Genetic insights and prospects of Egyptian- Nubian (Zaraibi) goats.

The Egyptian Nubian (Zaraibi) goat has significant potential to contribute to animal production and rural livelihoods in Egypt. This article explores the breed's unique genetic makeup and potential for improvement through examining its genetic parameters, population structure, genetic diversity, and candidate genes associated with economically important traits. The reported potential candidate genes include caseins, alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA), beta-lactoglobulin (β-LG), prolactin receptor (PRLR), Fec gene, GDF9, and growth hormone. These genes are associated with milk yield and composition, litter size, and growth performance. Although most candidate gene studies on Zaraibi goats have limitations, their findings can be utilized in genomic evaluation to improve perdition accuracy. Despite challenges such as small herd size, experimental design constraints, epigenetic influence, and potential trade-off between productivity and heat tolerance, there are significant opportunities to enhance the breed's productivity and resilience. The studies highlight advantages such as high genetic diversity, positive genetic gain, adaptation to hot dry environment and clear genetic distinction from other local goat breeds. Prospects for improving Zaraibi goats include recognizing their socioeconomic role in rural communities, supporting selective breeding programs, integrating genomic information into selection strategies, implementing an open nucleus breeding scheme, and expanding the specialized goat cheese market. Like other promising subtropical breeds, utilizing their potential while addressing existing challenges is essential for ensuring sustainable production and continued contributions to the rural economy.