Genetic diversity in Swiss goat breeds based on microsatellite analysis

Genetic diversity in eight Swiss goat breeds was estimated using PCR amplif ication of 20 bovine microsatellites on 20-40 unrelated animals per breed. In addition, the Creole breed from the Caribbean and samples of Ibex and Be zoar goat were included. A total of 352 animals were tested. The bovine mic rosatellites chosen amplified well in goat. The average heterozygosity with in population was higher in domestic goat (0.51-0.58) than in Ibex (0.17) a nd Bezoar goat (0.19). Twenty-seven per cent of the genetic diversity in th e total population could be attributed to differences between the populatio ns. However, with the exclusion of Ibex from the total population, this pro portion dropped to 17%. Principal component analysis showed that all Swiss goat breeds are closely related, whereas the Creole breed, Ibex and Bezoar goat are clearly distinct from all eight Swiss breeds.