Evaluation of microsatellite markers for parentage verification in South Africa Angora goats

Abstract

South Africa is currently the world leader in mohair production and emphasis is placed on mohair traits to ensure the production of a high quality clip. Accurate and complete pedigree information is a prerequisite for accurate selection and estimation of breeding values that in turn can improve the traits associated with fleece quality and yield. South African Angora goats are farmed under extensive breeding conditions in relatively large herds. As a result breeders make use of mating systems that tend to limit accurate parentage recording. Incorporation of genetic parentage testing into the breeding plan can improve the accuracy of pedigree records and lead to increased selection accuracy. Microsatellite markers were evaluated for inclusion into a parentage verification panel, to be applied in the South African Angora goat population. The panel of 18 microsatellite markers was constructed, optimized and tested in 200 South African Angora goats. These goats represented different family structures, including candidate parents alone as well as known and candidate parents. The microsatellite markers were evaluated based on the number of alleles, allele frequency, PIC, HE, HO and CPE of each individual marker and as a panel. Four microsatellite markers were excluded from the panel based on their poor performance for the above mentioned parameters. The panel of 14 markers allowed a cost effective panel with the highest exclusion power. The CPE1 of the 14 microsatellite marker panel was 99.73%. The use of molecular parentage verification may aid Angora goat breeders in improving the accuracy of the parentage records of their animals. Copyright