LAUSR

Abstract The preservation of genetic diversity in farm animals is important to cope with future challenges like climate changes and different production environments. The knowledge of the genes making the endangered breeds different from the more productive breeds, responsible of their decline, might contribute to support the “in situ” on-farm conservation, which is considered the most favorable means to preserve genetic material at risk. In the present study, three genome-wide breed-to-breed comparisons, using about 30,000 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, allowed the identification of markers with the highest difference in allele frequency between Holstein and two Italian endangered cattle breeds of Podolian origin: the dairy Modenese and the suckler, rustic Maremmana. For most of the genes either encompassing or in proximity of these markers the influence on some important economic traits in cattle had been already described in literature. The majority of differentiation signals between each of the two endangered and the Holstein are related to genes influencing lactation traits, carcass characteristics, resilience and disease resistance.