Authentication of goat (Capra hircus) meat using PCR amplification of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene

•A primer pair was designed from mitochondrial Cyt-b gene for speciation of goat tissue.•The designed primer pair showed intense amplification of 617 bp product when analyzing samples from goat origin.•An annealing temperature of 70 °C was adopted to eliminate the cross reactivity.•Primers showed true species specificity, eliminating all cross reactivity at optimized assay.

A highly specific single step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is described for the detection of goat (Capra hircus) meat. A PCR assay was successfully optimized for amplification of 617-bp DNA fragment extracted from goat meat using designed species-specific primer pairs based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The optimized PCR assay was subsequently validated for its specificity with DNA extracted from cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig. PCR amplification of target DNA with goat-specific primers was repeated 10 times, with consistent results observed. The specificity of goat-specific PCR provides a valuable tool for identification of goat meat and to avoid its fraudulent substitution and adulteration.