Buffalo Genetics and Genomics

Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are important farm animals that have contributed to human survival for thousands of years as sources of milk, meat, leather, dung, hide, horns, traction power, etc. As the second largest source of milk around the world, buffalo contributes approximately 50% of the Asia’s total milk production and 13% of the total world milk production. Improving buffalo performance is a cumulative process achieved by selecting the best individuals and breeding them to pass their favorable genetic materials to the next generations. With the release of buffalo genome assemblies, the revolution of high-throughput genotyping technologies during the recent years has opened the field of animal breeding to use genomic, transcriptomic, and other omics information to increase the efficiency of selection, including but not limited to genomic prediction, genome-wide association studies, and identification of candidate genes. Most of the genomic and genetic-based studies performed so far in buffalo have been focusing on biodiversity and productive performance. Simultaneously, there is a shortage of such studies for buffalo reproductive and adaptive traits. Buffalo genomic selection is also not established, which remains a big challenge.

We are welcoming researchers in the field of genetics and genomics in the buffalo species to contribute their high-quality Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Mini Reviews, and Review articles. Potential subtopics include, but are not limited to:
• Integrating genetics, genomics, transcriptomics, and/or other omics approaches to increase our understanding and/or increase the accuracy of genetic merit prediction for economically important traits in buffalo breeds.
• Comparative studies between buffalo and cattle species, including but not limited to: genomics, proteomics, gene expression analysis, genetic mapping, genetic diversity, and molecular evolution.
• Population genetics studies in buffalo species covering genetic diversity, evolution studies, genome-wide association studies, genomic selection, candidate genes, and functional studies.