Satellite DNA polymorphisms and AFLP correlate with Bos indicus-taurus hybridization

We describe satellite DNA variation that detects hybridization of Bos indic us (zebu or indicine cattle) and Bos taurus (taurine cattle) in African cat tle populations. On Southern blots hybridized to a satellite IU, probe, rel ative intensities of HinfI fragments correlated with the taurine-zebu compo sition in hybrid animals as deduced from AFLP genotyping of the same animal s and previous data on microsatellite allele frequencies. Similar results w ere obtained by PCR RFLP analysis of a zebu-specific mutation in the repeat unit of satellite 1.711b. Analysis of individuals from 20 African cattle b reeds indicate that the centromeric satellites of the sanga breeds are of t he taurine type and that several East-African zebu breeds are hybrids betwe en taurine and zebu. These satellite RFLP, or SFLP, markers provide a fast method to screen the genetic makeup of African cattle.