Old goats, new insights: Origins and genetic diversity of feral Cheviot goats

Around the world, native breeds are increasingly recognised as important reservoirs of genetic variation that could prove vital for future livestock breeding and enhancing resilience to climate change. Accordingly, native goat (Capra hircus) breeds have been studied to understand their genetic diversity and adaptations to different environments. However, some breeds are confined to small, isolated, and feral populations. In the United Kingdom (UK), these effectively 'wild' populations are increasingly threatened with extinction due to ongoing culling practices and inadequate legal protection, which is further compounded by the limited understanding of their genetic status and origins, both of which are critical for informed conservation management. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the genetic structure and ancestry of 20 Cheviot goats residing within Northumberland National Park using SNP genotyping. This population is hypothesised to comprise of British primitive goats, the original landrace goat breed of the British Isles. We compared our findings against over 100 global breeds and found that the Cheviot goats exhibited low SNP heterozygosity (HO = 0.23), and very high levels of inbreeding (FROH = 0.45). Phylogenetic analyses positioned the Cheviot goats as a distinct lineage closely related to the Irish breeds, with no evidence of either recent or historical admixture. Our results identify the Cheviot goats as a genetically unique and historical breed. We suggest a re-evaluation of current population management strategies for the Cheviot and other wild goat populations across the UK with emphasis on the importance of conserving potentially rare and genetically unique populations.