Genetic characterization of Vietnamese Yellow cattle using mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosomal haplotypes and genes associated with economical traits.

Vietnamese Yellow cattle are native cattle well adapted to local tropical environment. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic characteristics of the Yellow cattle using molecular markers. We investigated the nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA and SRY gene on Y chromosome, and genotyped SREBP-1, SCD1, EDG1, NCAPG, DGAT1, MC1R, and HSP70 genes in the Yellow cattle population. The sequence analysis of the mitochondrial DNA showed that most of the cattle possesses zebu (Bos indicus) type I1 haplotype, suggesting relatively low genetic diversity in maternal lineage. The sequence analysis of the SRY gene indicates that while most of the males possess zebu type haplotype, taurine (Bos taurus) type haplotype was also observed, suggesting gene-flow from taurine cattle. The results of the genotyping of the functional genes showed that the NCAPG, SCD, MC1R, and HsSP70 genes are polymorphic in the population, whereas the SREBP-1, EDG1, and DGAT1 genes are monomorphic. Particularly, the presence of the desirable and undesirable alleles of the NCAPG and HSP70 genes, respectively, will be important for the selection of animals by potential performances in meat productivity and fertility. The present findings will be informative for future conservation and breeding of the Vietnamese Yellow cattle.