Use of molecular biology techniques for animal identification and traceability

Abstract

Animal husbandry is considered a substantial part of agriculture which is important for the economic development of a country. The local potential for the livestock sector has remarkably developed in the past few decades with the introduction of technological advancements. ldentifrcation and traceability of livestock populations evolved as critical points in the production chain. Molecular marker-based genetic studies have addressed the preliminary complications of the livestock freld. The lntended objective of genetic studies is to select and maintain superior trarts which have a direct impact on economrc value. ln that regard' the application of genetic markers has a signifrcant role. RFLP, SCAR, AFLP, SSR, ISSR, EST, RAPD, STR, SCoT, and STS markers are prominently used despite animal identifrcabon and traceability, determlnation of genetic distance, sex determination, parentage determinalion, genetic conservation, gene mapping approaches in the livestock field. The present review is a critical study of current molecular biological techniques and their versatile appllcations in animal identification and traceability approaches and possible improvements of the available techniques to address the maior concerns in the freld.