Ancient spice route may have shaped Keralam’s Malabari goat’s genetic legacy, study shows

Keralam’s ancient maritime connections may extend beyond spices, merchants and ports. A new study suggests that these trade networks may also have shaped the maternal genetic history of the Malabari goat, one of the State’s iconic indigenous breeds.

Researchers from the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) have reported the first complete mitochondrial genome of the Malabari goat. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Mammalian Genome , provide molecular evidence supporting the possibility that goats moved along the historic Indian Ocean Spice Route, linking the Malabar Coast with western India and the Arabian Peninsula.

Native to South Malabar, the Malabari goat is valued for its milk and meat and its ability to thrive in Keralam’s hot and humid conditions. Historical accounts have suggested that the breed developed through contributions from Arabian, Mesopotamian, Surti and local feral goat populations.