Genetic Mapping and Diversity of Indigenous and Exotic Rabbits: Adaptive and Conservation Strategies

Background: Climate change threatens global food security, highlighting the need for adaptive traits in livestock to ensure sustainable production. Rabbits, known for their unique adaptability, require the preservation of genetic diversity to maintain resilience. The decline in genetic specificity among indigenous breeds underscores the urgency of conservation efforts to protect these critical resources. Objectives: This study investigates the genetic structure and diversity of indigenous rabbit populations, emphasizing genetic mapping as essential for sustaining adaptability. The findings aim to guide breeding pro-grams that enhance biodiversity and support agricultural resilience. Materials and Methods: The study analyzed both native and exotic rabbit breeds. Native breeds included Black Baladi (BB), White Baladi (WB), Red Baladi (RB), and Jabali (JAB), while exotic breeds included New Zealand White (NZW), American Rex (AR), and Chin-chilla (CH). Fourteen microsatellite loci were genotyped in 526 rabbits across all breeds. Results: A total of 467 alleles were identified, with an overall mean of 5.03. Expected het-erozygote frequencies were medium to high. Polymorphism was high in BB, JAB, and NZW, and medium in WB, RB, AR, and CH. FIS and FIT values (-0.044 and 0.156) suggest-ed possible non-intensive inbreeding. FST (0.220) showed breed differentiation and high within-breed variation. Gene flow averaged 1.872, indicating interbreed gene exchange. Neutrality and phylogenetic analyses revealed genetic reshaping; BB, WB, RB, AR, CH, and NZW showed overlap, while JAB retained high specificity. Conclusion: Urgent con-servation strategies are essential to preserve native rabbit genetic diversity and unique traits, vital for sustaining biodiversity and livestock resilience globally.