Genetic spatialization in Montana cattle breed

Brazil is among the world’s top beef producers and exporters, and the Montana breed of livestock has gained popularity due to its exceptional meat quality and ability to adapt to the tropical climate. This differentiates it from other breeds, such as the Zebu and Taurine. A methodology that mapped sixteen farms across five Brazilian states was adopted to investigate the link between SNP genetic data and animal collection location. The data was georeferenced using the Geographic Information System and the ArcGIS 10.3 software, considering a geographic coordinate system and the WGS 84 datum. The Alleles in Space (AIS) software was used to study the relationship between the SNP genetic data and the animal collection location. Various analyses were conducted, including the Mantel correlation, genetic barrier identification, and spatial autocorrelation. The results suggest that there is a correlation between genetic and geographical distances, supporting the idea that geographical distance can affect genetic diversity. This information is vital to understand the genetic structure of populations concerning geographical space and is crucial for optimizing Brazilian agricultural production.