Data from: Molecular study of the Amazonian Macabea cattle history

Macabea cattle are the only Bos taurus breed that have adapted to the wet tropical conditions of the Amazon. This breed has integrated into the culture of the indigenous Shuar-Asuar nations probably since its origins, being one of the few European zoogenetic resources assimilated by the deep-jungle Amazon communities. Despite its potential for local endogenous sustainable development, this breed is currently endangered. The present study used molecular genetics tools to investigate the within- and between-breeds diversity, in order to characterize the breed population, define its associations with other breeds, and infer its origin and evolution. The within-breed genetic diversity showed high values, as indicated by all genetic parameters, such as the mean number of alleles (MNA = 7.25±2.03), the observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.72±0.02) and the expected heterozygosity (He = 0.72±0.02). The between-breeds diversity analysis, which included factorial correspondence analysis, Reynolds genetic distance, neighbor-joining analysis, and genetic structure analysis, showed that the Macabea breed belongs to the group of the American Creoles, with a Southern-Spain origin. Our outcomes demonstrated that the Macabea breed has a high level of purity and null influences of exotic cosmopolitan breeds with European or Asiatic origin. This breed is an important zoogenetic resource of Ecuador, with relevant and unique attributes; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop conservation strategies for the Macabea breed.马卡贝亚牛（Macabea cattle）是唯一适应亚马逊流域湿润热带气候的普通牛（Bos taurus）品种。该品种自起源之初便已融入原住民舒阿尔-阿苏阿尔（Shuar-Asuar）族群的文化体系，是为数不多被亚马逊丛林深处社群同化的欧洲来源动物遗传资源之一。尽管该品种具备支撑当地内生可持续发展的潜力，目前却已濒临灭绝。本研究借助分子遗传学技术开展品种内与品种间遗传多样性分析，旨在解析该品种种群特征、明确其与其他品种的亲缘关联，并推断其起源与演化历程。各项遗传参数均显示该品种的品种内遗传多样性水平较高，其中包括等位基因平均数（mean number of alleles, MNA = 7.25±2.03）、观测杂合度（observed heterozygosity, Ho = 0.72±0.02）以及期望杂合度（expected heterozygosity, He = 0.72±0.02）。品种间遗传多样性分析涵盖对应因子分析、雷诺兹遗传距离分析、邻接法分析以及遗传结构分析，结果显示马卡贝亚牛隶属于美洲克里奥尔牛品种群，其起源可追溯至西班牙南部。本研究结果表明，马卡贝亚牛具有极高的遗传纯度，未受到欧洲或亚洲外来广布品种的遗传影响。该品种是厄瓜多尔重要的动物遗传资源，具备独特且极具价值的特性，因此亟需针对马卡贝亚牛制定保护策略。