Genetic characterization of cattle populations for optimized performance in African ecosystems

Genomic characterization of African and European native cattle breeds, sustainable utilization and conservation of native cattle breeds.

In the OPTIBOV project, the methods of genomics and social sciences are used to find solutions for the sustainable utilization of locally adapted native cattle breeds. The research focuses on both African and European indigenous cattle breeds and adaptation is examined in the European-African context by studying indigenous breeds from Northern, Central and Southern Europe and Northern, Central and Southern Africa using genomic methods. Workshops are organized locally to put research results into practice through cooperation with local stakeholders.

Wageningen University from the Netherlands (the coordinating organization), Porto University from Portugal, Agricultural Research Institute from Pretoria from South Africa (Agricultural Research Council), Cairo University from Egypt, Makerere University from Uganda and Luke are involved in the research collaboration.

The short-term and long-term goal of the project is above all to support the maintenance and conservation of local cattle breeds in both Europe and Africa. The project produces information about the genomic structure and adaptation of local native breeds and how natural selection and artificial selection have shaped the genetic variation of the native cattle breeds. The goal is to find genomic DNA markers which are associated with adaptation to ecosystems and disease resistance, and which, together with DNA markers for production traits, can be used for breeding in the future.

An important goal of the project is also to provide training and transfer of knowledge in the sustainable utilization and conservation of animal genetic resources.