MICROSATELLITE-BASED ANALYSIS OF TWO NIGERIAN INDIGENOUS GOAT BREEDS

This study was conducted to determine the genetic variation between Sahel and Red Sokoto goat breeds of Nigeria .One hundred and twenty goats, 60 each of both Sahel and Red Sokoto breeds obtained from Maigatari market in Jigawa State and Animal Science Departmental Farm in Zaria, Kaduna State, respectively. Tissue samples were collected randomly from each breed using an Allflex ear punch tissue sample collector and aliquoted into plastic tubes containing the Allflex preservative. DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing were carried out at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya. The DNA was extracted from the tissue cells using the Pure Link™ Genomic DNA minikit according to the manufacturer’s specifications and protocol and were genotyped using 25 microsatellite markers as recommended by FAO/ISAG. Twenty three of the twenty five microsatellite markers used in this analysis had four or more alleles. The mean Shannon index, observed and expected heterozygosity and inbreeding coefficient (F is ) for Sahel goats were 1.642, 0.609, 0.700 and 0.143 respectively. For the Red Sokoto goats, the mean Shannon index, observed and expected heterozygosity and inbreeding coefficient (F is ) were 1.635, 0.644, 0.708 and 0.087, respectively. The genetic distance as well as the genetic differentiation (F st ) between the breeds was low, 0.04 and 0.026, respectively, however; the gene-flow (Nm) was high (5.78). This study has shown that Sahel and Red Sokoto goats have some genetic similarity owing to the fact that they have a common ancestry and are both Northern breeds. Measures to conserve the uniqueness/distinctiveness of these breeds should be sought through in-situ and ex-situ conservation. Gene flow between populations should be controlled by adopting effective breeding and management practices.