Evaluation of the genetic diversity in cattle using microsatellites and protein markers

The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of the genetic diversity in cattle breeds computed from microsatellites and protein markers. The study was carried out in Czech Pied (Simmental) cattle, Black and White cattle, German Black and White cattle, and in Czech Red, Polish Red, and German Red cattle, which are original cattle breeds endangered by extinction. The hig hest degree of genetic diversity as measured by heterozygosity and probabil ity of genotypic identity of two individuals has been found in Czech Pied c attle. The total diversity of microsatellites and protein markers in Czech Red cattle was not reduced, even though its population is several dozen of heads only, but the tendency towards reduction was found in microsatellites . The lowest total diversity was found in German Red cattle. Three patterns of exclusion probability are discussed.