Selection of better energy utilising buffaloes: genetic markers identified

Due to the high pressure of cash crops on the available agricultural land, the availability of high quality fodder and forages are becoming shorter for livestock. Identification of better energy-utilising animals will help reduce this pressure. Such animals can convert efficiently the available low quality roughages and can produce good amounts of milk and meat under the prevailing circumstances.
The domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) belongs to a family Bovidae, sub-family Bovinae, and genus Bubalus and species bubalis. Information on the origin and precise period of domestication is lost in antiquity. However, it has been suggested that the buffalo had been domesticated in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent about 5000 years ago. There are five known buffalo breeds in the country namely: Nili, Ravi, Nili-Ravi, Kundhi and Azi Kheli or Azakhale and also a number of non-descriptive animals are also available.
Molecular biology tools to assist conventional population genetics to select desirable animals are becoming very popular nowadays due to its reliability and accuracy in a limited period of time. Identification of specific markers related to specific genes of interest help in marker-assisted selection. Developed countries are spending reasonable amounts and time to develop accurate markers for selecting superior animals.
The information thus generated is comparatively of little use to us as the genetic material is far different in different ecological zones. The precise procedures and methodologies can be used to identify the specific markers in local breeds of animals to enjoy the fruits of the latest technological developments of the world. The marker-assisted selection will help the breeder and policymaker to identify the better animal for future breeding with more confidence.
A research project was conducted to identify the specific markers in the local buffalo breeds. Identification of specific markers will help in the selection of better energy utilising animals in the country, thus decreasing the load on the depleting feed resources of the country. Novel SNPs were found in the coding (alpha, Beta and Gamma sub-units) and non-coding (introns) of an energy metabolism controlling adenosine mono-phosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) gene.
Additionally, the SNPs ascertain in the study are potential genetic marker for assortment of high throughput buffaloes. The haplotypes developed in the study will lead to assist the molecular biologist for breed identification of farm animals, DNA fingerprinting in forensic applications, phylogenetic characterisation and evolution study of Pakistani Buffalo breeds. A phylogenetic analysis was also performed to characterise the Buffalo Breeds, Nili-Ravi and Kundi, for classification of the breeds on the basis of AMPK gene. The outcome of this study will also be applied to find out the best energy-utilising animals.