Maintaining the genetic diversity of autochthonous breeds is very important and should be included in animal breeding strategies and conservation plans with the aim to preserve animals, adapted to variety of husbandry systems and different environmental conditions. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation studies were particularly useful in establishing relationship and variability between and within domestic species populations. The mtDNA D-loop sequencing was used to determine the genetic status of 41 Busha cattle from different parts of Croatia along with 21 Busha mtDNA sequences from Genbank, and assessing Busha cattle phylogenetic relationship to the other Croatian autochthonous cattle breeds, as well as to the commercial cattle breeds and main described mtDNA haplotypes. The analysis of Busha cattle mtDNA D-loop sequences revealed presence of 26 different haplotypes, which confirms a high genetic variability of the preserved maternal components. Comparison with major cattle haplogroups sequences revealed that majority of Busha cattle were in the T3 haplogroup (44%), while other haplotypes were present in lesser extent (8% T1, 7% T2, 13% T4 and 5% T6). Haplotype H2 (23% of all Busha cattle sequences) didn’t cluster with any of the T haplogroups. Employment of more powerful genetic markers should reveal the correct status of the new haplotype H2 and better understanding of genetic variation and relationships among Busha cattle and entire brachicerous cattle population.
Mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequence variation among 5 maternal lines of the Zemaitukai horse breed
