Disclosing the origin and diversity of Omani cattle

Osman Mahgoub, Hamza A. Babiker, I. T. Kadim, Mohammed Al-Kindi, Salwa Hassan, W. Al-Marzooqi, Yasmin E. Eltahir, M. A. Al-Abri, Aisha Al-Khayat, Kareema R. Al-Sinani, Homoud Hilal Al-Khanjari, Vânia Costa, Shanyuan Chen, Albano Beja-Pereira*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Among all livestock species, cattle have a prominent status as they have contributed greatly to the economy, nutrition and culture from the beginning of farming societies until the present time. The origins and diversity of local cattle breeds have been widely assessed. However, there are still some regions for which very little of their local genetic resources is known. The present work aimed to estimate the genetic diversity and the origins of Omani cattle. Located in the south-eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, close to the Near East, East Africa and the Indian subcontinent, the Sultanate of Oman occupies a key position, which may enable understanding cattle dispersal around the Indian Ocean. To disclose the origin of this cattle population, we used a set of 11 polymorphic microsatellites and 113 samples representing the European, African and Indian ancestry to compare with cattle from Oman. This study found a very heterogenic population with a markedly Bos indicus ancestry and with some degree of admixture with Bos taurus of African and Near East origin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)336-339
Number of pages4
JournalAnimal Genetics
Volume44
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Arabian cattle
  • admixture
  • genetic diversity
  • microsatellites
  • population structure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Genetics

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