Genetic Expression of Different Coat Colour Variants of Black Bengal Goat (BBG) in Bangladesh

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the genetic expression of different coat colour variants in Black Bengal Goat (BBG) of Bangladesh. Study Design: CRD with non-orthogonal hierarchy. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at 3 rural village communities of Bhaluka Upazila in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh from 2009 to 2013. Methodology: All goats in community breeding program under this study were ear-tagged and maintained under semi-intensive management system with three breeding strategies in progressive generations. Data were collected from a baseline survey for goat population study along with 3 progressive generations produced from the community foundation flocks. The colour distribution and the colours of kids from matings among different colour parents were observed and recorded accordingly. The recorded data were analyzed by "SPSS 20.0" statistical program. Results: The highest colour populations of about 53% were solid black in colour and others being Bezoar (31%), black with Toggenbergpattern (9%), black with Dutch belt pattern (6%) and solid brown (only 0.5%). Sex and generation had no significant effect on coat colour expression, while, coat colour in different locations differed significantly. For the analysis of coat colour inheritance, two categories of offspring were considered in this study; one from known coat colour dams mated with unknown coat colour sire and another from known coat colour parents. In the earlier category, most of the offspring exposed their dam’s coat colour when mated to unknown coat colour sires. For later category, there were varieties of coat colours offspring, produced from matings between two different or same colour parents. Conclusion: Although the segregation of coat colours among offspring showed dominance of parents` colour, there were also offspring`s other than parents` coat colours. This might be due to polymorphism of coat colour gene in BBG.