Genetic Diversity and Selection Signatures in Economically Important Traits of Ethiopian Indigenous Cattle Breed as a Base for Dairy Cattle Genetic Improvement: A Review

The aim of this paper was to review the genetic diversities and selection signatures in economical important traits of Ethiopian indigenous cattle. This allows obtaining rapid genetic gain, predicting genomic potential and developing conservation strategies. A genetic variation among Ethiopian breeds ranging from 0.1 to 4.55% and a within variation of 95.45 to 99.9% was reported by various scholars. About 3.51% differentiation between Boran and Fogera from Begait and 2.82% differentiation of Boran from Fogera and Begait was reported. Even though the observed and expected heterozygosity values among Ethiopian cattle population was lower, research reports shown considerably higher values ranging from 0.638±0.015 in Boran and 0.714±0.022 in Raya-Azebo to 0.700± 0.014 in Ambo and 0.735±0.017 in Sheko. Genes responsible for heat tolerance, control of metabolic disease, immunity genes, high altitude and low altitude adaptation were reported in Ethiopian cattle breeds. In African indicus and European taurian cattle different genes responsible for milk production, milk fat yield and synthesis and milk composition, were reported. Genes associated with milk traits; fertility and reproduction genes were also reported in Ethiopian cattle. The presence of high within breed variation in Ethiopian cattle creates favorable conditions for further improvement through selection. Beyond identifying candidate potential genes, a detailed study targeting genomic prediction of milk yield and genomic inbreeding had better be done, which allows getting information to optimize and speed up the breeding programs and genetic improvement.