Genomic Evaluation of Recombination in Small Highly Inbred Beef Cattle Populations

Abstract

Meiotic recombination is key for genetic diversity, but its dynamics are underexplored in small inbred beef cattle populations. This study examines recombination in closed beef cattle populations and identifies related genomic regions. Using genotypic data from 1020 Line 1 Hereford and 3420 Composite Gene Combination (CGC) cattle, recombination rates were estimated through offspring and progenitor haplotypes. The CGC composite displayed a higher recombination rate (27.24 events) than the Line 1 population (26.38 events), with reduced rates in Line 1 potentially due to extended homozygous segments. Recombination varied by autosome length, increasing with longer autosomes. A genome-wide association study revealed novel genomic regions associated with recombination: significantly associated SNP markers were found on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 1, 7, 13, 15, and 19 in the Line 1 population, and numerous others in the CGC population, indicating complex polygenic influences.

Keywords

cattle / genome / recombination

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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Published 2025. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Animal Research and One Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.