Exploring genomic signatures of selection for adaptation and resilience in nomadic Belahi cattle in the tropical climate.

Background: Indigenous cattle in India are known for their resilience to diseases, parasites, and heat stress. Belahi is a newly registered indigenous breed reared by pastoralist communities in the North Himalayan foothills (Shivalik range). It has been naturally selected for adaptability to nomadic grazing, disease resistance, and milk production. This study aimed to identify genomic selection signatures in Belahi cattle.

Methods And Results: Genome-wide SNP data were analyzed using three intra-population statistics-Tajima's D, Integrated Haplotype Score (iHS), and Nucleotide Diversity-which were combined into De-correlated Composite of Multiple Signals (DCMS). Additionally, Runs of Homozygosity (ROH) were used to detect regions under putative selection. DCMS identified 290 significant SNPs, while ROH revealed 8 overlapping regions. A total of 822 and 339 protein-coding genes were identified from DCMS and ROH, respectively, with 15 genes overlapping. Key genes included IL2 and IL21 (immune response) on BTA 17, and DNAJB13 (stress-related protein-folding) on BTA 15. QTL analysis revealed associations with tick resistance, susceptibility to respiratory and mycobacterial diseases, and pigmentation traits. Significant pathways included interleukin-2 receptor binding, leukocyte-mediated immunity, and peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation.

Conclusions: The results suggest that Belahi cattle have undergone natural selection for immunity and environmental stress tolerance due to their nomadic lifestyle. These genomic insights support the breed's potential use in improving disease resistance and climate adaptability in cattle breeding programs.