African Pastoralism: Genetic Imprints of Origins and Migrations
Abstract
The genetic history of African cattle pastoralism is controversial and poorly understood. We reveal the genetic signatures of its origins, secondary movements, and differentiation through the study of 15 microsatellite loci in 50 indigenous cattle breeds spanning the present cattle distribution in Africa. The earliest cattle originated within the African continent, but Near East and European genetic influences are also identified. The initial expansion of African Bos taurus was likely from a single region of origin. It reached the southern part of the continent by following an eastern route rather than a western one. The B. indicus genetic influence shows a major entry point through the Horn and the East Coast of Africa and two modes of introgression into the continent.
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Pure African taurine breeds are found exclusively in West Africa, largely due to their unique resistance to trypanosomosis, while Sanga breeds have been preserved through selective breeding preferences and geographic isolation.
“Pure African taurine breeds are found exclusively in West Africa [51], largely due to their unique resistance to trypanosomosis, while Sanga breeds have been preserved through selective breeding preferences and geographic isolation [49].”
From The Genomic Landscape of Cattle: Domestication, Dispersal, and Adaptive Evolution (2026) · cites this paper as [51]
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- Authors
- Hanotte, O., Bradley, D. G., Ochieng, J. W., Verjee, Y., Hill, E. W., & Rege, J. E. O.
- Affiliations
- International Livestock Research Institute (KE)
- Trinity College Dublin (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Hanotte, Olivier
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2002-04-12
- Volume
- 296
- Issue
- 5566
- Pages
- 336-339
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2052672736
- Cited by
- 567
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 11.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Forensic and Genetic Research
- Keywords
- cattle, Bos indicus, indigenous cattle breeds, microsatellite markers, introgression, Horn of Africa, cattle domestication
- MeSH terms
- Africa, Alleles, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Animal Husbandry, Animals, Domestic, Archaeology, Cattle, Europe, Genetics, Population, Humans, Middle East, Genetic Variation, Microsatellite Repeats, Principal Component Analysis
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