Molecular Estimation of Inbreeding Coefficient of Reared Nigerian Indigenous Goats

Abstract

Heat shock proteins (HSPs), also known as molecular chaperones, are key indicators of stress response in animals. These proteins are highly conserved and are expressed in response to environmental stress, aiding in cellular protection and adaptation. This study aimed to assess the heat stress adaptation ability of two Nigerian goat breeds West African Dwarf (WAD) and Red Sokoto (RS) by evaluating the expression of HSP70 and HSP90 genes. Specific primers were used to detect gene expression through PCR and RFLP techniques. Both HSP70 and HSP90 genes were expressed in the two breeds under heat stress conditions. Although the expression levels were similar, WAD goats showed slightly higher gene expression (Na = 1.62, I = 0.57) compared to RS goats (Na = 1.59, I = 0.55). Interestingly, this marginal increase in HSP gene expression in WAD goats did not translate to better adaptation. Instead, the findings suggest that RS goats are more effectively adapted to heat stress despite lower gene expression, implying more efficient stress response mechanisms. The HSP70 gene, in particular, appeared to play a major role in thermal protection, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for selecting heat-tolerant animals. Based on these observations, it is hypothesized that HSP70 and HSP90 genes could be linked to thermo-tolerance traits. Further studies are recommended to investigate their associations with adaptability, performance, and stress resilience in Nigerian goat breeds, especially under the challenging thermal conditions of tropical environments.