Genetic distances and taxonomic trees between goats of Ceara State (Brazil) and goats of the Mediterranean region (Europe and Africa)

Abstract

Goats of an undefined breed (called UDB) from the State of Ceara, northeastern Brazil (N = 447), European Mediterranean goats (N = 3847) and African Mediterranean goats (N = 325) were compared to establish genetic distances and taxonomic trees. Allelic frequencies in each population for presence or absence of the following traits were used: horns, reduced ears, long hair, wattles, beard, roan color, brown eumelanin and eumelanic standard pigmentation. The genetic distance, applying the method developed by Nei was: least between goats from different meso-regions of the State of Ceara (0.0008 to 0.0120); small between all UDB of Ceara and French goats of Rove and Haute Roya (0.0236 and 0.0459); greater between all UDB of Ceara and northern Spanish goats (0.1166), and greatest between all UDB of Ceara and northern African goats (Moroccan of Draa, Rhaali and Zagora), Balkan goats (Sakhar from Bulgaria and Macedonia from Greece) and some insular Mediterranean populations (Corsica, Sicily and Sardinia), which ranged from 0.1237 to 0.2714. Brazilian UDB goats are more closely related to Continental and Western European populations than to North African, Balkan or Insular Mediterranean populations.