Criollo breed of cattle developed in the New World can withstand climate change, say Irish scientists

Published 2024년 4월 4일

Tridge summary

A study by researchers at University College Dublin has revealed that Criollo cattle, brought to the Americas from the Canary Islands in the 15th century, have unique genetic traits that make them highly adaptable to climate change challenges such as extreme temperatures and humidity. Through whole-genome sequencing, the research identified genes in Criollo cattle that contribute to thermotolerance, reproduction, fertility, and disease immunity. Despite their adaptability and potential for improving animal welfare and food production in warmer climates, Criollo cattle are underappreciated and face the risk of being replaced by more commercially productive breeds, which could lead to a significant loss of valuable genetic resources in Latin America.

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Original content

‘Criollo’ was a term used frequently in the ‘Casta’ system of the colonial Hispanic and Lusophone Americas. Derived from Portuguese ‘Crioulo’, it distinguished people born in the New World from those native to Iberia (Spain and Portugal) who were known as ‘Penninsulares’. But ‘Criollo’ also extended to livestock (cattle, sheep, horses and goats). Now, Irish scientists have found that Criollo cattle are best suited to surviving and thriving in a warming world, given their tolerance to hot and humid climes, developed over hundreds of years. Scientists from University College Dublin (UCD) in the Irish capital conducted research into micro-evolutionary changes in Criollo cattle. The research provided “strong evidence of several distinct coat and skin colouration traits that are advantageous in cattle populations exposed to significant levels of incident solar radiation,” a statement by UCD noted. The researchers found that the Criollo has a short, slick-hair coat that provides ...

Source: Down To Earth