On the origin of Indonesian cattle.
BACKGROUND
Two bovine species contribute to the Indonesian livestock, zebu (Bos indicus) and banteng (Bos javanicus), respectively. Although male hybrid offspring of these species is not fertile, Indonesian cattle breeds are supposed to be of mixed species origin. However, this has not been documented and is so far only supported by preliminary molecular analysis.


RESULTS
Analysis of mitochondrial, Y-chromosomal and microsatellite DNA showed a banteng introgression of 10-16% in Indonesian zebu breeds. East-Javanese Madura and Galekan cattle have higher levels of autosomal banteng introgression (20-30%) and combine a zebu paternal lineage with a predominant (Madura) or even complete (Galekan) maternal banteng origin. Two Madura bulls carried taurine Y-chromosomal haplotypes, presumably of French Limousin origin. In contrast, we did not find evidence for zebu introgression in five populations of the Bali cattle, a domestic form of the banteng.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of their unique species composition Indonesian cattle represent a valuable genetic resource, which potentially may also be exploited in other tropical regions.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia.
Kusdiantoro
K
Mohamad
Mia
M
Olsson
Helena T A
HT
van Tol
Sofia
S
Mikko
Bart H
BH
Vlamings
Göran
G
Andersson
Heriberto
H
Rodríguez-Martínez
Bambang
B
Purwantara
Robert W
RW
Paling
Ben
B
Colenbrander
Johannes A
JA
Lenstra
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D007214:Indonesia; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial