Genomic characterization of dryland adaptation in endangered Anxi cattle in China

Local species exhibit distinctive indigenous characteristics while showing unique productive and phenotypic traits. However, the advent of commercialization has posed a substantial threat to the survival of indigenous species. Anxi cattle, an endangered native breed in China, have evolved unique growth and reproductive characteristics in extreme desert and semidesert ecosystems. In this study, we conducted a genomic comparison of 10 Anxi cattle genomes with those of five other global populations/breeds to assess genetic diversity and identify candidate genomic regions in Anxi cattle. Population structure and genetic diversity analyses revealed that Anxi cattle are part of the East Asian cattle clade, exhibiting higher genetic diversity than commercial breeds. Through selective sweep analysis, we identified specific genetic variations linked to the environmental adaptability of Anxi cattle. Notably, we identified several candidate genes, including CERS3 involved in regulating skin permeability and antimicrobial functions, RBFOX2 associated with cardiac development, SLC16A7 participated in the regulation of pancreatic endocrine function, and SPATA3 related to reproduction. Our findings revealed the distinctive genomic features of Anxi cattle in dryland environments, provided invaluable insights for further research and breed preservation, and had important significance for enriching the domestic cattle breeding gene bank.