1. ¹Animal Genetics Department, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP, India
2. ²Department of Genetics, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
3. ³Institute of Animal Breeding, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
4. ⁴Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY, UK

Correspondence: DG Bradley, Department of Genetics, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. E-mail: dbradley@tcd.ie

⁵Both equally contributed to this work.

Received 29 May 2002; Accepted 18 February 2003.

Abstract

We present population genetic analysis of microsatellite variation in seven Bos indicus cattle breeds from a variety of locations in South Asia. This is the first such study focusing within this area, which is one of the postulated centres of origin of domestic cattle. An estimate of the influence of Bos taurus ancestry was carried out using three approaches: by the systematic selection of population-associated alleles for B. taurus and examination of their frequency; by examining the truncation of genetic distances from European populations; and by a model-based Bayesian admixture analysis. These analyses revealed a B. taurus influence in the Indian subcontinent; part of a gradation which stretches from Europe through the Near East towards Indian and which may be of ancient origin.