Characterization and genetic diversity analysis of lesser-known goat population of northern hills of Chhattisgarh

This study aimed to delineate the native breeding tract, distribution, phenotypic characteristics, genetic diversity, and population structure of local goat population in the northern hills of Chhattisgarh, India. Phenotypic data were recorded from 636 adult local goats across 50 villages in three districts. A randomly selected, genetically unrelated subset of 48 individuals was genotyped using 23 FAO-recommended microsatellite markers. The newly identified goat population exhibited a medium-sized, compact body conformation with characteristic white facial strips, black ear margins, black neck rings and horizontally oriented ears. Canonical discriminant analysis identified two significant axes (CAN1: 77.6%, CAN2: 22.4%; P < 0.001), cumulatively accounting for 100% of the variance. Microsatellite analysis revealed 221 alleles, with mean allelic diversity of 9.17. Observed and expected heterozygosity values were 0.6666 and 0.7738, respectively. The mean inbreeding coefficient (FIS = 0.14) indicated a low level of inbreeding and absence of recent genetic bottleneck. The individual assignment accuracy was 47.6%, indicating moderate genetic homogeneity. These results confirm the presence of homogenous, phenotypically distinct and genetically diverse goat population well adapted to local agroclimatic conditions. Effective conservation depends on phenotypic and genetic characterization to identify unique traits and this assessment aids in precisely evaluating diversity and prioritizing the safeguarding of genetic resources for future breeding.