A Partial African Ancestry for the Creole Cattle Populations of the Caribbean

Seventy-eight cattle samples from three Creole Caribbean islands and one Brazilian breed were analyzed for sequence variation in the hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial DNA control region. Seventy-three samples displayed Bos taurus haplotypes, and five samples exhibited haplotypes that were of Bos indicus ancestry. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all sampled B. taurus sequences fell into two distinct clusters with separate African and European origins. European sequences were encountered in each population; however, the distribution of African haplotypes was uneven, with the highest proportion of African influence found in the Guadeloupe Creole. The reduced levels of African haplotypic variation within the Caribbean and Brazilian are consistent with prior founder effects. Additionally, genetic variation at three microsatellite loci illustrated African influence uniquely in the Guadeloupe Creole. Collectively, the data suggest that this African influence is, at least in part, attributable to the historical importation of African cattle to the Americas. Furthermore, alleles of B. indicus ancestry were detected at appreciable frequencies in all Caribbean Creole populations and may reflect zebu introgressions from either West Africa or the Indian subcontinen

Estimating Animal Abundance in Ground Beef Batches Assayed with Molecular Markers

Estimating animal abundance in industrial scale batches of ground meat is important for mapping meat products through the manufacturing process and for effectively tracing the finished product during a food safety recall. The processing of ground beef involves a potentially large number of animals from diverse sources in a single product batch, which produces a high heterogeneity in capture probability. In order to estimate animal abundance through DNA profiling of ground beef constituents, two parameter-based statistical models were developed for incidence data. Simulations were applied to evaluate the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) of a joint likelihood function from multiple surveys, showing superiority in the presence of high capture heterogeneity with small sample sizes, or comparable estimation in the presence of low capture heterogeneity with a large sample size when compared to other existing models. Our model employs the full information on the pattern of the capture-recapture frequencies from multiple samples. We applied the proposed models to estimate animal abundance in six manufacturing beef batches, genotyped using 30 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, from a large scale beef grinding facility. Results show that between 411∼1367 animals were present in six manufacturing beef batches. These estimates are informative as a reference for improving recall processes and tracing finished meat products back to source

Studies on the Somba breed of cattle in Benin

The Somba cattle of Benin and Togo currently number approx. 25,000 and are declining. The traditional husbandry system is based on small family-owned herds and is being replaced by large collective herds under professional guardianship. A village survey indicates productivity to be similar to that of other West African Shorthorn populations (offtake rate 8.12 calves/100 cows per year). Juvenile survival may be better in collective herds; the extra calves are retained to increase herd size, rather than being sold, genetic studies show Somba cattle to be little affected by introgression from other breeds. Their conservation is advocated and the encouragement and development of the traditional husbandry system is also proposed. La race bovine Somba du Bénin et du Togo compte environ 25000 têtes et cet effectif est en diminution. Le système traditionnel d'élevage, basé sur les petits troupeaux familiaux, est en train d'être remplacé par les grands troupeaux collectifs sous gardiennage professionnel. La productivité globale de ce cheptel a été recherchée au moyen d'une enquête rapide dans des villages. Elle est comparable à celle des autres races de taurins à courtes cornes de l'Afrique occidentale. Le taux d'exploitation est de 8,12 veaux/100 vaches/an. Le taux de survie des jeunes semble meilleur chez les troupeaux collectifs ; les veaux en surnombre sont conservés pour accroître la taille des troupeaux, plutôt que commercialisés. Les études génétiques indiquent que la race Somba n'est guère affectée par le métissage. La conservation de cette race est recommandée et le développement du système traditionnel d'élevage est à encourage

A partial african ancestry for the Creole cattle populations of the Caribbean

Seventy-eight cattle samples from three Creole Caribbean islands and one Brazilian breed were analyzed for sequence variation in the hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial DNA control region. Seventy-three samples displayed Bos taurus haplotypes, and five samples exhibited haplotypes that were of Bos indicus ancestry. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all sampled B. taurus sequences fell into two distinct clusters with separate African and European origins. European sequences were encountered in each population; however, the distribution of African haplotypes was uneven, with the highest proportion of African influence found in the Guadeloupe Creole. The reduced levels of African haplotypic variation within the Caribbean and Brazilian are consistent with prior founder effects. Additionally, genetic variation at three microsatellite loci illustrated African influence uniquely in the Guadeloupe Creole. Collectively, the data suggest that this African influence is, at least in part, attributable to the historical importation of African cattle to the Americas. Furthermore, alleles of B. indicus ancestry were detected at appreciable frequencies in all Caribbean Creole populations and may reflect zebu introgressions from either West Africa or the Indian subcontinent. (Résumé d'auteur