Beefalo Genomes Challenge Three-Eighths Standard, Uncover Zebu Influence
A genome-wide study of 47 Beefalo semen samples from founding lines shows 39 animals have no detectable bison ancestry, calling into question the breed standard of three-eighths bison; the eight with bison DNA show only 2–18% ancestry. The analysis also reveals widespread zebu ancestry in 38 of the animals, including Joe’s Pride, which was recorded as over a third bison. The researchers suggest zebu introgression may have shaped the breed’s appearance and that backcrossing patterns explain how bison DNA could appear in a largely taurine/cattle background. Using preserved germplasm and multiple genomic approaches, the study provides a genomic audit that pedigrees alone could not reliably establish the breed’s composition.