4.5 Article

Genome-wide scan for signatures of selection in the Brangus cattle genome

Journal

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
Volume 139, Issue 6, Pages 679-694

Publisher

WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12733

Keywords

adaptation; cattle; crossbreed; footprints; genes; selection

Funding

  1. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas [22920160100004CO]
  2. Fondo para la Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica [PICT-2016-3033]
  3. Universidad Nacional de La Plata [PIP-V247]

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This study estimated the breed composition of the Argentinean Brangus population and identified genomic regions with positive selection signatures. The findings contribute to the understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved in cross-bred cattle adaptation and productivity in tropical environments.
Brangus is a composite cattle breed developed with the objective of combining the advantages of Angus and Zebuine breeds (Brahman, mainly) in tropical climates. The aim of this work was to estimate breed composition both genome-wide and locally, at the chromosome level, and to uncover genomic regions evidencing positive selection in the Argentinean Brangus population/nucleus. To do so, we analysed marker data from 478 animals, including Brangus, Angus and Brahman. Average breed composition was 35.0% +/- 9.6% of Brahman, lower than expected according to the theoretical fractions deduced by the usual cross-breeding practice in this breed. Local ancestry analysis evidenced that breed composition varies between chromosomes, ranging from 19.6% for BTA26 to 56.1% for BTA5. Using approaches based on allelic frequencies and linkage disequilibrium, genomic regions with putative selection signatures were identified in several chromosomes (BTA1, BTA5, BTA6 and BTA14). These regions harbour genes involved in horn development, growth, lipid metabolism, reproduction and immune response. We argue that the overlapping of a chromosome segment originated in one of the parental breeds and over-represented in the sample with the location of a signature of selection constitutes evidence of a selection process that has occurred in the breed since its take off in the 1950s. In this regard, our results could contribute to the understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved in cross-bred cattle adaptation and productivity in tropical environments.

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