Genetic relationships between three indigenous cattle breeds in Mozambique

This study provides the first account of genetic relationships between thre e indigenous cattle breeds from Mozambique. Forty-two blood group factors a nd six blood proteins revealed genetic variation of 84% (Angone), 88% (Bovi ne de Tete) and 90% (Landim) at the loci studied. Average heterozygosity va lues ranged from 33% for Angone and Bovine de Tete to 35% for the Landim. T he genetic distance was greatest between the Landim and both the Bovine de Tete and the Angone breeds, whereas the smallest genetic distance was obser ved between the Bovine de Tete and the Angone. These results show the inter mediate relationship of Bovine de Tete with the Angone and Landim breeds an d show that the Bovine de Tete is an admixture of taurine and indicus genes .