Genetic characterization of Curraleiro Pé-Duro bovine breed from a conservation herd of Brazilian semiarid

Curraleiro Pe-Duro is a rustic bovine taurine breed found in Northeast of Brazil; this breed has decreased its production potentially in order to adapt to the region environment conditions. Consequently, it is under risk of extinction and is maintained at a preservation center in Piaui State, Brazil, as a source of genetic material adapted to local conditions. We analyzed genetic variability of this breed using microsatellite markers. Sixty animals were genotyped using 11 microsatellite loci normally used for paternity tests in bovines. The observed number of alleles ranged from 5 to 9, and the effective number of alleles ranged from 2.01 to 4.64. The Shannon index ranged from 0.949 to 1.669. The expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.510 to 0.798. Polymorphism