Validation of the POLLED Celtic variant in South African Bonsmara and Drakensberger beef cattle breeds

dc.contributor.authorGrobler, Rulien
dc.contributor.authorVisser, Carina
dc.contributor.authorCapitan, Aurélien
dc.contributor.authorVan Marle-Koster, Este
dc.contributor.emailcarina.visser@up.ac.zaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2019-03-13T10:15:31Z
dc.date.issued2018-11
dc.description.abstractAn increased awareness of animal welfare necessitates the breeding of genetically polled animals, especially since more than 70% of South African beef cattle are rounded off in commercial feedlots. The Bonsmara and the Drakensberger, two locally developed breeds, play a major role in beef production in South Africa. The causative mutation for polledness in these breeds have not been confirmed, therefore, this study aimed to validate the POLLED Celtic variant as the causative mutation of polledness in the South African Bonsmara and Drakensberger beef cattle breeds. A total of 386 animals, consisting of Bonsmara, Drakensberger and Herefords (included as a Bos taurus control), were tested for the Celtic mutation by PCR-based screening. Phenotypically polled and scurred animals were found to carry at least one copy of the Celtic allele (PC) whereas horned animals were homozygous wild type. The highest frequency of homozygous polled animals (PC/PC = 0.337) was observed in the Bos taurus control (Hereford breed) while the majority of the Bonsmara animals were heterozygous polled (PC/p = 0.591). For the Drakensberger, a heterozygous (PC/p) genotypic frequency of 0.346 was observed, with the majority of animals being horned (p/p = 0.639). In the Bonsmara and Hereford breeds, a high proportion of heterozygous polled animals were phenotypically scurred, emphasizing the importance of correct phenotyping at farm level. This research validates the Celtic mutation as causative mutation for polledness in indigenous South African beef cattle breeds. It also demonstrates the current challenges with regards to both phenotypic and genetic verification of the scurs phenotype and requires further investigation in South African beef cattle breeds.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentAnimal and Wildlife Sciencesen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2019-11-01
dc.description.librarianhj2019en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe National Research Foundation (NRF) and Red Meat Research and Development South Africa (RMRD SA).en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/livscien_ZA
dc.identifier.citationGrobler, R., Visser, C., Capitan, A. et al. 2018, 'Validation of the POLLED Celtic variant in South African Bonsmara and Drakensberger beef cattle breeds', Livestock Science, vol. 217, pp. 136-139.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1871-1413 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1878-0490 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.livsci.2018.10.003
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/68641
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherElsevieren_ZA
dc.rights© 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Livestock Science. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Livestock Science, vol. 217, pp. 136-139, 2018. doi : 10.1016/j.livsci.2018.10.003.en_ZA
dc.subjectPollednessen_ZA
dc.subjectHeterozygous polleden_ZA
dc.subjectSanga cattleen_ZA
dc.subjectScumen_ZA
dc.titleValidation of the POLLED Celtic variant in South African Bonsmara and Drakensberger beef cattle breedsen_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Grobler_Validation_2018.pdf
Size:
303.12 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Postprint Article
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Grobler_ValidationSuppl_2018.pdf
Size:
82.68 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Supplementary Material

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: