Exploring Meiotic Recombination and Its Potential Benefits in South African Beef Cattle: A Review.

Meiotic recombination is a key evolutionary process that generates novel allele combinations during prophase I of meiosis, promoting genetic diversity and enabling the selection of desirable traits in livestock breeding. Although its molecular mechanisms are well-characterised in model organisms such as humans and mice, studies in African indigenous cattle, particularly South African breeds, remain scarce. Key regulators of recombination, including , , and , play essential roles in crossover formation and genome stability, with mutations in these genes often linked to fertility defects.

A Systematic Review on Microbial Profiling Techniques in Goat Milk: Implications for Probiotics and Shelf-Life.

Due to its high digestibility, rich nutrient profile, and potential probiotic content, goat milk is an essential nutritional resource, particularly for individuals with cow milk allergies. This review summarises the current state of microbial diversity in goat milk, emphasising the implications for quality, safety, and probiotic potential. This systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines, conducting a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using keywords related to microbial profiling in goat milk.

Genomic Advancements in Assessing Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Carcass Characteristics of Goats in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

Goats play a vital role in global livestock systems, particularly in developing regions, where they contribute significantly to meat production and smallholder livelihoods. Indigenous goats in sub-Saharan Africa are essential to low-input farming systems, valued for their adaptability to harsh environments and their provision of meat, milk, and income. However, genomic research on these goats remains limited despite their importance.

Genomic Tools for Medicinal Properties of Goat Milk for Cosmetic and Health Benefits: A Narrative Review.

Goat milk has gained recognition for its medicinal, cosmetic, and health benefits, particularly its potential to improve human skin conditions. Its therapeutic properties are attributed to bioactive compounds influenced by genes such as (), (), and (), known for their antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects. Genetic factors are hypothesized to shape goat milk's composition and its effectiveness in managing dermatological conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Differential gene expression and identification of growth-related genes in the pituitary gland of South African goats.

Growth and carcass quality are economically important traits in goat production. This study investigated differentially expressed genes from the caprine pituitary gland transcriptome of South African indigenous goat breeds of varying growth performances and carcass quality parameters. Tissues were harvested from the pituitary gland of three South African Boer goats and three village ecotype goats all raised under similar conditions simulating intensive commercial production systems.

Carcass Quality Profiles and Associated Genomic Regions of South African Goat Populations Investigated Using Goat SNP50K Genotypes.

Carcass quality includes a battery of essential economic meat traits that play a significant role in influencing farmer breed preferences. A preliminary study was undertaken to investigate the carcass quality and the associated genomic regions in a small nucleus of animals that are representative of South African goat genetic resources. Samples of the South African Boer ( 14), Northern Cape Speckled ( 14), Eastern Cape Xhosa Lob ear ( 12), Nguni/Mbuzi ( 13), and Village ( 20) were genotyped using the Illumina goat SNP50K and were phenotyped for carcass quality traits.