Study of genetic distances between cattle breeds of Central Europe

Abstract

Genetic distances were studied among Czech Red cattle, German Red, Czech Pied, Polish Red, Czech Black and White, and German Black and White cattle. DA genetic distances were calculated, and trees were constructed using the neighbour-joining method. Evaluating the genetic distances by microsatellites, the lowest value was between Czech and German Black and White breeds. A surprisingly high value was found between Czech and German Red breeds, and the highest values between German Red breed and both German and Czech Black and White populations came up to expectations. In the phylogenetic tree made using microsatellites, the German and Polish Red breeds clustered, but Czech Red breed was not joined with them. The other cluster was obtained for Czech Black and White and German Black and White. The tree made of protein markers differed slightly. Because the populations of Czech and German Red breeds are small and also because of organizational issues, the common protection of Central-European red populations and breeding them as a gene pool are recommended.