[Analysis of the genetic structure of 12 Chinese and foreign cattle breeds using DNA microsatellite markers]

The genetic diversity of 9 Chinese native cattle breeds and 3 introduced breeds were analyzed using 12 microsatellite DNA markers recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG) through fluorescence-multiple PCR. According to the allele frequencies of 12 microsatellite locus, mean heterozygosity (H), polymorphism information content (PIC) , DA and DS genetic distances were calculated for each breed. Cluster analysis based on UPGMA method indicated that 12 breeds were clustered into four groups. Group I belonged to the southern-China cattle including Enshi, Liping, Zhaotong and Chuannan Mountainous; Group II belonged to the central-China cattle including Jiaxian Red and Zaosheng, Pinglu Mountainous; Group III belonged to the northern-China cattle including Yanbian and Changbai; Group IV consisted of foreign breeds including Germany Yellow, Simmental and Charolais. The results may provide an academic basis for preservation and utilization of Chinese native cattle breeds.