Analysis of the population genetic structure using microsatellite markers in goat populations in Taiwan

Abstract

Due to the poor growth rate of the Taiwan black (TB) goat in Taiwan, many exotic breeds were brought into breeding schemes to improve TB goat. However, the excessive cross-breeding of alien species with TB goat has decreased its population numbers, genetic variation and biodiversity. Therefore, TB goat population considered an endemic species in Taiwan that needed to be conservation. The objective of the present study was to analyze the genetic structure and TB goat using genetic markers for genetic improvement and to sustain germplasm conservation and utilization. 15 microsatellite markers, divided into three sets, were used to analyze 690 goats sampled from 10 goat populations. The average number of alleles (Na) and effective alleles (Ne) was 11.87 ± 3.93 and 5.093 ± 1.768, respectively. The average expected heterozygosity (H_E) and observed heterozygosity (H_O) was 0.780 ± 0.084 and 0.602 ± 0.116, respectively. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.747 ± 0.103; F_IS was 0.058 ± 0.075. All 15 microsatellite markers were highly polymorphic. The genetic distances between individuals were estimated to construct a phylogenetic tree. In present study, the 690 goat samples were divided into 8 clusters. The results indicated that these 15 microsatellite markers successfully clustered goat populations in Taiwan and could assist in the preservation of TB goats.

Keywords:

• Taiwan black (TB) goat
• microsatellite marker
• population genetic structure
• genetic polymorphisms
• genomics

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank all the staff at the Hualien Animal Propagation Station and the Henchung Branch of the Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, for their donation of blood samples. We would also like to acknowledge the National Center for Genome Medicine, National Science Council, Taiwan, for their technical support.

Author contributions

Conception and design of study: Pei-Hwa Wang, Fang-Yu Lai, Shih-Torng Ding; acquisition of data: Chung-Ying Yin, Fang-Yu Lai; analysis and/or interpretation of data: Fang-Yu Lai, Chung-Ying Yin, Po-An Tu; Drafting the manuscript: Pei-Hwa Wang, Chung-Ying Yin, Fang-Yu Lai; critical review/revision: Pei-Hwa Wang, Shih-Torng Ding; others (Sample provided): Po-An Tu.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest involving any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript. The order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us. We further confirm that any aspect of the work covered in this manuscript that has involved experimental animals have been conducted with the ethical approval (in Materials and methods/Animal). I will be responsible for communicating with the other authors about progress, submissions of revisions and final approval of proofs. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported financially supported by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taiwan [Grant No. 2017AS-19.5.1-AD-aI, 2018AS-15.3.1-AD-a4, and 2019AS-14.1.3-AD-a2]. The project of key Technologies for cattle and goat breeding and management for Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taiwan.