Estimation of effective population size in Sarabi cattle based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers

The objective of this study was to estimate the effective number of breeders in Sarabi cattle population using heterozygote-excess method based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Data consisted of 20 Sarabi cows. SNP genotyping was performed using Illumina High-density Bovine BeadChip designed to genotype 777,962 SNPs. Average observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, minor allele frequencies and percentage of deviation from Hardy-Weinberg test were estimated. Effective number of breeders was estimated per each chromosome using NEESTIMATOR (v2) software based on heterozygote-excess method. Average chromosome-wise effective number of breeders was equal to 28 and corresponding average confidence interval was between 17.3 and 40.2. Results of this study indicated that Sarabi breed is on serious risk of extinction. Design of appropriate programs is necessary to conserve remaining purebred cattles.