In the absence to date of studies on genetic variability in the Creole cattle of the Southern Region of Ecuador, the analysis and characterization of this population was carried out in order to provide the technical information needed for the planning and development of measures aimed at the population's conservation and sustainable use in the harsh ecosystem these animals inhabit. For this purpose, 46 adult animals, out of a population of 114 Creole cattle, were genetically analysed; on the basis of phaneroptical traits, they were classified into four groups known locally as Negro Lojano (15 animals), Encerado (15), Colorado (9) and Pintado or Cajamarca (7). The analysis of the intra-population genetic variability brought out a Na of 228, an average number of alleles per locus of 8.14 and a PIC of 0.70 ± 0.10. All 28 markers analyzed were polymorphic and highly informative. The He and Ho amounted to 0.74 ± 0.0178 and 0.676 ± 0.013, which is an indication of a high molecular diversity in the population studied. The HWE determines that 32 per cent of the alleles are not in equilibrium. The Gst amounted to 4.5 ± 2.8 per cent and the Fst was 0.08 per cent, which corroborates that there is no genetic differentiation among the four groups of this population. The average values for Fit and Fis were 8.89 and 8.92 percent, respectively. The degrees of genetic distance between this Creole population and 18 cattle and zebu breeds were also determined. The distance exceeded 0.10 for all populations, with the lowest distances being those between Ec:BC (0.1031), Ec:PAJ (0.1132), Ec:NAN (0.1302), Ec:VCA (0.1326) and Ec:FRI (0.1362). The greatest distances were observed between Ec:GUZ (0.4725) and Ec:NEL (0.4624). These values show that the Creole cattle of the Southern Region of Ecuador are very distant from the zebu breeds, and therefore their ancestors would be more likely to have originated from Iberian populations. The results concerning variability and genetic distance will enable strategies to be devised for managing and conserving the Creole breed of the Southern Region of Ecuador. These results also suggest that the four groups with phaneroptical differences should be managed independently at the different altitudes of the Andean Region of Ecuador.

The South African Angora goat industry makes the largest contribution to global mohair production. Mohair is a luxury fibre and production of a high quality clip is essential. For many years genetic improvement of Angoras in South Africa was based on quantitative selection. Genome mapping efforts provided new avenues for improvement and a quantitative trait loci (QTL) study was initiated to identify QTL associated with mohair traits. The aim of this study was to describe the genetic diversity of the reference population using the available stud and commercial herds with full phenotypic records. The most appropriate QTL design was identified based on the population structure with regard to the families and number of bucks available for breeding. Four herds, consisting of 1067 pure bred goats in 12 half-sib families, were included. Blood samples were obtained from the herds, 94 markers were tested and diversity parameters were estimated. The average number of alleles per marker varied between 5.4 and 7.2 amongst the herds, whereas the observed heterozygosity varied between 0.59 and 0.67. The genetic structure of these herds was found appropriate for use as a reference population as they showed sufficient genetic variability.

El Banco de Germoplasma ovino está conformado por ocho núcleos raciales organizados en un sistema de apareamiento circular cíclico para evitar la pérdida de la variabilidad genética. En este trabajo se encontró una tasa de incremento de consanguinidad por generación que varía entre 1,06 – 3,23% para los cuatro años previos a la formación del Banco y una tasa que varía entre 0,68 y 1,15% para los siguientes 5 años, lo que representa una reducción de 27,07 – 68,9% en el incremento de consanguinidad debido a la estructura de los apareamientos. Igualmente se muestra el comportamiento reproductivo por grupo racial, mostrando las bondades de la raza Criolla (96% de natalidad, 117% de prolificidad), dada su adaptación al sistema de producción de trópico alto. En cuanto al comportamiento productivo se determinó el efecto de raza, sexo y año sobre el crecimiento, encontrando a la raza Hampshire, Cheviot y Romney con los mayores pesos al nacimiento, destete y año. Finalmente se realizó una caracterización morfométrica y determinación de índices de similaridad entre las ocho razas de ovinos, utilizando parámetros de distribución continua. Las razas Merino y Corriedale presentaron los mayores índices de similaridad, al igual que las razas Criolla y Mora.