay Tessema T, Naboulsi R, Van Damme R, Bongcam-Rudloff E, Edea Z, Enquahone S, Yan P. Whole-Genome Resequencing Reveals Selection Signatures of Abigar Cattle for Local Adaptation. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3269. [PMID: 37893993 PMCID: PMC10603685 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Over time, indigenous cattle breeds have developed disease resistance, heat tolerance, and adaptability to harsh environments. Deciphering the genetic mechanisms underlying adaptive traits is crucial for their improvement and sustainable utilization. For the first time, we performed whole-genome sequencing to unveil the genomic diversity, population structure, and selection signatures of Abigar cattle living in a tropical environment. The population structure analysis revealed that Abigar cattle exhibit high nucleotide diversity and heterozygosity, with low runs of homozygosity and linkage disequilibrium, suggesting a genetic landscape less constrained by inbreeding and enriched by diversity. Using nucleotide diversity (Pi) and population differentiation (FST) selection scan methods, we identified 83 shared genes that are likely associated with tropical adaption. The functional annotation analysis revealed that some of these genes are potentially linked to heat tolerance (HOXC13, DNAJC18, and RXFP2), immune response (IRAK3, MZB1, and STING1), and oxidative stress response (SLC23A1). Given the wider spreading impacts of climate change on cattle production, understanding the genetic mechanisms of adaptation of local breeds becomes crucial to better respond to climate and environmental changes. In this context, our finding establishes a foundation for further research into the mechanisms underpinning cattle adaptation to tropical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wondossen Ayalew
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China;
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia; (G.M.T.); (T.S.T.)
| | - Xiaoyun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China;
| | - Getinet Mekuriaw Tarekegn
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia; (G.M.T.); (T.S.T.)
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Roslin Institute Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Tesfaye Sisay Tessema
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia; (G.M.T.); (T.S.T.)
| | - Rakan Naboulsi
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institute, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Renaud Van Damme
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bioinformatics Section, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; (R.V.D.); (E.B.-R.)
| | - Erik Bongcam-Rudloff
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bioinformatics Section, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; (R.V.D.); (E.B.-R.)
| | - Zewdu Edea
- Ethiopian Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5954, Ethiopia;
| | - Solomon Enquahone
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia; (G.M.T.); (T.S.T.)
| | - Ping Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China;
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Habimana V, Nguluma AS, Nziku ZC, Ekine-Dzivenu CC, Morota G, Mrode R, Chenyambuga SW. Heat stress effects on milk yield traits and metabolites and mitigation strategies for dairy cattle breeds reared in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1121499. [PMID: 37483284 PMCID: PMC10361820 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1121499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat stress is an important problem for dairy industry in many parts of the world owing to its adverse effects on productivity and profitability. Heat stress in dairy cattle is caused by an increase in core body temperature, which affects the fat production in the mammary gland. It reduces milk yield, dry matter intake, and alters the milk composition, such as fat, protein, lactose, and solids-not-fats percentages among others. Understanding the biological mechanisms of climatic adaptation, identifying and exploring signatures of selection, genomic diversity and identification of candidate genes for heat tolerance within indicine and taurine dairy breeds is an important progression toward breeding better dairy cattle adapted to changing climatic conditions of the tropics. Identifying breeds that are heat tolerant and their use in genetic improvement programs is crucial for improving dairy cattle productivity and profitability in the tropics. Genetic improvement for heat tolerance requires availability of genetic parameters, but these genetic parameters are currently missing in many tropical countries. In this article, we reviewed the HS effects on dairy cattle with regard to (1) physiological parameters; (2) milk yield and composition traits; and (3) milk and blood metabolites for dairy cattle reared in tropical countries. In addition, mitigation strategies such as physical modification of environment, nutritional, and genetic development of heat tolerant dairy cattle to prevent the adverse effects of HS on dairy cattle are discussed. In tropical climates, a more and cost-effective strategy to overcome HS effects is to genetically select more adaptable and heat tolerant breeds, use of crossbred animals for milk production, i.e., crosses between indicine breeds such as Gir, white fulani, N'Dama, Sahiwal or Boran to taurine breeds such as Holstein-Friesian, Jersey or Brown Swiss. The results of this review will contribute to policy formulations with regard to strategies for mitigating the effects of HS on dairy cattle in tropical countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Habimana
- Department of Animal, Aquaculture, and Range Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
- SACIDS Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases, SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Athumani Shabani Nguluma
- Department of Animal, Aquaculture, and Range Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Gota Morota
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Raphael Mrode
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
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