earticle

영어

Background: Native Mongolian cattle have undergone long-term adaptation to the extreme continental climate of Central Asia, resulting in unique genetic characteristics shaped by natural selection and traditional pastoralist breeding practices. However, comprehensive genetic characterization of these breeds remains limited. Methods: We assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of three Mongolian cattle breeds, Mongol Cattle (MC), Dornod Tal (DT), and Dadal Ukhaa (DU), raised in three distinct regions of Mongolia, using 11 microsatellite markers. Results: Across all breeds, the mean number of alleles was 7.394, ranging from 6.545 in MC to 8.455 in DT. DT exhibited the highest expected heterozygosity (0.763) and polymorphic information content (0.719). Multivariate analyses, including principal coordinate analysis, factorial correspondence analysis, and STRUCTURE clustering, revealed a close genetic relationship between MC and DT, whereas DU was genetically distinct. Conclusions: This study comprehensively assessed the genetic diversity and structure of three Mongolian cattle breeds using microsatellite markers. The results revealed substantial within-breed variation and distinct genetic structuring, particularly in DU and DT, underscoring the importance of conserving their unique genetic heritage. These microsatellite findings provide essential baseline information, while future SNPbased genomic analyses with broader sampling will be crucial to support sustainable breeding, conservation, and effective management of native Mongolian cattle.