TITLE:
Genetic Diversity of Kuri Cattle Based on Microsatellite Analysis
AUTHORS:
Mahamat Adoum Souleymane, Vounparet Zeuh, Mahamat Alhadj Moussa Ibrahim, Olivier Hanotte, Issa Youssouf Adoum
KEYWORDS:
Kuri Cattle, Genetic Diversity, Autosomal Y-Specific Microsatellite, Chad
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.15 No.8,
August
18,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study aimed to assess the genetic variation within Kuri cattle and to explore the utility of a Y-specific marker for sire selection. We utilized a panel of 15 bovine-specific microsatellite markers and one Y-specific marker, as recommended by the International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG). A total of 213 Kuri cattle from the Center for Safeguard of the Kuri Cattle (CSK) in Lake Chad were sampled. All microsatellite loci were polymorphic, yielding 142 alleles with a range of 4 to 9 alleles per locus and a mean of 6.0 alleles. All markers were informative, with Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) values ranging from 0.471 (ETH152) to 0.844 (BM2113). Observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosities ranged from 0.522 to 0.859 and 0.522 to 0.862, respectively. Among 15 bulls, only one indicine Y-specific allele (0.067%), classified as zebu type, was detected. Bayesian clustering analyses suggested the presence of three genetic clusters, although distinct differentiation among them was challenging. The results indicate a primary genetic division between Kuri cattle from the islands within Lake Chad and those from the mainland, a finding that warrants further validation with comprehensive sampling. These findings provide insights into the genetic structure and purity of the Kuri cattle breed, highlighting its importance as a conservation candidate due to its unique phenotypic, cultural, and historical value.