Carcass Quality Profiles and Associated Genomic Regions of South African Goat Populations Investigated Using Goat SNP50K Genotypes

Simple Summary South Africa is one of the major goat producing countries on the African continent. However, despite a large number of goats being produced, there is still a growing demand for chevon, which leads to producers being unable to reach demand, resulting in an absence of chevon in retail markets. Carcass quality is an important economic trait that plays a major role in influencing consumer preferences and high nutrient provision. Even though chevon is an easily accessible meat for smallholder farmers and has health benefits, it is still less preferred due to perceptions of low meat quality attributes such as toughness, off-odours and flavour, and unappealing colour. The majority of goat populations are village ecotypes whose genetic potential for meat and carcass quality is unknown. Carcass quality includes a battery of essential economic meat traits that play a significant role in influencing farmer breed preferences. A preliminary study was undertaken to investigate the carcass quality and the associated genomic regions in a small nucleus of animals that are representative of South African goat genetic resources. Samples of the South African Boer (n = 14), Northern Cape Speckled (n = 14), Eastern Cape Xhosa Lob ear (n = 12), Nguni/Mbuzi (n = 13), and Village (n = 20) were genotyped using the Illumina goat SNP50K and were phenotyped for carcass quality traits. SA Boer goats had heavier warm and cold carcass weights (17.2 +/- 2.3 kg and 16.3 +/- 2.3 kg). Pella village goats raised under an intensive system had significantly (p < 0.05) heavier warm and cold carcass weights (9.9 +/- 1.1 kg and 9.2 +/- 1.2 kg) compared to the village goats that are raised extensively (9.1 +/- 2.0 kg and 8.4 +/- 1.9). A total of 40 SNPs located on chromosomes 6, 10, 12, 13, 19, and 21 were significantly associated with carcass traits at (-log10 [p < 0.05]). Candidate genes that were associated with carcass characteristics (GADD45G, IGF2R, GAS1, VAV3, CAPN8, CAPN7, CAPN2, GHSR, COLQ, MRAS, and POU1F1) were also observed. Results from this study will inform larger future studies that will ultimately find use in breed improvement programs.