Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Fuga Cattle of Western Sudan Compared to (Kenana and Butana) Dairy Breeds

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Fuga cattle in North Kordufan. A set of detailed structured questionnaires were used to collect information from Fuga cattle owners (150) .The questionnaires were pre-tested to check clarity and appropriateness of the questions. Some of the informations collected during interviews were supported by observations on milk yield per day, milk yield per lactations ,lactation length , age at first calving , Calving interval, number of services per conception ,and weight of birth of Fuga cattle breed were presented (5.26±0.29 kg,1100.96±86.18 kg, 208.60 ± 5.37 days, 40.49 , 15.90± 0.44 months, 2.27±0.7 , and 22.06±0.44kg) respectively. For the genotypic characterization of this study nine bovine microsatellites markers SPS115, TGLA122, TGLA126, TGLA227, ETH10, ETH225,, ,INRA023 BM2113 , BM1824 were analyzed in three different breeds of Sudanese cattle raised in Sudan representing three suspected breeds: Fuga form western Kordufan (Fuga area), Butana Breed for Atbara Research Station, and kenana Breed from Um.Banein Research Station. The purpose of the study was to measure the genetic diversity between these three breeds as well as measuring the purity or the heterogeneity of each breed and establish the relationship amongst three Sudanese zebu cattle breeds using 9 bovine specific microsatellite markers recommended by ISAG (2012) for such studies,Blood samples were collected. The study was performed on a total of 90 unrelated cattle individuals from Fuga; Kenana and Butana .The samples were collected from respective habitats. 30 sample from each breeds were loaded on vacutainer EDTA as an anticoagulant matter, DNA was isolated from the white blood cells, in to Central Laboratory of Ministry of Science and Technology, Sudan. Microsatellite analysis was carried out in Madrid - Spain .One PCR multiplex consists of nine fluorescence-labeled. with specific software. The results were statistically analyzed. Out of the nine markers studied all of them proved to be highly polymorphic : ETH10 ,SPS115,BM2113(9 alleles);BM1824(8alleles);ETH225(10alleles);INERA023(11alleles);TGLA227(13 alleles); TGLA122 (19 alleles) and TGLA126(7 alleles). A total of (74) microsatellite alleles were identified with number of alleles at one locus ranging from 5 to 11 alleles while the average number of observed alleles per locus (8.22). Sharing allele analysis showed total number of alleles shared between breeds study is 34 alleles, and then alleles shared between Fuga and Kenana (43) higher than alleles shared between Fuag and Butana(40) , Kenana and Butana (36). High values for the average heterozygosity were observed all over the loci and the three breeds studied: Fuga (0.778); Butana (0.737) and Kenana (0.692). Moreover, gene diversity were also high for the 9 microsatellite studied in the three breeds, the average gene diversity over all loci were 0.684, while for individual loci ranged between 0.468 (SPS115) in Fuga breed and 0.885 (TGLA122) in Fuga breed also. Fuga breed displaying somewhat higher levels of genetic polymorphisms compared to Butana and Kenana breeds. The values of polymorphism Information Content (PIC) obtained from the present study were 0.664 in Fuga , 0.630 in Butana and 0.596 in Kenana. The result inbreeding between different breeds and within the breeds itself, indicated that there is no any inbreeding between or within the breeds under study. In addition, a high values for gene flow or migration in our breeds for the nine markers studied with an average value of 4.335. Higher levels of gene flow were observed ranged from (0.814) in SPS115 to ) 8.754 ) in ETH10. It can be assumed that migration and admixture could have taken place between these breeds. The Nei's dendrogram or phylogenic relationship gave a primary idea about the possible migration of cattle, migration starts from the northern east part of Sudan to the middle part in north kordufan.Drawing phylogeny tree between the breeds proved that Butana and Kenana are within one cluster while Fuga is in another cluster, the three breeds are then coming from one ancestor. Although admix is occurred due to hybridization with Friesian breed, a high genetic diversity in the three breeds studied, which can be used in designing good programs for genetic improvement in Sudanese zebu cattle.