Īfrican cattle inhabit more than five distinct agro-ecological zones. The pattern of introgression of the zebu genome across the South, East, and the North-Western part of sub-Saharan Africa has been well-documented using autosomal and Y-specific microsatellite loci. primigenius opisthonomous remains unclear. Importantly, it is now well established that African cattle carry a taurine maternal ancestry originating from the Near East taurine domestication center(s), while the possible genetic contribution of the now extinct African auroch B. These are grouped according to their phenotypes into taurine, zebu, and the ancient stabilized taurine × zebu crossbreed known as sanga. Today, the African continent is uniquely rich in cattle diversity with around 150 African cattle breeds or populations recognized. indicus animals then reshaped the genomic landscape of African cattle. Subsequent waves of migrations of humped zebu B. The earliest cattle of Africa were of taurine Bos taurus type. The so-called “African Cattle Complex” refers to their role as walking larder, as a source of traction and manure, as well as to their societal importance, including during marriage, birth, death, and/or initiation ceremonies, and their representation of power, prestige, and status. Our findings unravel at the genome-wide level, the unique adaptive diversity of African cattle while emphasizing the opportunities for sustainable improvement of livestock productivity on the continent.Ĭattle are central to the African economy and society. In particular, we identify signatures of selection including genes and/or pathways controlling anemia and feeding behavior in the trypanotolerant N’Dama, coat color and horn development in Ankole, and heat tolerance and tick resistance across African cattle especially in zebu breeds. Our search for genomic regions under selection reveals signatures of selection for environmental adaptive traits. We find the highest genetic diversity among African zebu and sanga cattle. We analyze patterns of African cattle genetic variation by sequencing 48 genomes from five indigenous populations and comparing them to the genomes of 53 commercial taurine breeds. Characterization of this diversity is an essential step towards understanding the genomic basis of productivity and adaptation to survival under African farming systems. The history of African indigenous cattle and their adaptation to environmental and human selection pressure is at the root of their remarkable diversity.
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