Genetic Variation in Two Bulgarian Domestic Goat Breeds As Detected With ISSR Markers

Abstract

The issue of conservation of genetic resources in livestock is of growing interest in recent decades. Local breeds of farm animals are usually with relatively lower productivity but well adapted to the specific conditions of the environment. Due to the advent of a number of highly intensive selected breeds the existence of local genetic resources is threatened in our country. The risk comes from reducing the size of local populations of purebred animals, leading to narrowing of genetic diversity. Two local goat breeds with distinctive exterior, stably transmitted in the progeny were selected for the present study and their within-breed genetic variation assessed with ISSR markers.