Genetic diversity and population structure of Balkan goat populations in Serbia based on microsatellite and mtDNA markers

Dominiković, Nina (author), Zorc, Minja (author), Ristanić, Marko (author), Dimitrijević, V. (author), Blagojevic, Jovan (author), Glavinić, Uroš (author), Stanimirović, Zoran (author)

Indigenous breeds, such as the Balkan goat, represent valuable genetic resources due to their adapta tion to specific ecological and socio-economic conditions. Goats are vital to rural livestock systems, particularly in regions with limited infrastructure, due to their resilience and low resource demands. This study presents a comprehensive genetic characterization of the Balkan goat in Serbia using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers. Nuclear variation was assessed using 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci, revealing a mean ex pected heterozygosity of 0.756 and a mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.721, indicating a high level of genetic diversity. The overall inbreeding coefficient (FIS = 0.042) was low. Maternal lineage diversity was analyzed by sequencing the mitochondrial DNA control region in 42 individuals, identifying 23 distinct haplotypes predominantly belonging to haplogroup A, with a rare occurrence of haplogroup C. Together, the results demonstrate substantial genetic variation within the population at both nuclear and mitochondrial levels, providing essential insights for conservation and sustainable management of this autochthonous breed.

• Language: English
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 09.03.2026
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 143–155
• Numbering: Vol. 69, issue 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180502
• UDC: 636.39:575
• ISSN on article: 2363-9822
• DOI: 10.5194/aab-69-143-2026
• COBISS.SI-ID: 271134723
• Publication date in RUL: 11.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Archives animal breeding
• Publisher: Institut für Nutztierbiologie, Copernicus Publications
• ISSN: 2363-9822
• COBISS.SI-ID: 526154777

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: drobnica, koze, genetika, genetska pestrost, populacija, struktura populacije, mikrosateliti, mitohondrijska DNA, Srbija

Projects

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Project number: 451-03-34/2026-03/200143
• Name: Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia